SXSW Interview #1: The Pains of Being Pure At Heart

by The Yellow Stereo on Thu, 2009/03/19 - 4:37pm Post to Twitter

Photo by Chris DiGiamo. Of Kurt with the Depreciation Guild. Not at SXSW.

There is no possible way to see all that you want to see at SXSW. There just isn’t. And it’s impossible to keep up with who is playing where despite ones’ best efforts so you have to just kind of wander around with very little plan and hope you find something good.  Luckily, I went to a show out at Ms. Bea’s (which is becoming one of my new favorite places this year) and caught The Yellow Stereo favorite The Pains of Being Pure At Heart, who actually played their set on the ground to the left of the stage. I also caught up with their drummer, Kurt Feldman (who is also the singer/guitarist for The Depreciation Guild) to find out how Austin was treating them thus far. And no, this photo isn’t from SXSW…I just already had it on my computer and didn’t feel like loading anything new. Rest assured, my reviews and photos from Austin will probably go into the next week.

How many shows do you guys have?

KF: We have thirteen altogether.

Do you have a coping strategy for staying awake during all this?

KF: Not really. It hasn’t been so bad. Yesterday was the day that we flew in and I was pretty tired from the plane but I can imagine it’s going to be pretty bad. We have to be up at 8 in the morning to walk to venues and then we have about three or four more shows during the day.

Are you staying nearby anywhere where you’re playing?

KF: I mean, we’re staying relatively close to the show area but it’s probably ten minutes by car.

Have you had any issues loading in so far?

KF: No, it’s been pretty good actually. We didn’t bring our big gear, we brought guitars essentially. Just like, guitars and bass and keyboard and we’re just borrowing all the back line stuff.

Whose idea was it to play on the ground right there?

KF: Probably Todd P who put together the show. I don’t know. It’s like he had two stages going simultaneously just to make a quick transition.

And Depreciation Guild, not here?

KF: Not here right now. But maybe next year. I kind of wish we could have come. At first we were going to submit but then I had a work commitment. Shortly after that The Pains got all these offers and so I was kind of forced to go with that anyway. We were going to be here anyway and Depreciation Guild had kind of missed the boat at that point.

That was a pretty good deal that you had having The Depreciation Guild and The Pains of Being Pure At Heart tour at the same time.

KF: Yeah definitely. We’re going to do it again in like, September. When we have more stuff that’s going to be out.

Have you had any bizarre moments so far that would probably only happen here?

KF: I’ve run into a lot of people which is really cool, like friends from New York and stuff. Also, like friends from high school that live here now.

Where did you go to high school?

KF: I actually went to school in New York, I’ve always lived in New York.

Related posts:

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart :: More tour dates + new song

An Interview with The Pains of Being Pure At Heart

[video] The Pains of Being Pure at Heart :: “Everything With You”

The Pains of Being Pure at Heart announce more tour dates + new 7″ single

The Pains of Being Pure At Heart :: “Everything With You”