Kingdom of the Crystal Stilts

Friday, November 7th, 2008 | interviewZ, musiX, pdX

It’s hard to imagine what kind of music Brad Hargett and JB Townsend would be making had they stayed in Florida. The two met there, moved to Brooklyn in 2002 and formed Crystal Stilts soon after. The band just released its first full-length Alight of Night last month—although it sounds like these guys spent some time at The Factory. It’s chilly, dark and spacious, but allows just enough sunlight to break through. Hargett sings with little change in inflection while Townsend strums jubilant chords and drummer Frankie Rose (formerly of Brooklyn popsters Vivian Girls) provides clang and clamor on drums and tambourine. I bet they’ve listened to Galaxy 500.

Slumberland labelmates Cause Co-Motion! are a little more to the point. The fellow Brooklynites just released an album of singles called It’s Time!, 14 short bursts of ’60s bubblegum and snottiness—so happy together. Both bands play with local garage outfit Hornet Leg tonight at Holocene. They’ll be right at home in misty Portland.

[Note: Shortly after the band's Portland show Crystal Stilts guitarist JB Townsend got in touch with TDoL to answer a few questions.]

TDoL: Tell me what it was like to have Hamish Kilgour [NZ's The Clean] come up to you after your first show.
JB Townsend: It was extremely encouraging. At that time we had little concept of what we were doing live and to have someone like that say nice things gave us a bit of confidence.

How much of an influence is the New Zealand, Flying Nun sound?
The Flying Nun sound is definitely a big influence on our production and songwriting. We’re huge fans of The Clean etc., and are glad they’re getting the influential attention they deserve.

How long did it take to record Alight of Night?
Recording only took us a total of probably about 15 hours spread out over a month or two and then a few quick overdubs this year. I did most of the overdubs myself besides two or three bass tracks. Mixing, because of finances and multiple approaches on songs with varying drums, extra overdubs, mono/stereo mixes, took us about two years.

There’s definitely something going on musically in Brooklyn; which band(s) are you listening to?
Cause-Co-Motion!, German Measles, The Beets.

How does it feel to have music blogs/Pitchfork clamoring over you? Good? Strange?
It’s definitely good on one hand—a lot of what’s said is a bit safe and at times shallow in my opinion. References to influence are a bit lazy. It’s strange to have songs that are roughly four or five years old with lyrics that are even older on some songs being reviewed as an up to the minute record along with bands that recorded LPs this year. This LP is extremely dear to us and our formative times, yet our new songs are definitely a bit more structurally realized. Some of the more repetitive songs on Alight of Night stemmed from songs that were sometimes very long freakouts that we made more compact. On the other hand, I’ve read some honest and well-rounded reviews that are quite flattering.

What can people expect live from Crystal Stilts?
We surely are not trying to replicate the recordings, but some songs are very similar. It’s great to have such talent in the group with Andy, Frankie and Kyle—who never cease to amaze and encourage me. I think what we have going now live is a different and better approach to the same songs with some new ones thrown in there for a taste of future records.

“Shattered Shine” - Crystal Stilts

“I Lie Awake” - Cause Co-Motion!

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