New York City quartet Skaters capture their hometown with charm as they maintain their electric, punk roots. Headed our way later in the year to play Splendour in the Grass, vocalist Michael Ian Cummings takes some time out for a casual chat with Larry about the band’s relentless touring schedule, Carson Dailey, and the art of balancing rehearsed sets with improvised ones.
Thanks for taking the time to talk to us today. It’s exciting news that we’re getting you down here for Splendour in the Grass!
Hell yeah!
Six months ago would you have thought we’d be having this discussion?
Six weeks ago I didn’t even know that we’d be having this discussion. Hell, six hours ago I barely knew about it.
Everything seems to be happening pretty fast then, as is the case with a lot of things for the band at the moment
Yeah it seems that way. Things are moving quick!
So you guys were at SXSW last month; How many shows did you do?
We did 7 in 3 days!
What was that like?
Hell. *laughs*
Were you having you run aronud the city with all your equipment, did you have help, or was it absolute mayhem?
Luckily we did have help, and we did have backline at some shows. But it was tough. You’re out all day, talking all day, playing shows all day. And then people expect you to drink in the sun, and by the end of it, you’re just fucking fried.
So what comes out of doing so many shows like that?
You know, it’s a good question. it’s hard to say. There are things that have come out of it that you wouldn’t expect I suppose, but it’s hard to really point your finger at anything and say THAT happened because we did 7 shows at SXSW. People have a good time and spend a lot of time seeing bands who are already signed. But isn’t the point to see bands that are unsigned? For new bands to get heard? But I’m not so sure that’s what happens.
Having said that, it’s a great excuse to be in the sun and have a few drinks!
Well you guys played the Splendour in the Grass party and now here you are coming to the tour, so there are little things like that
Oh yeah totally, I think we played the party because we were going to be coming to Splendour in the Grass. It was a really fun show.
I saw on your twitter that you are performing on Carson Daily tonight, I imagine that has already been filmed though?
Yeah that was filmed awhile ago, like when were in L.A about 3 weeks ago.
Did you kind of grow up with Carson Dailey on TRL and all that?
Yeah man, I remember before that show even existed he would show up. It’s kind of crazy, he’s a real music fan that guy. He doesn’t really have to do what he does right now, he could just be a presenter and not give a shit but he really loves this stuff. I always thought when I was growing up that when he’d roll his eyes he knew the stuff he was pushing was dogshit, but I guess he couldn’t help himself.
Now MTV doesn’t even show music anymore so it seems like he is playing more music this way anyway.
Yeah exactly, he’s having the last laugh. They should call the show ‘The Last Laugh’!
So looking ahead to the rest of the year, what else is in store? Are you guys already thinking about what’s coming next musically or is this year all about life on the road?
Mostly about touring. I’m writing songs but the next record isn’t really in sight yet. We have alot of touring to do before this record is done.
I know Manhattan only came out recently but I imagine that material goes back a bit, right?
Yeah it took like a year to get released from the time we started recording it.
And then all the fun working with Warner and waiting to them to get it out, so there’s all that sort of stuff beyond the recording.
Yeah man! I called that “the fun part” *laughs*
Has anything surprised you about the kind of processes involved in getting an album out there or did you know what you were in for?
I kind of knew but it did take a lot longer on a major label and that’s something I had to get used to; which was tough. You got to learn how to keep things freshed and not get tired or lost vision of what you’re trying to do.
I guess one positive thing about the time is that you can do more live shows in that period and kind of get those shows looking really good by the time the album comes out.
Yeah man that’s the silver lining, you get to play shows. And people know your record so that they can sing the songs back to you once the album comes out which is really cool.
I imagine after doing 7 shows at SXSW and the amount of touring you’ve done off the back of Manhattan that you guys are feeling pretty good in the live space.
Yeah I think our live shows is definitely tight, which is cool!
Are you guys always thinking about that, do you rehearse or do you more let it go and grow organically and see what happens on the night?
Yeah man, bit of both; you got to try improve the show whenever you can but there’s always some things which get better with the amount of playing you do live. Sometimes you just go out there without even thinking that somethings going to happen and you develop a whole new attitude towards playing live. A great show can change anything and all of the sudden something you thought was exciting can be a lot more exciting, or you know to drag out some parts or something. It gives you a certain freedom.
That’s happened to bands forever I guess. You have some that turn 5 minute songs into 10 minute experiences; you never know where it’s going to do.
Exactly man. You never know, it’s all a big mystery sometimes.
Do you have any kind of good memories of seeing bands who did that well, while you were growing up that made you kind of feel you wanted to do that as well?
It’s kind of weird because I grew up in a punk/hardcore kind of scene; everyone would kind of go to hardcore shows because they were so energetic. People would just stage dive and that was the standard. Now we’re in a band where people jump off the stage all the damn time, and it’s damn exciting; I guess letting loose the kid inside of you, it feels good.
Well we’re looking forward to seeing you down here in Australia during our Winter. I imagine it’s your first time down touring; have you got a chance to visit before?
Nope, I’ve never been, it’s my first!
Well hopefully you get at least a little bit of time here.
Yeah I think we’re down for four or five days.
That’s a start. Hopefully you can actually do some stuff while your here. You must go to alot of places and not be able to see anything outside of the venue, right?
Yeah most venues I know about three blocks of the area around but that’s about it *laughs*
Well I really appreciate your time, we love the record and we got to see at SXSW and everyone is for a real treat!
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SKATERS will play at Splendour in the Grass this July. Tickets go on sale on May 2nd at 9am. More details at: http://www.splendourinthegrass.com
