Crazy Like Foxygen
“We’re like brothers. We fight a lot,” Jonathan Rado said of
his bandmate, Sam France.
You may not recognize those names, but you’ve probably heard
of their band Foxygen, the precocious duo that’s hypnotizing the indie music
world with its psychedelic, chillwave sound. Both 22, the L.A. bred singer-songwriters — who headline First Ave on Monday
— embody Bowie, the Velvet Underground, the Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan —
depending on which track you’re listening to.
Originally discovered by Richard Swift and later signed to
Jagjaguwar records, Foxygen released their debut full-length, “Jurrassic
Exxplosion Philippic,” in 2007. “We Are the 21st Century Ambassadors of Peace
& Magic,” the band’s eclectic and infectious third album, dropped in
January.
Since then, the unkempt yet oddly endearing fooligans have
appeared everywhere, whether it’s dropping F-bombs galore in interviews or
stealing an apple from a street vendor during their La Blogothèque appearance.
When performing, frontman France
evokes a wigged-out Iggy Pop, complete with eyeliner, while
guitarist/keyboardist Rado comes off more grounded.
“We are trying to do things differently,” Rado said in a
recent phone interview. “We have no interest in being a modern buzz band.”
The ’60s-and-’70s adoring Rado added that he loves a lot of
modern bands, contradicting a Pitchfork interview earlier this year where he
claimed to not “even know any new bands.” Both France and Rado have been blunt
about their disillusionment with the current music scene
Foxygen, however, is operating within the standard buzz-band
channels, having already hit the CMJ Music Marathon last fall and South by
Southwest in March. Though Rado pays rent on a pad in New York , he isn’t there very often. Asked
what the biggest sacrifice his overnight success has cost him is, Rado said
unequivocally, “having a home.”
Foxygen’s strenuous touring schedule took a toll this
spring, when they canceled several European shows. Rado said the two-month
stretch of gigs leading up to the canceled dates put the future of the band in
serious jeopardy.
“We were questioning whether we wanted to go on,” he said.
“[So] Sam and I went back to working on our new album. We work the best when
recording, so we took time to get back to what creatively energizes us.”
Recharged and back onstage, Rado, who has criticized bands
in the past for “staring at their fucking pedals,” claimed spontaneity is the
key to a kick-ass Foxygen set.
“Our live shows are very exciting and energetic. We have a
set list, but, for better or worse, we don’t know what we’re going to say or
what’s going to happen,” he said, admitting that the off-the-cuff approach has
backfired.
Internet backlash to his band’s light-switch success is
something Rado is keenly aware of, but it doesn’t seem to faze him.
“I’ve never been hurt by anything,” he boasted. “Some things
are even funny, like the ‘Foxygen, they suck’ stuff. I’m sure all 26 of your
followers loved that tweet. The Internet is a pathetic vessel for people to
hate whatever.”
Rado also isn’t concerned about the oft-fleeting life spans
of contemporary indie acts. He keeps busy outside of Foxygen and has a debut
solo album, “Law & Order,” due in September. But should, for whatever
reason, Foxygen end tomorrow, the film school dropout has nonmusical
aspirations.
“I’ve always wanted to work in a parking garage,” he
reported, without a hint of sarcasm. “Late at night, in that little booth,
watching television. That would be my career. Or a cross-country truck-driver.”
Informed that he appears to be drawn to solitary
professions, Rado laughed dryly.
“I never looked at it that way,” he said. “Yes, I’d be a
loner. I just want to be alone.”
Originally published on Vita.mn in July 2013.
Originally published on Vita.mn in July 2013.
