AIR TRAFFIC: David Ryan Jordan, Jim Maddock, Tom Pritchard and Chris Wall
AIR TRAFFIC has burst onto the pop-rock scene with textured tempos and morose melodies that dare you dance and ignore your last call for love at 4am.
While standing outside an Italian restaurant in London’s most aromatic district. I caught up with AIR TRAFFIC band mate Chris Wall, who was quick to confide that although he’s the talker this time around, it’s Dave who’s the troublemaker — it’s Jim that’s diabolically devious. (All in good ‘brotherly love’ fun) and it’s the new fans that make being on tour an unexpected pleasure. With two back2back gigs slated for Los Angeles, (Avalon and Spaceland respectively) AIR TRAFFIC (on Capitol’s EMI label) are quickly catching nationwide attention.
Keep reading for their interview and concert information for their shows tonight and tomorrow in LA.
What is the meaning of the band’s current release titled “Fractured life?â€Â
It more or less refers to a somewhat broken grip on reality.
Is it wild that you are performing with Elbow at the Avalon show, located across the street from famed Capitol Records?
We love playing LA, AT even played Spaceland which we’ll be back at this week. As for touring with Elbow, it’s a perfect musical fit.
What are most of your songs about?
Mostly we sing about girls
what else is there? BTW: I’m single now, which is always a plus when you’re on tour. Speaking of which, we are touring the U.S. by bus (tour bus) I like to sit up front with the driver and see everything passing by.
Can you name a few of AT’s musical influences?
Weezer, The Beach Boys, Pink Floyd, The Clash, Neil Young, The Cure, Supergrass, The Beatles, Pixies, The Shins, The Rolling Stones and The Velvet Underground. Although, my personal influences include classical music.
How long have the band members know each other?
We all grew-up in Bournemouth. All the other guys went to school together except me. Our original bassist left the band to become a doctor and then we found Jim, online.
So, you guys recorded “Fractured Life†live in studio rather than lying down vocals, guitar etc separately?
Yeah we loved playing the songs straight thru in this tiny studio outside of Wales.
But we think the next album will be recorded track by track in a more conventional way for quality sake
and it will probably take longer to complete.
I’ve checked out your U.S. tour stops. AT is playing some pretty small/obscure locales. Beware of female groupies with 3 teeth, one eyebrow and two Adam’s apples.
(Laughs) Yeah we have places like that at near home too.
Are there any forgotten tracks that didn’t make the cut for “Fractured Life?â€Â
Two of my favs actually: ‘This Old Town’ and ‘An End to All Our Problems.’
We play both though in concert often.
What have been some of your best concert experiences so far playing the states?
Playing SXSW last year and CMJ and in general winning over new people who show up.
What music magazine would you love AIR TRAFFIC to make the cover of?
Maybe MOJO, but I’m not sure they’d give us the cover, usually its only old people who get that honor.
If AIR TRAFFIC had to be a tribute band what music group would you pick to emulate?
(Laughs) Radiohead
for sure.
What do want to do after this multi-country tour comes to a close?
I have just convinced my mate Jim to go on a rock-climbing expedition through Europe. I’ve been practicing both indoor and outdoor walls to prepare.
How do you think next AIR TRAFFIC release will be different?
Maybe the poppy/bouncy sound will take more of a back seat
but we just want it to be really good.
Thanks for your time guys! You can check them out on MySpace or get information on upcoming shows an dhow to buy their CD below! Tour/Tix info:
You can purchase there album on Amazon here or iTunes here.
1 response so far ↓
1 Music Tonight: Air Traffic, Northern State, Dark Meat | LA.CityZine.com - Los Angeles // May 10, 2008 at 12:04 pm
[...] Air Traffic, Sky Parade, Eagle Seagull | 8:30pm at Spaceland | 21+ | Tickets $12 Buy Now [...]
Leave a Comment