The Untitled Interview #38 – SXSW Edition: Starring Adam Wills (Bear In Heaven)

I’m finding it hard to believe that it’s time once again for the annual industry hootenanny known as SXSW. As of today, Austin will be taken over. Inundated. Overrun. Engulfed. You get the idea. To celebrate the mad mad mad mad week of absolute havoc, Austin-style, we’ve thrown down the interview gauntlet to see what some of our favorite bands are going to be getting up to whilst gettin down in the wilds of Texas.

I recently discovered that Bear In Heaven is without question one of my new favorite live bands on the face of the planet, so I’d like to begin by strongly, vehemently, and emphatically urging one and all of you to take advantage of whatever chance you get to go and see them live. As Nike so wisely advises, “Just Do It.” The foursome cranks out some of the biggest and best electro/funk/rock hybrid songs you’re likely to ever experience, and they do it with tons of panache (and tons of well-groomed facial hair). I promise you absolutely will not be disappointed. Also, should you happen to be seeing them in Austin, bring some socks with you. Adam might have run out by that point.

Les Enfants Terribles: How are you getting to SXSW: plane, train, or automobile?
Adam Wills: Automobile! We rented a cheap van from a buddy of ours. It's a nice ride, plenty of room for us and our heap of gear. Currently it's going to be arriving about 1hour before we have to leave for tour, so I'm a bit of an anxiety case right now over it.

LET: Inevitably, you will forget to pack:
AW: Enough socks. Never enough socks. I'm pretty good with my checklists, but, yeah, definitely gonna forget something. Hope I remember my passport!

LET: How many showcases/parties will you be playing?
AW: 9!!! Holy Shit. Well, 8 + a radio performance, but that's a lot for us. Especially in the middle of a 5 week tour, we're gonna be crispy after SXSW. Stoked to get there and STOKED to leave.

LET: Band you're most looking forward to seeing at the festival?
AW: Tough call. Hope we'll be able to see anything, we're playing so much, there's not gonna be enough time and energy to dart around like we're used to. But I can't wait to see Oh No Ono again, an amazing band from Denmark who are good pals of ours, they're fantastic. Oh, and then I'm definitely gonna check out Stone Temple Pilots, I heard they'll be down.

LET: What's the first thing you plan on doing upon arrival in Austin?
AW: Well, we're actually playing the moment we arrive, but if there's a moment to shove a taco in my face, I'll be doing that.

LET: What was the first festival you ever attended, either as a musician or member of the general public?
AW: Oh, hmmm, had to be Lollapalooza I reckon. 93? I don't remember!

LET: Favorite thing about festivals?
AW: People watching. We played Bonnaroo a couple of years ago, and I've never been to something like that in my entire life. I don't think I had even been to a show that was 500+ since high school. So to enter the grounds and see 100,000 kids, 80% of which were wasted, was AMAZING hahaha. Had a blast, but was very thankful to be out of there after 1 day.

mp3: Lovesick Teenagers (Bear In Heaven from Beast Rest Forth Mouth)