News / / 11.08.14

Speedy Ortiz

Meeting the bands you’re into can sometimes suck. The endless cycle of departure gates, strangers’ sofas and service station breakfasts is enough to potentially dampen the spirits of even the most inspired individuals. So no matter how hard you try to impress these guys with your knowledge of those early Bandcamp demos, often there’s no way of shaking them out of their bleary-eyed stupor.

But the same can’t be said for Massachussetts four-piece Speedy Ortiz, whose only complaint seems to be that tonight’s line-up involves a clash between Deafheaven and Slint, despite the fact that they don’t appear to have had a proper break in months. Inexplicably, they’re looking fresh and healthy too. So what’s the secret? “Say no to drugs”, their bassist Darl advises. “Well except coffee”, says guitarist and singer Sadie. “Except for good drugs” Darl pipes up; “hang on,” he says, “Isn’t this interview for Crack?” We nod. “Well yeah, say yes to Crack too. Always. Crack is back. Crack’s not whack.”

Since evolving from Sadie’s summer camp laptop project to a fleshed-out group, Speedy Ortiz have become a thrillingly agile noise pop unit who can fluctuate from restrained, palm-muted power chords to raucous grunge riffage at the flick of a wrist. Their momentum, which has been steadily increasing since last year’s Major Arcana album, recently earned them a support slot with former Pavement frontman Stephen Malkmus and his band The Jicks. Something of a dream come true we guess, considering Sadie once fronted an all-female Pavement tribute band called Babement. “I guess Steve had heard about it, but he wasn’t telling me so I wouldn’t be embarrassed, which was nice of him. But on the second last night of the tour he was like ‘You wanna do a Babement reunion tomorrow?’. So I got to sing In The Mouth of A Desert. The Jicks played back up, Steve sang the ‘oo-oo-oo-oo-ooh’ bit, it was pretty special.”

While the band would never deny their love for certain indie rock legends, they’re getting a little tired of all the incessant 90s comparisons that smother their reviews. And according to Sadie, Malkmus was able to offer some decent advice. “Steve said we’re just a continuation of a certain type of rock. He also said that when Pavement started, they were always compared to The Fall and Swell Maps. Now no one talks about Pavement being like a Fall rip-off band, but that was the press they got in the first few years.”

There’s a new face in Speedy Ortiz. Their guitarist Matt Robidoux was recently replaced by Devin McKnight, a switch-up which their drummer Mike believes has given the songs a new lease of life. “Now Devin’s joined the band, a lot of our songs are sounding different, which is cool because they were getting a little tiring. Maybe that’s why bands get so exhausted, because they’re sick of playing the same 20 songs they put out a million times.” And maybe that’s why Mark E. Smith keeps firing his band members, we suggest.

“We actually saw The Fall last night, it was like thee best shit I’ve seen”, Sadie enthuses. “[Mark E Smith] is a hysterical stage presence. He was unplugging amps and like, turning guitars up completely full. Someone hit him on the head with a beer and he didn’t even react. He looks like the coolest monster I’ve ever seen.

“I don’t want to play guitar any more”, she declares, “so I can walk around unplugging people’s amps and shit”. But if Sadie Dupuis is really going take inspiration from Smith, then she’s going to struggle to find grounds for fair dismissal, because the Speedy Ortiz line-up she’s got behind her right now is looking as solid as a rock.

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Words: Davy Reed & Billy Black

@davyreed

@billybillyblack

The Real Hair EP is out now via Carpark. Catch Speedy Ortiz at Green Man, Glanusk, Wales, 14-17 August

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