Free Energy digitally releases their debut album Stuck on Nothing today on Astralwerks/DFA Records, which was produced by DFA’s James Murphy (LCD SoundSystem). Physical copies will be available on May 4, 2010. The guys are on tour with LA’s Foreign Born, and will be rolling back into town at the MarBar this Saturday before heading off to SXSW and across the pond. Singer Paul Sprangers was nice enough to take time out from the parties, boob signings and (oh yeah) rock shows to answer a few questions from the road.
The Deli: You’ve been part of the Minneapolis music scene. How does it compare to Philly’s scene (similarities/differences)?
Paul Sprangers: The Twin Cities and Philly are similar scene-wise in that there’s a lot of unconditional musical support, but also a ton of corresponding scene-drama, band-hating, and social feuds. There are way more tats in Philly. Probably more fixed gear hipsters in The Twin Cities, but I certainly could be wrong.
To conclude–both cities are rad. But we’ve always been outsiders. Our band has never really fit in anywhere.
TD: We’ve always thought that it was an odd pairing given the usual dance-punk music that you might find on DFA. How did you originally get hooked up with them?
PS: We’ve been in touch with them before "Keep Guessin" came out. So it’s been a long, long process of emailing, talking and sending them demos and waiting for the time to feel right.
TD: How did James Murphy help you with your recording process?
PS: He has a vast, vast knowledge of weird old equipment, getting good sounds, and recording a lot of different kinds of bands. He knows what will sound good on a dance floor as well as a shitty boombox.
TD: It looks like there are many tours for your future with the upcoming release of your debut full length Stuck on Nothing on Astralwerks. What cities are you most excited about rolling into and why?
PS: I like college towns. Kids always wanna dance and party in college towns. We like the West Coast. We like the East Coast. D.C. has been really cool. Midwest is cool cause kids are so excited about anything good.
TD: What are your biggest musical influences?
PS: Life. Understanding the self. Non-fiction about the mind, perception, consciousness, and the evolution of humankind. Learning from mistakes. Learning from friends and teachers. Learning to forgive and accept fault. These things influence the process of making music and achieving success more than any single record or artist we’ve ever listened to.
TD: What local and national/international artists are you currently into?
PS: Surfer Blood!! Yeasayer. Beach House. Hot Chip. Foreign Born. Clovers. Skinny Uglies. Kurt Vile.
TD: What’s the first concert that you ever attended and first album that you ever bought?
PS: New Kids on the Block. Robert Palmer – Heavy Nova.
TD: What are your plans for 2010?
PS: Sign a lot of boobs. Big boobs.
TD: What was your most memorable live show?
PS: We just had an awesome show in Chicago. Tons of hot girls taking pictures up front, then a bunch of frat guys doing fucking crazy dance moves. Then I jumped on one of the guys shoulders and sang from within the crowd. It was a party.
TD: What’s your favorite thing to get at the deli?
PS: CLUB SANDWICH BAYBEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!
– The Deli Staff