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The Parlotones are back in South Africa to finish some work on their new album and play a few shows. We caught up with lead guitarist, Paul Hodgson to chat about their experiences and life in America, future plans and their new album, Stand Like Giants.
You are currently back in SA for a while. How long are you here for and what will you be doing while you are back?
We are back for about a month. We have come over to finish some work on the new album, play a few shows (including Jo’burg Day which is always a blast) and of course spend some time with our friends and family.
What has the experience of living in America been like thus far?
It’s been pretty cool so far. Actually staying there is very different to touring, where you’re on the road all the time and in a different city every day. Spending the last few months mostly in LA has been great, we’ve gotten into a fairly regular routine of “normal life” there. We shop for groceries, cook our own meals, ride our bicycles and skateboards around town, play tennis at the nearby courts, braai and play volleyball at the local park and every Monday we go to a nearby restaurant for their $1 dollar hotdog specials.
How have the Parlotones and the music been accepted in the US?
We’re off to a good start, the shows have been great and we’re definitely building up a loyal fan-base in America. There has been some good radio play, as well as some music making its way into TV shows, movies and adverts. It feels very similar to how things were going for us a few years ago in South Africa.
Give us a rundown of some of the best gigs you have played over there?
The shows in LA are always good, we play the legendary Viper Room, as well as The Roxy and Troubadour. It’s hard to choose just a few good gigs because they’re all cool in their own way, whether we’re playing to a nice big crowd in NY or LA, or to 50 people in a tiny place somewhere in the middle of nowhere.
The Parlotones to their South African Fans “Thanks again for all your amazing support, you have given us the best job in the world”
What is the day in the life of the Parlotones in America like?
Kahn and Neil wake up at 6am and go play tennis. When they get back we normally have breakfast and drink coffee till about 9am, then we go downstairs into the garage for rehearsals and working on new songs. Around 1pm we break for lunch and a long swim. It’s been very hot in LA the last few weeks, so there’s been lots of swimming. And the sun only sets after 8pm, so sometimes we’ll even be swimming then. After lunch we do another hour or so of practice and then break off to do our own stuff; whether it’s writing new songs, practicing guitar, writing blogs and articles, or even just sitting in front of the TV flipping channels for a few hours. Then at night we sometimes go out to watch local bands, or theatre and comedy shows, or even just up the road to the local pub.
And of course there’s a show every few days, so on those days we’ll normally leave the house around 1pm to go load-in at the venue and sound-check and all that jazz.
What are some of the craziest things you have experienced since living in the US?
Every morning Kahn and Neil see a strange old man carefully folding sheets on the tennis courts. They have to wait for him to finish before they can play. Lots of people we meet are super healthy; they don’t eat gluten, everything is organic and free-range, and they all do yoga. We’ve met a woman who says she channels the spirit of a man called Dr Peebles who died in 1900 or something, and who can get us in contact with anyone who has died. We met a cool guy from Ghana who played the congas on “Sympathy for the Devil” and toured with the Rolling Stones, and was also friends with Jimi Hendrix, he had some great stories.
And of course our van has been a constant source of crazy experiences, it’s served us well but recently it died in the desert of Nevada and had to be put out of its misery. RIP.
What would you say is the biggest difference when performing in the US compared to performing at home in SA?
Well the only real difference is the size of the crowds. People who are at a gig are pretty much the same all around the world. Some dance and sing along, others keep quiet and listen. They all clap and cheer after a song and shout for an encore. Obviously crowds in South Africa know a lot more songs, so they will sing along more often, whereas crowds in US (or anywhere else in the world) are still getting to know us, so they tend to listen and watch more intently.
What do you miss most about home?
Hard to explain exactly, but it’s the comfort and familiarity of home. We miss our friends and families, and I guess what they say is true, “Home is where the heart is.”
What upcoming plans do you have on the cards?
We have a new album coming out in mid-September, called “Stand Like Giants.” There are some local shows, but we will be back in America at the end of September for a few weeks, then back in November (Kahn is getting married) and then we’ll probably be doing a summer tour in South Africa in December, you can’t beat the South African summer!
When will the new album be released?
“Stand Like Giants” will be out mid-September, we are just working on the last few bits and pieces, and trying to choose 10 to 12 songs out of the 30 or so we worked on.
Will the release include a South African tour to promote the album?
We will definitely be doing a release tour, check our website for details.
Any words for your South African fans?
Thanks again for all your amazing support, you have given us the best job in the world.
