Javelin, the überkool electroband that counts David Byrne amongst its admirers and the MoMA as a previously played concert venue, is about to embark on a whirlwind tour with Yeasayer. I got to chat with 1/2 of the duo (you know – while they are still doing interviews with bloggers of my caliber), the charming George Langford, about the past, present, and future of Javelin and just what’s in store for dance music’s most versatile musicians; both George and Tom [Buskirk] play a plethora of instruments and show aplomb with many an apparatus. Did you know that? I didn’t. Read on!
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TMAP: Hi – I am here with George Langford, one half of the cousinly duo that is Javelin. Hi George.
GL: Hi.
TMAP: I just watched the xlr8r video that features you guys thrifting old tapes and then sampling the sounds to make new music. So, is that a fair assessment of what you do?
GL: Well, we use samplers as a tool to make music, that’s fair. But we don’t always necessarily sample a third party. We like to sample tapes and records and all kinds of old media. It’s definitely part of our process. But we are also instrumentalists and we sample ourselves quite a bit
TMAP: What do you play?
GL: I play guitar, drums, keyboard, bass, mandolin, and Tom plays keyboards, cello, guitar and sings.
TMAP: Wowzers. So SxSW is next and then a tour of the South and Midwest. Are you excited?
GL: So excited. I actually picked up a used car today that Tom and I will be traveling in.
TMAP: So you guys are gonna drive yourselves? You’re low maintenance, huh.
GL: Yeah, totally. We travel light.
TMAP: So just your MPC’s and your person and you are good to go?
GL: Yeah, well we bring some drums and a synth and some other percussive elements, but uh we keep it pretty bare. We try to just have a party in a box. This tour we are bringing boom boxes.
TMAP: Like the one’s you used in that crazy MoMA performance. What was that by the way?
GL: That was a bizarre bizarre occurrence. Some friends of ours, Graffiti Research Lab, were doing a lecture and they need someone to do the after party so they thought of us, so we did it… along with a troop of dancers from Providence.
TMAP: So that explains the matching outfits.
GL: Yeah… yeah. The staff and security guards at The MoMA were like “Who the hell are you people and how are you playing at The MoMA right now?”
TMAP: Well it sounded great.
GL: Well thanks. That’s kind.
TMAP: So in April you are joining the Yeasayer tour.
GL: Yeah this is a big year for them and we are happy to be a part of it.
…and that’s right about when my internet cut out… but their new album No Más drops April 6th on Luaka Bop. Pre-order a copy here and enjoy the aforementioned xlr8r and MoMA videos. Also included is a download of their latest single “Oh! Centra.” You know how I do, boo (wink).
