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Vice Blog

WEST END MOTEL DO NOT HAVE A NEW ALBUM

Photo by Jake Burghart

We've told you about these guys before. They're a group of fun-loving scruffy dudes from Atlanta led by Thomas Cheshire (All Night Drug Prowling Wolves, Rent Boys) and Brent Hinds (Mastodon, Fiend Without A Face). They were supposed to have a new album coming out today and we were going to interview them all about the new songs and sounds and their feelings about the songs and sounds. Then the record got pushed back to a June release date, and we had to make up a bunch of new questions on the spot. So now the interview is basically about how Tom and Brent forged a lifelong friendship through partying and how special that is. We also included a song that'll be on the new record—so actually it all sort of ties back into the original plan doesn't it?

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Vice: So you guys have a new record coming out today! Exciting stuff.
Tom Cheshire: Actually… We just got word that it's being delayed until June.

Oh. Seriously? Well shit. That doesn't make this blog post very timely, does it?
Sorry, girl. But! The record is done and we're going to SXSW to play all the new songs. Does that help?

I think we can make it work.
We've actually already started writing our second record as well. Booked some upcoming studio time, too. The whole idea is to push that along then get on the road and go fucking crazy.

Busy fellas. So this June release will be your first official release under the West End Motel moniker, right?
Yeah. Rocket Science approached us about putting a record out. They act as a management company for musicians who, I think, have become frustrated with the bigger labels. Mos Def and Cindy Lauper are both on it.

Where'd you guys record it?
The Living Room with Ed Rawls. In the past he's worked with a bunch of great Atlanta bands like the Black Lips, the Gaye Blades, the Coathangers, etc. Then we went out to Athens to Chase Park Transduction studio and had it mixed by David Barbe. I think he's produced almost every album for Drive-By Truckers and he just produced and recorded the last Deerhunter record, which is amazing.

Right. Remind me how you and Brent first met each other?
I first met Brent in the mid-nineties when we were in different bands. He was in a band called Four Hour Fogger with Troy Sanders, and you know, Troy is the singer and bass player in Mastodon. I was a big fan of theirs. We didn't hang out much at the time, just some beers here and there, but Brent was one of my favorite guitar players. We didn't become best friends right away.

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That's funny. I feel like Brent could easily become someone's best friend within five seconds of first meeting them but he also makes enemies that fast too.
Yeah, after Four Hour Fogger he started this band called Fiend Without A Face and I was just blown away. I was like, "They're my favorite band in the world I want to see them as much as I can." And that's when I really, really tried to hang out with Brent more. At the time I had a band called Rent Boys so we started playing shows together.

Then it was all over—best buds forever?
Yep. That's when the insanity began and we just got into loads of trouble.

Yeah—I think loads of trouble doesn't even begin to describe the two of you on a good night out. If any mutual acquaintance saw you guys walking down the street together at eight in the morning on a Tuesday what do you think their immediate reaction would be?
[laughs] Run away. Because that means either we're just ending our night at 8am or we're taking it to a whole other level and keeping the party going.

Do friends or band mates ever try to separate you two so a particular night stays somewhat calm and relaxed?
Yes, especially when music has to be played.

Probably a good idea. Though I particularly like being around the two of you together. It's like standing in front of a tornado made up of beer and joy and bad decisions.
Yeah, yeah, I think a lot of folks see that. But we both can be kind of complicated folks, you know? Somehow our personalities just meshed in a good way and that's not going to happen all the time so more than anything I enjoy his company. And I know this sounds ridiculous, but late nights aren't just about partying. There's going to be stimulating conversations, listening to the same music, loving the same music. It's always been based around music. And that's what really led to the next step. I wanted to showcase the side of Brent
that no one knows. Metal kids don't realize that most of the Mastodon songs they love started with him on his acoustic guitar late at night, and it's pretty amazing to hear those songs in that element.

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How does West End's sound differ from both of your other bands?
It's just very, very simple bluesy/folksy, Americana… Maybe. [laughs] Essentially it's just our own take on country music. I even think some of it's gospel-like. It really goes all over the place and it comes from the music we've listened to over the years. I've always been a big Tom Waits fan and Brent is a huge Frank Zappa fan.

When I saw you guys play your first East Coast tour back in October Brent even had some non-screaming singing bits, which lots of people may not be used to hearing from him. That was also during his "Witch and Famous," dirty, glittery sweatshirt with a Don King wig and hairnet phase.
Oh yes, on the second record we're recording right now he sings a lot more.
For the first release he's mainly just slaying on the guitar and doing backing vocals, but things change and every member becomes a lot more comfortable, even the other players playing with us.

Right. You have a complete backing band now.
It really started off as a project fooling around on a piano or even banging on a bucket or my lap for drums and him playing acoustic guitar. There was something really pretty and beautiful and messed up about that. Sometimes forgetting the words, making things up, improvising on the spot, that kind of thing. Then we decided to take it to another level and get an upright bass player and add some accordion to the mix.

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Right. Wait—didn't you guys end up crashing one night at Max Weinberg's mansion when you were on tour last year?
Yes.

How did that happen?
Max Weinberg, of Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band fame, lives in New Jersey and he's got a son, Jay Weinberg, who is a fantastic and brilliant drummer, just like his pops.

Right. He plays drums in Against Me!
Well, he is a fan of Mastodon, so he came out to some shows and hung out with those guys. And so when we were in town he came out to the show and was like, "Hey, you guys should stay at my house."

COOL.
It was really amazing. It's this huge fort and then there's a whole other house with a huge bar and a bunch of instruments. It's filled with the most amazing pictures of Max Weinberg hanging out with Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, John Lennon, Paul McCartney…

Was Max home?
Nah. But his son is just a super sweet person, and a fantastic drummer. We actually loaded in our stuff and went into his practice studio space and drank and played music and jammed all night with him. It was great.

I bet. So what's happening tonight? It was supposed to be an album release show, but now maybe it's a "Sorry Our Record Was Pushed Back but We Are Still Going to Party" show?
Yeah, basically. We play tonight at 529 in East Atlanta. Then on Thursday we're going to be playing in New Orleans at this bar called Siberia with the band Black Eyed Vermillion. Then we head to SXSW for a few shows at The Jackalope on the 18th for the Volcom Beer Party, and the next day we'll be at Trophy's Bar & Grille. We just want to put on a great show and make people happy.

[audio:http://viceland-assets-cdn.vice.com/blogs/en/files/2011/03/03-3-i-like-alot.mp3]
"I Like It A Lot"

ELLIS JONES

http://www.myspace.com/westendmotel
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