It's been a minute since LA trio JJUUJJUU released their 2013 EP FRST via Beyond Beyond Is Beyond records. In the time since, the threesome have been toiling hard at the coalface of spacey drone rock, creating an entire album's worth of trippy psychedelia for their as-yet-untitled debut LP, due out later this year.From Oakland to Orange County to Echo Park, the album has seen them travel all over California, and they seem to have made a new friend along the way. Announcing their return in the new music video for lead single "Bleck" is its star, a 300 pound gorilla. And this isn't just any 300 pound gorilla. This is a 300 pound gorilla you can control yourself, in an interactive game designed by Lionel Williams of LA experimental pop outfit Vinyl Williams.We got quick chance to catch up with JJUUJJUU spokesman Phil Pirrone while he was psyching people out at SXSW. Read on and check out the video premiere of "Bleck," along with a free download, below:NOISEY: Phil, what have JJUUJJUU been doing for three whole years?
Phil Pirrone: We put on three Desert Daze music festivals, got married [to Deap Vally drummer Julie Pirrone], had a baby, and recorded this next record. How did you meet [video director] Vinyl Williams?
PP: I told [local musician] Morgan Delt that I was looking for a drummer for a tour and he suggested his drummer, Lionel [Williams] of Vinyl Williams. Lionel and I share a serious love for [Can legend] Jaki Liebezeit and Gold Fish crackers. Lionel's hair is pretty great, too. He's an extremely sweet dude and his imagination is pretty far out. There's a gorilla in the new video. What do you think the gorilla makes of JJUUJJUU?
PP: I'm not sure what the gorilla thinks or if he thinks at all, but I think it's kind of like when you have a song stuck in your head, perpetually for weeks…What can we expect from the next JJUUJJUU album?
PP: Danceable, heavy metal trance kraut tribal pop.Sounds rad. When are JJUUJJUU back on the road?
PP: We just finished eight shows at SXSW. We're doing a handful of dates this spring including Levitation festival in Texas.If you need a person in a gorilla costume to join you, would you consider us at Noisey?
PP: I would! You guys are the best at wearing gorilla costumes.If you could bring one other bunch of LA psych hellraisers with you, who would they be?
PP: I want to open for the Thee Oh Sees every day of my life. That way I could see Thee Oh Sees every day of my life. John [Dwyer, frontman] is in LA now. I just met him for the first time. He's so positive and upbeat and his band is the best in the world. So that would be fun.What's the best thing you've seen (or eaten) at SXSW in 2016?
PP: Yonatan Gat (I didn't eat them). Also, I did not have Torchey's tacos, I apologize. I failed you and I take full responsibility for my actions.Play the interactive version at JJUUJJUU.org and download "Bleck" for free on Bandcamp.JJUUJJUU ON TOUR:3/31- Los Angeles, CA @ Echo ***4/2 - San Francisco, CA @ Slim’s ***4/20 - Big Sur, CA @ Henry Miller Library +++4/24 - Los Angeles, CA @ Echoplex %%%4/27 - Albuquerque, NM @ Sister Bar ```5/1 - Austin, TX @ Levitation5/2 - El Paso, TX @ Bowie Feathers ###5/3 - Santa Fe, NM @ Meow Wolf ###5/4 - Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom ^^^5/27 - San Diego, CA @ Brick by Brick @@@*** w/ Songhoy Blues+++ w/ Imarhan, Mattson 2%%% w/ Imarhan, Luke Top``` w/ Allah Las, Mild High Club### w/ Chicano Batman^^^ w/ Tortoise, Chicano Batman@@@ w/ Gary Wilson
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Phil Pirrone: We put on three Desert Daze music festivals, got married [to Deap Vally drummer Julie Pirrone], had a baby, and recorded this next record. How did you meet [video director] Vinyl Williams?
PP: I told [local musician] Morgan Delt that I was looking for a drummer for a tour and he suggested his drummer, Lionel [Williams] of Vinyl Williams. Lionel and I share a serious love for [Can legend] Jaki Liebezeit and Gold Fish crackers. Lionel's hair is pretty great, too. He's an extremely sweet dude and his imagination is pretty far out. There's a gorilla in the new video. What do you think the gorilla makes of JJUUJJUU?
PP: I'm not sure what the gorilla thinks or if he thinks at all, but I think it's kind of like when you have a song stuck in your head, perpetually for weeks…What can we expect from the next JJUUJJUU album?
PP: Danceable, heavy metal trance kraut tribal pop.Sounds rad. When are JJUUJJUU back on the road?
PP: We just finished eight shows at SXSW. We're doing a handful of dates this spring including Levitation festival in Texas.If you need a person in a gorilla costume to join you, would you consider us at Noisey?
PP: I would! You guys are the best at wearing gorilla costumes.
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PP: I want to open for the Thee Oh Sees every day of my life. That way I could see Thee Oh Sees every day of my life. John [Dwyer, frontman] is in LA now. I just met him for the first time. He's so positive and upbeat and his band is the best in the world. So that would be fun.What's the best thing you've seen (or eaten) at SXSW in 2016?
PP: Yonatan Gat (I didn't eat them). Also, I did not have Torchey's tacos, I apologize. I failed you and I take full responsibility for my actions.Play the interactive version at JJUUJJUU.org and download "Bleck" for free on Bandcamp.JJUUJJUU ON TOUR:3/31- Los Angeles, CA @ Echo ***4/2 - San Francisco, CA @ Slim’s ***4/20 - Big Sur, CA @ Henry Miller Library +++4/24 - Los Angeles, CA @ Echoplex %%%4/27 - Albuquerque, NM @ Sister Bar ```5/1 - Austin, TX @ Levitation5/2 - El Paso, TX @ Bowie Feathers ###5/3 - Santa Fe, NM @ Meow Wolf ###5/4 - Phoenix, AZ @ Crescent Ballroom ^^^5/27 - San Diego, CA @ Brick by Brick @@@*** w/ Songhoy Blues+++ w/ Imarhan, Mattson 2%%% w/ Imarhan, Luke Top``` w/ Allah Las, Mild High Club### w/ Chicano Batman^^^ w/ Tortoise, Chicano Batman@@@ w/ Gary Wilson