Regular followers of this blog will know that I was totally blown away by The Civil War Alliance album of last year, 'Lee's Stagecoach' - in a time dominated by indentikit indie bands (much like 1996, 2001 and 2005), their rustic bombast really stood out from the pack - I thought it was streets ahead of anything else, both lyrically and musically, so naturally I was delighted when their notably uncharismatic frontman Michaels Erikson (on the right of the picture) agreed to a telephone interview.The word 'disappointment' is used a lot these days, without much consideration of it's meaning. Well, I've spent the last 40 minutes reading the entry in the dictionary.
This was a disappointment.
I have attempted to transcribe what occurred as best as I can; it's been slightly edited to remove elements of undue stupidity by me and to paint me in a much better light.
INDIE-GESTION: Hi Michaels, thanks for agreeing to answer a few questions for my website.
MICHAELS ERIKSON: Sure.
I-G: I thought Lee's Stagecoach was a hell of a good record - one of the best of last year actually, so it's a real pleasure to be talking to you.
ME: I know.
I-G: As I understand it, The Civil War Alliance formed back in 2003 when you were all still in high school in Richmond, Virginia.
ME: Norfolk man, Norfolk. Basic fucking research.
I-G: I'm sorry, but it's actually really hard finding any real info about you on the internet.
ME: Jesus man, all you've gotta do is ask, and I'll tell you. What do you want to know?
I-G: Ok, so you formed when you were in high school in Norfolk, Virg-
ME: Yeah man, already said that, next question. [inaudible] christ...
I-G: So what would you say were your influences at the time you started?
ME: Is that question for real?
I-G: Er, yes.
ME: Ok. Joshua Chamberlain. James Longstreet. Robert Lee. John Buford. George Pickett. Thomas Chamberlain. Buster Kilrain-
I-G: Er, I guess I was more interested in finding out your musical influences, apart from Robert Lee I'm not really sure who those people are. I'm assuming you don't mean the ex-Newcastle winger? (NB - this was an attempt to break the ice. I think it worked.)
ME: You've gotta be kidding me. Don't they teach any US history in school these days? Son, you're talking like a disgrace.
I-G: Woah..... firstly, I'm 38; secondly, we probably don't learn as much about the American civil war in the UK than you do in the states.
ME: God dammit, you need some real history to learn. When I was--
I-G: Er, I think we're going off map here-
ME: What?
I-G: -so I'll ask you again, what were your musical influences when you just started out?
ME: .......
I-G: Hello?
ME: Ha, made you speak. Well, I didn't really have any musical influences - I'm only the singer. I tend to leave that stuff up to the guitarists, and the pianoists and the recordingists.
I-G: ........
ME: You want me to say that louder son?
I-G: No, I got it... I'm a bit baffled by your answer to be honest.
ME: How d'you mean?
I-G: Well, when one of your musical idols says to you that they don't have any musical influences, and then uses words like 'pianoists', it's always going to throw you off your train of thought. It's just not what I expected, that's all.
ME: Never expect. Never explain. Apologise sometimes. It's the way of the south.
I-G: Hmmm, ok. Lee's Stagecoach did really well for a debut album-
ME: God dammit! It's not our debut. We did, like, 4 records before we even got signed.
I-G: Well... were they released or anything?
ME: Yeah, we sold them all over Richmond, at our shows, eBay - y'know, the usual outlets.
I-G: So I guess I'm forgiven for not really, er, knowing..... wait a second, Richmond?
ME: What of it?
I-G: You just said Richmond. You just said you were from Norfolk less than 5 minutes ago, and you pretty much yelled at me for getting it wrong.
ME: I don't like your tone - you're taping this right? Well, play it back later and realise you're an idiot. Next question.
I-G: Ok, ok. My next question is about your album. The whole concept was pretty far out - you based it on inanimate objects of the period of the American civil war, in particular relating to General Lee - the single 'Lee's Stagecoach' is a defining example of this, in that it merely lists some objects that may have been used by General Lee at some point. What was the thinking behing this? Were you trying to make a statement about the construct of the pop song in the 21st century? Or were you trying to make a statement about the current state of literary historical indie music, ie bands like the Decemberists or Midlake?
ME: Litter wary? Son, let me tell you something. If you go down to the National Civil War Museum in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, you will see each and every item that I listed in that song in that museum, and you will see them in the same order.
I-G: So... you just wrote down things you saw as you went round the exhibits?
ME: Well........ truth be told, I've never been there, but I got my nephew to do it on a school field trip. He's still chasing me for a co-writing credit, the little cracker.
I-G: I... I... shit, I'm stunned! I've been using that song... fuck, I've been using that song as an example of where sophisticated indie music will go next, and you're telling me that you got your nephew to write stuff down that he saw, for you to sing?
ME: Well, I was the one who told him what to do - find a grey uniform and write down what you see.
I-G: How old is he anyway?
ME: He's 10, but he looks about 3. It's pretty freaky actually.
I-G: Is this how you wrote the entire album? Through him?
ME: Not the whole album. There are a few instrumentals on there, and I can't really take credit for those.
I-G: You can't take the credit for any of them! You're a.... hell, you're not even a hack - you're a fraud.
ME: Listen son, I don't give interviews so I can be insul-
I-G: STOP CALLING ME SON, I'm, like, 15 years older than you. I'm stunned! I...... well, at least I know why you're album seems to have such a strong bias towards the confederacy, it's because it's from your 10 year old nephew's point of view!
ME: The whateracy?
I-G: The confederacy!
ME: The confedawhatty?
I-G: THE FUCKING CONFEDERACY! General Lee's army! The army that wore grey and that you wrote an entire fucking album about!
ME: Son - you mean the south. That's what we call ourselves.
I-G: I'm really starting to question if you know anything about US history at all. I mean... what were those names you listed earlier? Y'know, when I asked you what your influences were?
ME: Hold on, give me a second.................... Joshua Chamberlain. James Longstreet. Robert Lee. John Buford. George Pickett. Thomas Chamberlain. Buster Kilrain-
I-G: Why did you pause?
ME: I didn't pause. Those are some of the greatest heroes this country has ever seen, and I know them by heart.I-G: Are you looking those guys up on the internet?
ME:......No I am not.
I-G: I don't believe you, I'm going to look them up myself... oh my god.
ME: Well, I think you should have everything you need here-
I-G: The first thing that came up was the wikipedia entry for the film Gettysburg - oh my god, is this where your knowledge of the civil war comes from?
ME: Son, I don't know what you're talking about.
I-G: Those names you listed - they're the characters, in the same order that they're billed!
ME: My God, that's a crazy coincidence! I guess that shows how much I know about it after all, for me to get everything right along with those folks.
I-G: Buster Kilrain isn't even a real person! He was fictional!!
ME: I..... he....... what?
I-G: How come you didn't know what the confederacy was? I mean, it must be mentioned in the film?
ME: I'll level with you - I haven't seen the film. But I have read that article about 8 times - it's pretty informative stuff. Have you tried reading the entry on the American Civil War? My god, it's like trying to read a book.
I-G: So your knowledge of the American Civil War comes from the wikipedia entry for the film Gettysburg?
ME: That, and also my own songs. And I saw the first ten minutes of Sahara, but I was pretty drunk at the time. That battle scene! My god, amazing. Amazing. I think it's my second favourite film because of that battle.
I-G: And what's your favourite film?
ME: Soul Man.
I-G: Have you actually seen this one?
ME: Hell yes, it's totally hilarious! Y'know I mentioned the next album earlier? Well, it's actually going to be about this film.
I-G: Please don't do that.
ME: Too late man, my nephew is watching the video as we speak.
Lee's Stagecoach by The Civil War Alliance is out now on Risible Records.
