On Wednesday, May 31 at 9.15 pm, a piece of rock history will be hitting the picturesque Oltrarno venue of Sala Vanni on occasion of the Glorytellers songwriter concert series. From Chicago’s 90s indie scene t0 post-rock beacons, Califone are now touring Italy to promote Dead Oceans’ recent deluxe reissue of 2001’s acclaimed album Roomsound, a veritable masterpiece of avant-garde folk.
We enjoyed a virtual chat with the band’s frontman and acclaimed lyricist Tim Rutili who, by the way, is on the lookout for tips on how to enjoy his one-day Florentine stay.
Michelle Davis: Your name is a homage to audio equipment manufacturer and you had your own studio, Clava. You’ve been through it all audio-wise – tapes, cds, mp3s and the big vinyl comeback of recent years. How have you experienced all these changes and have they affected your way of listening and producing music?
Tim Rutili: It’s hard to talk about this subject without sounding like an old man that prefers the way things were in the old pre-internet days. I grew up obsessed with records. The sound, the cover art and liner notes. I loved reading about the history of music and investigating the roots of where the sounds come from and was always looking for new music. I worked in a few record stores when I was young and even checked out records from the library occasionally. I’m going through a period when I listen to less music – Maybe because I’m older and the internet is overwhelming and confusing? I’ve gone through periods like this before. It usually comes back and I will get obsessed with a new band for a few days or need to hear everything by an old jazz player from 60 years ago.
These days, I prefer to listen to Mp3s on my phone when I drive and LPs at home. I still listen to CDs occasionally. I don’t put music on in the background very much anymore. I like to pay attention more and listen a little deeper. If I love a record I buy a vinyl copy. I don’t use a streaming service and I occasionally look on youtube if I really need to hear something that I don’t have immediately.
MD: Tell us a bit about “Slowness”, the single featured in another important Califone reissue, your 2003 cornerstone album Quicksand/Cradlesnakes (Dead Oceans 2017).
TR: Slowness comes from a collaboration we were doing with oRSo in 2003. We got together at the studio every Wednesday night and would improvise and record ideas. We released a 3 song CD EP from the Wednesday with oRSo sessions with an Italian label called Homesleep. It was really interesting to combine the bands in this loose and friendly setting. The 3 songs that we made with oRSo fit very well with the bonus material for Quicksand. Great to have that out there in the world on vinyl.
The cover of 2001 album Roomsound
MD: After “All My Friends are Funeral Singers” have you considered taking up film-making again? Who are your main influences when it comes to standing behind the camera? From a musical standpoint, what processes do you implement in creating a soundtrack?
TR: I’ll make more films. I’ve been writing with a few friends and hope to shoot a new one in the next few years. For film my influences and inspirations constantly change. Right now I’m obsessed with a film called “Scarecrow” directed by Jerry Schatzberg with Al Pacino and Gene Hackman. Really strange and beautiful american road movie from the early 70’s. Also some of the absurdist dark comedy done in that time period like “Where’s Poppa”, “The Loved One” and “Little Murders”. All of this stuff is influencing my writing these days and also seeping into the new songs I’ve been working on.
Soundtracking can be a pretty amazing process. In my experiences, there’s no one way to do it. It’s different every time and you just give the picture what it’s asking for. Half instinct and half manipulation.
MD: You grew up in Chicago, a city that appears to be making a bit of a comeback lately although it is still renowned for its high crime and violence rate. Califone recently released two songs as part of a charity action to benefit the Southern Poverty Law Center and organisations working for immigration and women’s rights. Did your hometown stimulate this humane sensitivity? Do you ever miss it living in LA?
TR: I’m not sure… I just think we need to step up and support compassion and empathy in the world and fight the rise of fascism, authoritarianism and turbo-capitalism that seems to be taking over. This world makes very little sense sometimes. I was very happy to contribute songs to organisations that actually help people that need it.
I love living in California but Chicago still feels like home in many ways.
MD: You have played here before… what do you think of our city? What can the Florentine audience expect from your concert in Sala Vanni? Tell us a bit about the line-up!
TR: Your city is one of the most beautiful I have ever experienced. I hope to see more of it on this trip! We have one day. Please make suggestions — What should we see, eat, drink while we are there?
On this tour we have Ben Massarella and Brian Deck from the very first incarnation of califone. The three of us made our first proper califone album, “roomsound” (we also played in red red meat and made many other records over the last 25 years together) We also have Wally Boudway on bass, banjo and keyboards and vocals and Ross Andrews on Guitar and vocals. Both amazing young musicians from Phoenix that have been playing in the band for the last few years. We’ll play Roomsound in full and in sequence and also a short set of old and new songs afterwards. We did this show in the states last fall and it was really amazing to revisit and celebrate where we began with Califone and where we will go. Beautiful. hope to see you there!
For more information, check out Musicus Concentus’ website.
