As we roll into Bisco Week 2010, Girl Talk reflects on his 2007 Bisco gig, the differences between rocking a laptop in the US and Europe, Australia’s Bruce Springsteen, and why getting booed and — even mooned — by French campers isn’t necessarily a bad thing. Plus, notes on his unique Lars Von Trier-ish remix challenge, bands he’s looking forward to hearing at CBIX and a re-mastered vintage clip of that killer Girl Talk set at BISC007…
This is what American Bandstand looks like on Planet Bisco
GIRL TALK — Laws of time and space kept me from recording this, so I had to type as fast as he spoke….
On his 2007 Bisco gig
“From that show — I guess that was summer 2007 — I do remember there being travel issues in getting there…I kind of got there late and that was [back] when I went to shows alone, so I specifically remember rolling in late — and I’m open to playing any festival — so I wasn’t familiar with the festival. I was familiar with the Disco Biscuits…I kind of remember going in [feeling] very blank, like an hour before going on, because I usually like to be the guy there early, getting to know things…So I get to the stage unprepared and I couldn’t tell how well I fit in socially [as someone who’s] remixing pop music. Where I fit in, I never know…I kind of remember being stiff for the first two minutes and it got going and it got crazy and went really well. [ED note: ‘sure did, see video] Shows are great when you have no expectations; Bisco is one of those things that, you play there [and] you meet folks who say ‘I remember when you played on so-and-so date’ – it’s that sort of culture.”
On rocking a laptop, here VS abroad
“I’ve been kind of bringing some help around, some buddies who help with props. I always wanted to make it more of spectacle, even in the early days. I haven’t been to Europe since last summer…[I’ve] been to Austrailia and Japan — for me it’s how familiar they are with my material; obviously, different samples hit differently. It’s hard to know [beforehand] that Rush never made a big impact in Australia — there are obvious things like an AC/DC [sample] that’s their Bruce Springsteen — it’s awesome. In Europe for me the funny thing was that the cult around electronic performance is different with DJs. Even in the states ten years ago, it wasn’t as big in the states [as in Europe, where] a lot of crowds are really comfortable with someone in front of decks or a laptop whereas in the states I don’t think it was as acceptable. I want to be able to play to Indie Rock audiences and Hip-Hop crowds, and you can’t always do that onstage. I’ve grown into jumping around and getting people onstage [but] it still can be a bit vague what’s expected of me and what I expect of them.”
Moon over France
“I remember three summers ago somewhere in France, I can’t remember [where] but I played a festival where they kind of booked me to play for the campers and no one was familiar [with me] but it was like thousands hanging out and it was 4th of July and I was all alone, away from the states, and that was one of the shows where people didn’t know me and sometimes remixing pop can be offensive. I went on at 2 am after hard Electro and House — and I got up there and did my thing and it completely bombed! People were hating on it — when you get in their face it gets uncomfortable. People [were] mooning me, people were getting physical with me and it was a shitty show but sometimes that’s awesome, it’s fun. The whole point is more than entertainment — I can play anywhere and be booed, and that’s a hint that your doing something specific with music.”
Next up, Bisco
“I’m pretty pumped just ‘cause I’ve taken most of the summer off to work on a few projects so the only shows I’m doing are kind of specific things, ‘just a handful of things…when you’re doing them all the time it can become work, and it gets hectic. I’m looking forward to getting to be there — the lineup looks like it’s evolved a bit, they have more of an Indie-centric vibe. [I’m looking forward to] seeing Holy Fuck, Wu Massacre; I love that album, so I’m excited to check that out. Those dudes are always cool live. I just like when stuff gets more ambiguous, as far at the style and crowd like with, LCD, Major Lazer; some of that seems unconnected, which I like.”
Work
“[I’ve been] mainly just [getting] another album started…that’s just an all-encompassing thing for me. I work towards it for a couple of years just assembling source material then it’s ten or twelve hour days. I had the summer off to make it, but I don’t think I’ll actually be done by end of summer. [I’m] hoping to get the ball rolling enough by September. This is my fifth album in ten years, each one means a lot to me.”
Girl Talk will be playing at 10:30 on Saturday July 17th, the final night of Camp Bisco
Another Title…
I saw this really great post today….
[...] I haven’t thought ahead to Saturday yet, though it’ll be interesting to see Girl Talk close out Bisco before the Biscuits drive everybody home. You can read Girl Talk’s pre-Bisco interview HERE [...]