BLACK LIPS
The SiS Interview by Mike Archibald

What does a band do after they've played anywhere and everywhere and written a bunch of great albums? They do it all over again. In one of the band's few spare moments, drummer Joe Bradley got on the phone with Mike Archibald to chat about a new album, more tours, a movie, and all of the points leading up to now.

“I’d have to say our official beer is warm Bud in a can. Bud is pretty much the only American beer you can drink when it’s warm because it is so saturated.” Conversations like this one with Joe Bradley are never a shock because you’re talking with the member of Atlanta’s Black Lips.

Lately the Black Lips have been flying under the radar, as they are taking a few months off to take rest, which is certainly well-deserved for one of the most well-traveled bands in recent years. They have had lengthy tours in both North America and Europe as well as touring less popular locales like Russia and Israel. This recent lack of activity doesn’t mean that the band has been resting on their laurels as they are in the midst of planning their next tour.

Bradley said that the band are lining up a tour of India and are set for shows in South America, North America, and Europe in the coming months. In a way the band are musical Magellans, charting countries and continents most bands wouldn’t consider setting foot in. Their love of travel should not be confused with any kind of cocky attitude to be trailblazers or the first one to do something -- it is in fact the opposite. The band sees the opportunity to travel to places like Russia, Israel, and India as just that, a great opportunity.

For those who haven’t had the chance to see the Black Lips live, it might be hard to understand just how much they are on the road gigging. Their shows are always a spectacle to behold for both the band and the fans in the audience. Whether it is the fan experience of watching lead singer Cole Alexander light his guitar on fire, like at last year’s Coachella festival, or drummer Bradley’s recollection of a wild show in New York where the band played in an abandoned hotel that turned too dangerous for them to play a full set, The Black Lips are always turning heads.

Fans going out to see the band on their next tour should be expect to hear new material. Bradley explained that during the time they have had off, they purchased a recording studio in Georgia and have been working hard eight hours a day on a new album.

According to Bradley, this new album should be released in late February or early March. Listeners should expect about 20 tracks on the new album to make up for their 2007 release Good Bad Not Evil being a little on the short side in time.

Bradley reported that the group approached writing the work for this upcoming album separately, describing their efforts as if they were a family of hunters, “If you have four hunters in a family you will get a lot more food than a family with just one hunter.” He also noted that recording this way keeps the songs fresh rather than working over and over again and the same track.

Also in their time off, the band has started production on a feature film titled “Let It Be,” a film about an up and coming DIY band in the ‘80s. Unfortunately the project has since fizzled out, but check out the trailer for the movie on letitbethemovie.net.

The great thing about the Black Lips is that they are really true to what they do. There is nothing hidden, they drink, they laugh, and they enjoy life. They seem to love getting to know their fans and visa versa. They even have a Black Lips Hotline set up so fans can call the band whenever they want. Bradley admits that although they try to keep it up and going sometimes they will lose the phone or run out of minutes. Damn you, Boost Mobile!