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ACL Fest: Meet the Bands - Kevin Devine
Austin Music Source: How would you generally describe your music?
Kevin Devine: Sung and often played with various instruments. Almost always guitars involved. Sometimes screamy and sometimes whispery, indie rock, folk rock country-ish stuff.
How do you plan to cope with Austin summer heat? Will it cramp your onstage style?
Ha - hopefully not too strongly. I’m a pretty pale pasty bog-dwelling Irishman somewhere up the line, and so it won’t be ideal. But this current tour I’m on has gone through the dead gut of the South in August and has been redonkeylips hot so I think I’ll be well-rehearsed by then.
What other bands are you looking forward to seeing at the festival?
Everyone. Just saw Dylan and My Morning Jackets at Red Rocks, excited to see them again. I’ve never seen Bjork or White Stripes, so I’m really looking forward to seeing both of them, too. Spoon and Wilco are always great. Curious to see the Decemberists live. I love Nicole Atkins and Manchester Orchestra, and they’re friends so I’m definitely eager to see them. I’ve never seen Lucinda Williams despite really liking her stuff, and I think Arcade Fire are the best live band working today, so both of them as well.
What’s the last CD you paid full price for?
The National, “Boxer,” and it’s proving to have been well worth it. The opening song, “Fake Empire,” is particularly excellent.
What’s the one thing you can’t live without on your tour bus/van?
I like having the tape deck converter for the iPod. I also like having water to drink and empty bottles to pee in when emergency strikes.
When you think of Texas music, who or what is the first thing that comes to your mind?
For me, it’s SXSW. Just such a totally amazing experience for a 22- or 23-year-old kid to come and be inundated with all this music and all these vultures looking to pick at the fresh meat. Street scene is insane. Lots of fun.
Do you have a celebrity crush you’re willing to reveal?
It’s boring as hell. I love Scarlett Johannsen. But now she’s kinda bogus. I dunno. I’d still love to meet her. I’m totally fascinated with Joanna Newsom, but she’s out of my league and also spoken for. Same for Miranda July, I think. Chan Marshall is obvious, too. I mean, come on.
What’s the one song you’ve always wanted to cover but never have?
“Long Gone Lonesome Blues” by Hank Williams or “Hyper Enough” by Superchunk. This answer is as arbitrary as the question and changes every day.
What’s the one thing you want to make sure to do before leaving Austin?
Breakfast at Juan in a Million. My friend turned me on to it last time through on tour and I’m well hooked.
Kevin Devine plays in the AT&T blue room on Saturday, Sept. 15, from 11:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
(Photo by Sam Throne myspace.com/kevindevine.)
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