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Home > Austin Music Source > Archives > 2008 > May > 28 > Entry
Catching up with the Riverboat Gamblers
“We were out there for close to two years straight, and the last eight months were so rough we kind of asked ourselves, ‘Is it OK to still do this and be this band?’ ” recalls the lead singer of Austin punks the Riverboat Gamblers.
“We lost our bass player (Pat Lillard), who was a big part of the band; we had some equipment stolen from our van; our van broke down… all these things pile up kind of like steam building with no release valve, and it was almost too much.”
As weary as he sounds recounting the trying times, Wiebe is almost buoyant talking about the current state of the Gamblers, playing its first Austin show in more than six months Saturday at Red 7.
There’s an energy as he looks forward to getting back on stage after several months of writing songs (“Don’t want to let those live muscles atrophy,”) and anticipates a trip to California in the coming months to record the followup to 2006’s acclaimed “To The Confusion of Our Enemies.”
“We did this kind of mini tour in February and March - got away from Austin during South by Southwest because it’s overwhelming; that’s the type of stuff that wore us down - and when we got home from that, the writing just started going great right away,” Wiebe says.
“It’s more collaborative than it’s ever been before and I think I’m starting to open up a little more lyrically and to doing some new things musically. The rest of the band has always been in favor of taking some different approaches and maybe slowing down a little. I was always the one who dragged my feet on that, but now I’ll say they were right and I was wrong.”
It’s too early to tell if any of the more contemplative tracks will make it onto the new album, but Wiebe attributes some of his development to seeing the positive results of tourmates Against Me!, who balanced last year’s “New Wave” with both anthemic fist-pumpers and quieter, hook-filled ballads.
“They had some really powerful stuff that was slow and dirge-y and I’m opening up more to that side of things. There’s an energy we’re always going to try to have, there are lots of different ways to get to it, and that’s one of the things we’re trying to figure out. Some people do it completely with ProTools, while for some all they need is two tracks to do it live.”
Some of those songs will almost certainly get an Austin debut on Saturday, along with earlier favorites to break up the polite confusion crowds often express at new material. It’s a prospect Wiebe is perceptibly excited over, even if it’s the unofficial start to the recording/touring/promotion cycle that almost ground his gears down a year ago. But with a new drummer (Eric Green) and bass player (Rob Marchant) on board, he’s ready if realistic about what’s ahead.
“So much of it, the booking agents and management and all these other things are so not what any of us got into playing music for, but there it was,” he says. “But that’s all resolved now and we’ve moved on. We’re ready to build up entirely new issues for ourselves.”
(Austin punk band the Riverboat Gamblers perform at SXSW 2007. Photo by Jay Janner/AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF)
Permalink | Comments (4) | Post your comment Categories: In The Clubs, Music
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By Jeff
May 28, 2008 9:05 PM | Link to this
Thanks for the update. The Gamblers are one of the greatest Austin-based bands around, with a live show energy that’s matched by no one. Looking forward to seeing them this weekend.
By pear pear
May 29, 2008 12:39 AM | Link to this
under rated all around, greatest live band in a decade or so. lets just hope this evolving, poppy, hook friendly sound doesnt become too radio friendly.
By Dave Grinde
May 29, 2008 2:54 PM | Link to this
@ Pear Bear: Why?!! So they stay broke and continue to play in Austin?
I really hope they break tha roof on their next recording and look forward to them making the record out here in Cali!
BEST
BAND
EVAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!!!
By Deuce
June 23, 2008 2:03 PM | Link to this
There really is no reason to not sell out - stack that paper.
Deuce Yuppie Pricks