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20 bands, 10 questions No. 3: April Smith and the Great Picture Show
April Smith and her band the Great Picture Show embrace theatrics—donning early 20th century costumes and utilizing the accordion and ukulele. She’s sort of a female counterpart to the Decemberists’ Colin Meloy, with less prog rock, a bigger voice and more foot stomping. If that’s not enough, she financed her latest release, “Songs For A Sinking Ship,” on crowd funding site www.kickstarter.com. Here, Smith takes part in our 10 questions for 20 bands preview of SXSW.
Is this your first time at SXSW? What are you hoping to achieve at the festival?
No, we’ve actually played SXSW twice before. I’m excited for this year because the album will be out and we’ll have new music for people to take away. I think we all just want to see all of the great bands playing down there and play as much as possible.
How did you get the idea to fund your album on Kickstarter?
My bassist told me about it and I checked out the site. It just seemed like the perfect way to raise money for an album and give the fans some great things in return. I really like the way they run the site and I’m so glad I did it.
Your music seems to float between different genres—how would you describe it to people who haven’t heard you before?
It’s retro pop with a swing to it. It’s got a 1920s feel with a modern spin on it. If the Andrews Sisters were a little bitchier.
Where does the name “the Great Picture Show” come from?
The music and live show are very dramatic and theatrical. It just sounded very old-hollywood-meets-vaudeville to me.
This year, for the first time, SXSW is opening the conference/panel portion of the event to musicians. Do you plan on attending any panels during you visit?
Yes, definitely! It’s going to make my music schedule even tricker but it’s totally worth it.
An overwhelming number of musicians at the festival call Brooklyn home. What is it about the scene there that makes it so appealing?
I’m not really as involved in the scene as a lot of musicians are. I think I love Brooklyn because it’s so close to the city but it allows you to get away too and have the best of both worlds. I live right around the corner from Brooklyn Bowl so I pretty much never have to leave the neighborhood for good music and food.
You talk about the show ‘Dexter’ on your Web site. What is it that you like about that show? What other shows will you be recording while you’re out on tour?
I love the writing and the acting on “Dexter.” I think Michael C. Hall is just brilliant. I love the dichotomy of the character and the concept is superb - an irresistible serial killer. You can’t help but root for the guy. I’m a sucker for TV so I’ll probably run out of space on my DVR before I get back from tour. “Californication,” “True Blood” and “Mad Men” aren’t on right now so I’ll be recording “Nurse Jackie” and “United States of Tara” for now. I’m also anxiously awaiting the next season of Jonathan Ames’ “Bored to Death” on HBO. It’s my favorite new show!
Some of your music and cover art, etc. has an old-timey feel to it. If you had a time machine, what time period would you travel to and why?
That old-timey feel is courtesy of the great Matt Hoyle! If i had a time machine I’d go back to the roaring ’20s and party it up with Fats Waller at Al Capone’s birthday bash.
What is your favorite new music/musician?
We’re starting a tour with Fanfarlo on Feb. 20 and we’re really in love with their sound. It’s so full and vibrant. I also love Henry Wolfe, a friend of mine who is opening for us at the Mercury Lounge on March 10. His voice is beautiful and awe inspiring and his writing is so sincere. I saw him perform with an orchestra last year and the room was absolutely silent.
Pick your own question and answer it.
April, why do you think that you have such bad luck with cars…particularly your tour bus, Norman?
I wish I knew the answer to that one. I can only speculate that it’s because, in my past life, I must have been the Frenchman who pushed Rudolf Diesel over the side of the boat and now I am cursed. I am currently looking for a shaman to rid me of my negative auto energy and balance Norman’s chi.
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