The Wake

Photo by Jared Dayley

If you’re reading The Wake and attending the University of Minnesota, but haven’t heard of the band Low, you should probably get your hearing checked. The Duluth natives have been international representatives of the diversity of Minnesota music. Front man Alan Sparhawk and bassist Matt Livingston’s newest side project, Retribution Gospel Choir, released their debut march 18th. The Wake managed to get ahold of Sparhawk for an interview to discuss the Retribution’s ambitions and how they differ from Low.

Wake: Let’s start it out with an easy one.  Why have the words “gospel choir” in the title of your band when your music is anything but gospel?

Alan: I guess I just couldn’t get that phrase out of my head because you always see signs for the “Something Something Gospel Choir.”  Years ago I wanted to put it on the Low tour van so it would be less tempting for people to break into it.  Instead of thinking the van was full of equipment, they would just think we were a traveling church group.  Also, I think that retribution is a cool word, like payback for someone wronging you. 

Wake: The Retribution Gospel Choir’s music is an eclectic blend of pop, with songs like “For her Blood,” and then there are underground instrumentals like “Shine eye Dub 3.”  How would you categorize the overall sound of the band?

Alan: I don’t know, we started out loose and played really loud and also did a lot of dub with bass and drums, but the record is pretty much straight pop songs.  The dub stuff we like to do more on the side.

Wake: You’ve been a part of several musical projects throughout the years. Do you take the position of loving all of your children equally, or do you connect with one more than another?

Alan: Well, years ago when I started Black Eyed Snakes I wanted to do something the opposite of Low. The Snakes felt like putting a suit or costume on. Obviously Low has been with me the longest and is the most intimate part of me. I feel like all of them together feel like a full band. The real reason for doing music is trying to learn. The more you do, the more it can teach you. Retribution is more physical and when music takes that much out of you it becomes passionate and life affirming. So everything brings something different and teaches you something new. 

Wake: You started your other band, Low, when most of our college-aged readers thought Kurt Cobain was the be all end all of music.  Who has inspired you to rock throughout the years?

Alan: To keep playing is key. After being around for more than 10 years it’s tricky. There are a lot of clichés you can fall into. Look at a lot of bands from the 70’s and 80’s playing at casinos. We are just trying to avoid that. Neil Young makes music that still has passion and heart and I respect that. Also PJ Harvey makes significant music and manages to stay relevant. I guess I am inspired the most by artists who do it their whole lives and still make it relevant. 

Wake: You’re a devout Mormon. Was it difficult to avoid temptation while touring with bands like Radiohead?

Alan: Anyone who is familiar with Radiohead knows it’s not a backstage debacle.  It has been anything but sex, drugs, and rock ‘n’ roll.  We have toured with people that put everything into their music so nobody’s out there trying to spread some dark cloud with rock ‘n’ roll.  It’s a myth.  I’ve had my own problems but any experiences on the road haven’t affected that.

Wake: There are a lot of bands inhabiting the University of Minnesota campus that are searching for their big break.  How did yours come about? 

Alan: The moment I stopped playing music that I thought people would like and started doing things close to my heart was when it happened and I started Low.  I lived in Minneapolis in the ‘80s and early ‘90s and tried to break into the music scene there, but I was doing what I thought others wanted. If you make music you enjoy, it will happen for you.  I mean, the people of this country elected George W. Bush, you can’t expect them to know good music.  Sorry, I just finished watching Jon Stewart. 

Wake: Anything else you would like to add about the Retribution Gospel Choir and the new CD?

Alan: Well, I’m not much of an adder, but the new CD comes out March 18 and we play at the Turf Club on March 22. The CD is produced by Mark Kozelek who has been a part of many projects like Sun Kil Moon.  He and I started working together in 1993 so we have 15 years this spring.