Home Live Show Reviews Interview w/ Louie Stephens of Rooney

Interview w/ Louie Stephens of Rooney

Written by Art Michalski

Friday, 12 October 2007

As the Los Angeles band prepares to mount a tour with the Polyphonic Spree, I had a chance to talk with Rooney keyboardist Louie Stephens about making of the band’s current record Calling the World. Enjoying the California sun (versus the Target parking lot in Toledo, OH that I was sitting in while doing the interview), Louie spoke with me. Here’s what he had to say. MyCityBuzz: How different was the recording process and material for Calling The World versus your debut record? Louie Stephens: Well, there was a lot of time taken between the two records and in recording. The version of Calling The World was the third version of the record. We had 3 different sets of songs, and with 3 different producers. The first version was recorded mostly live, because people were telling us that we needed to capture the live sound on record. The record was more experimental, but you can't duplicate your live sound on record and do it justice. As a band, we felt the second version was too safe and it didn’t feel too genuine. It sounded like everything else on the radio today. So for the version that finally became Calling The World, we felt comfortable in the sound we always had and found a producer that knew the band’s sound, but still able to expand on the sound on the 1st record. MCB: Was there a lesson you took from the recording process? LS: Even with all the different tries, the process is still fun and valuable. But I learned how to execute my parts better in the studio (than before). MCB: You guys have been on tribute records for Queen and the Ramones? Any dream tributes you would want to be on? LS: I mean the ones we’ve been on have been dream tributes. But if we there are ones that we would love to be on, I’d say a Beach Boys tribute (ed note: The band has covered “California Girls” in concert before) or an ELO (Electric Light Orchestra) tribute. MCB: Your music has been used on video games and commercials; do you feel that this is a viable form of exposure for the band? LS:We had “Blue Ends” for the Tiger Woods PGA game and it gets people who wouldn’t normally know about the band into us. We get people that I wouldn’t normally expect to be fans coming up to us and saying “Dude, I love that song!” and other things. Instead of in the old days, real bands are on these games and it gets the band and the songs out there so I have no problem with it. MCB: How is touring with a band like the Polyphonic Spree different than touring with a Kelly Clarkson or All American Rejects? LS: People like Clarkson are more of the pop side of things and I give them a lot of respect for doing a great job in an arena or stadium. But a band like the Polyphonic Spree is a group that can project that same kind of energy in a smaller place, but in a better way. Its good to play with groups that are a little more your style; after a while you get tired of touring with Top 40 groups. MCB: So, should I expect to see you guys donning robes or military gear with the Polyphonic Spree? LS: Perhaps, you never know, some s--- might go down. Its gonna be a great tour, with our bands and a great group from Chicago called the Redwalls that is going to open up the show. But I am not ruling out anything that might go down. Rooney is playing with the Polyphonic Spree and the Redwalls at the Crofoot Ballroom in Pontiac on Sunday, October 14th. Tickets are $22 and are available at www.ticketweb.com. .

 

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