3 October 2006 -

EXCLUSIVE Interview: The Close
Chuck Norton, DeadJournalist.com

In the spring of 1998, a forgettable hippy band named Bol Of Sol somehow won the WEGL battle of the bands at Auburn University. The band that placed second – and was obviously the deserving winner – was a band called the Close.

How does one come across such random and trivial knowledge? I was there.

Thankfully, the Close kept playing. And eight years later they are about to release Sun, Burn - their new LP on Goodnight Records.

Now based out of Atlanta, the band has found critical acclaim, but modest success, with their previous releases 20,000+, It’s a Secret to Everybody and the recently released split 7” with the Rosebuds.

Fronted by Brooks Meeks with the highly energetic Dustan Nigro on bass and Theresa Marie Fedor supplying back-up vocal and playing keyboard and Keefe Justice on drums, the band has had a stable line-up, which it credits for the ability to stay together for just shy of a decade

With the November 14 release of Sun, Burn, the band hopes to take their style of indie post-punk to a new level of success.

For more information on the Close, visit their Web site: www.thecloserocks.com or their MySpace.com page: www.myspace.com/theclose.

DeadJournalist.com brings you this exclusive interview with Dustan Nigro of the Close.

Having been together for almost a decade, what do you credit for the band’s longevity?

We love what we do. Who doesn’t want to play rock and roll? Beyond that, though, there are a number of factors. First off, we have all bonded well as a group of musicians. Our heads are really in the same place in terms of style and songwriting. We know each other’s strengths and weaknesses. We are able to feed off of each other and we trust each other. We have all matured a lot in terms of musicianship and songwriting and we did that together. We’re not going to stop playing music so why would we stop doing it together.

How has the band’s sound changed over the years?

Like I said, I think we have matured a lot in terms of musicianship and songwriting but as those things improved, songwriting took priority. Much of our earlier work was about showcasing our ability to play our instruments which amounted to a lot of really technical parts amassed into these really complicated song structures. There was still the underlying pop song idea but it was filled up with all this stuff. So over the years we’ve made a conscious decision to pull back instrumentally and let the song shine through a little more. We all tried to focus on not playing or playing more subtly to better suit the song as whole, let the vocal come a little more forward and let the instruments have their moment when the time is right rather have everything full on all of the time. That lends itself to more dynamics and nuance which makes a better song.

Who has had the greatest influence on you musically?

You would be really hard pressed to get us to agree on any specific common influences. We can’t even agree on what to listen to in the van. The only thing I can assuredly say we have in common is an appreciation for a well written pop song. I think we all look back to the classics to define what that is: oldies, Motown, early rock and roll.

Sure, there is plenty of modern stuff that influences each of us but that is something I can say we all agree on. I have always said that I am influenced by everything I listen to. No matter what it is, bad or good, I will listen to it and decide what I think is bad or good about it and that will inform what I write.

Throughout all the years of tours and shows, is there a show or location that stands out as the best and worst?

My vote for best place goes to the Twin Cities, Minneapolis and St. Paul. Although they hate to be grouped together like that, the combined music scene of those cities is one of the best in the country. We’ve played with bands with kids in high school that blew us away. The bar is set that high there. They also some of the best rock clubs in the country.

The worst rock club in the country, which will remain nameless, is this disgusting hole in the middle of Ohio with graffiti when you walk in the band entrance that reads, “this place smells like shit,” and indeed it does, always. It is a filthy, leaky basement with horrible sound, surly clientele and the persistent smell of human waste. I won’t say the name because we’ll probably end up playing there again.

What bring you more pleasure – the live performance or the release of a new album?

We’re very excited about the new record. We worked really hard on it for a really long time and we’re very proud of it but, let’s face it, making a record is a pain in the ass. It’s a serious labor of love from recording right up to coordinating its release. From that perspective, it brings us tremendous pleasure to finally release it but the best part of that is we get to go back out on tour and play more shows.

Having played with numerous bands over the years, how often do you find yourself becoming friends with members of other bands?

We make friends constantly. It’s the only way to get by playing music independently. We know what it’s like to be in a working indie band and there are tons of other bands and related folks out there who know what it is like, too. The only way to make indie music work is when we get together and help each other out. I know that sounds like tired punk ethos grandstanding but it’s true.

What is more, we’re all pretty much like minded people with a lot in common so many of these people end up becoming real, lifelong friends.

Last year the Close released a split 7” with the Rosebuds. How did that come about?

We just asked them. We were touring a lot and didn’t have time to get a new release together, which we sorely needed to do, so we figured we could knock out one song for a single. We asked the Rosebuds to do the other side because they are our friends and they said sure. Goodnight Records happened to be willing to put it and that was that. It worked out great for everybody and it started our relationship with Goodnight who are putting out our next full length.

The band is currently in the studio recording on a new album. What are you hoping to achieve with this album?

The album is finished and the result is pretty close to what we were after. We wanted to make music that was simultaneously challenging and familiar, complicated but catchy. We wanted it to be original and musically interesting but do it in the form of classic pop songs. Hopefully that shows.

What are you tour plans after the completion of this album?

As much as possible. We love to tour. What is not love about traveling everywhere imaginable and playing you music every night?

Thinking back to 1996, what were you listening to at the time?

Anything and everything that came our way. That was the height of the DIY indie rock days. So many bands were touring around in such a supportive scene.

We were a big part of the DIY scene in Auburn, Alabama back then, booking shows and such. Most notable to us, I think, were Karate and The Van Pelt. We were young and we had simply never heard music like that before and here they were playing in our living room.

Another great band from that era that we sadly never got to see was The Impossible Five. They weren’t around very long but they would influence us profoundly. They made some of the coolest rock and roll you’ll ever hear.

The Close