The Tweeds
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States | SELF
Music
Press
DC has, for some time now, not really been in love with festivals. Folks have tried, sure, but there is a substantial void in the festival scene when it comes to the “indie” scene. Fuzzy Logic’s brother blog, Sweet Tea Pumpkin Pie, is valiantly trying to give the people what they want: a legit (and FREE!) festival. And with 120+ bands playing over 2 days, there’s a lot to look forward to. Did I mention the freeness? Cuz yeah. It’s one hundred percent FREE. The STPP Fest is June 4-5, with a pre-party June 3. Check the official site for all the pertinent details.
I like tweed. I also happen to like The Tweeds. Whether or not they wear tweed whilst playing I can’t say, but good heavens that would be great. Sonically, these Philadelphians tread fairly nostalgic waters, indulging in shades of early 90s college rock, shoegaze of that same era, and a little of the 60s Brit shimmy thrown in for good measure. It’s a rather sassy little combination, I must say. Multitasking Tweed Derek Sheehan had the following to say about his festival experiences, and the band he’s most excited to see.
Fuzzy Logic: Inevitably, you will forget to bring:
Derek Sheehan: Probably something minor but essential like guitar straps or the set list...
FL: Band you're most looking forward to seeing at the festival?
DS: Screen Vinyl Image. We played with them in philly before and they put on a fantastic show.
FL: What's the first thing you plan on doing upon arrival in DC?
DS: Grabbing a beer!
FL: What was the first festival you ever attended, either as a musician or member of the general public?
DS: The first festival as a fan was All Points West in NYC. Radiohead headlined and it was amazing! First as a musician was the Utica Music Festival with the The Tweeds.
FL: Favorite thing about festivals?
DS: Just the vibe. A bunch of food, drink and music always makes for a great time!
mp3: Christmas Time (The Tweeds – more here)
- Megan Petty, Fuzzy Logic
Besides winning our most recent local poll, The Tweeds were also picked as Featured Artist(s) of the Month on The Deli’s national page. We had a chance to toss our get-to-know-you questions at front man and multi-instrumentalist Derek Sheehan. Below is the skinny on The Tweeds.
The Deli: How did the band start?
Derek Sheehan: During my sophomore year at Penn State, I became very frustrated with being stuck at school and not being able to play music with my friends from home so over winter break of 2007-2008, Sam Plumridge and I started Bobbie Perdu as a melodic post-rock band with Sam’s brother Ben and long-time friend and musician Sean Morris. That didn’t last too long though because of distance issues. Cantrev Caffidor was a fairly successful local ambient, prog-rock band. When they split, Sam and I asked Nic Sheehan (my brother) and Peter Moretzsohn to join up with us and thus, The Tweeds began.
TD: Where did the band name The Tweeds come from?
DS: We were originally called Bobbie Peru. We were forced to change our name due to apparent copyright issues so we changed it to Bobbie Perdu. We eventually decided to change the name and Cody Saia, good friend and touring guitarist for The Tweeds, suggested The Tweeds and it stuck.
TD: What are your biggest musical influences?
DS: It is tough not to just list your whole musical library on this one, but our biggest musical influences are My Bloody Valentine, The Jesus and Mary Chain, The Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel, The Byrds, The Grateful Dead, Buffalo Springfield, The Dandy Warhols, Owen, American Football, BJM, and many others.
TD: What artists (local, national and/or international) are you currently
listening to?
DS: I cannot speak for the rest of the band, but currently, I am listening to:
All Things Must Pass - George Harrison; Colour Trip - Ringo Deathstarr; Earth to the Dandy Warhols - The Dandy Warhols; any Grateful Dead bootlegs; Black Lips; Beat the Devil’s Tattoo - BRMC; Phoenix - The Warlocks; Pure Phase - Spiritualized; Buffalo Springfield self-titled; Legs Like Tree Trunks; Occult Radiance - Fleeting Joys (many more).
TD: What's the first concert that you ever attended and first album that you ever bought?
DS: The first concert I ever willingly attended was The Monkees at the Mann Music Center in Fairmount Park, and first album was The Cool Runnings Soundtrack.
TD: What do you love about Philly?
DS: Steaks, Good Micro Breweries, Philly Sports and drive an hour east, you’re at the beach. Drive an hour west - you’re in an old Appalachian forest.
TD: What do you hate about Philly?
DS: Not too much. I wish the venues would have more all-ages shows.
TD: What are your plans for 2011?
DS: Graduate from Penn State, start recording our second album, and touring.
TD: What was your most memorable live show?
DS: We always have a great time when we play, but the best show was probably Café Campus in Montréal. That weekend was just one big blur. The show was great but hanging out in Montréal for a weekend was a hilariously wild time. We walked back to our hostel after the show because we were all too wasted to drive. It was probably 40 blocks. We got back to the hostel and drank whiskey in the parking lot until 6 am watching the footy from the show. Finally, we walked into the room, and Sam starts laughing hysterically at the top of his lungs because he thought we had walked into the wrong room (he had never stayed in a hostel before). We had about 8 other roommates sleeping on bunk beds in our room, and I can only imagine how annoyed they were when we busted into the room completely trashed at 6 am, especially when I started throwing banana peels at Cody.
TD: What's your favorite thing to get at the deli?
DS: A 24 oz Heineken keg can and pork roll sandwich.
- The Deli Staff - The Deli Magazine
The Tweeds are what taking drugs sounds like. Probably. A self-proclaimed act of “indie psychedelic shoegaze,” the band, fresh off the presses in Philly’s music scene, could do wonders scoring stoner flicks. But The Tweeds are also remarkably talented musicians—“Weakend Guest,” the opening track of their recently released debut, Goliath, is a catchy and melodious trip. In other tracks like closer “Shut in, Dark,” layers swell in and out, and vocals often sound like whispers from the back of a resonant, empty concert hall. It all comes together into a wonderfully numbing soundtrack for any activities the kids might want to just say no to. - AV Club Philadelphia
The Tweeds are alternative artist of the month at mystage music
http://www.myspace.com/mystagealternative - mystage music
www.yourghostfriend.com - ghost friend records
Discography
Full Length:
Goliath (Recorded but unofficially released)
Recorded at Range Records in Ardmore, PA 2011
the first EP release
Diapers and Vicodin is now available
check out myspace or last.fm for details!
The Tweeds are the alternative artist of the month at mystagemusic.com
http://www.myspace.com/mystagealternative
venues we have played
Fennario in west chester
The Crack House in honey brook
The State Theater at State College Pa
The Fire in Philly
The North Star Bar in philly
The Trocadero Balcony in Philly
The Creep House in Downingtown
The Utica Music Festival in Utica New York
The Delancy in Manhattan
The Trash Bar in Brooklyn
Cafe Campus in Montreal CA
and many more!
Photos
Bio
The Tweeds emerged out of the Main Line of Philadelphia’s suburbs and the campus of Penn State University. Coming together after line-up changes and band mergers The Tweeds create a sound akin to such greats as Ghosts and Vodka mixed with The Beatles, The Grateful Dead, Simon and Garfunkel, Pavement, My Bloody Valentine, The Dandy Warhols, and Deerhunter. After only one year with the current line up, the band has been making strides to establish themselves along the east coast with upcoming tour plans and recording projects. Their noise-rock/dream pop/melodic/shoegaze style of playing sends the audience to the early ’90s, which is when some of the band members were only in diapers.
-Ghost Friend Records
Links
