Thursday January 27th Sean Beirne and his band Death To New England are playing at Daniel St Club in Milford, Ct. It also happens to be Seans Birthday that night. I recently sat down with Sean and asked him some questions. As opposed to the usual which is having some drinks and talking music...wait thats what seemed to have happened. Oh well here are some questions i asked Sean....
DHR - You've been involved in the New haven music scene for over a decade now. How do you feel about the state of the "scene" at the present time?
Sean Beirne - there used to be more unity and support amongst the bands. everyone would go out to everyone's shows. also, there used to be more opportunities to play. rudy's had music at least three times a week. eric bruce had a weekly show at one of the dance clubs on crown street - and a bunch of crazy rock n roll kids would invade the dance club for a night. if the vultures were playing everyone from kill gweneth paltro, groovski, the battlecats would be there i feel like an old fart!
DHR - What do you think New Haven has to do to make its self more of a "music city" like the way Northampton, Mass is now?
Sean Beirne - Northampton is a great town to play, they are very supportive of the local music.
new haven has to get off its ass and put the time, money and effort that it takes to be more of a scene. also we need more places to rock. more clubs and bars that accept original rock n roll.
if you play they will come. the advocate used to be more involved in the scene too.
DHR - You've been in a few bands since the breakup of The Battlecats, who were a very popular band in the Elm City. Is it tough to get past the popularity of that and make people focus on the current project?
Sean Beirne -Hell no! death to new england is a better band! jimmy jude is coming up with the best songs of his life and i feel lucky to be interpreting them
we just need to play in the Hayve more and people will see that we are in top form
DHR - You're working with Jimmy again - who was also in The Battlecats. what makes it different this time around?Sean Beirne - we are just coming up with better tunes and tightening up our live show. our singer/guitarist little jo has become our secret weapon. she sings like a bird and rock the guitar at the same time. drummer big joe is totally dedicated to the song and what is best for the song. we got the biggest guy we could find to pund the shit of the drums and a sweet little bird to sing.
DHR - nice. im psyched to hear it. the last time i saw you guys you were a 3 piece.
DHR - You seem to have a love for really good garage rock. Who are your most influential bands?
Sean Beirne - chuck berry is my hero. i love that chuck berry school of playing: johnny thunders, keith "motherfucking"richards and steve jones from the pistiols johnny ramone has that nasty down stroke too. a local band from about 10-15 years ago called the botswanas are also influential in my song writing. IGGY...he puts everything he has into playing wrtiting, performing...i try to do that too
DHR - dude the Stooges rock. Which reminds me " Fun House or "Raw power"?
Sean Beirne - fun house, motherfucker! but my favorite is actually the lust for life album
you can beat bowie and iggy together or bowie and lou reed can't beat. when i first strted hanging out with jimmy jude we bonded over the first few stones and first few bowie albums on vinyl...his dad gave him all of his old records and we were like kids in a candy stroe sifting through hundreds of records
the animals on vinyl!bill wyman's solo album!
DHR - Rudy's is about to re-open. Cafe 9 is going through a massive overhaul, and some new places are popping up ( Elm Bar, Outer Space, and now Anna Liffeys is getting more shows) Do you feel like New haven may be on the cusp of something good?
Sean Beirne - there is definitly a lot of potential. we just need to bring back that sense of unity that seemed to die. bands need to be supportive of each other.f not...we have nothing. just a lot of planets bounceing aroundspace and not a unified and diverse galaxy
DHR - What ever happened to Joanie Loves Tchotchkes?
Sean Beirne -joanie loves tchotchkes were a cool little band. after we recorded at the awesome firehouse 12 with two of the best guys around: dean falcone and greg dicrosta we felt like we were done. we accomplished what we wanted to do. play some shows and record a real album with real professionals. that was such a fun and tedious recording process. par for the course.
DHR - What would your all time band be ( 4 piece )?
Sean Beirne - paul westerburg on vocals and rythem guitar, kim deal on bass and vocals, charlie watts drumming and SEAN BEIRNE on lead guitar!!!!! but where would i put john lennon and sam cooke?
