Broke-Ass Band Interview: Hooray For Earth
Six months ago Hooray for Earth came through San Francisco and filmed a Yours Truly episode. Then a few weeks back I missed their SF shows with Architecture in Helsinki but heard all about it on Yours Truly’s Twitter. Yours Truly has pretty impeccable taste so I looked these guys up and was, as usual, impressed.
Hailing from Boston, the New York synth-pop quartet makes incredibly modern, nuanced music and music videos. Scroll down to watch the stunning video for their single “True Loves” off their eponymous new album. Named one of Spin’s “5 Best New Artists” in March, these guys are worth checking out.
I caught up with HFE frontman Noel Heroux to talk shop about music, money, and the best spots in San Francisco and on the West Side(-ish) of Manhattan. Keep your eyes out for HFE in October, when they’ll be back in SF supporting Cymbals Eat Guitars.
Introduce yourself!
I’m Noel, from the band Hooray for Earth.
Describe your sound in five words (or less).
Sludge synth magenta new age.
Tell us about your band name.
It’s named in honor of our good friend Pete Swan’s house parties back before we first started the band. We played his apt living room as “Hooray for Earth” one night, and kept the name for later.
Favorite thing about San Francisco?
Always friendly crowds at shows! And yourstru.ly. (Check out the band’s Yours Truly episode below!)
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Favorite SF restaurant?
Oh man, we went to this place called ’00’ I think…fancy pizzas and whatnot. It was excellent.
Favorite SF bar?
Haven’t been to enough unfortunately!
How do you prepare for a big show? What will you be doing the night before?
Usually watching an entire season of Madmen, laying around.
What can people expect at your shows?
In my eyes it’s simply a louder, noisier version of our recordings. But I have no idea what it’s like!
What do you do during downtime on tour (weird hobbies, etc)?
I do a lot of reading and daydreaming. Sometimes in the evenings go in the back and have a couple beers and DJ the van speakers.
What’s next for the band?
Well our album just came out and we’re just back from tour with Architecture In Helsinki for a couple weeks here in the US (we were just in SF and it was beautiful).
Three things you’d take to a desert island?
Helicopter, boat, genie.
What movie can you watch over and over and never get sick of?
Shaun Of The Dead.
Favorite season or time of year?
Fall. It’s just this feeling I can never describe, but it happens every year – just hits me. Music gets better then too.
Three things that are in your fridge right now?
Mushy fruits, stale pretzels, two beers.
Anything in your sock drawer besides socks?
Old birthday/Xmas/other cards.
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Now let’s get down to the nitty gritty, i.e. money:
Have any tips for aspiring musicians trying to make it on their craft?
Not really. Keep a loose day job?
Best money saving tip in general?
Quit everything fun you ever do in life. Stop being in a band. Drink a lot of water.
Where do you live now and what are some good cheap/fun things to do in that area?
I’m in Manhattan on the West Side-ish. I almost never see anyone I know, really. My favorite bar is called Kettle Of Fish.
What do you refuse to spend money on?
Sunglasses.
What is the most expensive thing you’ve ever bought and how did that feel?
Not sure about the most expensive ‘thing’ but the most money I’ve spent was on car/van repairs, and that felt pretty lame. One time I spent $300 or so on a dinner/drink hang with three people but it was a really excellent time so I couldn’t care about the money.
What’s the best deal you’ve ever gotten?
Record deal.
What is your favorite free thing to do?
Sit down.
If you woke up a millionaire, what’s the first thing you’d buy?
A coffee.
What’s one GOOD thing about not having a ton of money?
Scoring couch-change for a coffee.
*photo via Facebook
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