How Spoon Is Now?

by Lucas Hanft

Spoon didn’t become indie-rock gods overnight. It took the band three obscure records, a legendary falling out with a major label, and several years to distill their distinct, pared-down sound. Then, in 2001, the Austin-based quartet released Girls Can Tell, a collection of songs so lean, anxious, and original that overnight the band became critical darlings (and one of the rare acts that could get fawning coverage in places like Time without completely losing its hipster cred). Now, a few years into Spoon’s canonization, frontman and resident band brain Britt Daniel appears to be changing course with Gimme Fiction, a new album rooted in a blues-rock tradition that never seemed to interest him before. But enough about the music. Hey, Britt, what would we have to pay you to get you to cut off one of your toes?

RADAR: Early in your career Spoon was frequently compared to the Pixies. Did you think those comparisons were valid?

BRITT DANIEL: Yeah, especially for our first record. But, really, when we started out I wanted to be Gang of Four, or Wire. Those two bands were the coolest to me.

Gimme Fiction seems more accessible than any of your other albums. Was this by design?

I recognize that it turned out having a more traditional classic-rock vibe. But we’ve also heard from some people that this record is less direct, less accessible than [Spoon’s 2002 album] Kill the Moonlight.

I think those people are wrong. Why do you think people feel this way?

I don’t really know. Maybe it has something to do with the lyrics. The songs are all sort of character-driven, but the characters in the songs are elusive, impossible to know, or trying desperately to escape themselves. I guess people might find that kind of off-putting.

What would you like to change about your fans?

I wish they were more generous with their drugs.

What’s the most embarrassing thing you have in your show rider?

Our tour manager has a very specific request for Power Bars, specifically the Harvest Cinnamon Roll flavor. And if they’re there, we’ll eat them.

Have you ever illegally downloaded music?

I’ve done it often, but almost exclusively to find out about bands I’ve read about. The last song I downloaded was by Bloc Party, I think. They’re very good at doing that one thing they do. But people downloading my music doesn’t really upset me. I just never thought of it as something that takes money from me.

Would you ever sell one of your songs for a TV commercial?

I wouldn’t have a problem with selling something for a commercial if they gave us a life-altering amount of money.

Would you give up your pinky toe to sell a million records?

Sure.

How about both of them?

Yep.

Wow. Very rock ’n’ roll. Which appendages, if any, would you choose to hold on to?

I’d keep the main ones. You know — arms, legs, hands, probably the fingers. I wouldn’t miss the pinkie toes, though.

Any beefs with critics?

One review of Kill the Moonlight that said it sounded like Sonic Youth. I love Sonic Youth, but I have no idea which of their records the guy was listening to when he wrote that.

Could you please name Britney Spears’s unborn baby?

Donald Rumsfeld Spears.

What is the most overrated band working today?

Eric Clapton is the most overrated musician in rock.

I guess it was all downhill after he kicked heroin, huh?

Really, what did he do before he stopped heroin that was any good?

Come on. Cream’s pretty good.

That’s what our tour manager is always saying. He’ll go, “What about Cream?” So, okay, maybe Cream’s not as overrated as everything else he’s done.

What’s the most physically painful thing that’s ever befallen you?

I’ve had some really bad ingrown toenails. And I stepped on a nail once. It went right through my foot. And the tetanus shot afterward was pretty bad too.

Which rock ’n’ roll touring fantasies have you discovered are myths?

We haven’t gotten to the point where we can trash hotel rooms. We just get kicked out.