Formed in 1997, The Blood Brothers is a multifaceted band that is constantly challenging themselves and reinventing their sound. Young Machetes, the band’s fifth full length, is no exception to the rule, as it embarks in yet another, unexplored direction. Shortly after the album’s release, singer Jordan Blilie took some time from his busy schedule and impending touring to answer a few questions.
Tell me about "Young Machetes", your new album released on October 10. Stylistically, the album as a whole sounds a lot more cohesive than "Crimes". Did you take a specific approach when you began writing material for the album?
We don’t have a specific method to writing–it’s kind of all over the map. Sometimes an individual will come in with a batch of parts that we’ll put together, sometimes a song’s the result of a person coming up with a single part in the practice space. It can be spontaneous, it can be well laid out beforehand. It just kind of depends. We do try to progress in some way every time around, though. A large part of deciding if a parts gonna stay or go is whether or not it feels like old hat. We change as people as years go on, so it wouldn’t make much sense if our music stayed in one place.
How does this album rank overall for you? Do you have a particular Blood Brothers album that will always stand out as your favorite?
The most current record is always the favorite for me. By the time we get to writing a new record I’m usually tired of the songs off the one prior.
You and Johnny (Whitney) both sing but have very distinct styles and vocal ranges. How did you both come to sing with the band, or decide who sings what? How would you describe your personal singing style?
It just kind of happened the way it did. We started when we were about 16 years old. We were heavily influenced by a band called Area 51. They had two singers – male and female. I would describe my personal style of singing as, "trying my best and sometimes succeeding in what I’m going for."
Your merchandise styles and art on all your albums is unique, and simultaneously aids in reinforcing the music’s message. How do you figure out what artistic concept works best?
We just try to keep it new/different each time around. We’ve all had a part in doing record covers, shirt designs, etc. Sometimes we’ll enlist friends whose art inspires us to help us with design work on singles or shirts or website stuff.
How do you pass around writing duties? Is it a separate experience which you then come together on, or do you initially try to write songs collectively?
We get together about 5 times a week when we’re writing. Whoever has a part at the time we meet up is what we’ll work on. If no one has anything, we’ll just play until something feels right.
What is the band’s favorite place to play? Do you prefer the hometown crowd in Washington, or are there particular venues along the road that you just have to hit up every time?
Yeah, Seattle’s always fun. I love places like Philadelphia, Chicago, Minneapolis as far as stops on tour. New York’s always a fun time, too.
You all have incredible energy when performing. When you went on tour last fall to support "Crimes" you played with other bands that were more mainstream (Coheed and Cambria, Dredg, Mewithoutyou) with followings and fans that didn’t quite "understand" your style. What do you do when you play shows in front of a crowd that doesn’t "get" you? Does that affect you when you’re performing, or do you tend to fend it off fairly well?
We just play our songs like we would any other night. Heckling or whatever doesn’t really affect us. It’s pretty easy to outsmart/embarrass a heckler.
The only live band that I’ve seen that matched your energy has been The Plot to Blow Up the Eiffel Tower. What would you say your most exciting, in-your-face show you’ve attended was?
Botch were always super intense. Behead the Prophet N.L.S.L., too.
What bands do you consider to be influences? Do you have your own influences vocally? What bands do you respect and/or love playing with?
Early influences were Dead Kennedys, Monorchid, Rye Coalition, Swing Kids, Angel Hair, Shellac, Jesus Lizard. I don’t really have a vocal influence. Maybe Bowie or Leonard Cohen as far as delivery or lyric writing. I love playing with Against Me!, Liars, The Plot, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Kill Me Tomorrow.
It seems you all have been playing music since an early age. Did you all have visions of albums deals and tours, or was it something that just kind of happened?
That stuff just happened. We really only wanted to write songs and get a show. I think if you have visions of album deals when you start a band you really shouldn’t be starting a band in the first place. Your motivation’s already corrupted.
It was a big deal (for the critics) when the band worked with Ross Robinson on "…Burn, Piano Island Burn". Many even went so far as to accuse you of "selling out". It seems as though every band goes through that at some point in their career – what was your response?
I think that putting out the record would probably answer any question of selling out.
For "Young Machetes" you worked with John Goodmanson again, who produced, engineered and mixed "Crimes". However you also had the help of the famous Guy Picciotto, who I understand to be a hero of some of the band members. What was that like for you all?
It was definitely the most fun we’ve had recording a record. The group dynamic/bond between the seven of us was very strong. We laughed a lot. We played a lot of dice. We ate sushi almost every day. Good times.
Do you have any collaboration you’d like to do on future albums?
No, just Guy and John again.
Earlier this year you released the "Love Rhymes with Hideous Car Wreck EP" that included some previously unreleased tracks. Any reason why you put them out in this format instead of waiting for "YM"?
Those songs weren’t really anything we wanted to have on the new record. They were old, they’d been sitting around. Some were available on a 7", but we wanted them available on a format that most kids could get.
V2 has such a strange mash-up of artists on the label. How do you see yourselves fitting in with the likes of dissimilar bands, such as (to name a couple of the more household name groups on the label) The Crystal Method and the White Stripes?
We don’t fit in, I guess. I wouldn’t want to fit in with Moby, though.
What is your favorite song to perform and why?
Set Fire to the Face on Fire has been a real fun time. It’s pretty immediately gratifying.
The boring cliché question, but what music are you currently rocking? Or, if you’re feeling ambitious, what albums would you put in your top five or ten of the year 2006 list?
A friend of mine made me a comp of his favorite Bad Seeds/Crime and the City Solution songs. I’ve been heavy into that lately. The new Liars is great, the new Oneida, Mika Miko, Erase Errata.
When you finally settle down and quit the music business, how do you want to be remembered?
We did whatever we wanted and stayed friends while doing so.
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