band interview

Silversun Pickups

Interview by Erin Thompson
Tagged 2006 alternative rock dangerbird records indie rock rock shoegaze silversun pickups southern california bands

Since playing at our event in May 2006 as well as being supported by numerous other independent media outlets, such as Seattle's KEXP, the Silversun Pickups have since gone on to know worldwide fame. We spoke with bassist and singer Nikki Monninger about where the band plans to go and how they came to become so big so fast.



"Are those the under-agers up there?" lead singer Brian Aubert calls out, looking up at Neumo's all-ages balcony during their May 31st show. "We'll buy you all drinks afterwards. Don't think we've never done that before," he adds before launching into their next song. "We're never playing at Chop Suey again."

With the release of their 2005 EP, Pikul, the L.A.-based Silversun Pickups – Aubert, bassist and singer Nikki Monninger, keyboardist Joe Lester, and drummer Christopher Guanlo – have gained legions of new fans, although they've been regulars on their local scene for years. "Brian and I started playing in Silversun about six years ago. Christopher and Joe joined us about three or four years ago. We've played so much together in L.A., but we haven't focused much on the commercial part of it," admits Monniger.

She agrees that part of their recent success is due to frequent airtime of their undeniably forceful song, "Kissing Families," on Seattle's KEXP. "KEXP has been great, and I think it's because of [it] that we've sold more albums in Seattle than [in] L.A. We've gotten e-mails from people who have responded just from hearing us on KEXP."

The Pickups' raw instrumentals and Aubert's grating vocals place them in a unique typecast of their own, although comparisons to the Pixies often sprout up. "I think that because we have a male singer and a female bass player, [we're automatically put into that category," says Monninger. "Also, Brian's voice is a bit androgynous, so he kind of sounds like the boy version of Kim Deal. To be compared to a band like that is always awesome."

After playing several West Coast dates with Elefant and Voxtrot, the Silversun Pickups will release their first full-length album, Carnavas, on Dangerbird Records on July 25, which is coincidentally Monninger's birthday. "I think it sounds more like us live. We didn't really capture that [feeling] on Pikul as much as we would have liked to. Carnavas is a lot more raw – more aggressive," says Monninger. "It's been too long; it feels nice to actually be putting something out."

The album and the EP's unusual names reveal the band's loyalty to their families and friends, with Pikul (pie-kul, not pickle) being named after a friend of theirs who passed away, and Carnavas being Aubert's mother's maiden name. "It's kind of an homage to them," says Monninger. "We like keeping it all in the family."

This summer, the band plans on touring the East before returning to play more shows on the West Coast to promote the album and keep doing what they do best – sticking together. "We hang out during off-band time, and we hang out on tour," says Monninger. "It's nice to be able to play with people who you are good friends with, and I think that sort of comes out in our music too – that we really know each other.

With parting words for aspiring musicians, she adds, "If you're in a band, just stick with it. Longevity pays off."

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