It’s been a couple of years since we
last caught up with New York punk outfit Cerebral
Ballzy and, it is safe to say, they have been causing chaos ever since.
Back over in the UK Leeds to catch
the final night of the tour. Click below to read the live review and to find
out what happened when we caught up with front-man Honor Titus before the show
to chat about the new record, working with Julian Casablancas and partying in a more expansive way…
So, tonight is the last night of tour-
how’s it been so far?
It’s
been sick, it’s been super exciting. Radio 1’s being playing us almost everyday
too and really embracing the new album; and the kids are really excited and
we’ve been partying a lot. I sound a little haggard and dying [laughing].
Your show’s renowned for being pretty
wild…
I
don’t want to say we’re tamer but we’re partying in a more expansive way now,
it’s a fully rounded party; there are hors d’ourves at the party now
[laughing].
How much chaos have you been causing
this time over here? Last time we saw you it was with The King Blues back in 2011.
A
lot of chaos…
Well, The King Blues split up…are we blaming you?
No
comment [laughing]. We toured with Black
Flag in the States recently and speaking of chaos, touring with the most
seminal punk band ever, that gave Ballzy the
stamp of approval. So, there’s been a lot of chaos to say the least.
You wouldn’t be Ballzy if you weren’t causing chaos…
Yeah. The Queen would like us though I guess [laughing].
You’re headlining it- is it an honour
to be selected?
Yeah,
it totally is y’know, because to have such a classic magazine want to take us
out, especially the album coming so soon, I just feel like it’s a lineage thing
somewhat. The second album is going to really hit hard and it’s a nice build
up.
The new album- “Jaded & Faded” is
out next year. It’s been a couple of years since your debut- does it reflect
the changes over the past 2 years, where you’re at now in your career and
lives?
Yeah,
we’re neurotic, dark New York
What will it sound like compared to the
first?
Working
with Dave (Sitek, Yeah Yeah Yeahs,
Santigold, Foals), he has such an amazing ear, the second album couldn’t
help but sound refined and there’s such melody on it and the tunes are big.
Dave really harnessed it; it’s still punk and ruthless but it’s got such a
style to it, it’s like runway punk or something.
I don’t get the idea that you guys would
be phased or under pressure with it being the follow up?
And
you’re completely right; we showed a few people and the response has been so
mega, we know what’s cool and we’re just going to go after what we like.
The word “punk” gets banded about a lot
nowadays- what do you make of the punk scene?
The
modern punk landscape is something else; there are rad bands out there, you
just have to seek them out. Black Flag playing
again has made people turn over some rocks and find some new bands. People just
have to seek it out; New York
You recently signed to Cult Records which is Julian Casablancas’ label- was it easy an choice to work with him? Is it easier with him being a musician, he “gets” it?
Yeah,
and you said it. He’s a really good friend, really talented and he really
harnessed the record. It was just obvious to work with him.
The last time we spoke to you, you
said; “Not having an ethos is our
ethos.” Do you still stand by this?
Yeah, because Ballzy
has so many intricate characteristics that trying to put us into something
would be a travesty. We don’t really feel any confinement and that’s obvious on
the next album, there’s some tune there. There’s a lot of shred to it but a lot
of cool to it. I think people vibe with that; all kinds of kids go to our
shows, we’ve taken an interesting route. We can’t wait to get the album out,
but we’ve been really busy in the meantime; I’ve been writing in New York
And here’s
what happened when Cerebral Ballzy took
to the stage…
Cerebral Ballzy don’t mess around, they aren’t a band to do things by
halves, and stampede the stage with vigor and purpose to cause chaos. Loud, fast-paced
and thrashy, ‘Puke Song’ kicks the evening off and we wouldn’t expect anything
less. A few mic problems to begin with but soon enough ‘Another Day’ follows;
the second song in and front-man Honor Titus is already climbing up the rigging
and swinging over the crowd below. In terms of Ballzy shows this is a relatively
mild beginning. “We’re Cerebral Ballzy out of New York City
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Debauched
and without care, Honor is the perfect punk front-man as he commands the stage,
oozing in confidence. A Cerebral Ballzy show
isn’t about being note perfect, it’s about the feeling they give the crowd, the
feeling to let loose for 45 minutes and not give a damn. With a new album,
‘Jaded & Faded’, on the horizon the band treat fans to a new offering.
‘City’s Girl’ is punk at heart but with more melody than we’re used to, and it
goes down a storm. And when the band aren’t playing, chants of ‘Ballzy, Ballzy,
Ballzy’ echo through The Cockpit. Cerebral
Ballzy come to life up on stage; their anarchic show is impressive tonight
and it isn’t hard to see why they’re headliners of this year’s NME Radar Tour.
Ending the night with the aptly named ‘Causing Havoc’ gives fans and band alike
one last opportunity to get raucous, and the crowd go wild. And with that, the
night is over and the band pretty much jet straight back to the US Brooklyn
punks. And judging by their performance tonight next year will be a big one in
the Cerebral Ballzy camp. 8/10
