05/22/09
Text: Kee Chang
Howling Bells have landed stateside and they’re making quite an entrance. The charming Londoners are currently on a massive North American tour supporting the juggernaut that is Coldplay, Pete Yorn, and Snow Patrol. Click here for the full rundown of their upcoming shows. Meanwhile, their sophomore effort (debut album in America), Radio Wars, is available now on Nettwerk.
Front woman Juanita Stein weighs in on her favorite nightspots in London, Kate Bush, and dirty gin martinis.
BAND NAME: Howling Bells
HOMETOWN: London, U.K.
DESCRIBE YOUR SOUND IN TWO SENTENCES: Someday I'll wish upon a star and wake up where the clouds are far behind me. Where troubles melt like lemon drops away above the chimney tops, that’s where you'll find me.
FAVORITE NIGHTSPOT IN THE CITY YOU CALL HOME: A quiet night is Screen on the Green, a cool independent cinema in Angel, London. A loud night means Slims Jims, a little Rock ‘n’ Roll bar on the same strip.
THREE BANDS OTHER THAN YOUR OWN THAT YOU CAN’T LIVE WITHOUT: Nirvana, the Jimi Hendrix Experience, and the Doors. I Guess The Beatles are automatically assumed, right?
HOTTEST POP STAR: Early Kate Bush
HOTTEST DEAD ROCKER: Jim Morrison
FAVORITE NOW DEFUNCT LABEL: Can’t really go past Factory Records.
DO YOU FEEL VULNERABLE OR INVINCIBLE ON STAGE? Absolutely 100% both at the very same time.
MOST MEMORABLE SHOW YOU’VE PLAYED: We played a great festival in the U.K. called Latitude. They set us up on a little stage in the middle of a forest with twinkling lights and adoring audience to boot. You had to cross the lake on a boat to get there. Was most memorable!
WHO’S MORE CREATIVE, AN EARLY BIRD OR A NIGHT OWL? The early bird functions, the night owl dreams—definitely the night owl.
CHOICE VICE: I guess dirty gin martinis.
BEST RECENT PURCHASE: A mandolin for my loved one.
SOMETHING THAT’S ALWAYS IN YOUR POCKET/PURSE/WALLET: Too much space.
TOUR NECESSITIES YOU NEVER TRAVEL WITHOUT: My phone and some dry shampoo.
LYRIC YOU’RE MOST PROUD OF: "I am the watchtower, I am the light that emanates, I am the key that fits, I am the world that radiates."
FINISH THIS SENTENCE: In the event of an impending apocalypse... surrender.
