Sad Red hits CT

Sad Red is an indie pop band from Brooklyn that will be coming our way for a weekend tour. These guys are just getting started, and they're already selling out shows and making a big name for themselves in NYC, which is not an easy task.

They just released their new album Elder, which I just got my hands on. It's a really strong debut. Stylistically, it's all over the place; sometimes ethereal with folk-styled lyrics, other times it's fun and quirky with playful keyboards - but cohesively as a whole, it's straightforward indie pop with a slightly reverbed-out spacey influence. It's a fun listen. You can hear a sample track here, and more on their myspace. There's some real gems on this album that didn't make it to their site, so if you do make it to one of their shows, make sure to snag a copy.



I caught up with these guys for a quick interview:

CT Indie: So why don't you give me a brief history of the band? How long have you been playing, and how did you meet?

Jake Bloomfield-Misrach: James and I (Jake) have been playing on and off for 8 years. We used to get together as a duo in the lofts at school and play weird fusion/prog rock. Then I moved out to Santa Cruz for a year to live in the forest. Living in the Redwood trees was great but I felt pulled back to NY to start a new band. I had a pretty clear idea in my head of the music I wanted to listen to and I couldn't find it anywhere. So I figured the best way to hear it would be to make it. I met up with James first thing back in NY and we started writing and arranging. Then over the next couple years we felt the need for additions to the line up. The NY music scene is close knit and incestuous so it didn't take long to find the right guys. We never did try outs or anything like that. It was always "hey, we need a keyboard player. Who's the best one we know? Jon? Ok great. Jon, you're in the band."

CT: How did you get your band name? Does it have any significance?

JBM: The band name is the closest description I could come up with for the kind of music I wanted to make while using only two words. I grew up in an artistic family and painting was always a big influence so I knew I wanted a color somewhere in the name. I also knew the music had to be bold and agressive so red seemed the right choice. On the other hand, growing up, I was kind of a sad and quiet kid and that period of my life is where most of my songs come from. I decided Sad could balance out the Red. Kind of their own yin and yang.

CT: What's the coolest show you've ever played?

JBM: The DIY house party at 3rd St Co-op in D.C. full of straight edge high school kids. best crowd ever.

CT: What's your favorite record shop in NYC?

JBM: Other Music (west 4th)

CT: What are you currently listening to?

JBM: Bitte Orca by the Dirty Projectors, definitely. Also an old favorite, Stone Temple Pilot's Purple. Alice In Chains, Grizzly Bear, and Marissa Nadler.

CT: What kind of gear do you guys use?

JBM: A lot of fender stuff. Mostly at least 30 years old. Nord Stage and Canopus drums.

James Windsor-Wells: I concur with this. Canopus is the maker of drums I use. And Bosphorus cymbals.

CT: So what was your favorite moment of the Winter Olympics?

JBM: US tying it up in the last 10 seconds of the Hockey Finals. I don't care how it ended, that part was amazing. We watched that in a bar in Philly an hour before our show at North Star Bar. No Canadians were in attendance.

CT: Hell yeah, I saw that game, and it was intense. I was really expecting them to just give up but to come back at the last possible second was amazing. So, if you could play with any band on your dream tour, what bands would be on it?

JBM: Soundgarden would have a reunion tour and call us.

Josh Myers: !!!!

JBM: Oh shit. Well I guess I'll be sitting by the phone.



You can catch Sad Red as they come through town for 2 dates in CT:

Thursday, 3/18: Cousin Larry's, Danbury CT
Friday, 3/19: P.A. Lounge, Somerville MA
Saturday, 3/20: Acoustic Cafe, Bridgeport CT