Event Fri Jul 17 2009

Pitchfork Festival Coverage and a Conversation with The Jesus Lizard

By Lisa White

The sound of sound checks are in the air at Union Park, Ice Cream Man is in Chicago, and a flock of hipsters are descending upon the green line. It can only mean that it's that special time of the year known as Pitchfork Festival.

Gapers Block will be out in full force this weekend, reporting on our favorite sets, shooting some wonderful pictures to share, and holding down the fort at the Gapers Block table at the CHIRP Record Fair (stop by and say hello).

I'll be showcasing some special content this year, as I sit down with various bands at the festival to chat about the matter at hand; music festivals. We'll get the bands take on Pitchfork, their favorite festival memories, and much more. So keep checking back all weekend for freshly ripped and exclusive conversations each day with some of your favorite Pitchfork Festival bands.

We kick things off today with a short conversation with David Yow, the singer for seminal rock band The Jesus Lizard.

I was able to send some questions over to Yow earlier this week, getting some straight to the point honest answers before the band helps kick things off tonight in Union Park. Yow is an explosive and visceral performer, his frantically delivered vocals forced and raw. The Jesus Lizard's sound is heavy and low, a tightly wound mix of noise and post-punk that seethes as the sound builds and implodes. After reforming to play a handful of dates in 2009, their set tonight will be an intense and triumphant return to Chicago. A full blown reunion doesn't seem in the cards, so if you want to witness the greatness known as The Jesus Lizard, make sure you're in Union Park tonight.

Gapers Block: What attracted you to playing Pitchfork Festival, and have you been to Pitchfork Festival before (either as an artists or just attended)?

David Yow: The money. Never been to Pitchfork Festival before.

GB: From a musician standpoint, what are the major differences between playing a festival and playing a venue? Which do you ultimately prefer?

DY: Venues, obviously, are a lot more personal and usually more fun than festivals and for that reason I typically prefer them.

GB: What is your favorite music festival? Do you have a favorite festival memory (either as a musician or as a fan)?

DY: Big Day Out in Australia

GB: What do you think makes Pitchfork Festival different from other destination festivals?

DY: Its location.

GB: Did you always feel that The Jesus Lizard would get back together? It seemed destined, since many of you were still working on music and especially after Scratch Acid played the Touch & Go 25th party.

DY: No, I never thought we'd get back together.

GB: Does a record and full tour seem possible at this point?

DY: No sir.

GB: How does it feel to be in The Jesus Lizard again? Is it any different than before the hiatus, or is it like riding a bike, where everything comes back naturally again?

DY: It's like riding a bicycle with training wheels and those thick fat solid non-inflatable tires.