Houstonist Flickr Photo of the Day - After a Late Night at Work
H-Town Rock
So you're tired of the same-ole-same-ole in this town, so you're looking for something different to experience this weekend? Here's one for you: Future Clouds & Radar. The Austin-based band is coming to Walter's on Washington Saturday night for their first performance in Houston. The band is fronted by Robert Harrison, who used to front the indie band Cotton Mather. A lot has changed since those days. We spoke to Robert about his new band and new CD, which has been getting praise from many critics, including one of our favorite rags, Paste magazine.
How is your new band different from Cotton Mather?
In Cotton Mather we settled our differences with guitars and this band approaches things with a bit more of an ensemble's mindset. Not that we don't turn it up- its just that live, in particular, there are more exotic places we can visit that aren't in the tour guides. Cotton Mather, magic as it was, had quite the dude vibe; do in large part to the fact that we were usually... four dudes. Now the sisters have arrived so the energy is balanced by a healthy infusion of yin and also the
instrumentation is more expansive.
Listening to the new CD, it sounds like you took the best cues from The Beatles, Elvis Costello, ELO and the Flaming Lips and made it all your own. How would you describe it?
I'm of course familiar with those artists and I suppose along the way we all absorb a certain amount of influence from those sources to which we've been exposed, especially when we were young. But I never think of other artists when I create. It just all sounds like me as far as I'm concerned. When I am excited about another artist's work it’s because they've surprised me. I like surprises – who doesn't?
Did you recent back injury inspire your songwriting?
Yes, tremendously. because my entire life was do for a comprehensive overhaul
spiritually, emotionally, and vocationally. I had to face the truth we do create our own lives and a malfunction of that magnitude is the ultimate breakdown in communication between higher and lower consciousness. There was work to be done.
Why a double-album?
Anything less was an incomplete thought. The songs were written predominantly as a work after the aforementioned experience. A few songs date from earlier but my attempts to reduce it to a twelve song standard issue CD were dishonest and more importantly missed the opportunity to release a real double-album.
Congrats on having your new album atop of the eMusic charts recently. What are your hopes for the album?
Sell records, meet wonderful people, make more art- spend more quality time in the van and at some point get to Italy.
How hard is it to keep pace with the Austin music scene?
Are you kidding? What is this pace you speak of? Its time for you to see the world young man.
What was I thinking? Ok, usual question: If you could be any Texas landmark, what would it be?
Hank Hill's front lawn because I'd be loved, cared for and well groomed on
a daily basis!
Thank you for your time. Good luck on the show.
Come out Houston kids. We even sometimes give hugs and are qualified as an
ensemble to assess most undergraduate academic work. Our grading errs
towards the generous but depending on your scholarship you could be in for
quite a talking to.
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