By Matt Harness
Bloodshot Records toasted a Grant Park crowd at Taste of Chicago and will again next month at its anniversary party at the Hideout. But the label has a small presence at this weekend’s Lollapalooza.
Bloodshot alum Neko Case, who is playing Lolla on Sunday, is the label’s only connection to the ‘palooza.
But Elia Einhorn and his Scotland Yard Gospel Choir will be playing a little-known private show for industry folks, including some of the Lolla bands, at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Hard Rock Hotel. SYGC, which arranged for some of their fans to join them at the intimate show, has a new album out Sept. 15.
Beachwood Music: What’s the deal with this private party?
Elia Einhorn: They knew we would be in Chicago and asked our manager. We’ve been on the other side of it at another festival. It’s going to be awesome hanging out and getting out of the heat. The last time we came through one of these we left with Pumas and jeans that cost like $300. It’s stuff you wouldn’t buy on your own. It’s nice to be considered a tastemaker. It’s going to be insane.
Beachwood Music: Cool that you opened up a private party to include some regular people, your fans.
Elia Einhorn: We e-mailed the ones on our lists. It wasn’t really public, but it’s our hardcore fans. We could only accommodate 10.
Beachwood Music: Your fans, like Ha Ha Tonka’s, skew much younger than some of Bloodshot’s other bands. That’s good and bad. Good that SYGC sold the most digital downloads of any label band. Bad that fans sometimes show up at your job and leave you notes.
Elia Einhorn: We definitely have a different demographic than the usual Bloodshot crowd, which is 30s, 40s, 50s. Ours is teens, 20s, 30s. I guess our fans tend to be younger and hipper.
Beachwood Music: Do you plan on checking out the Lolla festival?
Elia Einhorn: I’ve been so insanely busy, what with trying to plan this upcoming tour. But I am going to pop in and out. I want to see a little bit each day.
Beachwood Music: Which band is at the top of your list?
Elia Einhorn: Depeche Mode. They are the ones for one. We are also big BBU supporters. They are blowing the fuck up right now. They got a great review on Pitchfork and have all these labels after them. They are one of the bands going right now, and it’s going to be awesome seeing them.
Beachwood Music: Lolla always seems to challenge fans to pick between two bands. A Sunday showdown pits Vampire Weekend against Neko Case.
Elia Einhorn: Neko Case no doubt. She’s totally fucking awesome. I totally want to work with her. At Forward Fest in Madison, she sent the whole crowd to our show later. The place was packed. Oh, my, god, it was awesome. She’s the coolest.
Even as we talk I am e-mailing her booking agent. That’s what is cool about being on the road. You are playing with bands you would want to go see.
Beachwood Music: . . . And the Horse You Rode In On is due out Sept. 15. What’s the tour schedule?
Elia Einhorn: Well, we’ve already secured a release party on Halloween at Subterranean. We are going to have all kinds of special guests. It won’t be a normal show, but an event.
Looks like the tour will start in late September and will be for three months. We are going to cover the whole U.S. It will be the longest tour we’ve ever done. Some of the bands we will hook up with include Poi Dog Pondering and Headlights.
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Bloodshot Briefing appears in this space every Friday. Matt welcomes your comments.
Posted on August 7, 2009