Easy On The Ears: An Interview With Wild Sweet Orange’s Taylor Shaw
By Nell Alk

Wild Sweet Orange possesses a sweet, wild sound you won’t want to miss. Fortunately, you won’t have to. WSO embarks on their second tour of 2008 on May 5, kicking off in Portland, OR. We recently spoke with guitarist Taylor Shaw towards the tail end of their first leg. At the time, I lamented the fact that I’d missed their stop in NYC. Well, lucky for me and other fans from New York, they’ll be back – at Bowery Ballroom May 21.

From Birmingham, AL, these boys know what it takes to make music that’s not only original, but also addictive. Their songs are at once lyrically lofty as well as undeniably catchy in their instrumental elements.

I’m a new fan and I love your sound. When can we expect a full length LP?
Umm, I think we’re looking at releasing the full length in June. We’re working with Mike McCarthy, music producer to Spoon and Patty Griffin.

Well, it would seem you are in good company, then. I understand you are currently on tour. Who is with you?
Well, it’s me, Dave our tour manager, Garret [Kelly] our bass player, Preston [Lovinggood] the lead singer and guitarist, Chip [Kilpatrick] our drummer, and Tyler [Burkhum], our unofficial member and third guitarist.

How do you know Tyler?
We met him last August when he was touring with Matt Kearney. We all got along with him and he plays the guitar with us because someone else left the band [Matt Parsons]. He’s been really great to have around.

Who are your greatest musical influences?
Jeff Buckley, Bob Dylan, Leonard Cohen for sure. I’m into Johnny Greenwood and Thom Yorke [of Radiohead]. Amy Winehouse I like pretty good, I guess. Sigur Rós.

So, who do people say you sound like?
I’ve heard Wilco before, but I don’t really think we do. I’ve heard My Morning Jacket. Umm, I don’t know. I’ve heard lots of weird stuff too. I guess we’ve got aspects of all those little things in there. I don’t necessarily agree.

You were once featured on Grey’s Anatomy. Which song? And, has this expanded your fan base or provided you more exposure?
“Land Of No Return.” And, it seems like it did. People would come up to us and say, ‘Y’all were on Gray’s Anatomy, oh my gosh!’ like we’ve never done anything else. It was interesting, though, kinda surreal.

Do you watch the show? Be honest.
No. I like to watch movies a lot though.

Really? What films are you into?
Magnolia. Anything by P.T. Anderson. There Will Be Blood is the best. And, Johnny Greenwood – my boy! [Radiohead’s Johnny Greenwood composed the soundtrack for TWBB].

So, you reside in Birmingham, huh? Ever think of relocating? Or are you all about Birmingham?
I like Birmingham. It’s quiet. It’s crazy country. People are chill, really cool for the most part. I can take time to myself. You still get bored in Birmingham. It’s not New York where you can always have fun at any time. Doesn’t get too cold. It’s nice to walk around and not be completely freezing. Only problem is the humidity in summer. As far as the band goes, we all come from a mentality that we are staying, instead of abandoning it. You have to make your home somewhere. I love Birmingham, but I could live anywhere, especially with these guys. They’re like family.

How did you meet?
We all met, actually, at church. At a church. We were all, like, thirteen. Chip, Garrett, Preston, they all knew each other from age eight. All our families went there, ya know? We all always loved music. Always talked about it even if we weren’t playing it. Have been playing now for about three, four years in this band.

I have to ask, are you a religious band? The church bit throws me off, as do some of the song lyrics…
I think we’re spiritual. We enjoy talking about philosophy. I think a lot of songs are borne out of the struggle for something true and real. So many questions about the way we were brought up. Religion seems like a machine and life isn’t like that. It’s more mysterious. There’s, like, this great mystery. I don’t think you can try to talk about it. If you put it into words, it kind doesn’t mean anything anymore. It’s kinda like pointing at the moon; either people look at your finger and the person pointing or they look at the moon, ya know?

I think I get what you’re trying to say. So, do you like playing in New York City?
Always so fun. I love that city. Three times, maybe twice, I’ve visited. It’s like forty Birminghams. It’s just, like, awesome. It’s amazing. You could walk down the street naked and no one would care. But maybe that’s an idealistic way of looking at the world.

Where did you come up with your band name?
Well, we all threw words into a hat one time, put ‘em in there like that. Five words was too much. Every single time we would pull out the word “wild” and the word “orange.” We kept hearing “sweet” in our everyday lives and so that’s how we put it together. Doesn’t really mean anything.

I like that method. Nothing wrong with that. Paying homage to John Cusack in High Fidelity, who are your top five bands right now, like on your iPod?
I’ve been listening to a lot of Elliott Smith. He is so good. I am always listening to Bob Dylan. I can’t listen to enough Bob Dylan. And I guess Jeff Buckley and Radiohead. I’m trying to give you five. I’ve just been reading so much the past few days. I’ve been really…what have I been listening to? You know, I think I’ve been listening to the Juno soundtrack. I’m always listening to Sigur Rós too.

So, what’s the craziest thing that’s ever happened during a performance?
Probably when we were playing in New York at Gramercy Theater, opening for Counting Crows at CMJ. In the middle of “Land Of No Return” the fire alarm started going off, which cut all power. So, we sat there. Then, we picked up where we left off and finished. Definitely really weird. Scared the crap out me.

Okay, how about most fun crazy that’s ever happened during a performance?
I don’t know the most fun or, like, crazy thing that ever happened. Maybe in Seattle a couple years ago. I think everyone almost broke their instruments. I threw my guitar off stage and Preston landed on one.

Did your guitar survive?
Yes…

If you weren’t dedicating yourself to this band, what would you be doing with your time?
I’d continue to play with the other band I am in, The Great Book of John, named after lyrics from Hank Williams’ song “Angel of Death.”

I didn’t realize you were in a second band. When did you form?
About three years ago.

Very cool. What would you be doing if not for that, then?
I’d probably go to school and get married and be poor. Live a quiet little life in the woods. Hard to think about that since I currently live in a van.

See below for Wild Sweet Orange tour dates and venues near you.

http://www.myspace.com/wildsweetorange

May 5 Wonder Ballroom Portland, OR
May 7 Showbox Seattle, WA
May 8 Big Easy Concert House Boise, ID
May 9 Avalon Theater Salt Lake City, UT
May 10 Gothic Theatre Englewood, CO
May 12 Fine Line Music Cafe Minneapolis, MN
May 13 Metro Chicago, IL
May 14 St. Andrew’s Hall Detroit, MI
May 19 Paradise Rock Club Boston, MA
May 20 Maxwell’s Hoboken, NJ
May 21 Bowery Ballroom New York, NY
May 22 9:30 Club Washington, DC
May 23 The Fillmore Philadelphia, PA
May 24 The NorVa Norfolk, VA
May 25 The National Richmond, VA
May 27 City Hall Nashville, TN
May 28 Variety Playhouse Atlanta, GA
May 30 Culture Room Ft. Lauderdale, FL
June 3 Meridian Houston, TX
June 4 Antone’s Austin, TX
June 5 House Of Blues Dallas-Ft. Worth, TX
June 6 House Of Blues New Orleans, LA
June 7 Brickhouse Theater Phoenix, AZ
June 9 Troubadour Los Angeles, CA
June 10 Troubadour Los Angeles, CA
June 11 Troubadour Los Angeles, CA
June 12 House Of Blues San Diego, CA
June 13 Fillmore Theatre San Francisco, CA
June 15 House Of Blues Anaheim, CA