By Eileen Tilson
I got turned on to NYC eclectic musician, Oberhofer, by accident. I like keeping my ear to the ground when it comes to new music, and the word on the NY streets was that there was a kid named Brad Oberhofer, whom all the famous producers were just itching to work with. I was intrigued, and then I noticed one of my favorite labels, Glassnote Records (Phoenix, Mumford & Sons, Temper Trap) had just signed this young innovator. I checked out his music and was instantly a fan of his spiky, lo-fi guitar-led singles. The indie-rock wunderkind won notice over the last 18 months to the point where Super-Producer Steve Lillywhite (U2, Dave Matthews Band, The Killers, Perter Gabriel) decided he wanted to produce Brad’s debut album,Time Capsules II “ featuring the single, “Heart.” The album, being released March 27, is a radical — and lovely — step forward. We chatted with Brad Oberhofer AND Steve Lillywhite as part of our 5GB series before his upcoming shows in Atlanta.
What was the first gig you ever went to?
BO: I saw Macy Gray at the Bumpershoot Festival in Seattle. I think I was around 12? All I remember about the show was that I wasn’t really into it. Actually I believe my really first concert was actually at a Bah Mitzvah.
SL: Oh goodness that was a long time ago! I saw Blind Faith play in Hyde Park when I was about 14 years old. There was around 100,000 people, I still can’t believe my parents let me go! The Rolling Stones played the very next week, so it was a great introduction to the world of music!
What is the best gig that you ever played/performed at?
BO: Honestly every day is better than the one it preceded. Every show has been amazing for me, and they just keep getting better. It’s been great being with Glassnote…they get my ideas and trust my vision.
SL: Well I suppose I am going to have to pretend I am a musician! Actually I did plays some gigs with Guster! I was recording them, and had played some bass on their album. They were still looking for a bass player, so I went on the bus after the NY gig at Hammerstein Ballroom, and did 5-6 gigs. I loved every minute of it, definitely made me feel like a rockstar!
What is the best gig you have ever been to?
BO: I saw The O.C.’s in NYC and they were amazing.
SL: I would say probably when I saw U2 perform at Red Rocks in 1985 for their Under a Blood Red Sky live album. They were recording that show and making a video, and it had been raining terribly all day. Right before the band went on stage, the rain stopped and there was this beautiful mist all around us. I was standing at the back of the stage watching them play and looking out into the crowd….it was simply magical. It was a very big gamble for them, they would have lost a lot of money if it hadn’t stopped raining.
Gig you would most like to play?
BO: I would like to play at Messiah College..although, now that I am thinking about it, it would be pretty cool to play Coachella with Snoop Dogg & Dr. Dre.
SL: Let’s just go ahead and start my musician career now! Hmm, I would have liked to have played bass with the Sex Pistols. Not even just the old band, even if they reformed right now, I would still love to play with them. I just love good, fast, punk music.
What would be the lineup for your dream gig?
BO: I really don’t know, I have never thought of that before. Hmm, ok, how about the Beach Boys w/ Brian Wilson, David Bowie, and The Cure….and we would all be playing in my parents back yard.
SL: Ooh, this could be fun! How about Oberhofer, The Killers, 30 Seconds to Mars, Dave Matthews Band, and U2 all at Irving Plaza in NYC….that would be quite a show!
Catch Oberhofer March 8th @ Drunken Unicorn
Drunken Unicorn
