The Features’ exhilarating new Wilderness (Serpents and Snakes/Bug Music) quickly establishes the Nashville-based combo as one of the most exciting and imaginative bands working today. Songs like “Another One” and “Fats Domino” are marvels of pop ingenuity, animated by vivid lyrics, unshakable hooks, and experimental soul. Wilderness is an amalgamation of influences and inspirations – spanning elements of Krautrock, indie, psychedelia, and classic AOR – to conjure up The Features’ own inimitable, indescribable sound. They are playing Terminal West tonight and joined us for our 5GB series.
What’s the first gig you ever attended?
Ravi Shankar. That’s what happens when you’re raised by hippies. I was pretty young. The main thing I remember is this man in the lobby having a leopard. I think I remember sleeping through most of it.
What is the best gig that you ever played/performed?
It’s hard for me to answer. One that really sticks out is opening for Kings Of Leon in Mexico City. It was around 18,000 people and all of them seemed to be really into us. Sometimes that can happen during club shows but in my experience it’s pretty unusual for that to translate at an arena.
What is the best gig you have ever seen?
For me it was seeing Blur on the orange album tour. I was obsessed with them at the time and had to use a friend’s ID to get in(we both have big noses). I ended up getting to meet them afterwards too. They’re way shorter than I thought they would be. The best show I’ve heard would be The Who “Live At Leeds.”
What is the gig you would most like to play?
If I had a time machine, the one where Keith Moon passed out from taking too many horse tranquilizers.
What would be the lineup for your dream gig?
Roxy Music in ’72 opening for Bowie in ’78. Pee Wee Herman would do comedy during the intermission.
Catch The Features., Nov. 1st at Terminal West
