This year has been a busy one for Atlanta natives O’Brother. Non-stop touring and the release of their second album Disillusion are some of the things they’ve been up to in 2013. Guitarist Johnny Dang took the time to speak with us about The Stuffing, Lollapalooza, and why playing in Atlanta can be so dang (pun intended) nerve racking. Make sure to catch them at The Stuffing on November 26 and 27 at Center Stage.
Hey Johnny! This is O’Brother’s fourth year playing The Stuffing. What keeps you guys coming back every year?
Johnny: We’ve been playing The Stuffing since it began, and its almost become tradition. It wouldn’t be Thanksgiving without it. We get to play for our family and friends, and the line-up is always filled with a lot of our friends as well.
Speaking of the show, are there any bands in particular that you are looking forward to seeing play?
Johnny: There is this band called Big Jesus that is playing, and I actually used to play with them before things got too busy with O’Brother. I’m really excited to watch their set.
You’ve been touring heavily to promote your newest album Disillusion. After being on tour for so long, what is something you notice about the crowd in Atlanta compared to elsewhere?
Johnny: I would say it’s having your friends and family out there watching you. It makes it more nerve-racking than playing to a group of strangers. We are gone a lot of the time, and when we come home we want to show our family what we’ve been doing the whole time.
Almost like there is a pressure to perform even better?
Johnny: Yeah! Definitely.
I also noticed O’Brother played Lollapalooza for the first time this year. How was that experience for you guys?
Johnny: It was a great experience. We got to play on a line up with bands like Nine Inch Nails, Grizzly Bear, and Beach House. Bands we never thought we’d share a line up with. My brother Anton is also in o’brother, and he moved to Chicago recently. So we consider Chicago to be a second home now. The city itself is great, and the people here are really respectful audiences.
Have you found any difficulties having a band member live so far away from everyone else? How do you combat any potential problems?
Johnny: Whenever we are about to begin a tour we fly him down to Atlanta for band practice, usually a week or a week and a half before the tour begins. We have to make sure to practice every day that he is here, and not waste any time. We make sure to take time for creating and rehearsing the set, but it isn’t any more difficult than we thought it’d be.
Do you guys have anything special for fans to look forward to in 2014?
Johnny: Yeah, you know we want to have a few headlining tours. We also hope to return abroad and do an international tour.
That sounds exciting! Thank you for taking the time to speak with us.
Johnny: Thank you.
You can still get tickets for this year’s The Stuffing over here for the 11/26 show, and here for the show on 11/27. See you there!
