Scene Point Blank: Did COVID interfere in any way musically or did you find other ways to collaborate?
Chloe: COVID interfered with everything. I mean, it was hard on everyone, everywhere. So much isolation and anxiety and uncertainty. But, it was particularly hard on people in performing arts and all of the auxiliary folks who are so important to that industry -- like bartenders, talent buyers, stagehands, sound engineers, etc. We felt it for the whole community, not just for ourselves. It just “hurt” all the time. I, personally, wasn't feeling as creative as I would have liked, and I think I fared better than so many of my colleagues and friends, so I can only imagine what others were going through.
Brad: During the lockdown, we did produce three music videos for the new album that turned out pretty great. “She Ain't No Fluffer,” “Love Me While You Can,” and “I Cry For You.” Morgan Fisher even contributed to our “Fluffer” video, which was nice. We were compelled to construct them a little differently than we may have pre-pandemic, but it ended up working out.
Scene Point Blank: Courtney Love famously said that “Saxophones don’t belong in rock ‘n’ roll” and then recanted the statement after backlash. How important is the sax to you in rock ‘n’ roll music? Any musical saxophone heroes? Steve Mackay?
Chloe: Ha! Courtney Love apparently never listened to any David Bowie, Mott The Hoople, James Brown, Little Richard, Roxy Music, Chicago, The Rolling Stones, THE BEATLES --the list is infinite. I mean, she should have just recanted her statement after, you know, thinking, “Well, that was a dumb statement.” I have loads of musical sax heroes (Charlie Parker, Lester Young, Paul Desmond, Dexter Gordon, again, infinite list -- and I'm going to kick myself for missing some after this goes live). Since we’re mostly talking rock ‘n’ roll here, I was pretty influenced, for this record, by Andy Mackay of Roxy Music fame. I wonder if Steve Mackay is related to him (I guess I could google that, right?)
One of the first saxophonists I paid attention to when I gradually drifted from jazz to rock was Mars Williams (The Waitresses, Psychedelic Furs). He kind of blew my mind with his playing in The Waitresses. He’s since become a good friend.
Scene Point Blank: Chloe, do you take shit from anyone? Lyrically I would say NO! haha
Chloe: Brad writes many of the lyrics, so don’t just go by lyrics. But, yeah, good call. There’s really nobody from whom I take any shit. I have been known to act reverential toward members of the clergy if, say, I’m in an elevator with one (and it’s apparent). And I’m not a fan of religion at all, so what’s that all about? They kind of freak me out, I guess.
Scene Point Blank: Can we expect a tour of your newest release, Burn the Rails?
Chloe: Not while the pandemic is still raging. We had a very scary experience with breakthrough Delta in our camp, so we'll be erring on the side of caution for a while. I mean, I think the “eradicating the potentially deadly components” ship has sailed. I won't bore anyone with my interpretation of why I think this is. And, you know, I don't have a medical degree. Yet.
Scene Point Blank: What was the lyrical inspiration for the song “She Ain’t No Fluffer”?
Brad: I don't know if I want to spill all of our lyrics' secrets. What fun would that be? I think listeners can interpret this however they'd like.
Chloe: Brad is the primary songwriter on this one, but I sing it like I'm empowered as fuck.
Scene Point Blank: I’m curious if any band members crossed paths with the Chicago punk/hardcore punk scene: Effigies, Naked Raygun, Articles of Faith, etc.
Brad: Sure we have and we still do. Chicago is a small big city. And the music community is full of mutual respect for different genres.
Chloe: Oh, man, the original Chicago punk rockers are the best! I'm going to totally ruin their punk credibility, but they are the sweetest. Just lovely folks.
Scene Point Blank: Gene Simmons said rock ‘n’ roll is dead … Is it a dying breed or is he delusional and should retire?
Chloe : I'm sorry, I don't know who that is.
Brad: Ha!
Scene Point Blank: How would you like to be remembered in time?
Chloe: Living in a villa in the Italian countryside with a bunch of cats, a vegetable garden nearby, a recording studio on the premises, and hosting salons with my creative friends from all over the world every couple of months. Oh, I thought you asked how would I like to retire in time.
Brad: I think it would be nice just to be remembered. Maybe in 4/4 time.
Scene Point Blank: Beatles, Stones, Kinks, or Pretty Things?
Chloe: I love them all for different reasons. But, I will always be partial to The Beatles. Although, I'd probably rather go out for cocktails with The Stones (circa 1968), and I'd be happy to have Ray or Dave Davies sing me a bedtime story.
Brad: Same.
Scene Point Blank: Parting thoughts?
Chloe: Let's hear it for the rest of our band! Emily Togni on Fender bass guitar and backing vocals, Alison Hinderliter on keys, Jeffrey Kmieciak on lead guitar and backing vocals. They are our heart. So wonderful to play with, and we love them like family (and even better, because we got to choose them). I mean, I could live in the same apartment with all of them. I don't know if they could live with me, though. Hahahaha.
Brad: It’ll all be in my book.
Chloe: And, thanks so much for your interest in us in and our music. Jukebox Jury was a lot of fun to participate in, too. We’d do it again anytime.
