… I like any band that doesn’t take themselves seriously… That’s not true… But I don’t like any band that does take themselves seriously… And I quite like Blank Realm. Blank Realm are a band of three siblings and one friend from Brisbane who, somehow, manage to blend the kind of rock your dad likes with the kind of rock your record-store-aficionado Gen. X cousin likes… although they are a bit more of the latter. They’ve had quite the year, thus far. As of June 3rd, Fire Records will have reissued two of their albums in 2013; they have a new record nearly completed; and they’re currently on a US tour, which includes a local stop on May 29th at Orlieb’s Lounge (Oh, shit, look, three inches two the right is a direct link to the venue’s website.) I recently got a chance to chat with singer/drummer Daniel Spencer (one of the siblings), who summed up Blank Realm for me in a far more concise manner than I could.
Izzy Cihak: You recently reissued Go Easy in the US. Have you had any favorite responses to the release, whether critical or from fans and friends?
Daniel Spencer: That’s a tough one. We are really just stoked that people seem to like it. My Dad said we were ‘getting better’. He previously described us as ‘musical graffiti’, so I guess that’s a step up.
IC: Fire Records is also going to be reissuing Deja What? What can fans of Go Easy expect of this release?
DS: It’s kind of a transitional release, with one foot in this muddy noise netherworld, and one foot in classic rock. It was a weird time. My Dad wasn’t into it.
IC: What do you consider to be the band’s biggest influences and inspirations, whether musical or non-musical?
DS: Pere Ubu, the Dead C, the Stones, the Go Betweens. Brisbane weather, hot n’ slow.
IC: You’ve gained quite a reputation for your live show. What can US fans expect of your upcoming dates?
DS: Well, as we proved on stage in Bloomington the other night, they should not expect professionalism. We will have fun and rock hard every night, though. Be drunk if you can.
IC: What are you most excited for in the second half of 2013? What are your most prominent hopes and goals?
DS: Well, we have a new album nearly done. We hope people like it. The meat-eaters in the band want to find the best cheesesteak in Philly.
IC: It’s Pat’s.
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