Blank Realm: You “Should Not Expect Professionalism”

… 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...

… 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.

Blank Realm photo 1

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.

[youtube http://youtu.be/K_la-vhGuQw]

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Band Interviews

During the day Izzy Cihak teaches transgression, subversion, and revolution at Temple University. At night he haunts Philthy's best venues to cover worthwhile acts for Philthy Mag. Morrissey is everything to him and, in their own heads, all of his friends see themselves as Zooey Deschanel.

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