The Weeds, featuring former members of Transit / Late Nite Wars and Defeo will release their debut EP ‘Roots/Routes‘ on February 26th via indie label Catskull Records. The EP will be available digitally via Spotify, and the physical version will only be available as a limited edition cassette (with digital download) via the No Sleep Records store [Here]. This week in The Hotseat, we catch up with Justine DeFeo from the band to answer our questions. Expand this post to take a read of her answers and check out a track from the EP.
THE BASICS
Name : Justine DeFeo
Band : The Weeds
Job In Band : Guitar/Vocals
Website Address : Facebook.com/theweedsma
HOME
Hometown : Medford, MA (U.S.A.)
Hometown is best known for : Paul Revere Restaurant and Jim’s Market?
Best venue in your hometown : Boston – The Royale, The Paradise
Favourite show you’ve seen in your hometown : Too many!
Favourite show you’ve played in your hometown : All of the shows we played so far are my favorite.
THE BAND
How did the band first come to exist? Joe and I came up with the idea of starting a band since we had some songs and would write together. We ran into John at a Basement show and asked him to record drums for us (we knew him from our previous bands). He ended up wanting to join and at Joe’s 21st birthday party Jarek told us he wanted to play bass for us, so that’s how it began!
How long has the band been going? All four of us officially got together in August 2012.
Any particular story behind the name? It just came to me.
What’s your most recent release? Tell us a little about it… Our most recent release hasn’t come out yet. Our new five song EP Roots/Routes comes out on February 26.
Got a personal stand out achievement of your band to date? Recording our EP with Mike Moschetto from The Office Recording Studios this past December.
OFF THE STAGE
What was your first introduction to music that made you think seriously about playing it? Elvis Presley.
Any particular band / album or song that you personally credit as a major influence? Tegan And Sara – The Con and The Smiths – Louder Than Bombs.
Your first band name, and what style did you play? Haha, oh God. “Stereo To Stereo” we played indie emo songs. We were pretty good, actually.
Most prized music related item you own? My guitars!
When you’re not doing band related stuff, what are you usually found doing? Just hanging out with friends. Reading. Maybe watching Law And Order SVU or something. Going to school at UMASS Lowell.
The thing you most look forward to just before a tour is… going on tour?
The thing you least look forward to before a tour is… making sure I have everything.
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ON THE STAGE
When on offer, what’s your one must have item on the rider? My reverb pedal.
Favourite place you’ve toured… and why? Haven’t been too far from home yet but I really like Philly. It’s just a cool city with an awesome music scene.
Most memorable show you’ve played? and why? All have been fun so far but probably a show we played in Cambridge, MA with I Kill Giants, Maker, Foreign Tongues, Old Gray, and The Saddest Landscape.
Got a favourite song to play live? Either “Feel Nothing” or “Up To Speed”.
Any embarrassing on stage moments come to mind? Nope, not yet.
Any pre-show rituals? Just to make sure my set up is beautified.
What do you find is the hardest aspect of touring in a band today? Finding the money and support to tour.
RIGHT NOW
Last song you listened to? “Hoods Up” – Legs Like Tree Trunks.
Last album you acquired? Slingshot Dakota – Dark Hearts on vinyl.
Which band or album is currently on high rotation? The American Scene – Safe For Now.
Tell us an up and coming band or artist you think we should go and listen to right now? High Pop, Somos, Legs Like Tree Trunks, Elvis Depressedly, Brave Bird.
IF ONLY…
You can pick any one album for your band to cover in full, what would it be and why? Tegan And Sara – If It Was You. I dunno, I love that record and the songs are fun.
You can pick any one band / artist to cover one of your albums in full, what would it be, and why? Tegan And Sara covering Roots/Routes would be pretty interesting and awesome.
One band you wish you were able to see live but never had the chance? The Smiths or Nirvana.
One venue you have yet to play that you would love to? The Royale.
The chance comes up to fill in for a member of a band for one tour, which band would it be, and why? Tegan And Sara. Because I’d get to play music with Tegan and Sara.
A headline tour overseas comes up, tell us two bands you’d take along to support your band. Somos and High Pop.
PLUG TIME
Got any final words? Our new EP Roots/Routes is up for preorder on No Sleep Record’s webstore and will be available on February 26. If you preorder it, you receive “Sunset Eyes (Beautiful Life)” and “Attention” as digital tracks as soon as you order it. Also, it comes with a PDF booklet in the digital download. There are only 300 cassettes! If you order the EP on No Sleep’s webstore, you will receive “Stranger Than Fiction”, a song that will not appear on the cassette!
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Order your copy [Here].
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