The journey of il gato–Daimian Holiday Scott (vocals, acoustic guitar, harmonica, loop pedal), Matthew Souther (trumpet, flugelhorn, piano, melodica, vocals), Johnny Major (drums, vocals), and Andrew Thomas (upright bass, electric bass, mandolin, vocals)–embraces the sounds of myriad places and people. Influenced by the midlands of England and France to the Czech Republic, Romania, and Hungary via the pair’s hometown of San Francisco, this evolving musical story is already beginning to captivate listeners. Their latest record, All These Slippery Things forges deeper into the culture of the old East and comes back with a suite of euphoric melodies for times of revelry.
The album was recorded at Tiny Telephone, engineered by Ian Pelicci (Deerhoof, Rogue Wave, Hauschka, etc.) and mastered by Roger Seibel at SAE Mastering (Broken Social Scene, Death Cab for Cutie, Bon Iver, The Dodos, Cat Power, The Decemberists, Modest Mouse, etc). All these Slippery Things proves that months of submersion in both local and European culture and making music the focus of daily life has seeped right through Daimian Holiday Scott’s songwriting and playing. This is by far the most vivid, intense, and confident work to come out of the Bay Area in quite some time. il gato have begun their jounrey outside of the Bay Area and are ready to impress and enthrall. We wish them luck.
You can catch il gato with fellow Bay Area acts Poor Bailey and Foxtail Brigade at Cafe Du Nord tomorrow (Wednesday, October 27th, 2010) at 8pm.
This week we have lead singer / guitarist Daimian Holiday Scott answer the world famous Kuestionnaire as he provides an uplifting answer to question #15.
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1. Could you state your name and what you do in the band?
Daimian Holiday Scott: Vocalist, Lyricist, Guitarist, Harmonica-ist, Loop Pedal-ist, Songwriter-ist
2. How would you describe your sound?
Indie-baroque-folk with a modernist sensibility
3. What is your favorite local band?
Port O’brien. Wolf & Crow. The Folk Opera.
4. Any concerts that blew your mind recently?
Bon Iver at the Fox Theater. 4 people on stage that fills the space of thousands.
5. Any non-musical influences you would like to mention?
Paul Thomas Anderson, Kurt Vonnegutt
6. If your music was to be the theme of a film/TV show, what would it be?
A film by Paul Thomas Anderson constructed to the stories within our album. Each song a vignette. If pre-existing, then an instrumental song for a scene in the final season of the other best drama (after “Mad Men”) on television, “Friday Night Lights”.
7. What musician/artist would you like to collaborate with for a day?
David Byrne, Ry Cooder & Damon Albarn
8. What is the album you listen to on a cold rainy day?
“Kurr” by Amiina. The string section from Sigur Ros who made one of my favorite albums.
9. List four songs you would listen to on a roadtrip?
“Dirty Harry” – Gorillaz
“The Rat” – The Walkmen
“Holland, 1945” – Neutral Milk Hotel
10. Where do you see yourselves in 7 years?
Releasing albums and touring sporadically. Recording soundtracks for films, art performances and more. 2 young children and a beautiful, kind, amazing partner.
11. What is the last book you read?
“Blink” by Malcom Gladwell. One of the most perceptive people around today.
12. Is image a factor in music or is it a waste of time?
Image is definitely a factor. If music is magic, the why not weave your sorcerer’s wand and wacky wardrobe?
13. Any embarrassing moments on stage you would like to share?
Countless times of forgetting lyrics? Banging your face into a microphone? Rambling on about nothing? Expressing your soul to strangers?
14. Any favorite tour locations?
Cottage Grove, Oregon. Mason jars with amazing micro-brews, phenomenal food and kind people just looking to have fun. Also, ditto for Davis, California.
15. Lastly, what is your present state of mind?
Excited just for the possibilities life has to offer.
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[mp3] il gato – On Feathers & Arrows (on Burnt Pine) from All these Slippery Things (2010)
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[mp3] Port O’Brien – My Will Is Good from Threadbare (2009)