Issue #2

By Emily Lebetzis

Dive into their ocean and make it your own (in a bar, under the sea). Immerse yourself in the music and grab a partner for some crazy swing-dancing with no rules. But be quick coz the song will change mid-sentence and you’ll soon be engulfed by quiet.

I put off writing my intro to this interview for a long time because I didn’t know where to begin. I could have just rolled off the details of band members, history and releases, but I knew it wouldn’t mean much to many people. The above at least gives you an impression of what I think of these people’s work. They are: Steve Sostak - vocals, alto saxophone, Chris Daly - guitar, Scott Anna - drums, vocals, John Brady - bass, Mitch Cheney - guitar, otherwise known as Sweep The Leg Johnny. Formed in 1996 in Chicago, they have released three albums with their fourth due out on Southern Records on June 25th 2002. Look out for a UK tour in September! I spoke to Steve via e-mail.

Emily: Music is often associated with colours - Blues, Red Hot, Black. What colours do Sweep the Leg Johnny’s songs conjure up for you?

Steve: Purple. purple rain.

E: I got into Sweep the Leg Johnny on a recommendation from a Belgian pen-pal and have since talked about your music with Americans who have yr albums. I often mention Sweep in conversations with Australians who I think should be into your music, but I’ve yet to meet an Aussie who has heard of you. Do you make any effort at all to promote yr work here or don’t you plan on ever coming this way?

S: When June of ‘44 came to Oz in 1999, I went along on the recommendation of the same guy from Belgium and was completely blown away. They had enough of a following to sell out two official club shows and to pack out one unannounced one in Melbourne alone. I’m sure Sweep would be received well here.

S: We would absolutely love to come to Australia, but have the predicament of being on Southern Records which has an aversion towards licensing our records out in places like Japan and Australia. it’s a definite hurdle, but we’d be up for any trip if we could break even. and we can guarantee a good fight with june of 44’s show.

E: Do people have souls? If so, how does someone reveal whether or not they have one?

S: I’m not sure. I think I’m a physicalist, but then I think about the way my body reacts to feelings of tension, or anger, or love… and there is definitely something uncontrollable. so, I guess for me the soul is something untameable.

E: Why a sax? Why not a trombone or a French horn or a tuba or a trumpet, or even a clarinet?

S: It’s the only instrument I could play. I played since I was 10.

E: You added Mitch as a second guitarist just over a year ago. From what I noticed when I saw you last Halloween, his hyperactivity has definitely brought an extra element to the visual dynamics of watching you guys play, but what has he brought to the sound and the song writing?

S: I think his touch and his reluctance to step on toes is quite amazing. you can really get a feel for his talents on the new cd/2xLP which comes out June 25. he found a voice among a lot of voices and it’s quite beautiful.

E: Should singing drummers have microphones or should they just scream randomly whenever they get frustrated about not having a ‘voice’?

S: You should ask Phil Collins.

E: (HE played drums for Ozzy Osbourne’s band at the Queen’s jubilee concert recently!!)

E: If all five of you were stuck on a desert island and were about to be eaten by cannibals unless you could entertain them, but you only had 2 instruments there with you, (a) What instruments would you prefer to have; (b) Who would play what; and (c) explain why and how?

S: We might just have to eat them. I can’t imagine two people being able to eat five of sweep before we got ahold of them.

E: (Okay, sorry to be anal, but I never specified the number of cannibals - only instruments…reading comprehension marks just went out the window…good answer nonetheless!)

E: Aside from drinking beer and having the excuse to travel, what inspires you to make the music you are making right now?

S: The challenge of writing songs that keep us interested and happy both in the practice space and on the road.

E: I can’t even begin to try and categorize your style of music, yet I have noticed some writers trying to do so. What do you think about promoters, radio programmers and the media trying to group together musicians who play similar styles or who come from the same geographical location? Conversely, do you think there is any importance in trying to map historical musical family trees?

S: I think any historical study is essential but in our case, I think we fit into a different realm. we never have played music for the “art” or “historical” reason. I really believe it just felt right…. and in there somewhere we fit into a bigger scheme not because we tried to but because it happened.

E: What have you been listening to lately? What do you play in the van when you are touring?

S: Sleepytime gorilla museum from San Francisco. runner from Chicago. we take turns in the van but stay consistently tuned to classic rock radio or dabble in “the new alternative” stations to see what we are doing wrong.

E: I’ve heard you briefly mention punk rock and hardcore circles in other interviews. Do any of you come from that kind of background? If so, does it affect the venues you choose or bands you support?

S: I think we respect that scene greatly. we have found those crowds extremely accepting of sweep and willing to listen and have fun at our shows. the DIY nature of the scene can be very inspiring, especially overseas. we have toured with the great RED MONKEY from Newcastle, England and they are incredibly representative of everything that is great about independent music.

E: Can you recommend any zines, websites or other reading material? How about cheesy 80s movies?

S: The nation is a neat weekly in the states. cheesy 80s movies…. shit, where do I start. just watch the running man and you’ll understand a lot about our sense of humor.

E: You can interpret the following question to be about any aspect of yourself, other band members or your music: Are you Pretty or are you Ugly, and why?

S: Right now, I’m doing this interview with my shirt off wearing nothing but my red boxer briefs so this question is not working for me…. oh hell, I’m pretty.

E: The only American relatives I have live in Illinois and they proudly informed me that their state tops the coffee-drinking statistics in the US. So, how do you take your coffee? Any special instructions? (And you can’t say “In a cup”!)

S: I stopped drinking coffee 3 months ago after having a major addiction to caffeine. so, I’m a lame herbal tea drinker these days. honey and soymilk or cream if you would.

E: Switching to another drug of choice, do you prefer kegs or bottles?

S: Fifths.

E: Huh? Are they stubbies? Please explain.

S: Fifths are just how they sell hard liquor up here.

E: Okay, time for some serious business: I know you’ve been busy touring. Have you been promoting a new release or is there something on the way soon?

S: “Going down swingin’” out june 25. get it to the aussies and we come shortly thereafter. we can mailorder if need be through www.angiesmells.com or simply get it from southern records.

E: I’ve yet to hear your split with Lvmen and am curious as to the direction you are taking with your new material…Could you describe it? How is it possible to obtain copies of the split? Record label?

S: The split was placed on the backburner as both bands were taking a hiatus and needed to finish full lengths. Lvmen has a new one coming out soon on Day After records from Prague. They are amazing.

E: Okay, now back to the visual dynamics: I have to ask why you use the same microphone to play into and sing into. Is there a problem with phase or something when you have two mics next to each other? Or do you enjoy doing the splits to sing and jumping back up to play the sax? Are star-jumps part of yr exercise routine? I’ve tried mimicking the moves when I describe the band (and it’s fun) but I usually stomp on some poor innocent bystander’s feet in the process…

S: My posture is so bad these days that it just makes sense…. and it’s just a lot more dynamic to watch. fun, too.

E: And lastly, could you make a sentence with the words “stops and starts”?

S: My puppy stops and starts when playing with his tennis ball. (or see any review of sweep music… that’s what you were getting at, eh?)

E: Thanks a lot for putting up with me and my silliness

S: Thanks for the interview!

Website: Sweep page at Southern Records