I have this idea in my head… an old western movie… a spaghetti western, where the camera angle is shooting from the ground up, and then pans far out in the distant. In the foreground of the shot, a pair of old, worn, black leather boots step up, dirty and ragged from carrying their traveler many miles. His steps stir up the dust. Fifty yards ahead another man steps into the frame. He too is dirty, worn and hardened from the elements and the desperate life of the Old West. The pair face off, saying nothing. Suddenly, the man in the distant draws his revolver, shoots and drops the man in the foreground. He collapses, dirt mixes with blood and turns to mud. People scurry for cover, flies swarm around the fallen man’s wound, birds call from overhead, and the strains of the Grizzly Owls begin playing…
That’s what the Grizzly Owls remind me of. They are the soundtrack to your favorite Western movie. They pluck, strum, hum and sing a ghostly song that gets trapped inside of your mind… somewhere in between thoughts and images, words and pictures; they saunter up and play a parade. Comprised of husband and wife Jenny and Joseph Andreotti, this is one amazing band that you must check out!
1) Give me the names of all that play in Grizzly Owls and what they play? I know it’s you and your wife, but I didn’t know if there were any guest artists? Also, can you list all the instruments you play?
The Grizzly Owls are:
Jenny Andreotti – Vocals, Percussion, Harmonica
Joseph Andreotti – Dobro Resonator, Baritone Guitar, Banjo, Mandolin, Bass, Percussion, Piano
With help from:
Raymond Richards (Plays in: The Idaho Falls, Neil Halstead): Mixing, Pedal Steel Guitar, Banjo, Guitar, Marxophone, Vibraphone, Piano, Bass
Rob Poynter (Plays in: The Idaho Falls, Harpeth Trace): Drums, Percussion
KRAMER (Produced: Low, Daniel Johnston): Mastering
2) When did Grizzly Owls start, and how did the band come together?
The Grizzly Owls started in the latter part of 2006 when we were still making music as Calico Sunset. We started The Grizzly Owls because we wanted to make something dark, dusty, and cinematic. Also we had just seen Grinderman play and were blown away by Nick Cave’s performance. Jenny was especially interested in capturing the kind of energy he had, but put it into a female perspective.
3) How would you best describe your sound? Who does your videos? (the videos are amazing)
We would describe our sound as having an atmosphere similar to 1960s Spaghetti Westerns and Twin Peaks, accompanied by ghostly vocals. As far as our music videos go, I make them using a lot of stock footage, and turn of the century silent films. It’s just creepy sometimes how well our music fits some of these films. I also shot the footage for “Rifles and Hemlines” using a crappy camera I bought for under a hundred dollars. Then I basically had Jenny just mess around and act like she’s Anna Karina in some old Jean-Luc Godard film.
4) Who are your musical influences?
We are influenced equally by music and film. Musically we really love Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, Tom Waits, and The Lounge Lizards (John Lurie has become a very recent influence) to name a few.
Then there are the films. We are into Sergio Leone, Godard, and Jim Jarmusch to name a very few.
5) Are there any plans to tour outside of CA for Grizzly Owls?
We would love to. It’s just hard trying to get the money together.
6) Since I am a new fan myself, can you list your recordings in the order the came out?
- I Brought Shame To The Family Name (2006) – Demo
- By Night On My Bed (2007) – Self -Released Full-Length
- Whiskey & Clyde (2008) – Free Single from RCRDLBL.com
- The People Have All Gone (2009) – Self-Released EP
- I Am A Shootist (2009) – Self-Released Free EP
7) How has the digital age of music helped/hurt Grizzly Owls?
We have been really helped out by new media. Blogs and online magazines have played a major part in getting our name out there. We are so appreciative of all those writers out there who have written about us.
At the same time, it’s hard to stand out in a tidal wave of bands and it’s hard to sell your music when it’s leaked so easily.
8) When/how did you and Jenny meet, were Grizzly Owls in the works before you guys met, or after?
We had been together for about six years before we decided to start The Grizzly Owls. We met in 2001. The funny thing is that we had first saw each other at a show but were too shy to talk to one another, then the following Monday we started a new semester in college and we were in the same class. It was meant to be.
9) What is on the horizon musically for Grizzly Owls?
We are currently working on sending out demos to record labels, working on new songs, and playing shows. We’re excited to see what comes our way. In addition we are going to be releasing a 7″ which will be coming out on Ghostwood Vinyl in a few months.
Download some tunes:
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