Tomorrow (Friday, April 28th, 2017), Twiddle will release PLUMP: Chapter 2, their follow-up to 2015’s PLUMP: Chapter 1. Since Chapter 1‘s release, the Vermont jammers have toured extensively, headlining clubs across the country and earning slots at some of the jam scene’s most prestigious festivals. Following the release of their new LP, the quartet looks forward to a summer of festival appearances, including Summer Camp, Bonnaroo, and Camp Bisco as well as their own homegrown Vermont events Frendly Gathering (June 29-July 1) and Tumble Down in Vermont (July 28-29).
Watch Twiddle Welcome Keller Williams For “Best Feeling” Cover At LOCKN’ [Pro-Shot]
As the band (drummer Brook Jordan, bassist Zdenek Gubb, keyboardist Ryan Dempsey, and guitarist Mihali Savoulidis) embarks on this new “chapter,” we caught up with them to bend their ears about their summer PLUMPtivites:
Live For Live Music: The new record (PLUMP Chapter 2) is about to be released; I know that must be exciting! Given how much Twiddle is known as a live band, are there challenges to capturing that live energy and spirit in the studio?
Twiddle: It depends on what you’re going for. Some bands try and recreate their live sound in the studio and some bands don’t. With PLUMP, we were trying to lay somewhere between where we knew it would translate in a live environment and also have a recognizable studio quality during the listening experience. Having the ability to bring in horn, string, and lap steel players for the studio was something we can’t do live every show so having that added energy captured for the record is a real treat for us and our fans.
L4LM: Several songs on the new album (such as “Juggernaut”) seem to have a different musical style that what we usually hear from you. What sorts of influences did you and the band have? Do you have a favorite track?
Zdenek Gubb: I think the band prides themselves in crossing from one genre to the next, whether throughout a show, or even within a singular song. “Juggernaut” is probably one of our favorites. All four of us have our own separate influences, and that probably lends to the band’s multi-genre component.
L4LM: Now that you’ve played the songs off of PLUMP Chapter 1 for a while, how have they changed?
Mihali Savoulidis: All of our songs evolve and develop in the live sphere. Some more than others of course. If you dig deep enough, you can probably pinpoint some jams that ultimately became permanent parts of a song. Many Chapter 1 songs have become jam vehicles, too, so who knows how these songs could continue to ebb and flow in different directions.
L4LM: Your fan base seems to be growing very quickly and Twiddle are now touring more than ever. What do you think were the best strides you made together last year?
Brook Jordan: Tumble Down was incredible. Throwing our own two-day event in such a beautiful place like Waterfront Park in Burlington was super cool. Aside from that, PLUMP was the most important thing we did, in terms of making strides. Taken as a whole, there is a lot of music we are really proud of.
L4LM: I’m sure you’re excited about the many festival bills you’re on for this summer including your own Tumble Down Festival (July 28-29). Which festivals are you most looking forward to as a fan of music?
Brook Jordan: Frendly Gathering is always one of our favorites. This year we’re hosting Pigeons Playing Ping Pong, Charles Bradley, Madaila, and a lot more. We’ve been playing Frendly since year one, and there is nothing better than getting to enjoy and experience an entire festival. It’s so rare to actually spend time with friends or family at a cool festival, because the band is usually on a tight schedule. Also, like Tumble Down, Frendly allows us to invite the Twiddle family up to our home state of Vermont.
[photo by Daniel Ojeda]