GearCrave Interview: The Redwalls on Gear, Gadgets, and Huey Lewis

Chicago’s The Redwalls are described by some as the Fab Four in a head-on collision with 60s Garage. Think John, George, Paul, and Ringo in a dogpile with the 13th Floor Elevators and you might come somewhere near what The Redwalls are doing on their self-titled CD. Any band brave enough to list Fats Domino AND Nine Inch Nails as influences in the same laundry list has got something going for it. GearCrave’s Joe Wallace got some quick-n-dirty interview time with The Redwalls drummer Rob Jensen. Wallace points out that the interview was a bit tight-lipped and offers a few snarky asides to liven up the proceedings…

GC: First things first; give us a quick rundown for those in the GearCrave audience who might not know the Redwalls yet.

Jensen: (We’re from) the windy city of angels and big apples…Chicago of course. The new album was inspired by Huey Lewis. We were playing a lot of Sports at the time.

For those of you who don’t remember ever hearing a Huey Lewis track, it’s the band that serial killer Patrick Bateman loved so well in the movie American Psycho. He gives a hilarious speech about how the group is embracing the joys of conformity in that song “Hip To Be Square”. Lest we forget, Bateman’s playlist also included that candy-ass Phil Collins and Whitney Houston. Now you know WHY he was a murderer. I was afraid to ask Jensen the next question for fear I might be dealing with a copycat killer….

GC: Huey aside, what are the Redwalls listening to lately? Favorite non-Redwalls album?

Jensen: I think I can safely speak for all of us when I say NOW 26.

Relief washes over my body like an awesome waterfall. Jensen just loves the 80s cheese and doesn’t want to eat my liver with some fava beans and a nice bottle of red. I try to move the questions to more music-making specific territory to avoid further Patrick Bateman-like answers.

GC: What is considered a Redwalls favorite guitar?

Jensen: The American Legacy Guitar by Esteban. Don’t think I need to explain this one.

GC: In an interview I did with Morcheeba a month ago, the band says they have a hard time purchasing guitars these days as many are poor quality or just plain don’t feel right. What’s the Redwalls reaction to that? Or do The Redwalls like anything with six strings and a power source?

Jensen: It’s like they say…when in Rome. That’s sort of our mantra. Live by the gun, die by the gun, you know?

I totally understand what you mean, Rob. Wait a minute, no I don’t… Brushing confusion aside, I soldier on hoping to dig a little deeper on another issue.

GC: Let’s talk about touring for a moment. Aside from the gear it takes to make the show happen on stage, is there a gadget you find utterly indispensable on the road for the band?

Jensen: Our GPS has been a lifesaver, although sometimes I swear it’s leading us in circles. No, sometimes I KNOW we’re driving in circles and I don’t know why. I just don’t ask.

Garmin or TomTom, sounds like they might have a little bit of a problem, Houston. No worries though, mate. Let’s talk movies. EVERYBODY loves movies, right? The Academy Awards and all. Yes, movies will get this party started. Let’s see if we can get the Red Walls talking a little more.

GC: What’s one of your favorite recently released movies? Favorite classic?

Jensen: New Release: I Robot – we can all get behind Will Smith. Classic: Breakfast at Tiffany’s – the most important meal of the day.

“I Robot”? To each his own. It goes to show you how hard these guys have been touring. We asked about recent releases, they’re a little behind the curve. I’m guessing that alludes that they put on one hell of a well rehearsed live show. On the other hand– Breakfast at Tiffany’s, I have to admit is a guilty pleasure of mine, but I usually watch it on a double feature with The Texas Chainsaw Massacre, so my reasons are a bit weirder than most.

GC: We have a theory at GearCrave—everyone is either an Onion reader or Cracked.com reader. What are you?

Jensen: The Onion – Chicago pride.

Well, it’s nearly closing time on this one, so I decide to try and at least raise an eyebrow with something out of left field. Will I get the Redwalls political hackles up with something outrageous?

GC: Finally, the band is asked to choose between two unthinkable futures–a world where George Bush is President For Life, or a world where BritneySpears gets a massive comeback deal and is on every televsion, radio, and MP3 player for ten years. Choose.

Jensen: Britney Spears – if she did make a comeback that’d mean that she probably
cleaned up her act might be able to care for her children. SNAP

And there we have it. The Redwalls– Pro Huey Lews & Britney Spears, anti-George W. Bush. Stay tuned for our next musician interview when we’ll talk to Jimi Hendrix via Ouija board about playing gigs in the afterlife. You can buy the Redwalls CD for $13.99