CHRIS WALKER VS. BANDS AND BOOZE, THE SECOND ROUND: THE BLACK NEON

Today marks the return of Bands and Booze and we’re kicking it off with the eclectic Black Neon.

The Black Neon is essentially the musical craftwork of Steve Webster. His debut LP, Arts & Crafts, is a collage of electronic/avant garde rock blending swanky synth, glam, and ambient elements to create a modern, psychedelic pop album – of sorts. Think David Bowie meets Air in a German beer garden, if you’re able. As a side note, I’d love to hear Arts & Crafts in a remixed format; I think the results would be astounding. Just throwing that out there.

Steve was kind enough to answer some questions about drugs and alcohol; share his take on David Bowie and why The Black Neon doesn’t tour, and how nice it would be to throw down a couple drinks with Iggy Pop.

All right, we’ll start with the basics: what is your favorite kind of alcohol to drink?

Steve Webster: A good rioga.

Okay, is there any booze you’ve been burned by in the past and absolutely refuse to touch now?

SW: I’ve been burned by all types of alcohol; it tastes good, makes you feel good so, you usually keep going until it’s too late for regrets. I went to Cuba recently and those Mojitos go down particularly easily, nice and cool in the hot climate. Never quite realised how truly awful a rum and cigar hangover combo can be.

I bet, those cigars linger in your mouth for days. Speaking of hangovers, I just spent two weeks in Germany with your album, Arts & Crafts, in my headphones – along with a lot of classic David Bowie material – and noticed some similarities in sound. I also saw you list Bowie as an influence on your MySpace profile. How has Bowie has affected your music?

SW: Thanks for the compliment, have always been a huge Bowie fan. I remember thinking years ago that Bowie was simply very, very clever as he always borrows from other artists and plucks them from their relative obscurity, Velvet Underground, Iggy [Pop], and all the German stuff (Kraftwerk, Neu!, etc.), but I was wrong. He may do that but he is actually a genius.

What’s your favorite Bowie record?

SW: Too difficult to pick a favourite album but listen a lot to Low, I love the feeling of space and minimalism on it. Also been listening to his production on Iggy’s The Idiot and Lust for Life, I love that you can really hear him on b.v.s.

I read on your Memphis Industries page you don’t tour anymore. Any reason in particular or did you just get sick of playing live shows?

SW: I’ve always been more into the studio, to do it live would be more complex than I fancy getting involved in.

Fair enough. What is the best pub, or your favorite pub, in London?

SW: The Grenadier in Mayfair because it feels like a time warp, like London from over a century ago and it is haunted.

If I were at The Grenadier and wanted to order a drink called “The Black Neon” how would I make one; what would the ingredients be?

SW: Absinthe, Kaluha and a quadruple shot of chilled espresso poured over ice with a conservative sprinkling of dried magic mushrooms.

Sounds like it’d be a delicious concoction. Do you have any quality drinking stories from the Grenadier?

SW: All my drinking stories will be revealed in my autobiography e.t.a. 2010.

Okay. If you could spend an evening in a pub with any musician – trading stories, talking shop – who would it be and why?

SW: It would have to be Iggy Pop as I have always loved his music and character so much; he seems like a really nice and wild guy and would obviously have a few tales to tell.

Arts & Crafts has received a lot of critical success and you’ve even been a Stereogum “Band to Watch”. Now that your album is out, and I assume there will be no tour to follow, what’s next for The Black Neon?

SW: I’m writing a new album.

Well, that about does it; thanks for playing along. Are there any other more fun stories, tales, words of wisdom, imparting gifts you'd like to share before we conclude?

SW: Keep on keeping on! Everything in moderation even moderation. Never carry a gun.

And finally, which are better: ninjas, pirates, or Vikings?

SW: Ninjas, very effective but less rowdy.

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Hear For Yourself:

[MP3] The Black Neon: Ralph & Barbara

For more musical samplings, videos, and information on The Black Neon visit the sites below:

The Black Neon on MySpace.

The Black Neon on Memphis Industries.