This is their tour bus, and they came across the Atlantic.
Most band interviews entail the usual suspect questions of who are your influences, what’s your style like, so and so forth, blargh. Well, lucky Fanshakers, you now have the opportunity to unleash your own barrage of inquiry to New York’s Psych/Freak/Rad Folkers outfit Grizzly Bear, and they’ve got a number of interesting points for discussion, including home decor, recording with Michael McDonald, and their opinions on vampires after laying down a track for the new Twilight movie.
The scope and breadth of questions is limited only by your imagination. Cook up something of interest and slap it on the blog, and your questions will be sent the band’s way when they stop by with St. Vincent (also pretty ballerish, check her stuff out) for a Paris show later in November.
Grizzly Bear: Become a fan!
To have all your Grizzly Bear questions asnwered, leave a comment below:
October 27th, 2009 at 12:29 am
What kind of music do you play, and just it sends out messages to your fans, yu hope to play in front off one day!?
October 27th, 2009 at 1:15 am
How do you feel about being a part of the Twilight phenomenon?
October 27th, 2009 at 1:56 am
are you lazy as grizzled besr?
October 27th, 2009 at 2:12 pm
who inspires you all ?
October 28th, 2009 at 4:32 am
1. When will you be collaborating with Jay-z, Beyonce , or Solange? How epic will it be?
2. 2. Would you ever consider becoming a male model? Your Veckatimest promo shots are perfect for some Docker ads.
October 28th, 2009 at 4:34 am
who are some of the bands/artists are really digging as of late?
October 28th, 2009 at 4:34 am
I just attended your last show in San Diego with Beach House. Has to travel all the way from Mexico City, so… Would you ever plan on going to Mexico? You have an enormous fan base there. And also, if you could share the stage with any musician (dead or alive), who would it be?
October 28th, 2009 at 4:35 am
Who are your biggest non-music inspirations?
October 28th, 2009 at 4:35 am
How much would a private/house show be?
October 28th, 2009 at 4:41 am
are there any more cover songs coming from you guys (as a band) soon?
October 28th, 2009 at 4:42 am
what do each of you like to do in your spare time away from your music/band life?
October 28th, 2009 at 4:46 am
Dan: Did you base the percussion in “No One Does It Like You” on “You, Baby” by the Ronettes?
October 28th, 2009 at 4:46 am
What is your favorite sandwich?
October 28th, 2009 at 4:49 am
why do you guys let cartoon network play your music? I didn’t mind it on adult swim but hearing it during the day is a bit much, I think
October 28th, 2009 at 4:51 am
Do you feel that there were any advantages to coming out from the Todd P. scene in Williamsburg (i.e. the DIY/bohemian ethics of a tight knit community working as one to promote each others music)?
October 28th, 2009 at 4:52 am
Chris Taylor & Chris Bear - we all know that Dan was in Department of Eagles before he joined Grizzly Bear, but little people know about your previous project, Fast Fourier. How did that band come about? Was it just something you both did for fun pre-Grizzly Bear, or did you take it seriously to try and make it big?
October 28th, 2009 at 4:57 am
Have you ever thought of doing a live video broadcast with your fans?
October 28th, 2009 at 5:09 am
As a songwriter/musician who just released my debut EP, I’d like to know, what is it that took your music from the bedroom recording project that it began as, to the world-touring, Radiohead-opening phenom that you guys are know? How did you get your music out to the world?
October 28th, 2009 at 5:30 am
Which would you prefer, individually, brownies or cookies?
October 28th, 2009 at 6:36 am
Everyone of you has specific creative influence: songs, vocal parts, production…how do you keep from killing each other when piecing together such amazing arrangements?
Also, I’d love to know what music you all listen to individually.
October 28th, 2009 at 7:34 am
Do you have any crazy fan stories? Who’s your biggest fan?
October 28th, 2009 at 9:28 am
If you weren’t musicians, what would you be doing instead?
October 28th, 2009 at 10:07 am
1- Will you play Foreground next month in Paris ?
I’d be the happiest person on earth.
2- A few years ago you recorded a beautiful live session for the french website La Blogothèque. As you’re coming back soon, why not making a new one ?
3- For Chris T. : Will you tour with CANT? (Don’t forget your french fanbase !)
4- What were your favourite bands when you were still teenagers? Did they influence how you sound ?
5- What was the weirdest thing that happened to you as a band ?
October 28th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
What is all of your favorite albums of other artists?
October 28th, 2009 at 3:05 pm
1 - Some writing process questions: How often do you ditch or give up on ideas for songs? How long does it take you to come up with those amazing vocal melodies? What’s the hardest song you’ve ever worked on?
2 - Are you guys ever coming to Brazil? We need you here. Seriously.
October 28th, 2009 at 6:01 pm
hi!
I was wondering what kind of music you’re listening to?
you are awesome:)
October 28th, 2009 at 6:30 pm
Do you have any bros in the music industry? I mean, the members of Animal Collective or Deerhunter or something.
October 28th, 2009 at 7:18 pm
I’m sure you guys get this all the time, but you should really play a show in Omaha, NE on your next tour. I noticed you played two shows in Minneapolis this year and didn’t make it down here. We have an awesome venue and I really think you guys would like it. Here’s the website, thanks:
http://www.theslowdown.com/
October 28th, 2009 at 8:31 pm
Do any of you have a stranded on a deserted island top 5 list of favourite records, songs and films? What are they?
October 28th, 2009 at 8:55 pm
1: What’s your favorite restaurant in Brooklyn?
2: What music is playing on your iTunes right now?
3: For Chris T: I love your necklace. Where did you get it?
October 28th, 2009 at 10:06 pm
I heard about you guys years ago through Beirut. i.e. La Blogotheque with Ed on “Cliquot.” Any chance of a Beirut/Grizzly Bear tour or collaboration?
Also, will there ever be a U.S. physical release of the special edition Veckatimest? Thanks
October 28th, 2009 at 11:35 pm
Dan, where did you get your Guild? What about that guitar tone do you like?
October 29th, 2009 at 12:10 am
Hearing from interviews and such, i heard that some of you came from a jazz background. being in the same predicament, i was wondering how you transformed playing jazz to the kind of music you play now?
October 29th, 2009 at 12:46 am
van dyke parks is rad. how do you know him? what’s your favourite record of his? does he show up to gigs and bliss out in the front row?
what is the band aggregate of plaid shirts?
considering location is so important to recording for you, aside from the church, do you intend to record future albums all in different places? what happens when ed runs out of family houses to jam in?
does CANT stand for chris taylor’s initials? oh, and when’s the next 7″ coming out?
who would win in a fight to the death: the four of you vs. an actual grizzly bear?
October 29th, 2009 at 6:21 am
Christopher,
Will you take care of your Dad when I’m old? Please sell tons of records, Love, Dad
October 29th, 2009 at 7:33 am
What were your guys’s day jobs before Grizzly Bear became relatively big?
October 29th, 2009 at 9:57 am
1. I haven’t read much on the transition from the Horn of Plenty era band to later adding Rossen. Can you say anything on the the process of his inclusion into the band?
2. Also, do you see the band doing much larger tours the next album cycle around? If so, are you open to adding touring musicians and/or how do you think the band/sound will adapt to much larger crowds?
October 29th, 2009 at 1:57 pm
If you weren’t musicians, what would you be?
October 30th, 2009 at 4:40 am
Daniel! What guitar tunings do you use the most?!
October 31st, 2009 at 2:44 am
Hey, I love you guys and your music, but Daniel why do you use those crappy Silvertones the whole time? I had one and it sucked. Eventually I sold it to the guy from Slipknot. I know you and Beck love them but why?
October 31st, 2009 at 10:33 pm
Dan, what made you decide to start using vibrato more often in your recent songs?
November 1st, 2009 at 3:54 am
What are your favourite hobbies/pastimes?
If you attended a fancy dress party what would your costume be?
What is the most exciting thing about playing new places?
Are you excited for your up and coming Australian tour?
November 1st, 2009 at 11:16 am
Edward;
At the time of the release of Department of Eagle’s In Ear Park i recall reading in a number of interviews that Dan had partially done the record because he didn’t feel that the songs were suitable to Grizzly Bear (given their personal nature). I assumed that this was a move supported by yourself, and the band, reinforced by Taylor and Bear’s presence on the record. I have however just finished reading a GQ interview that you did, and the interviewer suggested that the record was born out of Dan’s dissatisfaction with something in the Veckatimist process. Can you elaborate on this? What influence did In Ear Park have on Veckatimist? Was it partially a reactionary move by Dan? How do you feel about the record and the process?
Anyone else care to weigh in on this issue, particularly given that Chris & Chris were involved in the project.
November 1st, 2009 at 7:48 pm
What’s your favorite on-tour Spinal Tap moment?
November 2nd, 2009 at 1:05 am
How do you guys afford to make music? Do you guys work when not touring?
November 2nd, 2009 at 7:47 am
What’s the strangest question you’ve ever been asked in a interview?
November 2nd, 2009 at 11:54 am
Do you guys go to Spuyten Duyvil often? Because I think i’ve seen you there a couple of times?
November 2nd, 2009 at 6:22 pm
Dan, I’m very inspired by your complex chord structures and I wonder how you come up with them. Are you just playing the guitar and improvising or do you hear the harmonies in your head and then try to tab it on the guitar?
November 3rd, 2009 at 5:33 am
Who are your most unlikely musical influences?
Will you still release the alternate sadder version of “All We Ask”?
November 4th, 2009 at 1:15 am
who would your fantasy super band consist of, Living or dead?
November 6th, 2009 at 6:29 am
“Slow Life” is hauntingly beautiful. Would you mind posting the lyrics somewhere? Or we can just keeping working away at them . . . Thanks for your music.
November 6th, 2009 at 5:50 pm
Dear Dan….
HELLA GRAVITAS???????????????????????????????????
That is all.
- J. Vu
November 7th, 2009 at 4:59 pm
What is your favorite Dirty Projectors song?
November 13th, 2009 at 1:27 pm
did any of you know what you wanted to do in life when you were teenagers?
November 22nd, 2009 at 7:30 am
Weird question, but how tall are you guys? Like in height(if that wasn’t obvious before :))? Curious…
April 12th, 2010 at 12:34 pm
I have to say, I love your blog. Could tell me how I could keeping up to date with it?