TEXT and PHOTO BY LYDIA SPRAGUE
Portland garage rockers The Thermals played another energetic set at Sasquatch Music Festival, Saturday, May 28, 2011. The band vigorously blew its way through songs from its five LPs. Barely stopping between songs, the band wasted no time with commentary or banter—it was a solid 45 minutes of breakneck speed songs that had the crowd moving and stopped passersbys in their tracks.
In the week preceding Sasquatch, we connected with Hutch Harris, the band’s lead guitarist and singer, who graciously took some time to satisfy our curiosity. Harris addresses the band’s ever evolving sound—the band’s first album, More Parts Per Million (released on Sub Pop in 2003), was recorded entirely by Harris with a four-track cassette machine in his kitchen. He also tells us what it’s like to be a member of Portland’s rich music scene and how the band feels about playing festivals.
+ STREAM WHILE YOU READ: The Thermals’ set from Sasquatch
GROOVEMINE: Can you tell us a bit about the progression your sound has made since More Parts Per Million?
HUTCH HARRIS: More Parts Per Million was a really good starting point. The recording quality was absolutely terrible, so there was nowhere to go but up. Every record we’ve done since has been just slightly more “produced.” Our lyrics and themes are always changing and evolving.
GROOVEMINE: What goes into making a (The) Thermals record? The sound is so simplistic, but at the same time so dynamic. It can’t be as easy as you guys make it look, can it?
HH: Time, money, and sweat. It is definitely not as easy as it looks. We work hard to make it look easy. We are minimalists, always trying to use less to make more.
GROOVEMINE: As veterans, pioneers even, of Portland’s indie-rock scene, can you talk about how it’s grown in the past few years? Who are some of your favorite artists on the rise?
HH: I wouldn’t call us veterans or pioneers. Now the Wipers and Dead Moon, THEY are veterans and pioneers of the Portland indie scene. It is true that Portland’s scene has grown considerably in the last decade. There are so many huge bands that live here: The Shins, Modest Mouse, Gossip, The Decemberists. Some of our favorite bands on the rise: Nurses, Wampire, Reporter, and Purple Rhinestone Eagle.
GROOVEMINE: After eight-plus years of touring, playing shows and recording records how do you guys keep it fresh?
HH: We are still very excited about music—listening to it, making it, living it. It’s not hard to do. There is so much fantastic music to consume, and an infinite amount of new music to create.
GROOVEMINE: You’ve been playing festivals like Bumbershoot and Sasquatch ever since you started. What are some of your favorite things about playing festivals? How does the festival atmosphere and conditions affect the band vs. a smaller venue?
HH: We love festivals! They’re a great chance to meet bands and see them play. It’s also a great new way to reach new people who haven’t heard your music or seen you play. Smaller venues are obviously a lot of fun since they’re so intimate, but playing for huge crowds is a blast as well.
+ Check out Groovemine’s review of Personal Life by The Thermals
