by Mandy McGee
Cymbals Eat Guitars is a rock band loosely based in New York City. With their 2009 debut Why There Are Mountains, the band began to get noticed. After a line-up change and a second release in 2011, the band decided that last year’s LOSE should be something simpler than previous albums. “We’ll probably always continue in that direction,” states bassist Matt Whipple, “until we literally make nothing.”
Founder Joseph D’Agostino lost his best friend in 2007. His death pushed D’Agostino’s music to focus on loss, both personal and fictitious, in various ways. LOSE is the first time their songs have dealt with a specific loss in such a direct manner. “It seemed like a natural progression from dealing with it more abstractly to more overtly,” says Whipple.
Being a musician myself, as well as someone who’s struggled with depression and loss, I also write about that subject a lot. Even if listeners can’t relate directly to what a songwriter is trying to say, it’s still important for them to understand the emotions behind a song and form their own personal take on it. After all, that’s what makes us human and individuals. In that regard, Cymbals Eat Guitars tries to leave enough room in their songs for audiences to project their own feelings and experiences onto them, while still using them to depict a specific situation. It seems like the more specific the songs are, the more universal the big-picture emotions become.
Places hold special meaning and feelings for us all, and as someone from Fredericksburg, VA, hearing that Cymbals Eat Guitars played at Eyeclops Studios made me giddy. For one thing, it was surprising that they played in such a small town and a small space. Eyeclops is one of my favorite places in my hometown, and it holds a lot of memories for me. You see, record and play in a lot of different places when you’re on tour, and similarly, Glasslands in New York City holds a special place in the hearts of Cymbals Eat Guitars’ members. What is sad is when these venues have to close.
Glasslands was forced to shutter last year due to the gradual corporate, luxury lifestyle takeover of Brooklyn. Whipple remembers playing there three times, and while that’s a small number of shows in relation to some other Brooklyn bands, each time was really special and unforgettable. In addition, the people you tour with can always spark some amazing memories.
Of Cymbals Eat Guitars’ 2014 tour with Bob Mould, Whipple says, “It was cool! He’s like this indie, queer, punk icon until you meet him and he’s just a dude, which kind of makes his story way more amazing. He’s a very kind, nice person, who we were really lucky to get to know. His show is also ridiculously badass.” He also recalls that playing the John Peel tent at Glastonbury was fantastic.
Another thing that defines a musician’s sound and style is their gear. Keyboardist Brian Hamilton owns and operates small-sound and big-sound pedals, and everyone in the band who plays an amplified instrument uses them. Having Hamilton’s mind in the band really helps shape their music.
“Hamilton is awesomely talented at sound design and understanding how different sounds work together to create something more. He is indispensable!,” says Whipple.
While I haven’t seen many keyboardists use pedals with their gear, I rely on them myself, and so does Hamilton. His key setup is very specific, and would seriously alter their sound if he changed it: It includes small-sound and big-sound pedals, Boss reverbs and delays, and Line 6 DL4 for loops. Aside from what Hamilton’s pedals bring to the table, D’Agnosto exclusively plays Fender Jazzmasters and Whipple goes for a Fender P bass. Drummer Andy Dole hammers away at C&C drums, and Hamilton uses a Nord Stage keyboard and a Korg MS2000 synthesizer.
Their plans for the rest of the year are to finish touring and write a new record. In Whipple’s words: “We’ve already started. It’s gonna be raw like sushi!”
Cymbals Eat Guitars plays the Electric Factory tonight.
