The Districts Interview

Understandably, The Districts are a band in a hurry. They're eager to, most specifically, grow up and shed the patronising, "these kids can really shake 'em down!" write-ups that come with any new beat combo with a mean age of 19.
"We're pretty sick of telling people we don't go to bars," shrugs Braden Lawrence, drummer for the Philadelphia-based new New Rock Revolution quartet.
The best approach in such a situation is probably to keep doing what you're doing and, invariably, age a bit in the process, a la Arctic Monkeys. One of their number, Connor Jacobus, led the way in June by passing 'fake US driving licence' age in style.
"We were playing the Governor's Ball that weekend," recalls Lawrence. "He turned 21 in a really disgusting hotel room outside New York!"
Last time Hot Press caught up with The Districts, Mr. Jacobus was still slightly shell-shocked having just played on Late Night with Seth Meyers.
"The whole day was a whirlwind," says his drumming mate today. "I was actually more nervous about playing close to [musically gifted former SNL comic] Fred Armisen than being on TV! He really dug it. It was cool because, when we were playing, his band was right next to us. We're really big fans of his."
Armisen is quite chummy with a number of acts, and recently hosted a 'Flaming Lips does The Beatles' satellite radio session. Any hopes of poaching him from under the nose of Wayne Coyne and getting him firmly in the Districts camp?
"I would very much like to do that!"
It's not beyond the realms of possibility for The Districts, who to this journo's ears recall the rough and ready, no-nonsense immediacy of Von Bondies, considering they've been in 'living the dream' mode since signing to revered label Fat Possum in late 2012.
"They're amazing. A totally no bullshit label. We've definitely met our fair share of people in the industry who have their own agenda and are in it for reasons we don't like. But these guys are super-genuine dudes who love music and do it for the sake of it."
Their debut album for Fat Possum, A Flourish And A Spill, is the most accomplished effort of their short career, with producer John Congleton – the man behind the glass for the finest album of 2014, St. Vincent's eponymous effort – having a big impact on their sound and approach.
"He's a total professional," says Lawrence. "Really smooth to work with. We've recorded before in 'nice' studios with different people but he really bumped it up to a whole new level in my opinion."
One of a handful of Philly-based bands on a roll – The War On Drugs are naturally the standard- bearers at the moment – they still don't get much adoration from the small Pennsylvanian town of Lititz from where they hail.
"We always go back of course," concludes Lawrence. "All our parents are there. But we don't get a lot of the 'hometown heroes' vibe. We're in the local newspapers a lot, I guess. But I never walk down the street and get that vibe!"