As Tall As Lions
Dan Nigro of As Tall As Lions answers five questions about music, Long Island and rocking the suburbs.
Many bands from high school die out once college rolls around the corner. Garages and VFW halls make way for cheap booze and co-ed dorms, and dreams of the big time fade away. Not As Tall As Lions. This Long Island product started in 2001 and since their debut album Blood and Aphorisms has continued what they started back in their teen years. HEAVE got to ask lead singer and guitarist Dan Nigro five questions about the band’s latest release You Can’t Take it With You.
HEAVE: New York City is considered a creative hub for musicians. Did growing up on Long Island influence your music at all, or did most of it occur as bleed-over from the five boroughs?
Dan Nigro: I think growing up on Long Island
definitely influenced the music a great deal. We are all products on our
environment and coming from Long Island, I wasn't allowed to go
into the city for shows until I was in college. So any band that I saw
live was either at the Vanderbilt, The Swing Set or Michals. It took a lot of
deconstruction in college to get the influence of all those terrible late 90's
k-rock bands out of my system.
HEAVE: It took almost close to three years to see a
new release from you guys. Any reason for the delay? Was it worth
taking the time off to make the album you wanted?
Dan Nigro: I guess only time will tell if it was worth it or not. At the moment we feel like it was what we needed to be satisfied with the songs and the recording. But do I think we could have done it in a more timely fashion? Maybe.
HEAVE: There's a frequent theme in your music about the self, either finding yourself, battling your self, and other internal issues. You Can't Take it With You seems more hopeful than your past work. Any reason behind that?
Dan Nigro: It was written from a more internal
standpoint. Where as Lafcadio and 'As Tall As Lions' were writing about
other people, this record is about us. As individuals and as a band. We
wrote this record at a time where there was a lot of reflection and examination
going on and wanted to express that as much as possible.
HEAVE: There's been a lot of back and forth between
Chicago and Long Island for recording in the past. How does each city
compare for music?
Dan Nigro: It's great, probably the most
progressive city in the Midwest. There is a passion and life you feel once you
get there, and it's definitely one of my favorite places to play and interact
with people.
HEAVE: I noticed that the band formed on Long Island while you were in high school. As a product of a Long Island dad, I have to ask if you have any favorite haunts from living there (besides Coney Island).
Dan Nigro: Hmm, well growing up as a kid I'd like to remember Adventure Land as being my favorite place, during the summer my grandmother would take me there and watch as I'd ride the looping star and Gravitron.
As Tall As Lions continue their fall tour opening up for Mutemath. Check their MySpace or official site for a full listing of dates. You Can’t Take it With You is out now on Triple Crown Records.
Posted by Amy Dittmeier on Sep 15, 2009 @ 9:05 am
