Formed almost ten years ago and with 5 albums under their belt, Los Angeles residents Earlimart are close to being the best kept secret in rock music. Last year's Mentor Tormentor although not released in the UK was (rightly) loved by cynical music hacks like us here at HOLV. Aaron Espinoza, fifty percent of the group, took some time out to talk to us about the new album, festivals and rotund UK comedians.
HOLV: First up, how are things with Earlimart?
AE: Very busy. We have just finished a new record - It's called "Hymn And Her". Now we're trying to figure out how to play the new songs in front of people.
HOLV: Critics have had a field day trying to explain your sound - you've had "ragged nouveau pop psychedelia", "wistful, buzzy rock" and "trans-teen-adult angst". Do you have a favourite way to describe how you sound?
AE: Crackle....hiss....pop....
HOLV: Your last album, Mentor Tormentor was released last August, 3 years after its predecessor (Treble & Tremble). Will we have to wait another 2 years for Hymn And Her to be released?
AE: Hell no! This thing is slated for a July release.
HOLV: After Mentor Tormentor's release you toured extensively in the US and Canada to support it. Can us Brits expect to see
you over here at any point?
AE: We would love to! We just need to find a label over there, someone who loves us for who we are, and would like to put out our records. We've never really had a UK or European release, so our first release could be a box-set,
just to get everybody caught up.
HOLV: Are there any British acts that catch your eye at the moment?
AE: I love the band KaitO, but I think they are no longer with us. Sad......sad. I also really like Ricky Gervais, ........ and oooh, The Good, The Bad and The Queen! Yes!
HOLV: Earlimart's been on the go for a decade - do you dream of stadium rock hugeness for the band?
AE: Well..... oh, you mean Wembley? Ok, sounds good. That's a pretty cool club. I like the bartenders there. We're just over here making stuff. That's pretty much it. We're fortunate enough to pay the rent. So that's pretty good.
HOLV: OK, you are curating Earlimartalooza, what acts are on your dream fantasy festival line up?
AE: The Clash, Bowie, Beatles, ELO, The Cure, Depeche Mode, George Jones, N.W.A, REM, The Smiths and Chet Baker
HOLV: It's certainly an ambitious line up! Finally, any LA bands we should be keeping an eye out for?
AE: Yes. Lots. Castledoor, Frankel, Le Switch, The Parson Redheads, Pity Party, Happy Hollows, Sea Wolf, Afternoons, all great great great LA or Silverlake bands.
