Tuff Punks for life

The essential, non-debatable elements of good rock and roll at its core are as follows: heart, soul, and a hook. I Heart Hiroshima never fail to deliver on all of those. Arguably one of the most underrated bands of modern times, though they’re a mere two and a half years old, they are practiced and talented beyond their years. Though this is a fact well-known. What is new is the identity neurosis that have resulted through patchy relationships that is amended by an unending adoration and respect all members have for one another.

I interviewed drummer and vocalist Susie Patten (22) one night after work. She was sitting in the office upstairs from the cafe she works at in her hometown of Brisbane, Australia, enjoying a few beers. She happily answered some questions for me that made me realise what amazingly kind, sensitive and funny people are behind the band I Heart Hiroshima. Susie has likened her relationship with her band mates, guitarist/vocalist Cameron Hawes (23) and guitarist/vocalist Matthew Somers (21) to marriage or a relationship.

“Cameron is like the most beautiful boy you’ll ever see in your life. He’s so peaceful and calm and funny and he’s friends with everyone. He’s just awesome. Matt and I, I think are a little bit more tumultuous. You know, we’ve had our ups and downs, like we didn’t talk for a while,” her voice rises. “But I think the band has been so important to us that we moved through it. I didn’t know if I’d be in the band for a while cos I was just so upset by other things in my life. But you just work through it when things are this important to you, you know? So we’re all really good friends now.”

Since January, 2006, the band has played 160 shows. Quite a feat, Susie says. “You do the math; that’s quite a lot of shows. We still play house parties and shows for our friends’ birthdays; we just do it cos we like it. If it’s ever a task, you shouldn’t be in the band.

“If it feels like a job you shouldn’t be in the band.

But at the same time you kinda want it to be a job

so you don’t have to go to your actual job and

make coffees or serve movie tickets

or make sandwiches like the three of us do.”

The band also profess annoyance at the common conception that only massive worldwide adventures are regarded as proper overseas tours. “We don’t have a label, and we don’t have any money; we’re just kids making music. I think if a band wants to go overseas it’s gonna be automatically assumed that it’s gonna be the UK, America or Australia. But people kind of forget the little guy!” she says, meaning New Zealand. “Which isn’t good, you know?” On the band’s first show here a couple of months ago in support of Ratatat, Susie cannot keep down the hyperbole. “It was one of the best shows ever! We got looked after so well and it was just really nice. That’s why we’re really stoked to be going back to tell you the truth!” she laughs. “And we’re fucking headlining!”

I tell her I thought I Heart Hiroshima were far superior to Ratatat. “Oh don’t you dare say that, that’s ridiculous!” she laughs embarrassingly. “That band is amazing! They’re just different, they’re very different.” When I tell her the pairing of the two bands for the tour seemed odd to me, Susie strongly disagrees. “The three of us (in IHH) have different but really similar music tastes, like if I put together a mix tape it’d be a lot different to Cameron or Matt’s mix tapes, you know? But Ratatat is a band that all three of us just absolutely adore, so to play that show was just a dream come true, especially in another country!”

Though they’ve yet to chase the “American dream” and tour the USA, and they’re yet to be world famous and bathing in riches as they deserve, I Heart Hiroshima have certainly been doing alright for themselves.

“I’d love to have my face in Rolling Stone, I’d tell my mum.”

No doubt they will prove themselves even further with their upcoming tour dates to New Zealand again, set to open more eyes and ears to their wonderful, genuine and harsh/delicate sound.

And for the future? “Going overseas, fingers crossed! Writing another album! We’ve written a few more songs and they’re a lot more different to the songs we’ve done. You could say they’re ‘mature’ but you sound like such a fucking wanker,” she laughs. “I don’t know! I think they’re just different and more layered and more sort of intricate and still really, definite pop songs.

Yeah, so I think we’re just trying really hard to write, and enjoying writing and enjoying taking time to write songs, whereas we always just enjoy playing shows and having fun. But I think the top of our list is to go somewhere new, which is always really great. Like going to New Zealand! Before we get to go to the UK or the states it requires money; we understand. It’s not just something we can do, cos we don’t have it!” she laughs. “But yeah. I had a few beers so I’m probably just talking your ear off! But it’s all true,” she professes. I believe her. “See you at the show!”

I Heart Hiroshima live in New Zealand!

Wed 16 July at Kings Arms, Auckland

Thu 17 July at Ward Lane Tavern, Hamilton

Fri 18 July at Bar Bodega, Wellington

I Heart Hiroshima – Teef: MP3

I Heart Hiroshima – Crime: MP3

I Heart Hiroshima – Myspace

Posted by Sarah Gooding under Australia
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