Neko Case shares her skill

Neko Case has emerged as one of the most compelling, individualistic voices in music today, earning praise for her noir-soaked solo albums and for her work with power-pop collective The New Pornographers. The Washington state native returns to Louisville on Monday.



LEO: Your most recent release came out two years ago. What brings you out on the road again?
Neko Case: Working on new songs and making up some dates that were cancelled earlier last year.

LEO: Where are you happiest — on the road or at home?
NC: Both, as long as I’m feeling productive.

LEO: You’re a big animal advocate. What are some of your favorite animals, or favorite animal/music crossovers?
NC: There aren’t any animals I don’t feel something for. They all have something unique. I don’t think it’s animal music per se, but the Talking Heads always make me feel part of the Animal Kingdom rather than separate.

LEO: You’re a popular Twitterer, or whatever that word is. What do you enjoy about that site that you can’t get from songwriting?
NC: I just like to be myself, which doesn’t come through often when you don’t communicate with your fans directly much. This is a great way to meet like-minded folks who can talk about anything, and also to be a fan. Everyone is on equal footing.

LEO: Your label, Anti, has worked with some great older talents, mostly men. Do you see yourself still going strong in your golden years, like them or Wanda Jackson?
NC: Yes, I have no other marketable skills.

LEO: Can you turn me on to some new music that I might not know about?
NC: Well, we are bringing a band from Portland, Ore., called Y La Bamba with us on the road. I became a fan by hearing the record by accident in a store in Portland. I love them!

LEO: You’ve been through Louisville several times. Have you had any chances to see the city?
NC: I have never gotten to tour around Louisville, but I have had some great food. I hope I get to see a bit more, but it’s hard when you leave at 3 a.m. for another town. Wah!

Neko Case with Y La Bamba
Monday, May 16
Headliners Music Hall
1386 Lexington Road • 584-8088
www.nekocase.com
$25; 8 p.m.

c. 2011 LEO Weekly

Junip turns it down

The Swedish indie rock band Junip is relatively new to American audiences, but the voice of their lead singer and guitarist, José González, is familiar to many. His solo music, a minimalist, modern take on Cat Stevens’ brand of personal folk music, has been popular with discriminating listeners for several years, especially after his recording of the Knife’s “Heartbeat” became known from its use in a TV commercial.



LEO: Junip’s album, Fields, came out almost a year ago. How have your touring experiences been?
José González: This is the third tour we will do on this album. We’re doing a lot of smaller cities that we normally don’t get to now. People in smaller cities tend to be more excited, which is nice. In bigger cities, people see bigger shows every day; they’re more jaded.

LEO: Are you finding that fans of your solo work are coming to see Junip expecting to hear your songs, or some of both?
JG: It’s been half and half. A lot of people who come to the show, many by now have listened to our album. There’s a little bit of yelling sometimes — “Play ‘Heartbeat’!” — I was sort of expecting that. Hopefully as time goes on, that will fade away.

LEO: Do you feel a kinship with someone like Neil Young, alternating between quieter solo work and bigger band music?
JG: Yeah! I don’t know how he does it, but I’m trying to make it work. I tour a lot solo, so it’s a lot of fun to be able to switch it up. It makes solo shows more fun, too.

LEO: Your early musical background was in hardcore punk. Did the other guys come up with the same influences?
JG: Yeah, me and the drummer played in a band in the ’90s. Our keyboard player played in another hardcore band.

LEO: Do you still listen to that style much today?
JG: I don’t listen much anymore, no. Sometimes — I think it depends on what kind of mood you’re in. I don’t really need that high energy anymore. Now that I think about it, I toured with Elliott, from Louisville, for a few weeks, in the late ’90s. I was playing guitar with an indie rock band called Only If You Call Me Jonathan. They were nice guys.

Junip with Acrylics
Saturday, May 14
Headliners Music Hall
1386 Lexington Road • 584-8088
www.junip.net
$12 adv., $15 door; 9 p.m.

c. 2011 LEO Weekly