TRANSISTOR TRANSISTOR Gear Tour
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New Hampshire post-hardcore unit Transistor Transistor have been thrashing the DIY underground scene for going on ten years now. We first took notice of TT back in 2005 after hearing their Level Plane release Erase All Name and Likeness, which showcased the band’s ambitious blend of artfully constructed songs, spitfire attack and righteous guitar tones.
So when the guys rolled into NYC on June 1 to play the Cakeshop in support of their latest album, Ruined Lives, we stopped by to catch the set and chat with guitarist/singer/mainman Nat about his new album, approach to live performance and how he gets his signature sound.
METALKULT: Let’s talk about your new record Ruined Lives. How do you feel your songwriting has progressed from your last album?
NAT: The thing that stands out the most for me is that I think we got tighter and generally trimmed the fat with all the songs. We still have songs that would be considered long, repetitive or both, but I think for the most part things are a lot more direct and concise. Also everyone got a little better at his respective instrument. Our drummer James tried to shy away from just bashing the shit out of the cymbals all the time and write more creative drum parts, and overall I think everyone put ego completely to the side and put all the emphasis on the song, not whatever someone considered his part to be.
When you started to write for this record, did you have any preset goals you wanted to reach? Were you surprised by any unexpected directions the record took?
When we finished recording Erase All… I remember being really surprised because I had never really heard the songs that way before. I thought to myself, So this is how these songs really sound. With Ruined Lives it was different. We never said anything silly like, “Let’s get heavier, or catchier” or whatever the hell, but I definitely had a very particular concept of how each song would sound recorded in my mind. I think everyone did. In some ways it was helpful because it gave us something to focus on when recording, but other times I know I had to just completely abandon my concept of the song because it was keeping me from embracing how the song was really turning out. For surprises I would say I was pleasantly surprised by the way “The Ghost Hand” turned out mostly because it wasn’t something we were ever playing live. We never had to worry about capturing the energy of the times we played it at practice or at a show because it is just a different kind of song. And when the album was all done I was really excited about it as a whole. It wasn’t how I envisioned it exactly but I think it’s for the better.
What is your goal when it comes to live shows? Flawless technique or memorable performance?
I think we split up the duties. James is the one laying it down on the “flawless technique” side of things. This allows the rest of us to get a little looser if we want to. But overall we’re much more interested in a memorable performance. I think that comes from really killing it through being tight, but not standing there with a music stand staring at your guitar. Ideally I want to play a show that is memorable because it was both tight and exciting. I remember plenty of bands I have seen because they ran around with their guitars over their heads and sounded like shit the whole time, I don’t really want to be remembered for that.
Do you have any pre-show rituals or requirements to get you in the right head space to perform?
Not really. I usually tune my guitar, do all the normal stuff, check the impedance on my amp and the cables on my pedals. If I feel like I have to go to the bathroom at all before we play though, I’m going. I hate playing feeling like I have to piss! I will play terribly, for sure. In fact, this has led to me putting down my guitar last minute and running outside to piss in some ridiculous places because I couldn’t wait two seconds for the bathroom to open up. I just hate playing feeling like I’ve got to go to the bathroom.
Now to the gear. You’re playing a Rickenbacker, which model? What do you like about his guitar? Have you made any aftermarket changes to it?
I have three Rickenbacker 650 Colorados, they are my main guitars for the band. My main one of the three is from the year 2000 and is Jetglo. A while ago, I tried a Ric for the first time on tour and I really liked it. So when I found a beat up 230 for sale at some music shop close to where we used to practice, I picked it up. I loved the way it played and got on the hunt for a 650C.
A few things I really like about the 650Cs is its maple body, through maple neck and maple fingerboard. They make other models with walnut bodies or some other wood and I really have no interest in them. I love maple guitars especially for my sound in Transistor Transistor. I was working at a record store and one of the other guys working there said he knew someone who might be selling a Ric 650C. The person selling it brought it into the store and I tried it out for a bit. It felt amazing. I had heard it was pretty beat but the damages were all cosmetic. Andy, the previous owner, had carved a little robot (more…)
