Photo courtesy shotmonster.com
Are there any songs that you’re really enjoying playing live now?
Wennerstrom: I feel like my songs are my kids, and it’s hard for me to pick total favorites. Certain nights I do like playing certain songs more than others, it really depends on the mood I’m in. It’s like if you’re driving somewhere trying to figure out what to listen to in the car, it depends on what you’re in the mood for. Sometimes I feel that way even about my own songs.
Nathan: I’m really like doing “Simple Feeling” because I get to do all of that fun, psychedelic, freak-out stuff. I also really like playing “Only For You” because it’s sort of a departure from what the band’s done in the past.
What are you listening to in your free time?
Wennerstrom: We haven’t had much free time lately [laughs]. The one band we’ve been able to listen to because they’re on tour with us is Hacienda. It’s three brothers and a cousin from San Antonio, Texas. Dan Auerbach produced their last several albums I think. I like Jonathan Wilson. I also saw a taping from Austin City Limits with Gillian Welch and Dave Rawlings with the Decemberists and I’ve become a super fan.
Nathan: I find myself going back to older music. I dig this band Graveyard from Sweden a lot, but as far as new music I haven’t been doing a whole lot of seeking out of new stuff.
Erika Wennerstrom’s Gear
Guitars
Acoustic: Gibson J-45
Electric: Les Paul Studio and ES125
Amps
Hand-wired Vox AC-15, Fender Deluxe Reverb
Pedals:
Gain boost, MXR Carbon Copy Delay
Strings
Ernie Ball (.010-.46)
Picks
Dunlop Tortex (.73mm)
Mark Nathan’s Gear
Guitars
’68 Gibson SG, ‘90s Japanese Fender Jazzmaster
Amps
Handwired Vox AC30, Marshall JCM800, late ’60s Fender Super Reverb
Pedals
Electro-Harmonix Memory Man, Boss PS-3 shifter/delay, Z.Vex Super Duper, Z.Vex Volume Probe, Keeley-modded Boss tremolo, Keeley-modded Ibanez Tubescreamer, Malekko Chicklet Reverb, Malekko 616 analog delay
Strings
DR Strings Pure Blues Heavy sets (.011-.50)
Picks
Dunlop Tortex (.5 or .6mm)