Pete Donnelly, Peter Hayes and Mike Gent are The Figgs. All three band members are from upstate New York,
and have been playing together seventeen years. The Figgs have played with Graham Parker,
Tommy Stinson, and have had major acts like Frank Black open for them. After landing in Arizona around 8 p.m. on
Thursday night, Donnelly took some time to chat with me. Currently The Figgs are on an international tour
with the Candybutchers, Donnelly's other band.
......
SFB: How would you describe touring with the Candybutchers?
Donnelly: We are a weird, incestuous bunch. Mike also plays with the Candybutchers,
so we invited them to tour with us. It is pretty much a rock n roll circus. The Figgs are more rowdy,
we draw a high-energy crowd, while the Candybutchers are more thoughtful and subdued. I'm not saying that The
Figgs are not thoughtful, but our more intimate music doesn't translate quite as well live.
SFB: So how would you describe your fan base?
Donnelly: Pretty confused. We draw people ages 14-50 who range from rock n roll crowds, to Chuck Berry fans,
to 70s punk rock. We've been playing for so long that there is no way to ever know who to expect at a new venue.
For example, the Southwest has been a black hole for us. We do not have much of a following down here, but the fans
that we do have are dedicated. We will play a show in some remote place and someone will approach us and tell us
that they have wanted to see us play for years. We are not expecting much from Arizona, but some guy saw us and asked
if we were gonna play like ten different songs from several different albums. It's always a nice surprise.
SFB: What's the weirdest thing that's happened on the tour so far?
Donnelly: We played in Fort Collins, TX on 4/20 at a punk rock bar. It was the kind of night when people were looking to get into a fight,
and we are the kind of band that is always right in the middle of the crowd. I see this guy in the crowd who must've shot his face off,
cause it was completely destroyed, and this belligerent drunk guy gets in the man's face and tries to start a fight.
It's a pretty low blow to get in a faceless mans face and try to fight. But its all par for the course, and we play to have fun.
SFB: Sounds like a chapter of Geek Love, have you read it?
Donnelly: Yeah, that's a great book. My point is that we always are a part of the crowd, and the crowd
is inevitably a part of the show. We want to have a good time and we want our audience to walk away saying "damn that rocked."
SFB: What kind of venue begs for that kind of show?
Donnelly: I really like playing divey places. Not too upscale.
SFB: Are you looking forward to playing Bottom of the Hill?
Donnelly: I love the Bottom of the Hill. We have played SF at least a dozen times and Bottom of the Hill
is divey enough that we can be in the crowd and play too.
SFB: Alright, so lets talk about the new album Palais, you have a variety of featured performers,
and it has over 20 songs. How long did it take to record?
Donnelly: Over a year. We do not have the luxury of having extra time to take off and record, which is actually nice.
We called the album Palais after Palais Royal, a dive bar in New York where I used to drink underage. So Palais means palace,
so the name is commenting on The Figgs playing for ten years, and maybe we have entered the palace of adulthood. In regards
to the featured artists, they are all old friends who we have kept in touch with, and were generous enough to give some of
their time to our album.
SFB: What is your favorite non-musical activity?
Donnelly: I love the simple life. You know, cooking, roasting veggies on the stove, fish, corn on the cob-simple
ingredients are the best. I love to cook for other people.
SFB: That is so funny, because I love when people cook for me. Any last thoughts you would like to share?
Donnelly: Lindsey Buckingham's solo albums rule.
An interview with The Figgs
by Apphia Williams
