We’re here with The Static Age, a post-punk band originally from Burlington, Vermont, and now based in Chicago, IL. With a unique blend of post-punk, alternative, shoegaze, synth pop, and indie rock, they’ve been carving their niche in the music world since their debut.
Their 2005 album *Neon Nights Electric Lives* put them on the map, featuring production from Matt Squire and remixes by AFI’s Jade Puget and Dave Walsh of The Explosion. More recently, in 2020, they dropped two new songs for a split 7” with Love Equals Death. Today, we’re diving into their journey, their sound, and what’s next for The Static Age.
Let’s get into it!
Interview
1. You’ve been in the music scene for quite a while. How has your sound evolved since your debut album *Neon Nights Electric Lives*?
ANDREW: I think we’ve mostly just expanded the space of what we’re experimenting with record over record, each time in a slightly different direction. It’s kind of been an ongoing exploration. It’s also involved the process of us figuring out how to record a lot of what we do ourselves, and there has definitely been a learning curve with that over the years too.
JOE: For me, learning the band’s back catalog prior to joining influenced my playing immensely. It changed the way I approached the drums in many ways. So perhaps while things were changing from a writing standpoint, I was still trying to work within the framework of what I thought were some incredible recordings by previous TSA drummers. By the time we recorded Mistakes Worth Making I feel like I successfully blended some of the old with what I had to offer stylistically.
2. Your music blends so many different elements—post-punk, shoegaze, synth pop. How do you balance all those influences while still keeping a signature sound?
ADAM: I think we naturally blend our individual influences without even knowing it. We’re not dogmatic when it comes to introducing new ideas when crafting new songs. It would be fair to say that some of our favorite bands/musicians are ones who were open to change, which is probably why we gravitated towards them in the first place. There’s no reason to be stagnant when you’re trying to create something from nothing. It’s fun to draw from something outside of the box.
JOE: When a new idea comes to the rehearsal space, I think we recognize pretty quickly what sounds like a Static Age song and what doesn’t. I’d say we’re pretty good at self-editing and remaining focused on the overall goal.
ANDREW: Yeah, I think there is some internal compass drawn from somewhere. I guess the simplest answer is that it’s the mix of music we were steeped in growing up – all ages punk shows and old Peter Gabriel records and a slew of things in between. That said, I don’t really think about a style or genre when I’m writing. For me, the process of writing tends to be very much catching a thread in the dark and following it to see where it leads. Sometimes by the end of the thread, I’ve pieced together a song that might fit The Static Age, and sometimes not – the other ones either end up in another project, or they end up collecting dust on a hard drive somewhere.
3. You released two tracks in 2020, including a cover of The Chameleons UK’s “Fan and the Bellows.” What drew you to cover that particular track?
ADAM: Since the band’s inception we’d talked about covering and recording a song by The Chameleons. The original idea was to cover “Swamp Thing”, with our friend and guitarist from The Cancer Conspiracy and Drowningman, Daryl Rabidoux, on 2nd guitar. But he actually suggested doing “The Fan and the Bellows.” But for whatever reason it’s just a project we never followed through on until recently.
ANDREW: Yeah, The Chameleons have been one of my favorite bands since the early days of The Static Age. The way they layer things – both instruments and also elements of different genres – to create such a beautiful, washy, dense sound has been an influence on us going way back. I’m honestly a bit surprised it took us so long to do a cover of something of theirs too, especially given we were kicking the idea around way back. Either way, the love endures – I’m looking forward to seeing them play later this month when they roll through Chicago.
4. You’ve worked with some notable names like Matt Squire, and even had remixes from Jade Puget of AFI and Dave Walsh. How did those collaborations come about?
ANDREW: There’s a lengthy story behind each one of those, but generally, we had recorded a demo album back in our friend’s studio (/bedroom) somewhere in northern Vermont, and we were sending it to everyone who would listen. Somehow, one thing led to another and our booking agent Tara sent it to Stormy at Leave Home, and it got to the guys in AFI. They were about to tour Canada with The Explosion and another band, and the other band had to drop off for some reason or other. Very lucky for us, AFI decided to put us on the tour in their place, and they were incredibly supportive of us early on and since, especially with the remix Jade did and then some other shows we played with them. That was also the tour that got us connected to the Explosion guys and that’s how we ended up with Dave Walsh doing a remix and signing to their label, Tarantulas.
Squire, on the other hand, was originally a friend of a friend, I think? We met him in Boston when he was still living there, and we totally hit it off. He’s a great dude and was awesome to work with. “Neon Nights Electric Lives” was actually the first album recorded in his then-new spot at Phase when he moved to Maryland.
5. The band has moved from Burlington to Chicago. How has being based in Chicago influenced your music and your opportunities as a band?
ANDREW: It’s hard to say exactly. We certainly have come to love Chicago. Beyond that, the music scene here has yielded some amazing bands as well as some awesome places to play. We keep meaning to play more locally, and then keep ending up playing more often overseas – but we’re a couple of rounds deep into changing that, and we’re stoked to continue that trend. Vermont will forever be the environment that made this band what it is, and in many ways will always be home to me. I think the two of us from back there both miss it quite a bit, but Chicago has become an awesome second home.
6. The music industry has changed a lot since you first started out. How have you adapted to the rise of streaming platforms and social media in getting your music out there?
ANDREW: I think, like with all changes, there are both positives and negatives – it’s easier now than ever to make music and get it out there, which is an obvious plus, but it’s also changed the relationship to the process of making music. The first summer we were a band, we used Google and an old directory called Book Your own Fucking Life to piece together a monthlong tour, bought a shitty used minivan, rented a trailer and spent the summer playing clubs, bars, basements and backyards all across the US. It all helped make us who we became. But if we started this band today, I don’t think that would’ve been our “year one” target at all – maybe it would instead have been coming up with ways to go viral on TikTok, and I guess who could blame anyone for that approach in 2024? Maybe I just think something important gets lost in all the life proxies and metrics of attention, and it also leads to a system that primarily platforms the type of artist who’s willing to become a content creator of sorts. Of course, there are some great ones who excel at that, but I think there are also lots of amazing artists out there who don’t quite fit that bill.
ADAM: Yeah, succumbed to streaming and social media is more like it.
7. What’s been the most rewarding or surprising part of your journey as The Static Age so far?
JOE: Traveling, artistic freedom, and friendship.
ADAM: Playing live will always be the best reward. Even more so now as I’ve gotten older. Surprising that it’s taken me to as many different places as it has. Cliché, yup. But it’s true. When I first started playing in my first actual band before The Static Age, I never had any desire to play live. Practicing and making music was more than enough for me. My 2 original bandmates were the ones who had the desire to play shows. I was scared shitless to play live in front of people and had to be pressured into it. My goal once I got over stage fright was to play our local spot in Burlington VT, 242 Main, and open for one of my local favorites. That said, I’ll never cease being surprised at where playing live shows has taken me geographically.
ANDREW: Amen to that. Yeah, I mean, this band grew out of punk bands we were in as teenagers in the woods of Vermont. We’ve had a lot more adventures in a lot more places than I think we could’ve dreamt up at the beginning, and I’ll forever be thankful for whatever reach we’ve had, all the places we’ve gone, all the people we’ve gotten to know, and for every one who listens. That all together is the most rewarding part for me.
8. What’s next for The Static Age? Can we expect new music or any upcoming tours in the near future?
ANDREW: We’ve got a bunch of new songs in the works, some of which have turned up as singles over the past couple of years, and have more to come on that front soon. We’re also discussing tours for 2025 now, so may or may not have more to say on that shortly. Beyond that, we’re also working now on some special re-releases for the upcoming anniversaries of a couple of our early albums.
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Thank you so much for chatting with us! It’s incredible to see how The Static Age has evolved and stayed true to your unique sound over the years. We’re excited to see what’s coming next and can’t wait to hear more from you. Whether it’s new music or live shows, we’ll be on the lookout for whatever you’ve got in store. Best of luck with everything!
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