The Glorious Noise Interview with the Handsome Family
I recently had the opportunity to interview Rennie Sparks, the lyricist/autoharpist half of the Handsome Family. Check it out!
The Handsome Family are a husband-and-wife duo who have made some of the most haunting songs released since Harry Smith’s Anthology of American Folk Music. But even though they play the autoharp and sing songs about having to kill the one you love, they don’t sound anything like the Carter Family. They sound entirely contemporary, and entirely creepy. And beautiful.
Another cool thing about the Handsome Family is that they maintain their own website. “That’s why it looks kind of crappy,” they say. This D/I/Y aesthetic carries over into their recordings as well, most of which were recorded in their living room with the help of drum machines and a Mac. Plus, they offer a bunch of mp3s of their stuff via Epitonic and a couple of new ones via Carrot Top.
They’ve got a new album out called Twilight, which has been praised by notables such as Greil Marcus and Robert Christgau. And Rennie Sparks was kind enough to answer a few of my questions in back in October.
Jake: According to your Web site, the success of your third album, Through The Trees has allowed you and Brett to quit your day jobs. What’s a typical day like around the Handsome house?
Rennie: We haven’t been home much the last few months. Mostly our day starts with some anonymous woman screaming “Housekeeping!” and banging on our motel room door. Then there’s a lot of driving and bickering and map tearing and then we arrive at a dark, dank bar and start unloading the equipment, usually discovering we’ve left something expensive and essential back at the last bar 300 miles away.
Jake: Any major labels courting you due to the attention you got in 2000?
Rennie: No, not likely. Not something we really care that much about anyway.
Jake: How have your audiences changed over the last five or so years?
Rennie: People have become very quiet at our shows. They listen to the words. It’s really nice. Back in the day we were mostly just ignored. Or heckled or pitied.
Jake: You’ve recorded onto computers and play live with taped backup recordings. What kind of reaction do you get for that? Do the folkie “purists” freak out? Why not just find a drummer?
Rennie: The folkie “purists” freak out about much of what we do. Oh well. The bottom line is money: We can’t afford a studio and we can’t afford a drummer.
Jake: I heard that you wrote fiction before you joined Brett as the lyricist and autoharpist for the Handsome Family. Do you still write prose?
Rennie: I have a book of short stories done (available at handsomefamily.com) and I’m working on a novel now. It’s about a haunted forest that surrounds a Wal-Mart superstore.
Jake: I’m a huge fan of songs about killing the one you love, from the Harry Smith collection through the Louvin Brothers up to the Handsome Family. Why is this subject so appealing? And should my wife be worried about it?
Rennie: Death in art is not the same as death in life. Symbolic death is about liberation and change and the seductive force of the dark unknown. Has nothing to do with actual bloodshed.
Jake: I’ve read things about your punk rock roots. What music helped you deal with your feelings at that time? How has punk rock influenced the music you’re making now?
Rennie: Mostly I used to like really noisy, aggressive music—anything from The Stooges to The Revolting Cocks. But, after awhile I didn’t feel so angry all the time and I wanted music that expressed a few other emotions. I really don’t know how listening to punk rock influenced my songwriting abilities. That would be for other people to decide.
Jake: How would you describe your new album, Twilight, to a Handsome Family fan? How would you describe it to your taxi driver?
Rennie: Fan: It’s a creepy and beautiful parking lot full of birds. Taxi driver: Same as above.
Jake: I recently moved to Chicago. What are your favorite places for shows? Restaurants?
Rennie: The Hideout is really the best little club in Chicago. Also nice (but expensive) is Schuba’s and there’s also the Abbey Pub. My favorite restaurant in Chicago is The Oasis, which is a Middle Eastern restaurant in back of the Wabash jeweler’s mart downtown.
What do you think of this interview? Do you dig the Handsome Family? Discuss!
I saw the Handsome family on the day I was fired from my last job here in Chicago. I got good and drunk and swayed to the vibe that swept the Metro. God Bless the Handsome Faimly.
funny, the oasis is the best place to get a falafel sandwich. the joint is completely out of the way. and here i thought it was my little secret. kudos to rennie!
Hello there, My name is Candace Billington, and being in the healthcare field, I was torn apart by the events on Sept 11 / 2001. That inspiration led me to write numerous verses, 10 in total featured on a Charity CD called ” Wings Of Hope For USA ” I have created and produced at BlackBox Studio in Edmonton Alberta Canada this CD to raise funds for the USA Appeal Fund through the Sept 11 / 2001 memorial music / poetry / A cappella tracks. Due to the success of the site we created our own domain. It is up and running. I live in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and I am even trying to make a difference to help my fallen Brother the USA . I have 3 verses that I wrote in Mid Sept and recorded them on to the CD on Nov 10th 2001 in honor of flight 93 and one is to honor Todd Beamer called ” Let’s Roll” one for Jeremy Glick called ” 2o minutes of love to last “as well as ” Saviours of flight 93 ” done for Thomas Burnett Jr and Mark Bingham. Other tracks featured are in honor of the rescue workers called ” God Has Come Calling ” as well as ” I do Believe ” In Honor of everyone touched by this national terror. We are doing a run of 1000 copies and they are now on sale from Canada Disc and Tape. with 100% of the money raised going to charity. I am just so happy to be making a difference, but need some help to get the word out about my story and my efforts. Since by trade I am not in the music area and this was a great challenge for me, but I stuck with it and completed this 23 track Charity CD in honor of the many that gave so much on that dark day. Please have a look at our site , spread the word and help this fund raiser grow and thrive. On the site there are constant updates, order info, track layout with some sound bytes as well as information on other local area residents that helped me with this project. If there is anything you can with a donation of your local resources to help with this charity cd project please contact me via the e-mail listed below. I thank you for your time and help. Sincerely Candace Billington ( [email protected] ) Wings of Hope For USA
http://www.wingsofhopeforusa.com PO Box 32110Suite 4202331 66 StreetEdmonton, AlbertaCanada780-469-5381
What the fuck was that? And what does it have to do with the Handsome Family?
I think they’re trying to ride on the coattails of the recent release of Wingspan that Macca put out. Maybe they should try and coordinate the re-release of Wings Across America on CD. Damn, that’s good vinyl.Back on the topic, great interview!
Hello there, My name is Joe, and being the biggest fan of Jacko in the world, I was torn apart by the events that led to Jacko’s hair catching on fire in the shoot for that Pepsi commercial. That inspiration led me to write numerous verses, 10 in total featured on a Charity CD called ” Stupid Christian Paltry Unorigianal Crap” I have created and produced at Neverland Studio in California this CD to raise funds for the Save Latoya, Micheal and Janet from themselves Campaign. Due to the success of the site we created our own domain. It is up and running. I live in Neverland, California and I am even trying to make a difference to help my fallen Brother, Jacko. I have 3 verses that I wrote in Mid Sept and recorded them on to the CD on Nov 10th 2001 in honor of Jacko and one is to honor John Landis for his contribution to the Thirller video. Other useless tracks featured are in honor of Jacko’s little friends called ” God Has Come Calling ” as well as ” I do Believe in MBLA ” In Honor of everyone touched by the King of Pop. We are doing a run of 1000 copies and they are now on sale from Canada Disc and Tape. with 100% of the money raised going to me. I am just so happy to be making a difference, but need some help to get the word out about my story and my efforts. Since by trade I am not in the music area and this was a great challenge for me, but I stuck with it and completed this 23 track Charity CD in honor of the man that gave so much and keeps on giving it to little boys across the world. Please have a look at our site , spread the word and help this fund raiser grow and thrive. On the site there are constant updates, order info, track layout with some sound bytes as well as information on other local area residents that helped me with this project. If there is anything you can with a donation of your local resources to help with this charity cd project please contact me via the e-mail listed below. I thank you for your time and help. Sincerely Joe.( [email protected])
you crack me up Scotty!
I’ve been listening to all those Handsome Family mp3s that are on the Web. Damn, this is a great group. Funny thing is that I had them on my mp3 player with a bunch of King Tammy stuff– they go good together.
I just bought “Twilight” after reading this interview and checking out a couple of MP3 clips. What a great album. I always love to hear thoughtfull musicians speak honestly about their work. It always ads a little bit to my listening experience. Nice interview too!