Update: Wild Sweet Orange comes home
Wild Sweet Orange: Garret Kelly, bass; Taylor Shaw, lead guitar; Preston Lovinggood, vocals; and Chip Kilpatrick, drummer. Photo: David McClister.
If you’ve paid attention to the local rock scene in recent years, you’re already well-acquainted with Wild Sweet Orange. The four band members (lead singer Preston Lovinggood, drummer Chip Kilpatrick, lead guitarist Taylor Shaw and bass player Garret Kelly) met at a local Baptist church during their adolescence, and have been playing together as Wild Sweet Orange for the past several years.
They’re back in Birmingham after a long, nationwide tour in support of their debut LP, We Have Cause to Be Uneasy (Canvasback Music). The band plays at 9 p.m. tonight at Bottletree, and will be followed by a dance party featuring Nastique and DJ Charles III of Kids Got the Disco. Tickets are $12 and still available. Tomorrow the band will take it over to WorkPlay, where Kate Taylor will open. That show begins at 8 p.m., with tickets selling for $12 in advance and $14 day of show.
The last Birmingham magazine heard from the band was an interview for July’s Hot List. This week Lovinggood took a few minutes to catch me up via email on how life since then has been for the band.
Birmingham Box Set: Last time I talked to you, y’all were at the beginning of a lengthy tour in support of your debut LP. How did that end up wrapping up for you guys?
Preston Lovinggood: All the tours are starting to feel the same. We do feel it growing. The economy is really bad right now and it’s affecting everything. I don’t even know if Justin Timberlake is selling out arenas anymore.
BBS: Was the tour different in any way from past shows?
PL: Yes. I mean, it’s growing slowly but surely.
BBS: You’ve been back from tour for several weeks now—how’s it feel to be home? What have y’all been up to during the off time?
PL: We all live separate lives at home. I just try to go to bed early and wake up early and read. I try to act like a normal businessman. Nothing makes me more happy then to drink coffee in the morning at a coffee shop.
BBS: This weekend Birmingham fans will have two chances to see y’all—at Bottletree and at WorkPlay. Other than the venue, will there be any difference between these two shows?
PL: Bottletree will be more of a party. WorkPlay will be more of a Christmas event.
BBS: What should fans expect from y’all this go round?
PL: New songs. More of the same. Hopefully some more heart. More intimacy.
BBS: What’s on the horizon for Wild Sweet Orange?
PL: We are gonna take some time off and starting recording a new record. We are gonna put out a covers EP as well.
Wild Sweet Orange’s “Either/Or” is currently being considered for rotation on MTVu. Help the band get there by voting now—the poll closes Friday morning and they’re currently in third place!
Learn more about Wild Sweet Orange at wildsweetmusic.com or at their MySpace, myspace.com/wildsweetorange.
