On the first day of ACL 2014, CraveOnline’s Johnny Firecloud got the chance to sit down and chat with J. Roddy Walston and the Business to discuss an array of topics, not the least of which included the group’s pre-show rituals.
“We actually watch The Doors movie,” Walston said when asked about what they do to prepare for a show, which resulted in a bout of laughter. He then followed that up by comedically adding, “Just the middle scenes, though.”
On a more serious note, Walston went on to discuss how the band approaches the larger atmosphere of a festival, which is a whole different beast when compared to the smaller venues the group is more familiar with. “[We] play up what works about the small room stuff and rethink the other,” he said. “The stage is bigger. The crowds are bigger. It’s kinda just getting lost in yourself entirely and not just looking out at the crowd.”
Walston is no stranger to performing, having years of experience under his belt and plenty of opportunities to learn from the past. With regard to what he would go back and do differently given the chance, he mentioned the band’s name, noting that he wishes they went with something a bit shorter. Walston also said it would have been nice to have done larger shows earlier on in his career when he was in his mid-20s.
As far as when we can expect to see a new record from the crew, fans will just have to sit tight and remain patient, as the band has no timeline in mind. The group’s approach to record building is much more organic, with Walston essentially saying that it’ll come together when it naturally comes together.
For all things Austin City Limits 2014, stay tuned to CraveOnline. In the meantime, check out our full video interview with J. Roddy Walston and the Business below.
ACL 2014: J. Roddy Walston and The Business Interview by CraveOnline
