I became a believer in Caveman after their show last March at the Ninth Ward. Everything about that night was perfect: Cemetaries were great, Aircraft unleashed a killer set that's still my favorite Aircraft show, and Caveman and the off kilter warmth of their 2011 debut album Coco Beware embraced and enveloped the modest/spare crowd lucky enough to be there, in big, warm, indie rock kiss. Coco Beware went into regular rotation, and that show would later receive a fair amount of end of the year blog love, guaranteeing interest in their eponymous second album. Last month I had the chance to interview Caveman's Jimmy Carbonetti about the new album, life on the road, and the "band of brothers" they've become.
Cliff Parks: Was there a new mission for the band or any overriding goals that you had working on your second album?
Jimmy Carbonetti: Well I think the type of record we've done, it's about a lot of changes personally and also together as a group of men. It's inspired us a lot and brought us a lot closer. I think just being together so much, understanding one another and what was going on in each other's lives and being there for each other... and being in the studio, it kind of really just connected together.
CP: So at this point, would you consider Caveman a "band of brothers?"
JC: Yeah, even further than that. Yeah, at this point it's like we can read each other's minds; we don't have to say anything, you know? Me and Matt (Iwanusa) have been playing music together since 2000 when we first met and then we started meeting everyone else in the band around 2003, 2004, and we're all just became really great friends. And then in 2008 and 2009, we all had projects that weren't really working out for some reason or another and we all just decided to play music with our best friends that we hang out with every day.
CP: How did you settle on the name Caveman? Were you guys fans of Captain Caveman... or those Geico commercials? Or is there a heavier meaning to it?
JC: I don't know, it just felt like that with this band, it's almost like starting over. Now, being together, we were just trying to reinvent whatever we'd already done before but doing it in our way. But it's also about traveling around and touring; with that lifestyle it sort of felt appropriate.
CP: Speaking of travelling and all that, when you guys are on the road travelling this great country of ours, how do you guys handle food? You guys eat a lot of ramen noodles, hit up local spots, or do you just let it roll?
JC: We try to find the best local spots. Usually the people at the clubs are pretty good about telling us what's good around town. Or even some people cook us awesome home cooked meals. It changes every day, but we do try to keep it healthy.
CP: You try to keep it healthy? You gotta. Rock and roll is a heavy duty lifestyle and you've got to pace yourself.
JC: Yeah.
CP: What do you guys miss the most about home when you're on the road. I'm can ask you this now because you're home and not on the road. I wouldn't do that to you if you were on the road.
JC: I guess, staying out until 4:30 in the morning. Bars close early when we're on tour. I guess it's pretty interesting growing up in NYC and hanging out here and being able to do whatever you want at any time; so to use that in a positive way, that's really great. We're always scheming... and able to work on ideas at all hours at the bar or wherever, so yeah, I guess I miss the NYC life.
CP: On the topic of NYC... it's a pretty crowded music scene down there... so how do you think Caveman differentiates itself from all the competition out there?
JC: I think that, this band is really close and really good friends so we trust each other, so that's out of the way. We really just focus on our musicianship, and taking that as far as we can, and trusting each other and growing other aspects of the band. We're not really thinking about anybody else, we're really just focusing on this group of guys . We've all played in bands for years, and at this time, it's time to take really seriously. We're just trying to make a living as much as possible playing music.
CP: So there's no big competition going on with everybody else. Everything's all cool.
JC: Yeah. We don't really have any "rival" bands. We've got friends in other bands, and we're always pushing each other. We're good friends with Here We Go Magic and White Rabbit; and War On Drugs, we did a lot of shows with them. And what's so good about playing with them is that they're so good, it forces you to be better.
CP: Is there anybody out there beyond the New York scene or internationally who you feel in competition with... OK... I guess I'm just trying to get you to talk trash, and that's not cool.
JC: Yeah. I don't know, actually we've been laughing a lot about how people are so confused that the Stone Roses are headlining Coachella. I think it's a great decision.
CP: People don't even know who they are at this point. When they announced that line up Twitter totally blew up with "who are the Stone Roses?" People couldn't even be bothered to Google them.
JC: Yeah. It's funny. I think it's going to be great. They're a fun band.
CP: Going back to Caveman, getting back from the Stone Roses... who were you influenced by and who were your major influences when you guys were starting out and finding your sound?
JC: Those guys were a big influence for me and I know for Jeff (Berall). George Harrison was a real big influence. David Gilmour. His solo records are great. A lot of John Entwistle too; the bass player in the Who, his solo records are amazing. We just wanted to keep it live and just having it be really open, with everybody doing their thing. Not that there's no pressure, but it's really open musically and we really trust each other and what we're doing. It's great.
CP: Last question. How did you guy's end up in that New York State tourism commercial last summer? That was great. I loved that commercial, and I thought it was great that you guys were in it, but that's just me.
JC: We're all proud New Yorkers. I grew up here; Stefan (Marolachakis) grew up in the Upper East Side; Matt grew up in Park Slope. Jeff is a southern man but he's lived in New York long enough that he counts. We talked about it, an opportunity came up, and it worked out perfect.
CP: When I saw that commercial I thought it was a great choice by the state's ad people and I saluted you guys for going along with it because hell, we're all New Yorkers in the end.
JC: Exactly. We're all excited for a show in Buffalo. It's got a great vibe.
CP: We're definitely looking forward to your return, that's for sure.
No word yet with regards to when that Buffalo show will be, but I am an optimist prefer to have a good feeling about it. In any case, Caveman's well received second album arrived in stores this week, and like Caveman and their debut album Coco Beware, it's worth your time.
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