BILL DOSS & KEVIN SWEENEY FROM THE SUNSHINE FIX
Interviewed by Nick Bensen, via e-mail January 2002

Left: Bill Doss (photo courtesy of Fanatic Promotion), Right: Kevin Sweeney (photo courtesy of Kris Bayne).

Introduction:

The Sunshine Fix couldn't have a more fitting name. Led by Bill Doss of Olivia Tremor Control, this band plays a sunny, light version of psychedelic pop. For those of you who are unfamiliar with Athens, Georgia's OTC, they are part of the Elephant Six Collective of bands and have put out some great (it could be said genre-defining) albums combining melodic psych with more experimental sounds. Other dependably creative off-shoots and side projects related to OTC include The Black Swan Network, Circulatory System and Frosted Ambassador. While Circulatory System definitely has its share of pop appeal, The Sunshine Fix strikes me as the most accessible of the OTC satellite bands.

The worthwhile debut EP The Future History Of A Sunshine Fix found Bill Doss and company working in a dizzying array of styles (drum and bass, country folk, soul) within the span of five short tracks. The new album Age Of The Sun (out now on Emperor Norton/Kindercore) feels like a much more cohesive whole. The addition of Kevin Sweeney from Athens hard rock band Hayride on lead guitar adds a heavier edge to the album, and a variety of unusual touches were realized with the participation of Derek Almstead from Of Montreal. There are clear Beatles and Beach Boys textures throughout Age Of The Sun (as well as a few nods to vintage David Bowie) but I would have to say that they actually kind of remind me of Canadian '70s psychedelic revival band Klaatu. Now, hold on - if you look past the hoax that Klaatu was actually The Beatles reunited in disguise, The Carpenters' unfortunate cover of "Calling Occupants Of Interplanetary Craft", and the band's descent into lame fairly light metal, there were some excellent songs on Klaatu's first two albums and their final release Magentalane. Age Of The Sun builds on the melodic side of OTC with an economical sense of focus. Bill Doss has a lovely voice and the ability to write excellent hooks that stick in your head. The final track "Le Roi Soleil" (omitted from the promo version) consists of a second-long "Suuuunnnn" harmony looped to last twenty and a half minutes. If you stick with this extended drone, it serves as a glowing meditation on the bliss of the album's good-natured sun worship.

I went to see The Sunshine Fix play at The Bottom Of The Hill in San Francisco at the end of November 2001. George Harrison had died just died, I wasn't feeling well, and a persistent cold rain was falling. It didn't seem like a very promising night. During the opening band's set, a bunch of comically thin androgynous boys with flowery jackets and purses slung over their shoulders danced in a fashion somewhere between Redd Kross and Chris Robinson from The Black Crowes. Oblivious to the personal space of those around them, they happily elbowed us repeatedly and sloshed their drinks on everyone. I gravitated toward the only other big, bearded guy in his 30s near the front, just standing and listening with dignity. It turned out that he was Seth Hall from The Sunshine Fix.

When Bill Doss and the guys came out, their music immediately caught fire. They effortlessly threw out great song after great song, switching instruments in between while letting the effects cycle on until the next tune began. The band's fantastic set turned a trying night into a very positive one right away. Kevin Sweeney is an awe-inspiring lead guitarist live. In addition to Bill, Seth and Kevin, Sam Mixon was in the live line up. Sorry to say that I'm not sure of the name of the other member of the touring band since I didn't happen to meet him afterwards.

Not only did The Sunshine Fix put on a great set, but they were also gracious hosts to the people who came to interview them. After welcoming me into the band holding area upstairs, Bill patiently went through face to face sessions with several writers. Kevin included me in the entertaining conversations as he caught up with some old friends on subjects including music, Athens and life in general. It always adds to my enthusiasm for a band when they turn out to be such nice people in addition to their talents.

Bill and Kevin showed somewhat different sides of their personalities when I met them than they did in their e-mail responses. While Bill was earnest and jovial in a low-key way at The Bottom Of The Hill, his interview answers are decidedly mystical in tone. Kevin, an outgoing joker in person, played his answers fairly straight. Many thanks to Kerri Cockrill at Emperor Norton and Josh Bloom at Fanatic Promotion for their help in setting up the interview.

Interview:

Nick Bensen: Your sixties psychedelic pop roots are pretty clear. How would you rate the following bands in terms of their influence on you: The Beach Boys, The Beatles, Buffalo Springfield, The Byrds, Pink Floyd? Am I leaving anyone out (maybe The Pretty Things)?

Bill Doss: The Beach Boys-i guess obviously harmonies; and on this record i tried out the brian wilson/phil spector trick of having as many instruments as tracks would allow to play certain melody lines in songs. 'sail beyond the sunset' has 14 different instruments playing the recurring melody throughout.
The Beatles-cherries fall where texts fail
Buffalo Springfield-some. don't know their music all that well, but am a huge neil young fan.
The Byrds-a crab, by any other name, would not forget the sea.
Pink Floyd-the sheer experimentalism is an influence. nothing was impossible. everything was permitted...everything

Kevin Sweeney: The Beatles are a complete musical influence on me, and Gilmore era Floyd is a big influence on my guitar playing in the Sunshine Fix. As far as specifically psychedelic influences go (as a guitar player), I'm more influenced by the Butthole Surfers, Dinosaur Jr., Grateful Dead, and Black Flag than the pop bands listed here. And of course there's Jimi Hendrix.

NB: How did you feel when you heard that (pause… papers rustling… pause) …uh, George Harrison had died? That's just telling Bill's joke about a phone interview back to him, but seriously, although it was expected, the passing of George Harrison has left an empty feeling in the whole rock community. Have you felt personally affected?

KS: I felt that George was probably ready for it, and it wasn't too much of a shock to hear the news. I was glad that we were in LA when it happened.

BD: it's combination of instantaneous and eternal action ensures that death is absolutely harmless to man or mammals. death does not stain.

NB: What kinds of music do you listen to these days?

BD: mostly older stuff. johnny cash, ray charles (been trying to learn to play piano with that one...boogie woogie y'know) mostly my favourite, which changes quite often, at the moment) would have to be les paul and mary ford. just got the complete recordings box set. not only did the man invent multi track recording, the solid body electric guitar, as well as many effects:flange phase echo,etc. but the sound of mary's voice is like an angel, quite lovely (and if you dig that you should check out carrie clough from call and response. very nice voice set into great songs)

KS: I listen to all kinds of things.

NB: Who are some of the other bands we should look out for? What about Hayride, Kevin?

BD: call and response, super furry animals, gorky's zygotic mynci is always a nice one.

KS: Some other bands I like are the Glands, Polemic, and Donkey Punch. Hayride is in record company limbo at the moment. It's better than the hell we've been in!

NB: Would you consider Age Of The Sun a concept album?

KS: If there is a concept behind "Age of the Sun" it's Bill's and it's probably lyrical.

BD: one isolates this pure theft, this breath imposed upon the migrant triangles. as for the faithful plumage, it's iced up by the take-off of swings caught up in plaits of black wheat.

NB: There are a lot of recurring themes, and the songs flow into each other. What's the concept beyond the theme of sunshine?

BD: recurring themes happen daily. all part of life and death (which does not stain, remember) the sun has been celebrated since the dawn of time. just doing my part. sun goes up, sun lowers. over and over, round and round we go. where we'll stop, nobody knows!

NB: There are 16 tracks listed on the promo CD case but 15 tracks on the CD itself. Was one song left off the promo version or did two songs end up sharing a track?

KS: I think the promo cd is missing a track (a long out- there drone!).

BD: track 16 is actually 20 minutes long. leaving it off the promo cd was the decision of the record label. you know what they say: a corset in july is worth a horde of rats!

NB: Was the Future History Of A Sunshine Fix EP intentionally meant to be as eclectic as possible? You covered a lot of musical ground in just five songs.

KS: I don't think the ep was intentionally eclectic, I think that's just the way Bill's songs are. He draws from everywhere, and those were the songs that were done at the time. I could be wrong though, it's probably totally contrived.

BD: yes. i chose the five most differing moments i could for that one. i couldn't decide which 'new' direction to go in, so listened to the advice of an old friend and let go of that idea. why try to force a direction? it'll go where it goes anyway.

NB: How do you think this album differs from your EP debut?

BD: the debut ep was a sampler of differing styles of songs. the only real them was no real theme. the album, on the other foot, is much more concise and coherent. much more of a game plan on the lp to make the songs flow together with that recurring theme you mentioned.

KS: The lp is much more fully realized than the ep. I thought the ep was pretty haphazard.

NB: Who is currently playing in The Sunshine Fix? Is it the same line-up as the new album?

BD: no, there are many rotating members in the line up at the moment. same as the record. lots of people in and out of the studio. really makes for an interesting situation in which to work. derek almsted (of montreal) was one of the key people on the album. he really took the songs in wonderful directions that i would not have thought of. i really want to work with him again in the future.

KS: Bill is the band, everyone else rotates around him. As if he were the sun. Get it?

NB: Has anyone ever told you that there is a Fiona Apple song (I think it's the one that goes "I've been a bad, bad girl") that sounds kind of like "Future History And The Irrelevance Of Time"? No offense, yours is a much better song.

BD: thank you and no, but someone did once tell me to "make two o'clock with one o'clock, then break those two stones with one mosquito" i got the idea, just the same.

KS: A lot of songs sound like a lot of other songs. You can't copyright a chord progression! Ask George Harrison!

NB: The Sunshine Fix, like Olivia Tremor Control, switches off instruments in a comfortable way that I've never really seen in other bands. Of course, Kevin is the designated guitarist. How did the idea of tagging of on different instruments come about?

KS: Everyone but me can play multiple instruments, so they do.

BD: well...(sound of throat clearing...) we all play more than one instrument. so when we were learning the songs in a live setting, we played whatever instrument we felt comfortable with. everything is permitted, nothing is trenchcoat. and of course kevin actually has three arms, one just resembles a stratocastor.

NB: Since the new band's sound is so song-oriented with just short abstract parts, is it fair to say that other members of Olivia Tremor Control are the ones with more of a taste for long, out there experimental sound collages (note - I didn't know about the long drone track at the end of the album when I asked this)?

BD: not at all. before otc were able to stretch out in more experimental areas, we first had to play together for some few years. i have not played with these guys that long, and you can't just jump willy nilly into that water without knowing very well, how each other handles their own oar.

KS: The other OTC guys are probably more interested in the LONG collages, but we all like to trip out.

NB: Bill - How is it working with Kevin? Kevin - How is it working with Bill? When I saw you at The Bottom Of The Hill in S.F., I did notice Bill trying to crack Kevin up during the solos.

BD: fun is the main ingredient on stage and in the studio. taking yourself too seriously is the cause of much unhappiness in the world so beat your mother while she's young!

KS: It's great working with Bill, the songs are already there, so I just get to add my parts with no pressure.

NB: Did you have a good time on tour?

KS: The tour was great, except for George's death.

BD: very good time. call and response was with us. we're all talking of taking that circus to europe.

NB: Athens sounds like a pretty intense scene, is it nice to get out of town for a while?

BD: always nice to get away from the hometown. when reason is away, smiles will play!

KS: I do like to just sit around in Athens, though.

NB: Any hassles on tour?

BD: well, simone from C.A.R. was arrested for disturbance in public and several other offences that were not made known to us. need to know basis and all that. we left her in mt. shasta with the hope that she would soon see a flag and spit to avert the evil eye.

NB: Any highlights?

BD: both bands getting snowed in in mt. shasta before the 'incident' and staying up most of the night in the hotel lobby 'round the piano getting drunk on cheap liquor and singing each others' songs. great fun!

NB: Are you working on any new recording projects?

BD: reading lord of the rings at the moment (the movie was great!)

NB: What would you guys like to say here?

BD: why waste rope hanging yourself? better to die of love than to love without regret!

NB: Bill and Kevin - thanks so much for taking the time to answer my questions and also for your good company and hospitality the night of your show in San Francisco.

For more information, go to www.emperornorton.com and www.kindercore.com. Check out www.hayride.org to learn more about Kevin's other band.

Interview © 2002 Nick Bensen, Bill Doss and Kevin Sweeney.

Back to main page