Linfinity
During the month of May, two incredible local bands will have residencies at Pianos. Wednesdays will belong to the critically praised Shilpa Ray & Her Happy Hookers. Sharing a common bass player (Nick Hundley), Linfinity will own Tuesday nights.
Linfinity is still relatively unknown, but that shouldn’t last long. With an eclectic mix of influences brewing in its pot, Linfinity has developed a huge sound most easily comparable to Arcade Fire, Echo & The Bunnymen and DeVotchka. For the last couple months the band has been in the studio recording what will be its debut record, and the finished product is bound to be an indie hit.
Defined by sweeping arrangements, and vocalist Dylan Von Wagner’s thunderous voice, the songs carry a powerful emotion wallop. One listen to “Molly Mar of Rome” and you’ll be hooked. Von Wagner took some time to answer a few questions.
How long has Linfinity been a band/how did you form?
Well I made a record in summer 2007 to demonstrate what I was going for. Around then I started to asking around through friends, scored Nick, our bass player, he then found our guitarist Josh, who then knew our drummer Russ. Then Russ knew a violinist [Megan] and keys player [Omer]. It was kind of gradual over a few months, then we played our first show in October 2007.
Besides the solo Live at Marcata record I had done, I did a full band record. We started to play songs from that. We actually had one more guitarist. After about five months of that, we ended up not being able to hold onto one extra guitarist, so we had to rethink and kind of re shape the band as a six piece. So around march 2008 we made our first EP, Songs of the Weeping Willow. I would say that was our true formation as a group, then we took some of songs I had done myself and reworked them—wanted to make that point that we adjusted to a different sound.
How did you develop your big theatrical sound? Who are your biggest influences?
Our big sound was playing in my head, I wanted to do big band stuff with a bang, I think when I bring the songs in, the band arranges well around it and are really articulate in trying to find space and development. As in all bands there's tension, I assume that has something to do with our sound, we all come from different backgrounds and I think all the spices seem to lead to a soundtrack thing around melody. Arcade Fire is a good example of taking pop songs and adding huge arrangements to them, giving them scale and depth. We probably would be a little wilder, but a bunch of our songs were recorded around my father’s death, so things we're chilled out. Influences are the usual Zeppelin, Beatles, Doors, Beastie Boys, Tom Waits [and] even Pearl Jam—they're surprisingly eclectic. I like bands that can do anything and aren't pigeon holed.
Where does your name come from?
Told from an old timer: in World War I in the trenches a general would walk around to his soldiers who were shell shocked and give them a word to calm them, he would tell them to say ‘Linfinity’ over and over to themselves, to relax them. Fucking scary stuff if you heard it from the old man, he said there's not one day he doesn't picture those trenches.
Can you tell me a little about the lyrical imagery of your songs?
Everything from a Martian's DNA, an escape from a prison in Uzbekistan, to a Roman princess who saves the world by giving great head.
What's the biggest difficulty in making a name for yourself in a music scene like New York?
Well there's lots of great bands, I think the key is making a polished recording, than begin playing shows, have a good set of songs and try and get good shows. I think the bands that do well, some blow up quick, some take a few years, basically you do it until it sticks, try everything and just when you think it's too hard, it gets harder. My motto is do what the other guy won't. Although on a simple level, it's not brain surgery, you have to have good songs, play good shows, promote, make friends and it'll happen eventually. Sure connections help, but there's still no excuse. I will say though, if you work your balls off, someone will try and help you, whether it's a manager or a label. I have friends in the film biz, they want you to mop their floors before they give you a chance, so mop some floors!
Your sound seems more fitting for Montreal than New York, how does that effect the booking, and finding bands who are a good fit to play with?
I don't know, Jay at mercury has been nice to us and paired us with some bands that aren't our sound, but a good mix, it's like a festival, 7pm can be Basement Jaxx, 8pm will be Wilco, 9pm Yeah Yeah Yeah's.
What do you all do to make a living?
I've been doing arms dealing....
If you could go on tour with any other band, who would it be?
Well right now we're open to anything. I like The Subjects a lot, they would be fun. Wilco, TV on the Radio, The Walkmen. I'd like to watch Arcade Fire for a month, Jens Lekman, M Ward, and arena show with Pearl Jam. Any which way, we’re looking forward to playing the shows at pianos—lots of good bands. First we gotta find a home for our record and than get on the road.
MP3: "Molly Mar of Rome"
>Linfinity
May 19, with Hopewell, Electric Tickle Machine, You scream I scream, Monument, Pianos, 158 Ludlow St. (betw. Stanton & Rivington Sts.); 9, $8.
May 26, with Starling Crush and Contronmano, Pianos, 158 Ludlow St. (betw. Stanton & Rivington Sts.); 9, $8.
