Return of The Henry Clay People

L.A.'s The Henry Clay People are back home after near non-stop touring over the past 18 months. The Clays have played all over L.A., from the Greek Theater to late-night Echo Park house parties. Vocalist and defacto leader Joey Siara and I recently discussed life on the road, the band's new EP, Coachella 2011 and why he won't be in town for St. Patrick's Day.

First off, how has it been actually being home for more than a month? Did you slide right back into old routines?

I love being home.  I love seeing my friends, walking the dogs, eating at my favorite places. But, at the same time, I'm totally anxious to get back out on the road.  It's the "grass is always greener" thing.  As far as old routines, I've been trying to kinda cleanse the system a bit.  Being on tour most of the last two years has meant a lot of drinking and a lot of junk food.  So I'm cutting down pretty seriously on that stuff for now.  We'll see what happens when we get back out there.

Your latest big, national, touring run was with the Drive-By Truckers---a band markedly different in sound and attitude than that the other two groups you hit road with before (i.e., Silversun Pickups and Airborne Toxic Event).  Did you pick up anything from them stylistically, or any tips just in general regarding life on the road?

DBT were an absolute pleasure to tour with.  Those guys have pretty much been on the road for the better part of the last 15 years, and I think they embody a unique kind of rock and roll humility.  They're regular dudes and took a relatively young band like us under their wing.  A couple of the guys in the band (along with some of their crew) would pop up on stage and play with us for the last song or two, which was always a treat.  The fact that they have seen so much --but still get a thrill out of playing and still get out to watch the opener--that's inspiring. 

Let's talk about your upcoming EP, This Is A Desert, out in May. You have three full-lengths under you belt. Why an EP, why now?

I feel like EPs are usually an indicator of something different coming.  At least that's how I view them-- like a stepping stone.  I'd put out another album right now.  We got one in us.  We're working on it.

From my vantage point the EP seems a bit more immediate than the last full-length, hearkening back to the days of For Cheap or For Free. Was this intentional?

I feel like at some point in the last couple of years our musical innocence was corrupted.  The reason folks liked us in the first place was because the energy was pure, and we truly didn't [ care].  But then we started touring with bands that were successful and we started trying to "write songs," and we had other people involved, and everyone had opinions and insight and we started to [care]. 

 We thought, "hey, if these folks believe in us then maybe we have something here."  Which is the worst thing to ever think.  It crippled us.  And now, me and the little bro (Andy Siara, guitar) did some soul-searching.  So this EP has been a total closed door operation: just the band and our producer buddy Dan Long.  Once I was happy with it I showed it to TBD Records and wasn't sure what they'd say about it. 

 Lucky for us, they were totally supportive and respected us for doing it our way, and now they are putting it out.  As far as the spirit of the tunes on the EP, I definitely feel we are getting back to the things that made us wanna play rock and roll music in our garages in high school.  That's where the spirit of music is still innocent.  At least I think it is.  Maybe I'm just naive.

Over the last five years, there has been fairly large uptick in the number of EP releases. Do you think this is in part due to the surge in artists out there clamoring for space due to the democratization of the Internet? Or due you think the full-length is not as necessary a statement as it was even just 10 years ago?

I think it's the Internet.  Folks need their music, and they need it now.  New bands get forgotten.  Even some really good ones.  I think a lot of bands/artists treat the EP as just little place holder.  Don't forget about us.  Save the date.  I still romanticize the idea of a full-length album above all else.  I hope everyone else does too.  But I do see EPs as having a lot of potential to "make a statement" especially if the statement is a stylistic shift. 

I know you guys have your Coachella date coming up. As excited as I am sure you are, has it been frustrating not being able to play out live locally due to the radius clause?

For a band like us who used to play like three-plus local shows a month, it's tough to have such a huge break, but it's truly better for us.  It has made all of us that much more excited to get back and play. When we finally can, we will have been so hungry for it, I think that will make our shows that much more exciting.  Routine and structure and professionalism aren't as fun. 

I realize how much I love playing and the best way for me to realize that was to not play.  That being said, we are bound to be as sloppy and loose as ever.  Our chops will most likely suck, but at least our heart will be there.

Do you have any local club shows lined up post-Coachella around the EP release?

Yes.  Nothing announced yet.  But stay tuned.

And, finally, Patch is a local flavor site, so I have to ask: with St. Patty's Day coming up, do you plan on partaking in any of the festivities?

I'm going to be in Austin for South By Southwest, where you and I first met.  I'm sure I'll be doing what folks do on St. Patty's day.  Just not in L.A.  Do a car bomb for me. 

Thanks Joey. See you out there.

For more information about The Henry Clay People, click here.