CATCHING UP WITH INDIAN JEWELRY

Editor's Note: A big welcome to should-be-more-frequent Skyline Contributor Anna Garza, who put together this interview with local upsetters of grandmas and collectors of bad words, Indian Jewelry.

You may have heard of them when they were called Swarm of Angels… or NTX + the Electric Set...or Hong Kong…or Corpses of Waco. Some of the players may have changed but not the game. After brief stints in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and other destinations unknown, Tex & Erika are back in Houston – picking up where they left off… playing mind blowing / ear shattering live shows. Below are a few questions from yours truly to… Tex? Erika? Does it really matter who answered the questions? I think not because they ARE the wild beast.

Yours truly, Anna Garza

Why so many personnel changes?
Shit got weird.

Why so many band name changes?
Shit got olte, and as anyone who's ever seen us play live knows, we're perfectionists. We had to get the name right.

Out of all the cities you have relocated to, which one is your favorite?
LA is home to the Museum of Jurassic Technology and the Ocean of Cold. Chicago has the best food, Mexican excepted, see below. Hotsun has the most floor space, yard space, and family. So it depends on what a person is looking for.

Out of all the cities you have relocated to, which one had the best music scene?
In LA more than 12 people actually like our band, so that sort of prejudices us thataway. Chicago has Bobby Conn and many cool underground spaces. All the while, Houston looked so sweet in our rearview mirror. But don't fucking axe us why.

Which local acts are you digging currently?
WICKET POSEUR DR WIGGLES TINSE KUNT FASCION MUZAK? PANK CLOUD CRAWLING IRIS DISSY PILOT HILARY SLOAN COP WARMTH LAWYERS BOLLYCLAVAS RUSTIN' SHUT + ROTTEN PIECE.

If you could assemble the ultimate line up for Indian Jewelry, who would you choose and what would they play?
GIRL, YOU KNOW WE BEEN THERE DONE THAT>>> Erika Thrasher (sympathizer, guitar, & vox) Brandon Davis (guitar) Rodney Rodriguez (drums) Jimi Hey (ozark percussion) Michael Belfer (guitar) Abi Cohen (pandemonium) Candice Vincent (saxophone) Bobby DJ (syn-drums) Leslie Keffer (static) Nic Barbeln (vox) Rosalinda Gonzalez (violin) Don Bolles (drums) Margeaux Cigainero (guitar) Andrew Scott (guitar) Donna Huanca (drums) Pete Czechvala (saxophone) Bryce Martin (drums) Anna Bechtol (drums) Ken Consumer (electronics/gongs) Mariana Saldana (funky drums) Bobby Deeds (electronics) Domokos (projecting gongs/feather axe) Travis (war rattles) J-Morrison (ghostworm) Squeaky (pizazz) Ralf Armin (starmaker/saxophone) Chad Colehower/Sequential Sheik (sequential circuits) Nathan + Ben + Russ + Weber (havocking)

Are you going to release any new music in the near future?
Fuck yeah we are and this here is the only promotion we are gonna do for any of this, the rest of the real world and the internerd notwithstanding:
1. This winter, Swedish label Deleted Art is releasing "Fake and Cheap," an lp of music we made in LA + Chicago.
2. This winter, or as soon as we get the artwork in their hands, which is to say as soon as we reckon which songs to ditch, Irish label Skinny Wolves Records is releasing "Sangles Redux" on a vinyl lp.
3. In April 2008, Monitor Records new imprint WE ARE FREE is going to release our newest and heartiest cd&lp, which we recorded between here, Chicago, and LA, and which unfortunately, will be titled neither 'Bustin' Ass' nor 'Rude Scootin.'
4. Lastly, Tigerbeat6 is supposed to re-release our 2003 record "We Are The Wild Beast," but God only knows when.

Do you have any New Years resolutions?
To get back in the habit of fucking shit up. You see, its been a mellow couple years for us. Hakuna matata!

Where is the best place to find a breakfast taco?
IN HOUSTON, TAQUERIA LAREDO-- the Fulton @ Patton location. IN AUSTIN, TAMALE HOUSE.

Indian Jewelry will perform as Depeche Mode for the Hootenanny show on Saturday January 5, 2008 at the Backroom @ the Mink.