INTERVIEW: The Rake's Progress, Altitude (Almo Sounds/Geffen)

- Bob Gajarsky

Combining pop sensibilities with an indie punk attitude, The Rake's Progress succeed in releasing irresistible tracks in under 4 minutes. With their roots based firmly in New York City, the group took their name from a series of 18th century etchings created by William Hogarth of a welathy young man squandering his inheritance on wine and women and winding up penniless in an insane asylum. Consumable recently had an opportunity to talk with Bob Donlon, guitarist, and Tim Cloherty, lead singer, prior to the release of their first full length album, Altitude.

C: You've recently been the subject of a bidding war among record labels, after your six song E.P., Cheese Food Prostitute. Why did you choose Almo Records?

RP: The people at Almo mattered. They were 100% behind us and our music.

C: Did the heads of the label (Herb Alpert and Jerry Moss) make a difference?

RP: Yes! When they started A&M records, it was a label for the artists and their development. The history of the two of them - where no one would sign Alpert, so he and Moss started their own label - was definitely important to us.

We gravitate towards people who are like minded. One guy from one of the biggest labels in the world took us out to dinner and he brought a list, typed out by his secretary, of comments about our demo tape. He whipped out this list, and while trying to butter us up, starts tearing us to shreds - and telling us all the things that he'll change about us when we sign to his label. It was like "Yeah, sure - we'll sign with you. Can we have another expensive appetizer?"

C: KROQ, out of Los Angeles, put "I'll Talk My Way Out Of This One" (from the E.P.) into heavy rotation. Did you expect that kind of initial success?

RP: We didn't expect it from any of the songs. It did a lot more than we expected it to - it got commercial radio play. One of the people at Almo said that people at major labels were kicking themselves, asking "Who the hell are the Rake's Progress, what is hifi records {the label which released the Cheese Food Prostitute E.P.}, and why is KROQ playing them and not our bands?" It was a fluke - but through that, it's been spreading to other radio stations around the country. We did the E.P. just to get ready to do our album - like being in the farm leagues. We thought maybe we'd get a little press, a little college airplay, so when the album comes out, we wouldn't be a complete unknown entity.

C: What did that change for you?

RP: Chicks are after us now, limousines, whipped cream fights! (laugh) Seriously, nothing's really changed. We're still broke, and we're getting deeper and deeper into debt. We're working on new material now (the interview was done several weeks before the album's release) while we have a little downtime, because we'll be on the road for about 5 months, have short break and then go back on the road again. Don't forget, for the first 2 records, we had 7 years to write it all."

C: What do you like about playing live?

RP: We want to have fun and enjoy ourselves on stage. Part of doing that is getting a positive response from the audience. If they're enjoying themselves, then we're enjoying ourselves. Sometimes it takes a few songs to warm an audience up, if they've never seen us.

C: Will you be performing your cover of the Clash's "Magnificent Seven" on tour?

RP: I'm sure we will - we usually play it. I don't think a lot of people know it's originally performed by the Clash. My (Bob's) cousin called me up one day and said "Hey, your song is on Z-100! (A New York based top 40/modern rock station)" and they were playing the Clash's original. I had to tell him we weren't the only ones to sing it...

We met Joe Strummer on tour in England, and we didn't know what to say to him: "Ahh..we play a cover of one of your songs.."? He was really cool, and is looking forward to coming to see us next time we're in London. He did know what the Rake's Progress was a reference to, as well, which impressed us.

C: What were your impressions of Europe?

RP: People in Britain will tell you exactly what they think, even if it might hurt your feelings. One of the bands that opened for us came backstage after our show and said "That was a really great set! I got your E.P. and thought it stank, but I liked your live show." Most people here will sugarcoat things. We're planning on going back to Europe in early September for a six week tour.

When we record, we stay pretty true to how we play live. We might beef up a guitar part here and there, but that's about it.

C: The songs from Altitude give a different view of city life, such as New York City - especially "Howard Is A Drag" and "Two Eggs Any Style". How much is written from personal experience?

RP: It's 100% experience from living in New York City! Going to drag queen shows, or hanging out at S&M bars (laughing). In "Two Eggs", there was this old man who lived downstairs from me who would get these hookers all the time. You would hear them screaming at him, "Give me my twenty bucks!" and hitting him and shit. I (Tim) of course exaggerate here and there, but that's part of being a writer. C: How come there's only one song from the 6 song E.P. on the first full length release?

RP: We had a lot of new material we wanted to put on the record and there are some mellower songs. The E.P. was all upbeat songs, but the full length is a lot more varied, and shows our mushy side. We redid "I'll Talk My Way Out Of This One" because of the airplay, after the album was in the can. You won't notice much of a difference in it.

C: What bands influenced you, other than the Clash?

RP: It would be cliche to mention the Velvet Underground, but they did. A lot of influences from bands such as the Pixies to the Rolling Stones and everything in between. Good pop songs like from those bands. The one thing we can't stand is the self indulgent, 9 minute exploration. We're not a jam band.

The crowd favorite "When I Kiss Her" has been chosen as the first single from Altitude; fans who want to hear what the band sounds like in their natural habitat, live, should check out for future B-sides from The Rake's Progress, culled from an early 1995 show at New York's Irving Plaza. But, in the meantime, check out Altitude - rock and roll the way it was meant to be.