Interview with Adam Horovitz

From Time Out Chicago:

You’re all wearing suits these days—what’s up with that?
We started recording for this new record last year, and we decided to get into jazz-cat mode. So we went on mad eBay frenzies and we set ground rules: You have to wear period ’58–’64 suits every day. Now I have all this clothing.

You’ve said you want people to dress up for your instrumental shows. What do you have in mind?
It’d be nice to go ’58–’64 period dress-up. But I think the main thing is, we’re sick of the new international-dude look—it’s cargo shorts and fucking Teva sandals. You spend all this money to get a ticket to go see a band, and that’s what you do on your date? Fucking cargo shorts? I mean, come on. Honestly.

How did you guys get going on instrumentals?
Well, the last record was like an all-rap record. And I don’t know, we felt like making some instrumental music and got kind of carried away with it.

Paul’s Boutique has achieved mythic status in the music world. Is that the album you’re proudest of?
Not particularly. There’s nothing that stands out as something where I’m like, This is the one that sums it all up. I’m proud of all the stuff we’ve done, pretty much. Well, maybe not everything….

So the huge penis you had onstage on the first tour. Is that something that maybe…
That was awesome. You want to buy it? It’s been sitting in storage for 20 years.

How much is it going for?
We’re working out offers now.

It seems like the band suddenly switched from just music to getting involved in things like Tibetan freedom. How did that happen?
Well, as you get older, as you grow and meet more people and see more things and sort of see the world. The whole Tibetan thing started as we were traveling and met some Tibetans.

Do people say, Leave that to the politicians, just drop some beats?
Anytime you try to talk about something political, people think that you’re like a “No nukes!” or “Save the whales!” or whoever. But you gotta say what’s important to you. If people don’t want to hear it, they don’t want to hear it. So fuck it. We’re just trying to talk about something that’s important to us as opposed to just writing songs about Champagne and love or whatever.

Any thoughts on the current state of hip-hop?
The current state of hip-hop. Hmm. Hip-hop is the one music that always changes. If there’s nothing that’s hitting you right now, there will be two months from now. Nas will put out something that you’re going to love, or Jay-Z or whatever. Someone’s going to come out with a new “Hey Ya!” Like, 50 Cent’s “I Get Money.” Fucking great record.

So is that your answer to the question, Kanye or 50 Cent?
Umm, Kanye’s from Chicago, right? [Pauses] What am I going to say? I love New York, so New York music kind of hits me a little harder.

You just guaranteed angry protesters at your show.
No, no, no. I’m not saying anything against Kanye or Chicago. He’s a great producer. I love Chicago.

Is playing here bittersweet since the Bulls owned the Knicks back in the day, with Michael and Scottie?
Okay, listen. We were okay with the current state of hip-hop. But why? Why do you, why? What is that about? Why you got to bring up the Knicks?

Well, when Chicago beats New York, it’s like beating your big brother at hoops, you know?
But your big brother for the past ten years had knee surgery and is out. Can’t play anymore. I appreciate that it makes you happy. I’ll give you that.