Interview: Attic Abasement

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Attic Abasement’s frontman Mike Rheinheimer gave us a couple minutes of his time to answer a few questions we have about his band and his ideas about music. Attic Abasement gained a large amount of attention for their 2010 album Dancing Is Depressing, and after 4 years of anticipation, they dazzled us this spring with their recent release which was a split album with fellow Rochester rockers Nod. As if the new record wasn’t exciting enough, Attic Abasement is taking the stage at Great Scott tomorrow, July 10th with Rye Pines and The Pits.

Allston Pudding: As you continue to write new material, do you feel that your relationship with your older albums like “Swim Through The Dirt” changes at all? If so, how?

Attic Abasement:Yeah, I suppose so. Definitely at least since we pretty much don’t play any of those songs ever. I don’t really think about them much anymore. Still ok with how it sounds.

AP:Do you have a preference in the way your listeners are exposed to your music? Would you rather people be introduced to Attic Abasement at a live show or by finding your recordings?

AA:Good question. I’d say I usually have a better time at shows if I already know their songs. Plus I guess I believe in the record as the songs in their ideal form. My preference is recordings first. Either is great though, for sure.

AP:What does success mean to you?

AAFrom a music standpoint, I don’t expect success in the business sense of the word. Each of us have our home lives to maintain and I like where we are now, as a band, and what we are doing with it. Once its a success, you have to maintain its successfullness, which maybe would take more energy than it took to get there. I think that makes sense?

 AP:Does anything about being a musician scare you?

AA:It’s easy to be a musician.

AP:How does creating new material usually happen for the band? 

AA: The new stuff is either the result of an impromptu goof jam session during practice or some figment I came up with at home. We work out the parts as a group.

AP:What was the time between the release of “Dancing Is Depressing” and your recent split with nod like?

AA:4 years, well, 3 years, ‘did’ was 2010 but we finished the music for this split in 13. Lots of stuff happened in my life, absolutely. Some bad stuff, mostly good stuff, and a lot of normal stuff. Figuring out how to live well. Not to mention a bit of writers block in there too, I guess.

Swing by Great Scott TOMORROW (July 10) to see Mike and the rest of Attic Abasement in action!