First/Last-Nu Sensae

Photo courtesy of the band

Nu Sensae

Skullfest 4

Thursday, August 23, 2012

Pittsburgh

"If it was ever true (and it probably wasn't), that whole idea of a slacker persona existing in the Pacific Northwest has gone stale. Just ask Nü Sensae, the Vancouver-bred punk trio who can't seem to sit still.
Since forming in 2007 as the core duo of menacing bassist Andrea Lukic and octopus-armed drummer Daniel Pitout, the group has essentially devoured anything that has crossed its path, doing multiple laps around North America and releasing top-shelf DIY punk records that hit the elusive sweet spot between grunge's most aggressive freakouts and hardcore's best songwriting.

Refusing to repeat themselves, however, Lukic and Pitout have taken big risks with even bigger payoffs on this release. Proving just how unpredictable they can be, they abandoned their status as a duo — a favourite angle of both the media and fans — and recruited Vancouver noise rock great Brody McKnight as a full-time member. Previously working with the now-legendary group Mutators, McKnight has added another dimension of heaviness to the band's already mind-melting sludge attack."

The band return to Pittsburgh to Shady Acres tonight touring behind their latest release, "Sundowning", via Suicide Squeeze Records along with support from Psychic Blood. My thanks to Andrea Lukic (Vocals, Bass), Daniel Pitout (Drums), and Brody McKnight (Guitars) for taking some time to participate in this edition of First/Last.

The first album you ever bought?
Andrea Lukic: "Another Level" by Blackstreet on cassette.
Daniel Pitout: Patti Smith, "Horses".
Brody McKnight: Bobby Brown, "Don't Be Cruel" LP.

Your last album bought?
Andrea: "Cheap" by Brainbombs.
Daniel: White Lung, "Sorry".
Brody: Koudede, “Guitars from Agadez Vol. 5” 7-inch.

Favorite album of all time?
Andrea:  "Oh Lonesome Me" by Dave Dudley.
Daniel: I have too many...Babes In Toyland, "Fontanelle", Nirvana, "In Utero", Miriam Makeba, "Sangoma", Sonic Youth, "Daydream Nation", Descendents, "Milo Goes To College".
Brody: Eliane Radigue, “Kyema XI”.

Least favorite/most disappointing album?
Andrea: “Smiling Happy People”.
Daniel: Discharge, any album. Sorry.
Brody:  The Beatles, “White Album”.

First concert attended?
Andrea: No Use For A Name......
Daniel: Prodigy / Skunk Anansie, Johannesburg, South Africa, 1997.
Brody:  Miles Davis.

Last concert?
Andrea: Il Divo.
Daniel: Hole in Seattle.
Brody: Master Musicians of Bukkake.

Favorite concert ever?
Andrea: Neil Young, November 11^th, 2012.
Daniel: The Breeders.
Brody: Neil Young, November 11^th, 2012.

Least favorite concert?
Andrea:  Too many.
Daniel: Radiohead.
Brody: Blonde Redhead.

Any thoughts, experiences about Pittsburgh?
Andrea: Lovely, beautiful place.
Daniel: Once we were hanging outside our friends apartment window and this car went driving by below going super fast with a dude driving and a woman in the passenger seat and she was screaming her head off and yelling "HELP ME!" and shit. A cop car flew past them afterwards. It was scary.
Brody: Flavour Country.

Thanks, guys. Loving the album. Definitely fast, melodic and fierce! Nice change of pace from most of the 'indie-pop' I always seem to listen to.