The Districts perform in The Current studio
by Mary Lucia
February 23, 2015
The Districts met in their hometown of Lititz, Pa., and began making a name for themselves in Philadelphia's music scene. Coming from a small town, the band members have known one another for most of their lives. "I went to preschool with [frontman] Rob [Grote]," says drummer Braden Lawrence, "but I didn't talk to him because he stole my blocks or something and I hated him for 10 years."
Eventually the Districts relocated to Philadelphia and became part of that city's music scene. Their most recent album, A Flourish and a Spoil, was recorded at Pachyderm Studios in Cannon Falls, Minn. "It was awesome," Grote says of the experience. "We put on some Nirvana and went swimming."
Now on tour supporting the new album, the Districts visited The Current's studio for a session with Mary Lucia. Here are some key quotes from the interview:
On the title of their song, "4th and Roebling":
"It's right off the Brooklyn side of the Brooklyn Bridge. We parked there the first time we played in New York a long time ago, and we needed a title for the song."
On how their van and gear disappeared while on a previous tour:
"We went to the City Museum in East Saint Louis (Ill.), which is an awesome museum but not in an awesome area. We were in a gated lot, but we came out of the City Museum and our van was gone."
On their gig at the 7th Street Entry in Minneapolis:
"It was fun. It was a good time — great crowd, nice people."
On the Philadelphia music scene:
"I feel like it's one big music scene with a lot of different little ones in it. But even if you don't necessarily fit into a certain one, no one really hates on each other too much. Even if you don't like the music, it's cool that there's a lot of bands; everyone's pretty supportive of it and into it, so that's cool."
Songs Performed
"4th and Roebling"
"Peaches"
"Chlorine"
All songs off The Districts' album, A Flourish and a Spoil, out now on Fat Possum Records.
Hosted by Mary Lucia
Produced by Derrick Stevens
Engineered by Michael DeMark and Henry Ingbar
Web feature by Luke Taylor
