Native Sun's Tips for Tour Survival

interview by Kyla Rain
photos by Daniel Topete and Pooneh Ghana

Right before the world went on lockdown and live music came to a pause, Brooklyn band Native Sun had just wrapped up their west coast tour, accompanying White Reaper and The Aquadolls. Obviously, a lot has changed since these boys were on the road, but nevertheless, we caught up with them post-quarantine to reminisce over concert highlights, reunions with old friends, and tips for tour survival.

Firstly, introduce yourselves!

Alexis (drums): Native Sun was my introduction to the whole music thing in a way. I had never been in a band, but Danny and I have been best friends since 2012, pretty much. He was starting a new project and wanted me to play drums and learn along the way, and here I am still. Inspiration for the band comes from everywhere, and all styles of music. Percussion is universal and everywhere, whereas not every musical style or song is guitar-based, if that makes sense. Grooves and feels can come from all over.

Jake (lead guitar/vox): My name is Jake and I play guitar. I’ve played music since I was a little kid, and I find the most inspiration in something that feels like it’s from its own world.

Danny (vox/guitar): I worked and saved up money one summer when I was young. A random urge, “teenage confusion,” whatever you want to call it. So I went down to the store and bought 2 CDs — a Dylan Greatest Hits and Rubber Soul (I had seen them on TV) ... haven’t turned back since. Couple of years after that I taught myself to play guitar to write songs — that was always the purpose. I view songwriting as a way of coping or understanding the world around; I’d be fucked without it.

Mauricio (bass/vox): My name is Mauricio and I play bass. I started playing guitar when I was really young— [it] all started because my brother loved the Ramones and we shared a room, so naturally I was into the Ramones too. He showed me how to play some songs when I asked him, and after that I just never stopped.

“I view songwriting as a way of coping or understanding the world around; I’d be fucked without it.”

So I know you guys wrapped up tour with White Reaper and The Aquadolls. Can you tell me a little bit about that? How did the opportunity arise? What cities were you most excited to visit?

Alexis: California was amazing, and it was a perfect place to spend a few days before being locked inside for the foreseeable future. I’m originally from Northern California, but California is basically three states in one, so a lot of it was new to me. The tour was a lot of fun and both bands are filled with incredibly nice people. It was fun playing to different types of crowds than we’re used to in New York, too. A lot of younger faces, as well as older. We tend to play to crowds made of a bunch of 20-somethings and the occasional dad who somehow caught wind of our music, haha.

Jake: I had never been to California and I can’t wait to go back. The whole trip was heaven.

Danny: It’s been a goal of ours from the beginning to make it to this coast to play music. At the beginning of the year White Reaper hit us up saying how they wanted to bring us out on the road with them, and the rest happened from there really. We had this scheduled, and then would have had our own run down the east coast for our SXSW appearance, but we all know how that went down.

Mauricio: California was amazing, and White Reaper treated us like old friends since the first moment; it was dreamy. I’ve been to LA a few times but never on tour so the experience was totally different. I really loved it.

What city was your favorite to play?

Alexis: I really enjoyed when we played San Diego, even if we didn’t get to see much of it. Got to ride scooters through Little Italy, and play in a divey bar that felt like home. SLO was also great for me, personally. I got to see an old friend, and being in a small quiet coastal California town felt just like being home where I grew up.

Jake: I really miss Austin—I was looking forward to returning to SXSW all year before the world went on lockdown. Can’t wait to get back there.

Danny: It’s interesting traveling to these new cities and seeing the reactions and behavior of the crowds. On this tour The Casbah in San Diego I’d say as well. I’d heard of the venue ... it was also the anniversary of Nirvana playing there that night. The room was packed and I broke a string first song in. Everything was sounding great so I was ready to play it out through the set (my backup broke at the end of the set the night before) but then I turned around at the end of the song and Tony from White Reaper had brought up his guitar for me to finish the set. We gave it all the rest of the set and we could feel the crowd saw that. I like to view our shows as a confrontation between the band and the audience, we’re both there in the experience equally.

Mauricio: During this Cali tour I loved Los Angeles in general — it’s been a dream for me to play there since I was a kid. But all the cities were amazing - some weird - but all of them amazing. I love playing Chicago and Austin, too. I just feel weirdly comfortable and I love the friends we have there.

I remember reading in a past interview with ANCHR Magazine that you guys like to play every show like it’s your last — how do you keep that kind of energy going back to back?

Alexis: It just ends up coming out of us whether we intend to or not. At this point it’s no longer a conscious effort, it’s just what feels right and our M.O.

Danny: Yeah there’s no point in doing this for me if it isn’t otherwise…

Any pre-show rituals?

Alexis: 2 tequila sodas and a second to breathe, if that counts as a ritual.

Danny: Hippie speedball, stoge, and a couple of whiskey & cokes. Sam from White Reaper goes on a long run before the show; don't know how he does it; all power to him.

Mauricio: Couple of beers and mezcal, a little jumping and dancing right before stage at the greenroom also helps me lots, and lately stretching my arms and wrists, hah.

“Hippie speedball, stoge, and a couple of whiskey & cokes. Sam from White Reaper goes on a long run before the show, don't know how he does it; all power to him.”

You recently played a sold out show at the Troubadour in LA — tell me a little bit about how that went! Was there a moment during the night that you remember the most?

Alexis: Seeing the marquee out front with our name was sick. Not a lot of places in New York have that, you just get a little sandwich board outside of the venue with your name written in chalk, oftentimes misspelled (it’s Sun, not Son!!).

Danny: We made it to LA and our first show was at the Troubadour. It’s a spot where a lot of the NYC bands we look up to came and played when they first came out here — that’s special for us. Neil Young’s first solo show post-Buffalo Springfield was there too; massive is an understatement for our love for Neil.

Mauricio: To be honest it was crazy sick. Sadly I had to leave right after we played, but it was a night I’m gonna remember forever.

I can only imagine the stories that come from tour, and have heard some crazy experiences from past bands we’ve interviewed. What have been some of your funniest or favorite moments so far?

Alexis: Definitely not a crazy story by any means, but our friend and photographer Daniel Topete has an amazing apartment somewhere in the hills above Sunset with an incredible view of LA. The crazy part is how much nicer the apartment and view were compared to what we have going in NY, I guess (laughs). We had a good little BBQ hang one night there. He had just recently moved out there from New York so it was nice to reconnect, and he and Mo chef’d it up real good that night.

Jake: I really like visiting local spots and imagining what it would be like to live in the town that we’re in for the day. I’ll usually hunt down a coffee shop, cafe or record store and people watch.

Danny: Yeah Mo and Daniel know how to grill — cactus, elotes, etc. They had everything. Daniel’s got a lot of hidden treasures in his record collection that are fun to dig through. He played that night for Jake and I, a 7-inch of Iggy Pop singing a lullaby acapella to his deceased dog. The song was intense and haunting and apparently it’s the only copy that exists in the world of it. Towards the end of the night Daniel taunted us to finish a tequila bottle in the span of a few mins (shot for shot) between him, our manager Lauren, Mo, and I. Then we headed to the No Parents house for a party they were having ... Mo must have become friends with everyone at that party. We were in a pretty intense mood and I think everyone was like who are these weirdos — good fun you know. Then we got lost looking for cigarettes and took that defeat as a signal to head home. People in LA find it unusual, our desire to walk home from the bars... that was funny to me.

Mauricio: I arrived one day before the shows in LA to hang with my homie David from The Paranoyds and Sadgirl. We grew up together in Mexico, so every time we see each other is a celebration, and yes, we got insanely drunk and did karaoke one night with all his homies — it was awesome. I also beat him playing tennis. Also the night Lou, Topete, Gomez and me got hammered and I made friends with everyone at the party, hah.

“He played, that night for Jake and I, a 7-inch of Iggy Pop singing a lullaby acapella to his deceased dog. The song was intense and haunting and apparently it’s the only copy that exists in the world of it.”

Quick, you have to put together a mini-guide to tour life, what would be your top five tips for survival?

Alexis: Take time for yourself so you don’t go crazy — not everyone has to do everything together all the time. Try to eat meals at regular times, because it will help your mood and energy levels in the day. Sleep and bathe like a normal human if possible, because that will also help you get through every day. Invest in a quick sham-wow style towel that you can stuff in your bag and dries in a couple of minutes so you don’t bug your friends for towels (those seem to be scarce in the world). Be as mindful as you can of being in other people’s spaces and be thankful for all they are doing for you. Thanks to David and Aurora and Daniel for the hospitality!!

Jake: Gotta stay hydrated and eat as good as you can. The drive-thrus and coffees start to pile up after a few days, so you want to get ahead of avoiding feeling like total trash. Meditation helps me, too.

Danny: I’m probably not the best for this one, my body functions in weird ways.

Mauricio: I like taking my time and showering every morning. Always take a tote bag with a book and toothbrush for every show. To be honest I try to eat well while touring but sometimes it's hard. Be as thankful as you can with peoples spaces and their timings.

Wrapping up the interview, can you tell us about any upcoming projects you all are working on? What can we expect from post-touring Native Sun? Feel free to throw out any self promo, now’s your chance!

NS: We recently released our single “Juarez” via Grand Jury. Now we're preparing to hone down new music and prepare for our debut album. Once the pandemic is over we’ll hit the stage.

Final words?

NS: Let the music do the talking, stay safe, and be conscious of others. Don’t forget “...well we all shine on, on and on and on and on…”