Andy Cabic of the folk-pop outfit Vetiver knows not to take
music too seriously.
His bandmates arrived only days before the start of their West
Coast tour, which includes tonight’s free show at The
Cooperage courtesy of Campus Events, leaving them only two full
days to rehearse.
However, Cabic wasn’t overly concerned about the time
constraints, taking time for an afternoon stroll with friend and
collaborator Devendra Banhart.
“This tour is just for fun,” Cabic said.
There is something about Vetiver’s music that is simple,
personal and carefree. Perhaps it’s the traditionally
arranged guitars and cello that plod gently side by side, or
perhaps it’s the warmth of Cabic’s voice as it mingles
almost subconsciously with the dreamy background. It may be his
honest lyrics (“How many roads begin under dark
umbrellas?”) that make Vetiver’s music so peaceful.
Regardless of what characterizes its appeal, Vetiver has found
itself on the more conservative end of the recent folk music
revival, though Cabic hesitates to admit it.
“When I write songs, it has nothing to do with folk music.
I’m just trying to write a song,” Cabic said. “I
write pop songs, I write folk songs … and they have elements of
all these sorts of things.”
This is no understatement: in addition to citing early folk and
blues artists Bobby Charles and Geoff Muldaur as primary
influences, he also says that he draws inspiration from parks in
San Francisco, inflatable mattresses, and watching people kite
surf. Working with Banhart, his closest friend and a dynamic solo
artist in his own right, has also played a key role in
Vetiver’s growth.
“We’ve lived together … he’s held me in his
arms, we’ve played music together,” Cabic said.
“I’ve known him a long time and we’ve helped each
other out with our records.” Banhart appears on
Vetiver’s 2004 self-titled album as well as their forthcoming
LP, “To Find Me Gone.” The two have also started their
own record label called Gnomonsong and have toured extensively
together, which helped lead to Vetiver’s relationship with
Arthur Magazine, the tour’s sponsor.
Banhart, who curated the Arthur-sponsored collection of the new
wave of psych-folk artists titled “Golden Apples of the
Sun,” allotted Vetiver the album’s opening track,
though Cabic insists that what he and his fellow musicians do is
nothing new.
“I don’t think it’s a revival,” he said.
“People start to see that sort of thing as something new. I
think they’re just selectively looking at music.”
ESPers, who will open for Vetiver on the West Coast tour, were
also included on the album.
“They’re great people. They’re all good
friends,” Cabic said of ESPers. “We’ve played
shows together in the past and I’m looking forward to
traveling with them and hearing their new songs.”
Vetiver’s seven West Coast tour dates will witness the
live debut of material from their upcoming record, which according
to Cabic, features more instrumentation and different sorts of
arrangements than their previous efforts. The tour is not intended
to promote their album, however, as it is not scheduled for release
until May.
Fans expecting Vetiver’s trademark minimalist and mellow
sound may be in for a surprise. Three new musicians join two of the
band’s regulars which, according to Cabic, substantially
alters its live dynamic.
“We’re not touring with a cellist or a violin
player. I have a drummer, a bass player, a guitar player, and
I’m playing electric guitar,” Cabic said.
“It’s totally different.”
For Cabic, being a musician often boils down to playing music
with his buddies. Longtime companions Kevin Barker and Otto Hauser
contributed to Vetiver’s new album and he recently toured in
Devendra Banhart’s band. “I’m just playing with
different friends,” he said.
In a genre with so many artists all sharing their talents and
ideas, it’s easy to see why Cabic is content to simply be
around the people he loves.