New Zealand Band The Chills Play Their First Major U.S. Tour In Over 20 Years

Led by Martin Phillipps, The Chills are one of New Zealand’s best-known indie rock bands and foundation of the famed ‘Dunedin Sound’ (cited as an influence by the likes of Pavement and R.E.M.). Starting-out out in the early 1980s on the Flying Nun label, the band achieved cult status in Europe and on US college radio, before being signed to Warner Bros’ subsidiary Slash Records (BoDeans, Grant Lee Buffalo, Los Lobos) in the early 1990s. Chills songs such as ‘Pink Frost’, ‘I Love My Leather Jacket’ and ‘Heavenly Pop Hit’ are considered college radio ‘classics’.

It’s often noted how many musicians have rotated in-and-out of the Chills over the decades – this writer included, unsuccessfully applying for a position as a bassist – sometimes referred to as “The Curse of The Chills.” On several occasions, these lineup changes ultimately foiled Phillipps’ attempts at getting the band in front of a wider audience. The current lineup has proven that curse inactive, having been together since the 2000s, outlasting previous lineups combined.

This version of the Chills has also just released their second album together (the sixth Chills studio album in total). “Snowbound”, released through UK’s Fire Records, contains ten new songs that will instantly sound familiar to longtime Chills fans. Phillipps’ signature motifs are all here from maritime-tinged waltzes to fizzing 4/4 numbers. Production-wise, “Snowbound” seems poppier and polished than previous efforts thanks to producer Greg Haver (Manic Street Preachers). Keyboards have always been a mainstay of The Chills’ sound but on “Snowbound” they take on even more emphasis for a more sonic-pop sound. It will be interesting to hear the “Snowbound” tracks in a live context.

I was able to get the Chills’ Martin Phillipps to answer a few questions in preparations for the upcoming tour:

Do you have any particular memories of playing New York City?

Martin: Our second-ever gig in the States was on the 11th of July 1987 at Maxwell’s, Hoboken (with Peter Holsapple as support – he would work with us five years later on the ‘Soft Bomb’ album) and as The Chills had flown directly from extensive touring throughout Europe, we were jet-lagged to hell but on fire! It was a magic night and, while N.J. wasn’t officially (yet) New York, that gig set the tone for the quite personal connection the band has had with the city ever since.

Do you think American audiences differ to New Zealand ones?

Martin: In New Zealand, The Chills are one of the best examples of an indie-band that successfully crossed over into popular awareness in the ‘80s and ‘90s with songs like ‘I Love My Leather Jacket’ and ‘Heavenly Pop Hit’ but the average “Kiwi” might still only be vaguely aware of our name. In America there has always been a much more significant fan-base who really get us and are enthusiastic and knowledgeable about our much broader range of material.

The music industry has changed a lot since the Chills were signed to a major label. Do you feel more relaxed now about recording and touring, without those major label pressures?

Martin: When we were younger and had the energy for those long but necessary tours the major-label backing actually helped to make things smoother rather than add even more pressure. These days it is so expensive for us to tour that every trip away from New Zealand means the constant stress of possible financial ruin! One can only focus on the joy of performing live music for friends as the only sensible reward.

What can Chills fans expect at the Bell House show?

Martin: I’m eternally grateful that we are not a “one-hit wonder” band but our catalog is now extensive enough to mean that people will always want to hear songs we are not performing at present. Having said that, we agree with the older fans who think that the current mixture of old and new material in our set is just about perfect!

The Chills will play 14 dates throughout the country in February and March, including Brooklyn’s Bell House on February 19th. To find out more about The Chills and their upcoming dates go to www.thechills.band