One of the best bands to come out of our humble city of Cincinnati in recent years is The Heartless Bastards. The three piece outfit has just released their second album, “All This Time” and is set to go on a big tour to support it. Each Note Secure had a chance to speak with lead singer Erika Wennestrom this week about the new album and the upcoming tour.

ENS – Hey, I caught your WOXY Lounge Act recently, you guys are sounding great

Erika – Thanks, Im glad you enjoyed it. Actually, its funny, we had Brian, who does the lounge acts on the road as our sound guy after meeting him at WOXY. We became good friends with him and he ended up helping us record All This Time. Patrick from The Black Keys was going to help out, but didnt have enough time with everything that they had going on when it came time to start recording so we were happy to have Brian help out.

ENS – Thats great, its always nice to keep things within the city here

Erika – Yeah, we try to do that if we can, its easier to do something with someone local. We also had Julie from 80percent.com, a local artist, do our album cover. I love how it turned out.

ENS – So, is it true that when Fat Possum originally tried to contact you guys their email ended up in your spambox?

Erika – (laughs) Yeah, thats a true story. Its was one of those things that I never checked because I figured only real spam ended up in there. I always check in there now because you never know. Its a good thing Mike checked it that time or we may have really missed out on a great thing with Fat Possum.

ENS – You have a really great voice, and its quite unique and I think it sets you apart, how did you develop that growing up?

Erika – Well, its funny because growing up I always told everyone I was gonna be a singer but I wasnt really singing at all at the time. I guess I just wanted to but was too shy. Then I started to get into some school choirs and stuff, but it wasnt anything solo or anytinng like that. And the music wasnt really the kind of stuff I liked anyway. I didnt know or think my voice was unique until I was 18 and I had some friends that encouraged me and my singing. I guess I found my voice at that point and dropped alot of the shyness. Then about 4 years later I hooked up to play with Shesus.

ENS – Do you still keep up with the old members of Shesus?

Erika – Yeah, we all get along great still but I dont see them that much anymore actually. Some of the members are in Dayton, others are here in Cincy.

ENS – You guys are getting ready to tour the new album, is touring a fun thing for you at this point or does life on the road get tired?

Erika – We love touring, I mean the whole thing obviously has its ups and down, with sharing a hotel room with the whole band and the sound guy for a month at a time. Plus being in a smaller space in the van for so long. There are frustrating moments but we are pretty much like family and get along great overall.
I cant wait to play and go on tour for this album. Most of the tour is still in the works right now actually though. We will be hitting the road soon though and we will be headlining for a few weeks in October, doing a fesitval out in LA and hitting some dates on the way there and back as well.

ENS – Do you get nervous before a gig, or have you ever?

Erika – Yeah, I always have butterflies before a show. But one show sticks out for me. Its been a long time, but before we were signed to Fat Possum, we opened for the Black Keys in Cincinnati. We were running late and Mike forgot his bass and had to run home and get it. When he finally got there the Southgate House was sold out and crowded, which usually happens later in the night but it was packed early this time. Then we go to play and Mike breaks his string on the first song. That was kinda nervewracking. But that was awhile back in Feb 2004.

ENS - Talk a little big about playing the new material live

Erika – Well, weve been adding new songs to the live set for almost six months now actually. We finished the album in March and have been playing most of the material ever since. It gives us a chance to mess with the songs a bit and change things easier. Its really fun to play new stuff but its also great to play the familiar stuff. Songs the audience will recognize and stuff, plus that gives us even more energy on stage when people are familiar with the material and a little bit more into it.

ENS – Im sure lots of people will be familiar on Friday at Southgate House. Will the vinyl be ready for that show to sell?

Erika – I was really hoping so but it may be behind schedule a bit, but I really hope it comes through. It sounds a little different, its a bass heavy CD so we had to alter it a bit for the record. It changed the way a couple songs sound I think. I actually think a few of them sound alot better. Its a different sound and we had someone different master it and everything.

ENS – Anything new out there you are listening to?

Erika – Ive really gotten into My Morning Jacket and Band of Horses actually, I cant wait to catch Band of Horses again at Alchemize next week.

My thanks to Erika from The Heartless Bastards for taking a few minutes to talk to us. Be sure to check out the show tonight at the Southgate House, should be a really good one.

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