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Producer: Austin Undergound
Director: Andy Gately

Austin-based rock outfit The Little Gentlemen have finally produced their first full-length album, I Quit Nothing, and it’s been worth the wait. Recorded in the singer’s garage, the LP picks up where The Crickets left off, ups the volume knob to “Wake The Dead,” and demonstrates the group’s mastery of the two-and-a-half-minute pop song on track after track. The album features the lightning fretwork of Ian White on lead guitar, Kevin wringing all manner of glorious racket from a minimalist kit, the bassline anchors of Zac Kloepping, and vocal/rhythm guitar duties by prolific frontman Matt “Above The Rim” Schneiderman (known for his aerobatic stage antics). The guys recently spoke to LMC about their UT origins, musical influences, and Gary Busey playing Buddy Holly.

Q: What’s the meaning behind the name of the new album?

Kevin: It was a quick response from one of my friends after I mistakenly told him, “I thought you quit smoking.”

Q: Do you guys plan on having a CD release party or a tour anytime soon?

Kevin: Yeah we will have a CD release party on June 5th at Trophy’s. A tour is in the works, but right now the album can be bought by contacting any member of the band, either through MySpace or by coming to our shows.

Q: What’s the band’s songwriting process usually like?
Matt: Typically I write the song and bring it to the band. If they like it
then everyone learns it and we come up with an arrangement.

Q: Kevin, you essentially got the band together, tell us how you came to meet
all the guys.

Kevin: Well, Ian and I met in 7th grade specifically for rocking purposes. We found out we both played instruments and we became fast friends. I then met Zach at UT through another friend. We had complementary playing styles, so it seemed to be only a matter of time before we got organized. I had Matt in a class at UT but didn’t know who he was. Then later my girlfriend Elizabeth took me to the UT talent show where Schneidy performed. I recognized him from my class because he had funky hair, and I really liked his song, so I decided to e-mail him with the idea for a band. Our first practice was definitely strange but Matt’s songs were really good, so we pursued it.

Q: Ian, how long have you been playing guitar, and how do you feel your style has evolved? Name a few of your favorite guitarists.

Ian: Beginning with the most recently influential: Jason Becker, Joe Satriani and Kirk Hammett. I’ve been playing somewhat off and on for about 10 years. For some time I really wanted to be a shredder. Then that passion faded to a more bluesy style. Recently, that urge to shred has returned and I’m trying to incorporate more technical styles including arpeggios and fast runs into our music, albeit a bit more subtly than how they would be used in metal.

Q: What kind of guitars do you use? Got a prized piece of gear?
Ian: I have three guitars, two of which are custom Stratocasters and the other being a Gibson SG. I actually have two prized pieces of equipment because one wouldn’t work without the other and they are my Sovtek Mig 50 head and early 80′s Japanese Squire strat, lovingly named Blacky by Kevin. I admittedly listen to a lot of Austin bands. Those that come to mind are The Sword, The Murdocks, and Those Peabody’s, who’s recent breakup is damn unfortunate. As of late, I’ve been constantly listening to Speak, a recently formed local band.

Zac: I use a Rickenbacker 4003 with the bridge pickup cover removed. My favorite bassists are Matt Freeman from Rancid/Operation Ivy, John Paul Jones from Led Zeppelin, and John Deacon from Queen.

Q: Kevin, favorite drummers?

Kevin: Phil Rudd (in a little band called AC/DC). I like his drums because he never played drum fills, which is odd because I love fills so much. I mean, this man made Ringo look like goddamn Neil Peart, and that’s a good thing. I also really like the Yeah Yeah Yeahs’ drummer, Brian Chase. I find his drums bizarre, but they totally work with their guitar and vocals. Finally, probably my absolute favorite drummer is Erik Conn from local Austin band, Tia Carrera. This guy is a straight up freak. Basically, he plays melody and rhythm simultaneously and just destroys his set every show.

Q: What’s the absolute worst gig any of you can remember playing?

Ian: For me that would have to be the time I drank too much Lone Star and couldn’t play my instrument worth a damn. Oh, and I also jumped up and down on two of my most cherished, and expensive, guitars. That ended my shotgun-n-rock’em pre-show warm up for good.

Q: Who are some of the other bands you guys have shared a bill with around town?

Zac: {{{Sunset}}}, Murdocks, Focus Group, The Little Morts, and our buddies
in the now defunct Comanche Abortion and their new band The Contact High-Five, to name a few.

Q: This one’s for Matt: have you seen the film The Buddy Holly Story starring Gary Busey? Apparently Paul McCartney has a screening of the every year at his house.
Matt: Yeah I’ve seen it. I like it a lot. It’s not very accurate, but it’s just the right amount of dramatic and over-the-top.

Photos by Jeremy Van Doren