Photo by De Wook Photography The Minneapolis-based jam rocking band Soap is slated for their fourth appearance at Summer Camp, coming up quickly next month. The quartet is currently touring in conjunction with their highly anticipated new album, “The Life We Live.” They swung through my city of La Crosse, WI for a face-melting show at the Popcorn Tavern. I was able to have a quick chat with the band before their three set performance, which featured their own hit songs, both old and new, as well as an impressive array of surprise covers.
The INTERVIEW
Camp Counselor Alex: This will be your fourth time at SCamp, all consecutive years… what does it mean to you both individually and collectively as a band to be invited back? Soap: Three of us are originally from Illinois (Manhattan/Peotone area, about 40 min south of Chicago, where Down on the Farm is held) so Summer Camp is where we cut our teeth on the music festival experience; it was the first festival any of us attended, 2005 being the first year we went. It’s a place that’s near and dear to our hearts, and being asked to perform there is quite an honor, one we treat with gratitude and respect. With our album coming out one month before SCamp, leading to it we’ll be really diving into this new material in a live setting, so we’ll be ready to hit people with some songs they’ve never heard at a show. Plus, we always craft a high-energy set for SCamp, it sets the bar high for the rest of festival season. Is “The Life We Live” all new material, previously unrecorded tunes, or a mixture of both? Soap: None of the songs have been recorded before. About half are played live regularly right now, a couple others less frequently. Songs on the album which have yet to be performed live: “Get Up,” “Can’t Come Home,” and “When You Need Them Most.” Mayhaps I am reading too much into it, but it seems to me like “Piece by Piece” is an appropriately titled album that cohesively sums together to send a message – just by reading the song titles in order is one subtle example. Does “The Life We Live” have a similar message or theme you wish to convey? Soap: Yes, we put a lot of thought into the flow of the album, which includes the theme of each song and what emotions each one stirs up. As the title suggests, it’s an album centered around what we all experience each day. It’s about the contrasts in life, from dark and mysterious experiences, to positive uplifting themes, and everything in between.THE SHOW
Soap then put on a stunning three set performance that really fueled a burning anticipation to see them again next month at Summer Camp. What impressed me the most was their absolutely flawless transitions between songs; how they were able to craft a setlist with songs smooth enough to allow a segue without drastic changes to melodies. In addition to their original hit songs, Soap nailed covers of “Eminence Front” (The Who), “Tom Sawyer” (Rush), “Dear Prudence” (The Beatles), and a dedicated “Bug” (Phish) to yours truly (THANK YOU!) https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJXPfISgeSzZUElHOpiVm9Bjp2Wgxj8nDTHE ALBUM
“The Life We Live” will be released to the public on Tuesday, April 26. The band describes their fourth record as:“Songs evoking emotions of love and elation, to moments of anger and despair, The Life We Live is a collection of experiences. Experiences to listen and learn from, stories to relate and to tell again. Rhythms to summon a smile and dance. All of this, complete with a collection of guitar riffs that will force you to raise your arm and extend a rock fist in the air.”The album is comprised of 14 tracks of a clear-and-cut rock influence, surely capable of bringing mesmerizing ear drums far and wide, whether it’s the delicate yet scorching guitar peaks, or the jazz infused funk from featured guests Max Felsheim on “Forget the World” and “Answer the Call” and Jason Marks on “Can’t Come Home.” Hear the 9th track, “Hard to Change” here!: https://soundcloud.com/soaptheband/hard-to-change Be sure to follow @SummerCampFest on Snapchat for Soap’s SCampchat takeover to help celebrate their album release show, this SATURDAY, APRIL 23! The band is firing on ALL cylinders right now, and you’ll be thrilled to be a part of it!
