Ben Trimble, frontman for rising Nashville, Tenn., psych-rock crew Fly Golden Eagle, has long embraced collaboration, appearing on recordings by Alabama Shakes, Hurray for the Riff Raff and Benjamin Booker. With his own group, however, he’s only recently adopted this all-in mindset, opening up the process to his Eagle mates rather than holing up alone for solitary months of writing and recording.
“Playing [the music] all by myself … it’s limiting in the emotional spectrum because you’re getting only one guy’s emotions,” said Trimble, 29, who described the band’s latest, the shaggy, retro-rock leaning “Quartz,” as its first truly collaborative effort. “When you have four people, even though it might not be exactly what I think every part should be, I think it makes up for itself on the other end of it … when the four people come together in solidarity.”
How was the experience playing Lollapalooza last year?
It was great! We played Wicker Park Fest the year before, and the [Lolla] crowd was bigger than that. We went to Three Dots and a Dash early in the day and got good and sauced, and then after we opened for Fitz and the Tantrums at that really iconic venue, the Metro. It was cool to go to a festival that was actually in the city.
You’ve mentioned Bob Dylan’s “John Wesley Harding” as a favorite. It’s an album that features The Band backing him, so it’s interesting you’ve adopted that Band-like approach, playing on records by Ben Booker and Alabama Shakes. Do you enjoy that collaborative process?
Yeah, I love it, and I’ve been more into it lately. When we were working on “Quartz,” I had to purge myself of collaborating with other people because [the album] was such a big thing and it took a lot of energy. But I’m getting back into it now. I’m scoring this movie for a friend, and I’m going to help produce a couple things. Nashville is a fun place right now because there are a lot of creative people, and once you find your niche there’s a lot you can do.
Your song “Stepping Stone” opens with a mention of original sin. Did you receive your first exposure to music via the church?
Yeah. My dad’s a preacher, so it was around a lot … and those concepts and ideas show up in a lot of other things, too. They’ve taken on a new curiosity for me.
You mention finances a handful of times through the album. Is that a matter of being in a band where finances are a constant source of concern?
Yeah. And really anyone who’s creative feels that struggle at some point. For a long time, you’re torn between what you need to do to make money and what you do creatively. There’s always that tension.
Have you developed any money-saving techniques for when you’re out on the road?
I haven’t developed any. I’m actually very bad with money. I’m trying to figure out how to be smarter with it, but it’s not easy. On the road it’s like, have a good time and enjoy yourself, or come back with a little money? In general I always opt for having a good time.
That explains why you were on Twitter talking about making more trips to Party City than the grocery store.
[Laughs.] I like to throw parties and have fun with people. It’s fun to unleash your inner [Peter] Pan. This month I’ve been to the grocery store more, but last month was Party City. I always like to get different costumes for different things. [We] did a Segway tour of Nashville, and I had this image in my head of god riding around on a Segway, so I went to Party City and got a god outfit to cruise around town.
You retweeted a Vice article headlined “College Is Not the Best Four Years of Your Life.” How much of a mental hurdle was it for you to record at Trinity College, even though it’s long been defunct?
That’s kind of what was awesome about it: It was abandoned … so it was like a beautiful shrine to the failed education system. There was an abandoned library and vultures inside. There was a room where a local band had been practicing, so they had taken all these mattresses and nailed them to the wall. It was kind of creepy.
Do you have any advice for your friends in Alabama Shakes as they get ready to play Lolla this year?
[Laughs.] Any advice for ’em? Bring down the sun, let it pour. Bring on the rain, let it shine.
Andy Downing is a RedEye special contributor. @andydowning33
Fly Golden Eagle, 8 p.m. Tuesday, July 14 at Schubas. $12.
