Neu Tennis

What’s the best way of finding out lots and lots about a new artist in quite a short period of time? Just ask them lots of questions really quickly.

We put our quickfire Q&A to Patrick Riley, who plays guitars with Alaina Moore in Tennis. The duo are currently gearing up for the release of their debut album ‘Cape Dory’ through Fat Possum early next year, and have their first UK live dates in January (click here for dates and tickets).

Why did you, personally, join the band?
I didn’t join the band so much as form the band with Alaina. We made a slow transition from playing music together in our free time to seriously considering ourselves as a band so there is no specific start date to Tennis.

Where did you meet?
We met in college. We were both philosophy majors. She was one of two girls in my entire class so it wasn’t hard to notice her.

Your debut album is due next year, how long did it take you to write and record?
We wrote it over the course of six months. It wouldn’t have taken so long but we were both working full-time jobs the whole time. We recorded and mixed the album ourselves during September. Mixing took a lot longer than recording. We probably should have had somebody do it for us, but we didn’t want to involve anyone else for our first project. For better or worse, the album was completely DIY.

Which is the best track on the record?
We are happy with every song. We all have our own favorites. I think the only deficiency is that we wished the album was longer but we really didn’t have the time to keep writing, we had to commit to what we had.

Which is your favourite track on the record?
It changes a lot, but Pigeon is really special to Alaina and me.

When you first started to get into music, who was your favourite musician?
We really admire Grandaddy and The Walkmen.

Name one album that would appear in your Top Five of all time so far.
Plague Park by Handsome Furs.

If you had to learn a new instrument, what would you choose?
Autoharp.

What’s your favourite ‘being in a band’ perk?
Paying highway tolls everyday.

If you had to join a different band of your choice, which would it be?
I would play in Wanda Jackson’s live band.

What’s your most unappealing habit?
I am really positive. So positive that I often annoy my wife who is a pessimist.

Where would you most like to play a show?
The Drake hotel in Toronto was the coolest venue we’ve played so far. I would love to go back.

Are there any parts of being in a band you’d leave out if you could?
Touring. We are homebodies, and fairly introverted. It’s hard to be away from home and routine for so long.

Would you ever go solo?
Never, I can’t sing and the best part of being in Tennis is sharing it with Alaina.

What was the last album / single you bought?
The Pretenders self-titled LP.

What is your music-purchasing format of choice?
Vinyl.

Recommend us a new band.
Dead Gaze, Gauntlet Hair.

Where would you like to be this time next year?
Crossing the Pacific with Alaina in our Cape Dory.

What’s next on the cards for Tennis?
We will tour in support of this album and then take a break to go sailing. We would like to continue writing but we need some time to tend to our personal lives first.