Eulogies. It’s a morbid name. Under the Knife, Useless Amends, Can’t Relate – they’re all pretty morbid song titles.
But don’t call the band morbid. “Eulogies for me is not talking about someone who’s dead,” says bandleader Peter Walker. ”[Eulogies] is telling people how I feel, and also kind of getting lost in not telling people how you feel or even more positively in finding good connections.”
The name is something that Walker has to explain often. “That relationship with the name is very important for me as a songwriter. To do it now before it’s too late, not in the morbid sense but because now is a good time.”
The music of Eulogies carries that Eels-esque contrast of upbeat melodies and desperate lyrics, but takes it a step further. Eulogies grabs these themes of loneliness and desperation and make them hopeful and uplifting. “I think this record in particular has a lot of optimism, [songs] like Bad Connection, and Eyes On The Prize; they’re very optimistic even though they talk of struggle. On the one hand the subject matter is hard for a lot of people – and for me too. But also – and this is kind of a horrible thing to say – no pain, no gain.”
Walker had a successful solo career before Eulogies and described hearing his song, 39 Stars, in the Mickey Rourke film, The Wrestler, as a proud moment. However, as he explains to FasterLouder, it was always the band format he desired. “It needs to happen organically to make it real. I was doing pretty well and doing some touring and so it just ended up that the touring band, we went in the studio and it just became Eulogies. It happened really naturally and I was very pleased.”
The touring band was Chris Reynolds and Tim Hutton. Drew Phillips later joined and they released their self-titled album in 2007, followed by two EPs and the current album Here Anonymous. Shortly before releasing the second album, Hutton left and was replaced by Garret Deloian.
Walker is also co-owner of the Dangerbird record label. As well as Eulogies, the label also looks after The Dears, Dappled Cities, Sea Wolf and Silversun Pickups among others. “I’m one of two people that does A&R duties. I think we’ve been really lucky, not having to go out to dingy clubs at 1am to try and find bands. Through the people we’ve been working with we’ve come across bands that have been right for us and we’ve been right for the band.”
All the bands in the Dangerbird stable have an adventurous and unique nature, so how does Walker know a band is right for them? “We look for potential. The first thing is you have to be in love with the music. Mutual trust and mutual belief is all very important. We have to believe in what the band is doing and they have to believe in what we do as a label.”
Here Anonymous has been called “deceivingly simple”, rendering “vivid scenes with a minimalist palette”. It features guest vocalists including Nikki Monninger of Silversun Pickups.
Describing it as an album to be listened to as a whole, Walker says, “I find it much easier to write an album. I think as an artist or a writer it’s easier to draw inspiration if you know where you’re headed and where you’re drawing from; rather than just picking random feelings and trying to write about them. To me having a theme or vision is very helpful. I prefer things to be tied together in that way.”
Creating an album rather than a collection of songs is something that many artists strive to do more than ever now. As an endangered musical species, preservation of The Album is a hard fought battle by artists. Walker is one of these fighters, but he also sees a place for the alternative. “I think there’s still a place for the singles and the mp3s, and I think the ability to buy one song is wonderful in terms of getting your music out there. I think the hope is that someone comes to listen to more songs from you.”
Eulogies are coming to Australia this November. It will be their first time. “We tour quite a bit around The States and go up to Canada a couple of times. We don’t go overseas very often. To me touring is a crucial part of being an artist and I hold it in a very important place, just as important as writing or recording.”
So what will we see at the upcoming Eulogies gigs?
“It’s a little different from the record. I think there’s more energy and definitely more volume. Nothing we play is exactly by the book. Every song we play is a little give and take with space for each of the players to do their own thing. I think that makes it fresh, not only for us but for the people watching us.”
Eulogies hit the road with local lights The Seabellies this month for an East Coast tour, proudly presented by FasterLouder.
Wednesday 11 Nov – Beach Road, Bondi – Free Entry
Friday 13 Nov – East Brunswick Club, Melbourne
Saturday 14 Nov – Transit Bar, Canberra
Sunday 15 Nov – Troubadour, Brisbane
Wednesday 18 Nov- Oxford Art Factory, Sydney
Thursday 19 Nov – Brass Monkey, Cronulla
Friday 20 Nov – Newcastle Leagues Club, Newcastle
to listen to their music now on 
