Philadelphia Globe Interviews The Districts For Philly Music Fest
By Lauren Silvestri
The 4th annual Philly Music Fest will be live streaming this Thursday, September 24th and Friday, September 25th via WXPN, NPR Music, and Nugs.net from Ardmore Music Hall. The line-up, curated by founder Greg Seltzer, includes many local favorites, such as indie-rock darlings the Districts. The Philadelphia Globe’s Lauren Silvestri spoke with vocalist and guitarist of the Districts, Rob Grote, about performing live again, their new album, and global movements. Check out the interview below:
Hey Rob! Not sure if you remember me, but I interviewed you all at Ortlieb’s right before your show a few years ago [in 2018]. That seems like forever ago to me. How have you changed since then, if at all?
Rob Grote: Hey! Yes, I do remember that. Time’s been flying. A lot has changed. The evolutionary process of life has been doing its thing. I feel much more sure of myself than I used to. We all have scattered about the city instead of living in a cramped house together. And the world itself has changed dramatically, which certainly changes you too. I’ve definitely been trying to connect to nature and turn inwards you know, spending time writing and thinking about our chaotic collective reality.
The Districts’ fourth full-length album You Know I’m Not Going Anywhere was released on March 13th. You were quoted saying that the first single, “Hey Jo,” was about “relationships unfurling amidst the dysphoria of the modern world.” Can you elaborate? Would you also describe the entire album that way, or is there a variety of inspirations?
RG: The record as a whole was a process of longing, questioning, and trying to create a sense of place in my world and the universe. There was a lot of existential and spiritual searching going on in my life at the time. In a phrase, the record was a lot of feeling like “there must be something more.”
I love the aesthetic of the music video for “Cheap Regrets.” It also makes me long for the pre-social distancing days. What inspired that video?
RG: Originally I wanted to make a crazy disco video in a nightclub with people dance-miming vain tasks like the Sisyphus myth. But then we talked to Laura Lynn Petrick and she had some really cool ideas and we went that way!
What else have you been up to since the pandemic started? Writing/creating any new material?
RG: I’ve been writing and demoing a lot of music. Reading, camping, and meditating. Just trying to stay chill and fight spending all my time on technology. Also watching The Watchmen series and Schitt’s Creek when I need a fix.
For Philly Music Fest you guys will be performing live on an actual stage at Ardmore Music Hall. Will that be the first time the Districts have been on an official performance stage since the pandemic? If so, what emotions do you have about performing like that again?
RG: This will indeed be our first time performing a proper set together in 7 months. I feel excited and also strange about it! We have band practice in about thirty minutes and that should be fun and surreal to do again.
Do you have other performances or events planned for the near future?
RG: Nope! Our tours keep getting pushed back and we’ve felt conflicted about the idea of planning an outdoor event. Hopefully something like that will make sense in the spring. Recording music is the current vibe.
Once the pandemic is finally over, what are you most looking forward to doing again?
RG: Touring the USA and Europe for sure. And just going out and spending time with people in a normal capacity. I am most looking forward to a global movement to abandon the oil industry, modern billion-trillion-fuck-all-deregulated capitalism, and our insatiable hunger for power altogether and creating a greener, more equitable future for the beautiful people of this earth. (: Facebook junkies are all hype on this QAnon shit when the real conspiracy is more blatant and sinister – it’s right in front of our eyes! Stay healthy <3
Philly Music Fest will be broadcasting virtually via WXPN, NPR Music, and Nugs.net on September 24th & 25th. The Districts will be performing on September 24th at 7:20pm. Find more information on their website here.
The live stream is free, but donations are encouraged for Philly Music Fest to support musicians, kids music education programs, and Philly musician COVID relief micro-grants. Click here to donate to Philly Music Fest now. Philly Music Fest is committed to supporting music education programs, local musicians and independent music venues and venue staff.
If you would like to donate to kids’ music education or help PMF deploy micro-grants to musicians or venue staff in need, you can do so through these channels:
Venmo: @PhillyMusicFest
PayPal: phillymusicfest@gmail.com
About The Districts:
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About the author: Lauren Silvestri has been a music journalist for the past 10 years. She has a huge passion for rock n' roll, the Philly music scene and independent music venues. Email | Twitter
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