When most people think of great artists, they also think of the ever-present notepad. The place where sketches are drawn, lyrics are jotted and other ideas spring forth. Brian Blush, guitarist for The Refreshments, has that notepad right next to his bed. And, boy has it come in handy.
"('Fizzy, Fuzzy, Big and Buzzy,' the title of The Refreshments' debut album), is a little mantra that came to me in the middle of the night. Oftentimes I'll wake up in a cold sweat, screaming strange things and that was one of them. It just so happens that at the time I said that we were looking for an album title," Blush said.
As the story goes with all great ideas, as an album title it was immediately rejected. But later, the members of the band gave the nighttime shout a second look. "We would listen to it again and laugh about it and think that it was a funny thing to say. It was kind of a light-hearted phrase that matched the philosophy of the songs on the record. We also got a kick out of the fact that if it ever got off the ground there would be DJs all across America that would actually have to try and say it."
With their two new hit songs, "Banditos" and "Down Together," The Refreshments can laugh about "Fizzy, Fuzzy, Big and Buzzy" all the way to the bank.
Though Blush admits to having said many noteworthy things in the still of the night, none of them have necessarily caught on as well as the title for the album that is memorable in itself. With hummable choruses and references to everything from "Star Trek" to Mexico, a home away from home for the Tempe, Ariz., band, "Fizzy, Fuzzy, Big and Buzzy" is a bubbly, lighthearted romp the whole way through.
Having some of the "cutest" lyrics in the music business (take all of the ones from "Down Together," for example), The Refreshments' album can only be outdone by their live show.
"We're extremely happy with the way the album turned out, but with hindsight being perfect, there are always little things that you'd want to change. We tried to keep the album as live-feeling as possible. Probably the only thing that I would consider changing is trying to make it sound even more live," the guitarist commented.
But as any of the band's members or fans would point out, the sound is pretty darned agreeable as is, especially for a first attempt.
Live, the band's sound is super-energetic, something difficult to achieve in a recording studio. "It's like drinking four cups of coffee and running out there. The adrenaline is always going, so there's an energy that's applied to it which is different every night," Blush said. "There are things that we've done to the songs since we've played them so many times. Every night we try to push them a little bit or shorten and lengthen them depending on how the night is going. There's a lot of slapshot comedy going on in between all of the stuff."
Despite the possible tedium of playing the same songs over and over again, it's the different venues and audiences that keep it interesting. Blush feels that touring is "the greatest and worst of all possible worlds. Getting to go to different cities and play to different groups of people on a nightly basis is an incredible experience. Dynamically, it's always changing. Sometimes it's bars, clubs, veterans' halls. ... That's always a challenge and it's always really interesting and fun."
The downside of touring, one can easily imagine. "Traveling and living out a suitcase can be tedious at times and a little difficult. Being away from home for over a year now - that can be a little taxing, but it's definitely worth the trade off. It's really good work if you can get it," Blush added.
Of course, with traveling comes finding new favorite places, and with The Refreshments, both Portland, Ore., and our own Detroit rank high on the list. "I'm actually from Detroit," Blush shared. "When we come to Detroit we usually have a good time."
In fact, the last time The Refreshments were in town, one record label representative thought it would be a good idea to take the band to the mecca of Mexican restaurants, Chi Chi's. "A lot of times people will say, 'Oh! This band's from the Southwest ... let's take them to a Mexican restaurant!' Our bass player actually walked into the women's bathroom there, so that was the entertaining part of that whole experience."
As with all bands, the amusing tour stories don't stop there. "So many strange things happen that it's hard to even take note of one. It's such a surreal existence," the guitarist stated. "There's everything from a 300-pound dude who showed up with the full album cover tattooed on his arm to a fan who has had a dozen roses delivered to each gig every night for a week."
Fortunately for the band, things take a more mellow turn when they return to Tempe. Located right next to Mexico, residing in Tempe is what gave "Fizzy, Fuzzy, Big and Buzzy" a clear bilingual factor. "Mexico is to us a sort of refuge that, whenever we are home, we run to. It's a lawless, open, free place that we find kind of spiritually refreshing. When we get a chance to go there, we do. We try to incorporate a little of that reckless openness into our musical shtick whenever we can. It's the closest place to America that's really not America," Blush offered.
Of Detroit's southern neighbor, the guitarist had a differing opinion. "Windsor's fairly close to American life. But you can drink there when you're 19!"
Though they're now of age, The Refreshments are still looking forward to the future. "I honestly hope that (10 years from now) we're still making the kind of music that we want to make. If not, I'll probably open a small chain of feed and tack stores and Bud (Edwards, the band's bassist) will probably go into the 'Cup of Turkey' business. We've already got a long-term plan worked out for everyone," Blush offered.
But have no fear, fans. He's already promised that we can have our own feed and tack shop in the city of Detroit, so refreshment will never be too far away.
The Refreshments drive to the next lemonade stand.