We saw Eliza Hardy Jones open for our recent LBB interviewee, Gretchen Lohse a few weeks ago. We were really impressed with her talents and wanted to bring her to Lady.Bang.Beat. for an interview. As well as doing solo sets, she belongs to Buried Beds, the harmonious indie-pop band from right here in Phildelphia. Eliza is joined by Brandon Beaver, Hallie Sianni, Thomas Bendel, and Tom Mallon. Their latest album is Tremble the Sails, aboard a guitar driven journey “where love, death and your future-self throw a party”. A journey is exactly what I’m on while listening to this music. It’s almost like you belong to a land with sugar-coated trails and lollipops for trees. Buried Beds, just got back from a tour with Dr. Dog and are set to light up the stage this Saturday at Johnny Brendas (May 14th) with Ape School and In One Wind as their openers. Here is what Eliza shared with us about the tour and being back home in philly:

Lady. Bang. Beat.: So, How are you Eliza? Welcome home!
Eliza Hardy Jones: Thanks! It’s good to be home. 

LBB: You guys just got done a tour with Dr. Dog? What was that like?
EHJ: Touring with Dr. Dog was amazing. We have been friends with those guys for many years so being on the road with them was such a treat. They are one of the best live bands I’ve ever seen and it was incredible to watch them play every night. We had some nice adventures. 

LBB: How long was the tour?
EHJ: That tour was about 2 weeks. Then we were home for 2 weeks before heading out on the road again with Murder by Death for another 3 weeks. 

LBB: Was this your first time on tour?
EHJ: Nope. Buried Beds has done some light touring over the years, but it wasn’t until we put out Tremble the Sails last June that we really hit the road in earnest. We did a really fun tour with mewithoutYou last summer that was just such a positive experience. Amazing people, amazing crowds, lots of new friends and fans. We caught the tour bug and we’ve been doing active touring since then. All of the beds have been (and are in) other touring bands, so we are all pretty seasoned roadsters these days. 

LBB: How does it feel being back in Philly? What’s new?
EHJ: Luckily, we toured for most of February and March so we missed the cold crazy snows of Philadelphia this winter and were home just in time for spring. I’ve got my garden in and I’ve been spending plenty of time with my husband taking walks and enjoying the spring blooms. Beaver and I have been doing lots of writing and recording in preparation for a new record. I’ll get to enjoy May and then hit the road again in June. Our bass player heads an awesome band called Nightlands and Beaver and I will be joining him on the road for a cross-country tour with Sondre Lerche. Some variation of Buried Beds will play some of those shows as well.

LBB: Will you be playing any new material at your show on Saturday?
EHJ: Yes! We have a few new songs we’ll be playing on Saturday and even have a surprise guest!

LBB: So, who does majority of the writing? Is it a collaborative effort?
EHJ: Beaver and I do all of the writing. We each write individually and then bring the songs to eachother. In that stage we demo things and flip things around until we feel solid. Then we bring the songs to the band and work out the live arrangement. I love the process of writing and arranging new material. 

LBB: And you’ll be playing with Ape School and In One Wind, are they friends? How did they join the bill?
EHJ: We were able to meet Michael Johnson and his band Ape School back in January when Nightlands shared a bill with them at the Ox. I had heard the music and was excited to see them play. When they took the stage I realized we knew a lot of the members (including the drummer Erik Slick from Dr. Dog) I would see any band where Erik is the drummer. We were psyched to have them join the bill for our May 14th show. In One Wind came to us by word of a mutual friend up in New York. They are fairly new to the philadlephia music world, but should not be missed!

LBB: What’s in the works for you guys? Any projects we should look out for?
EHJ: We’ll be writing and recording this summer and will hopefully have a new album under our belts by the end of the year. We have a music video in the works which should be ready this summer.  We’ll be doing more touring and more merry making this summer and fall.

LBB: So, is there any good tour advice you could give a young girl who is eager to one day head out on the road?  
EHJ: Make great music and believe in it. And make it with people you love. Being in a band is like starting a new family. Surround yourself with talented people you love and then hit the road. Pack snacks and bring your own pillow.