By Laura Wingfield
The Weepies are back. Folk rock singer/songwriter duo Deb Talan and Steve Tannen will hit The State Theatre this Sunday on their Sirens U.S. tour, their first since 2011. Greg Tannen, folk rock/pop artist and Steve Tannen’s brother, will open the show.
In December 2013, Talan was diagnosed with stage 3 breast cancer which put touring on hold for the past year and a half. However the band was able to record their fifth studio album, “Sirens,” from home with the help of guest musicians including Pete Thomas and Steve Nieve of Elvis Costello, Gerry Leonard of David Bowie and Rami Jaffee of the Foo Fighters. Talan is now in remission.
“Sirens,” released April 28, is The Weepies’ self-proclaimed best album and portrays their “sharpened skills and focus” gained from producing a record while coping with Talan’s cancer and raising their three children. Here Talan and Tannen share insights about the album and their Sirens U.S. tour:
What are the Sirens for you?
Deb Talan: “Sirens” is a double meaning. They’re these things in life that pull you toward them that can be destructive, and they’re also ambulance sirens, which talk about tragedy, but there’s the possibility of help and hope.
What effects did the guest musicians have on the album?
DT: They were a huge part of creating our sound.
Steve Tannen: We have the greatest band in the world that’s never been in the same room together on this record. We reached out to a bunch of our musical heroes because we were really isolated and we could reach out to anyone in the whole universe; we were like, “Well, what would happen if we called Pete Thomas?” Then he said yes, then Tony Levin from Peter Gabriel’s band said yes, and then Gerry Leonard from David Bowie’s band said yes, and it kept going from there. The band sounds amazing. There’s a richer texture to this record because of the generosity of really great players.
Is there one moment from recording that stands out to you?
ST: The take that we got for “Sirens” was on a day where Deb had just gotten out of chemo treatment and was feeling terrible but really wanted to play. She had one take in her, and she did it, and then she went back to bed. We have a sort of fertility and fierceness in that take. I am still moved by it.
Was “Sirens” created because of, or in spite of, Deb’s illness?
ST: I think each. We’re sort of OCD workers—we keep working no matter what’s happening. Every single time we’ve made a song or a record, it’s in some ways made out of the fabric of whatever’s going on. So if Deb had not been ill, and we had not just had a baby and we had not been isolated, it’d be a totally different record. But we still just tried to write the way that we do, from a blank sheet of paper of what’s going on. Not, “Oh, I would like to write about the fact that our heater isn’t working—oh, and chemo.” I just can’t imagine listening to a record like that. We continue to try to write Twinkle Twinkle Little Star and see how we do.
Do you have a favorite song to perform?
ST: Right now I do. “Fancy Things” is feeling so fun that I kind of want to play it at the beginning of the set and the end of the set. It’s just really enjoyable.
DT: It changes, but I’ve been loving two songs: “Be My Thrill” and “Ever Said Goodbye.” They’re kind of neck and neck. There’s a beautiful atmosphere on “Ever Said Goodbye,” and “Be My Thrill” feels like, “Oh my God, we’re playing rock and roll ‘cause we have Pete Thomas on the track!”
How would you describe a typical Weepies show?
DT: A typical Weepies show is sort of a journey led by the songs, with little anecdotes and chatting.
ST: Standing up, sitting down, standing up …
DT: Oh, no!
Do you have any surprises for The State Theatre show?
ST: Yes, The State Theatre is going to have huge surprises.
DT: There will definitely be surprises.
Is there anything else we should know about the tour?
ST: This is the best band we’ve ever toured with.
The Weepies
With Greg Tannen
The State Theatre
June 21: Doors 6 p.m., Showtime 8 p.m.
220 N. Washington St., Falls Church, 22046
Tickets $32
