Their name uses the British spelling, but they’re from the West Coast. They made their first national, live television appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live,” but they did so in black and white. They first appeared on the Internet in early 2012, but no one seems to know much about their backstory. They call themselves The Neighbourhood, and Saturday, MU will see the five-piece band in action — for free.
In anticipation of the Fall Welcome Concert, MOVE chatted with drummer Bryan Sammis about touring, keeping things colorless (colourless?) and being the band behind that catchy little tune called “Sweater Weather.”
**[MOVE]:** You’re from California, right? Why “Neighbourhood” with a U?
**[Bryan Sammis]:** The other way was taken. That’s the uninteresting truth behind it.
**[M]:** It seems like just yesterday you were that “secret” band I stumbled across while on Tumblr. How does it feel to have rocketed to the top of the radio waves with “Sweater Weather”?
**[BS]:** It feels amazing. We want to share our music with the entire world, and radio is a way to make that possible.
**[M]:** You’ve been on the road for a while now, and have even more tour plans in the near future. How’s life on the road?
**[BS]:** It’s everything you’d expect — the pros and the cons. It is what I’ve grown accustomed to. I want it. I need it.
**[M]:** Any fun tour memories?
**[BS]:** Tons. Specifically, our last headlining tour was filled with hangs, as the bands we toured with were all great people and friends of ours. Typical shenanigans were had.
**[M]:** You’ve played festivals like Coachella and Lollapalooza… and now you’re playing the University of Missouri’s Fall Welcome Concert. Thoughts on playing a free show at a state university?
**[BS]:** We tend to treat all shows with the same level of importance. We want to leave an impression on whoever we play for. However, Coachella was something we grew up going to and romanticizing, so there was definitely a hint more pressure and anxiety five minutes before we hit the stage.
**[M]:** What’s your favorite song to play live?
**[BS]:** “W.D.Y.W.F.M.?”
**[M]:** Tell me a little bit about “The Love Collection,” those three songs you released after your full-length album, “I Love You.”
**[BS]:** We released three songs throughout our tour on a split 7″ with the respective opener for each leg of the tour (Lovelife, 1975 and JMSN). It was a fun way to release some new songs, and some songs that didn’t make the album.
**[M]:** Your music has been described as “moody.” What would you call your sound?
**[BS]:** Moody works. Dark pop. Black and white.
**[M]:** What can we expect for the future of The Neighbourhood?
**[BS]:** More new music relatively soon, and tons more touring.
**[M]:** One final question: why the black and white?
**[BS]:** It is our theme. It is our vision. It is just as much a part of who we are as our music is.