James Elkington of The Zincs
SFist loves High Fidelity. There’s something about music geeks and a sense that the spirit of a town can be captured by its music scene that appeals to us. And apparently to people who actually make music as well. James Elkington is a transplant to Chicago (setting of HF) from England. He went there to make music, and by all accounts is doing fabulously well at winning over the locals. Elkington’s band, The Zincs, are currently opening for the Sea and Cake. In advance of their show tonight at Bimbo’s Elkington made time at an internet café in Portland to answer our questions about his adopted home.
Best show you've played and what made it great?
Vienna in Austria - I broke the PA with my classical guitar.
The best fans are:
Zincs fans.
Favorite Venue?
The Doug Fir Lounge in Portland - its like playing in the Black Lodge from Twin Peaks.
Lamest crowd request?
Our audience asks nothing of us...as far as I can tell.
Fri. May 18 The Sea and Cake & The Zincs @ Bimbo's
Name
James Elkington
Introduce yourself in one sentence
I'm a singer in a Chicago band called The Zincs
Age and Occupation
I'm 35 and not happy about it. I'm mostly a musician.
Home Town
I'm from a small town near London in England, but I've called Chicago home for several years.
How long have you lived in the Chicago and why?
I have lived in Lincoln Square for a couple of years - an abundance of record stores (2) and a cinema (1, so far unvisited).
Favorite place to spend time online
All Music Guide trying to figure out what other Amon Duul albums I should get.
Favorite local business
The Cheese Stands Alone, Lincoln Square's only dedicated cheese shop.
'
What I'm currently Reading
1812 Janine by Alasdair Gray
Best Deal in Chicago
Chicken burrito at Los Nopales - no stomach cramps!
Favorite mode of transportation
Bicycle. Or Bi-plane.
Best Band or Musician to come out of the Chicago
Sun Ra, except that he's actually from Saturn.
Favorite Chicago Stereotype, and whether or not you buy into it
That south-siders call each other 'jag-offs'. Its totally true.
Favorite local hangout
Hungry Brain
Chicago has the BEST
Car vandals
You've never lived in Chicago until
You've had your muffler stolen
Chicago would be soooo much better if only
We could have a spring and an autumn as well as a winter and summer.
Best Restaurant
Le Bouchon
Best movie scene filmed in or about Chicago
Al Johnson from US Maple in High Fidelity
Favorite artist to come out of Chicago
Jesus Lizard
Place you always tell visitors to check out
Specimen Products guitar shop.
You have two hours and $15 bucks to kill in Chicago, what are you going to do?
Order half a Chicago pizza and wait in line for it.
I have found/sold/bought the following on craigslist
My amp - a Fender Super Reverb.
I want all the Chicagoists out there to know
That its not much better anywhere else in the country