The Splints are
Lynn Dials - guitar/vocals
Robert Cooper - drums
Nikki Cave - bass/vocals

Check out this highly addicting group.
Coming to you out of Washington, DC
The more you listen to their music, the more you want.
Don't say I didn't warn you...

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Punk Globe: How did the band form?

Lynn Dials: A few years back I was just sort of writing songs and recording them and basically realized that this is what I wanna do,this is what the band can be. And then Nikki Cave came into the fold and a few drummers later we have Robert. That's the story in a nutshell.

Nikki Cave: Yeah that was so long ago. I think at that point all I knew how to play was a few Weezer and Pixies songs.

Punk Globe: "Love Letters and Broken Bones" was recorded by engineer Steve Albini (Pixies, PJ Harvey, Stooges, Nirvana fame). How did that come about?

N.C: It was so unplanned, we were working on new songs and our label contacted us and asked if we wanted to go record with Steve Albini and we were like, are you serious? How could anyone turn that down.

L.D: Clint Covey, the owner of our label Lightning Rock Records set it up. So, we headed up to Chicago to Steve's studio Electrical Audio, which is also where he lives so that was interesting.

Robert Cooper: Yeah, it was awesome! I got to sleep in the main control room. It was like I was in some weird time machine. Dead silent with a million lights. Oh yeah, and used his shower and toilet!

Punk Globe: Tell us about shooting your video with Memphis filmmaker John Pickle -- and where did you shoot it at?

N.C: It was so much fun, there were severed heads hanging from the ceiling and a gutted pig. I remember Pickle called me after we shot and said, "Shit Nikki I just spilled an entire can of Coke on all the footage were gonna have to reshoot." and I was so OK with that because it was so much fun. When I found out he was joking I was slightly disappointed because I wanted to see Justin light his drums on fire again.

L.D: Yeah, it was a lot of fun. We shot it at an actual haunted house. This guy who was involved in horror movies out in LA brought all his props and gear and stuff out to Memphis and set up shop. It's a really kick-ass haunted house, too. It's called Nightshade Manor.

Punk Globe: Recording session at Sun Studios in Memphis, Tennessee. What was it like to work in such a famous studio?
(Did you see Elvis?)

N.C: It was such an amazing experience. It still has the original flooring and ceiling tiles. We were so used to being there already, we had friends who worked there. And funny enough they were my clients when I sold AFLAC.

L.D: Yeah, we recorded our first EP there. I'll never forget it. To stand and record vocals in the exact same spot Elvis Presley did was pretty damn cool. They still have all the vintage gear in there too.

Punk Globe: You recorded "Love Letters and Broken Bones" in about 6 hours. That's pretty impressive for modern day recording. When it's typical to sometimes take a month, at least -- and some take 15 years and 13 million dollars. How did you lay down the tracks so fast?

R.C: Well, we started writing most of the songs about a month or so prior to recording. So, we were pretty well rehearsed going into it. And, Steve IS a magician.

N.C: We are such firm believers that an album should sound as close to a live performance as possible. We all have such great chemistry together that it just totally flows. We did almost everything in two takes. Plus, Steve is so awesome we didn't want to suck in front of him.

L.D.: Yeah, we just recorded everything live, overdubbed the vocals and then mixed and called it a day.

Punk Globe: What's coming up for the SPLINTS this coming year?

R.C: We plan on writing new material. And possibly releasing a full length.

L.D: Yeah, and just playing as many shows as we can. Including road shows. In fact, we have a good chunk of road shows on our schedule now so people should definitely check it out and see if and when we might be coming to their area.

Punk Globe: If you could work with anyone in music history, who would it be and why?

L.D: Wow, that's a good question..and a tough one. I'd have to say Elvis, Pixies, Mike Patton, it would be fun to create something with that guy, he's a musical nutcase...and PJ Harvey because she's raw and just writes really damn good songs.

R.C: Zeppelin, Sonic Youth, Pixies..all very creative musicians.

N.C: Hands down - Elvis. Nick Cave is a damn close second.

Punk Globe: Why the move back to Washington?

D.C: And how were you received when you came back?

L.D: Well, actually the germ of the band started out here, like writing songs, recording and a few attempts at forming a full band,which for whatever reasons just didn't pan out. But the band got its live debut and first following out in Memphis. So, when we came back to DC we sort of had to start over. But our first show in the DC area went very well and we've just been going ever since.

Punk Globe: The logo design contest is it over, and was it successful?

L.D: That was pretty funny. As far as people actually sending in designs yeah I guess it was a success.But we never really found anything that we were looking for. So, I suppose it's not over..if anyone wants to send in a design, feel free.

N.C: My favorite was the stick people getting eaten by sharks and they had little thought bubbles that said "the Splints Rock" or something like that.

Punk Globe: Where can people find out more about THE SPLINTS?

LD. There's our website, www.thesplints.net where you can find tour dates, lyrics, etc. Our myspace page @ www.myspace.com/thesplints.
Also check out www.lightningrockrecords.com.
And thanks! See ya at the next show.

(pictures are by Eric Clawson)