Chris Wollard (Ship Thieves): Our band was named after a true struggle for freedom

Florida´s own Ship Thieves, led by the famous Chris Wollard, released an excellent album called „Irruption“ in March this year. The band is made by members of the bands Quit, Samiam and The Enablers, and Chris’s emotional and thoughtful approach can be felt not only through his musical activity, but also in his civilian expression, which I was able to experience thanks to the conversation we had together.

It doesn’t really matter where this talented guy appears in an iconically cumbersome and beautifully shaggy voice. Whether it’s his home Hot Water Music, The Draft or Ship Thieves, his excellent and instantly recognizable handwriting will leave it´s mark in the head and heart of every lover of urgent punk rock work.

The author of the design on the cover of your new record is the popular Florida-based punk rock graphic artist Richard „Horsebites“ Minino. What is the cooperation with him like? The central motif of the blindfolded bird is also displayed on your previous record, what was the point for the emergence of this theme?

Yes! Richard is great! I was lucky enough to get to know him through us playing in local Florida punk bands, and later learned of his amazing talent. He is such a talented artist, and I love working with him. We have spent a lot of time talking about the themes and ideas in our albums. I give him the lyrics I have, and any recording we have. I think it’s very important to have this connection, and Richard is just fantastic to work with. It’s a very special thing.

As far as the Bird… I guess, historically I’ve done a LOT of albums with black birds on the cover and I’m not sure if this was done on purpose, I think it just kind of happened. Where I live, we have birds everywhere.

I’ve always tried to keep close to the original idea I had when the band started, and when Ship Thieves started working with Richard it just kinda clicked. We had some great communication. He really understood where I was coming from.

The band was named after a true struggle for freedom.

When I see the Bird I see the struggle for freedom against the hands of Fate.

I don’t think anyone else could have done what Richard did for us. It was not random in anyway. He put his guts into it and I love that dude.

For the average listener, your new record may not be very different from the production of Hot Water Music; however, on careful listening, a kind of greater musical freshness is clearly present. In one of your last interviews, you said that you never really had big plans with Ship Thieves, but is it possible that for you, this band is a certain kind of creative channel, thanks to which you can implement ideas that you didn’t in HWM, for example?

Well, I’m very lucky to live about 10 minutes from Black Bear Studio, and one of my favorite people on the planet, Ryan Williams, is the owner and Engineer/Producer.

I’ve been around the world with him (he has also been the FOH soundman for HWM, Ship Thieves, The Draft), and in all those years we have just figured out a great chemistry. He’s become a member of both band in my opinion, because he really understands what we are doing and is a major contributor to the process. No doubt about it.

But as to your question… I do think you are correct… but really both bands that I am in are like that. I love the family that I have in both bands, and we explore things differently. Each band explores in our own way, and that is not exclusive to the 2 bands that I am in right now… everyone in BOTH bands has been in OTHER bands for years and years.

I don’t expect that to change much in the future. Music is a very wonderful thing.

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Florida is the epicenter of really good music. From jazz and country through a strong punk scene to world-famous and acclaimed death metal. How do you view the development of the local music and club scene over time, and what do you think the future awaits it? Could you personally recommend some young bands that are now active on the Florida scene and that you think are worth noting?

Yes! You are correct! But I think you should also include Blues and Rock and Roll here.

Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers are from Gainesville.
Steven Stills lived in Gainesville and went to the University here.
Bo Diddley lived just outside of Gainesville and is buried nearby.
Lynyrd Skynyrd is from Jax which is an hour and a half away.

This has always been a great area for musicians. I’m not sure why, but it’s very true, and for every band that you’ve heard about from around here… there are 10 others you’ve never heard about.

One of my favorite records in the last couple years is from a band I’ve been lucky enough to know since we were all teenagers in High School… Have Gun, Will Travel. I love those guys. I think their album „Strange Chemisty“ is fantastic.

I also think that people should check out the work of our close friend and collaborator Ben Lovett. He does a lot of film scores, but he also done 2 really great records. „Lovett“ is the first one. „Friends and Lovers“ is the second one. He is a true brother and a great musician.

You were lucky enough to see a lot of places in the world thanks to playing in a band. Is there one place where you like to perform the most?

Yes, I have been very lucky to be able to travel and play music. I’m not really playing live music anymore… but i’ll say this…

Some of my favorite places I’ve had a chance to play (in random order):
Melbourne
Hobart
Auckland
Prague
Paris
Slovenia

Some of my favorite places I’ve been (in random order):
Numerous restaurants in Italy. Wow.
Driving through Wyoming.
Driving through the Outback.
Tokyo record stores.
Negril.

Some places I’d like to go (in random order)
Alaska
Hawai’i
Samoa
Hiking in the Alps
Trinidad and Tobago
Back to New Zealand
Back to Australia
All the National Parks I haven’t seen
More Italian restaurants (in Italy)
More Jamaican restaurants (in Jamaica)

Is there a real possibility that we will be able to experience Ship Thieves live sometime in the future in Europe?

We came over a couple times and we really had a blast. It’s an honor to be able to do things like that.
That said, I’m very happy right now. I’m not planning on tours, I’m just hoping to make more records.

What would you do in your life if you didn’t play in bands?

I paint houses. It suits me pretty well.