Titans of Filth

originally published November 29, 2006

Courtnie Wolfgang

Titans of Filth - (L to R) Nate Mitchell, Sam Grindstaff, Ian Mittler, Ann Rogers and Emily Armond - are playing at the 40 Watt Club on Thursday, Nov. 30.

We're talking drugs, sex and religion - indeed, the Titans of Filth are about as badass as a band sans distortion pedals and Marshall stacks get these days. On their Jason NeSmith-produced debut EP Best Behavior, the relatively new group combines hushed, Modern Lovers-style pop songs with sly satire that takes on the hypocrisies of organized religion as well as the questionable concept of abstinence-only sex ed.

The Titans' characters spend a lot of time sleeping around and making out in church, but their hearts are as clearly active as their loins, and before you know it, the tune's done - most of 'em run less than two minutes. Flagpole recently sent lead singer-songwriter Sam Grindstaff a few questions and got a whole lot in response, so we'll opt to allow him to explain his way out of certain damnation himself.

Flagpole

How did the Titans of Filth end up being the name of a band as non-metal as yourselves?

Sam Grindstaff

I think we represent "filth" in the same sense that John Waters does, as defined by a socially conservative segment of our culture. I should say we're nowhere near as daring as the aforementioned filmmaker, however. Our drummer Nate's band Cars Can Be Blue is more in that line. Unfortunately, I think we're probably more like that movie Footloose.

Flagpole

Could you put your lyrics under a general umbrella as far as subject matter goes?

Sam Grindstaff

I want to make inspirational hymns that tell stories in which teenagers read books, quit going to church (or at least stop taking what is handed out so unquestioningly), have sex and take drugs and are smart about it: they use condoms and birth control pills; they don't get pregnant, and they don't get STDs. They experiment with drugs, but read up on them first so they know what to expect; they don't overdose; they don't get addictions; they don't fall in with a dangerous or violent crowd; they don't steal to buy more drugs; they don't get arrested. They are able to escape the fear, shame and guilt that their authority figures would pass to them.

Flagpole

How does being Southerners play a role in the Titans of Filth's music?

Sam Grindstaff

In the not-too-recent past, I would have told you that the fundamentalist Christianity looming over many of the songs I've written was a result of me growing up in a small Appalachian "Bible Belt" town, where, for example, many people have copies of the Ten Commandments prominently displayed in their front lawns, where legally-required public school abstinence programs and a high teenage pregnancy rate coexist (not coincidentally, many have argued).

Flagpole

What bands in Athens would qualify as peers of yours?

Sam Grindstaff

Some locals that I like are Mandy Jane & the Jaws of Life, the Ginger Envelope, Phosphorescent and Venice Is Sinking, along with, of course, the bands of the Elephant 6 group who I was introduced to while I was away at college five or six years ago.

Flagpole

Name some unlikely sources of inspiration.

Sam Grindstaff

Even if I can't get behind the values or ideology of a song like "Be True To Your School" by the Beach Boys, I can still admire it for being so perfectly constructed. This also goes for the possible nihilism in the songs of the Ramones and the fundamentalist Christianity of Daniel Johnston.

Spotlight is a biweekly feature looking at newer or emerging local acts. Next up: Caroline Monroe.

Is there a band you'd like to see covered? Email music editor Chris Hassiotis at music@flagpole.com.