The Webb Brothers - Justin Webb, Christiaan Webb - Brief Article - Interview

Interview, June, 2001 by Jon Moskowitz

THEIR DAD WROTE BIG HITS. COULD THEIR SOUND BE EVEN BIGGER?

As siblings-who-sing-together and as he children of a celebrated songwriting parent (Jimmy Webb of Wichita Lineman" fame), the Webb Brothers share a dubious corner of the pop trivia universe with past acts like Nelson and Wilson Phillips. Fortunately, guitarist Justin and keyboardist Christiaan are accomplished songwriters, and their major-label debut Maroon (Atlantic) is an assured work of cinematic retro pop. "People used to make these epic rock records where songs went on for 12 minutes," Christiaan says. "We wanted to capture some of that vibe in a three-minute song."

The Webb Brothers are masters of the classic rock bait and switch. For all the Beatlesesque melodies and shimmering guitar lines on Maroon the lyrics are brutally downbeat, bleak portraits of the nightcrawlers the brothers encountered during their years as bartenders in Chicago. "The album is the general story of a down-and-out guy who is alone, marooned," says Justin. "Maroon is also about being an idiot, a buffoon, which you tend to feel like after too many years of living that way."

"The funny thing is, I don't even think this record will have a parental advisory sticker on it," adds Christiaan. "People get upset about Eminem, but to me, our record is even more shocking."

Jon Moskowitz is a writer living in New York.