By Matt Mueller Culture Editor Published Jul 01, 2016 at 7:56 PM

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When I last chatted with Cream City rockers The Living Statues back in 2014, I noted in the interview’s opening that "the locally based three-man rock 'n' roll outfit has done a very poor job of keeping still."

Two years later, it's still a band on the constant move, much more living than statue in the Milwaukee music scene. Shortly after that 2014 interview, the trio became a quartet with the addition of Zack Rickun on guitar. In between gathering plentiful gigs – including an opening set before OK Go at last year’s Summerfest – and fans throughout the city and region, The Living Statues have recorded some more singles, including the most recent release, "I Never Asked."

I, on the other hand, did ask – about the new tune and its new sound, about future records in the works and about any special Big Gig memories – in a recent conversation previewing the band's upcoming set Saturday night at 8 p.m. at the Uline Warehouse.

OnMilwaukee: You guys recently released a new single, "I Never Asked." What was kind of going through your heads putting that new song together?

Tommy Shears: Yeah, that song was kind of the spark of a new direction – not necessarily for the band, but we wanted to try out some different sounds. People who are familiar with our "Knockin’" EP or the few singles we’ve put out over the past two years will kind of hear that. It sounds different; it sounds fuller.

We worked with a different producer, and we consciously wanted to go for a sound that was a little less garage rock and a little darker. The example that we give is "AM"-era Arctic Monkeys; we really love that classic cool grooving vibe. I don’t know if we had that necessarily in mind when we wrote it, but just getting out and playing it and hearing that bass line, it was like, "You know, this song could work really well as a jam like that."

Were you nervous to toy with your sound a bit?

Tommy: I can speak for myself, but I think it has the heart of the band. It still has that attitude that we’re kind of known for. And it’s still us. You can listen to it, and I’d like to think that you can tell it’s a Living Statues song. But I’m never too afraid to kind of go a little out of the box. I feel like we’re doing the music for us, not necessarily trying to crank out the same song 25 times so the fans aren’t too surprised. I think this was a pleasant surprise for them.

Chris Morales: Yeah, I would agree. There’s always kind of a push and pull in the studio; it happens with any producer regardless. I think overall, though, it was the right direction. Heading into summer, we hadn’t released a song in a while, so we just wanted to put something new, fresh, modern out there for the fans – and obviously garner new attention and new fans. I think it was the right move for us.

Will you be performing some other new songs at your Summerfest set this weekend?

Tommy: Yeah, I think there will be one or two that people haven’t heard before.

Does this mean there’s a new EP or LP coming up soon?

Tommy: Well, Matt, we’ve got the songs. We’ve been writing a lot lately. Just over the last year, we’ve got so many songs. We’re kind of in the process now of really paring them down, polishing them up and hopefully taking them to a producer who’s going to get it right away and just take it from there. The songs are there, and when the time is right, everybody will hear them.

This is obviously not your first rodeo at Summerfest. Do you have any fond memories of the Big Gig, as either a performer or a spectator, that stick out?

Tommy: Oh man, there’s so many. I mean, both of us grew up in Milwaukee, so even before we were in this band, we’d go to Summerfest together. I would say, if I have to pick a few key nights, I think Chris and I and Alex (Thornburg) all saw The Hives a couple years ago, and I thought that was incredible.

Chris: Yeah, that was amazing.

Tommy: I’m a Hives fan; I wouldn’t put them in my top 10 or top 20, but seeing how those guys worked the stage was a huge inspiration – and then to play that stage, that exact stage, one year later was pretty special.

Chris: We’ve been playing Summerfest consecutively the last three years, and it’s better slots every time, bigger fan base every time. It’s been great. It’s a great platform to reach your fans. You can’t ask for much more than Summerfest when you’re in Milwaukee.

Tommy: And that’s why this year I feel like is an even bigger honor for us, because when we’re playing it last year, getting an 8 o’clock slot on a main stage is the best you can ask for. And to get it two years in a row is such a huge honor. It would’ve been disappointing, but we wouldn’t have been hurt if they ushered somebody else and put us on the bench for a year. We would’ve understood. But we’re back and better than ever.

Chris, was the Hives memory your top Big Gig memory too?

Chris: That was definitely one that came to mind as a shared band memory, a showcase that we saw where it really kind of changed the direction of the band. Like, we want to look, sound, feel like this energy we’re feeling on stage right now. It was just a great show, and we plan on doing that this year, bringing that fire to the stage.

Is there anyone you’re planning to see this year yourselves?

Chris: We are interesting in seeing a few different shows this year. Thursday, there’s this chick named Zella Day who would be cool to catch. I know Tommy’s seeing … who are you seeing Friday, Tom?

Tommy: My favorite songwriter, Brian Fallon – he’s from the Gaslight Anthem – is playing on Friday. I will be front and center for that one.

You going to be there at noon with a blanket to hold your spot, shooing away other people?

Tommy: No, but I’ll tell you I did do that once. I was with my mother, and we saw Meatloaf. Quite unironically, I’m a huge Meatloaf fan; I love that whole operatic genre that he just nails. But there’s a lot of great stuff this year. The Decemberists. And The Violent Femmes, of course. 

For millennial-aged people – myself included – it’s so easy to complain about Summerfest because it doesn’t have the youth-centric lineup that a Lolla has or other festivals. But for the variety of audiences and acts they’re trying to bring in, it’s impressive how there’s almost always something to see.

Tommy: Yeah, and honestly, we’ve got 11 straight days of music for 12 hours each. If you can’t find something in that, the problem’s not Summerfest. The problem’s you. (laughs) You have to try if you don’t want to have fun at all in Milwaukee during Summerfest.

Matt Mueller Culture Editor

As much as it is a gigantic cliché to say that one has always had a passion for film, Matt Mueller has always had a passion for film. Whether it was bringing in the latest movie reviews for his first grade show-and-tell or writing film reviews for the St. Norbert College Times as a high school student, Matt is way too obsessed with movies for his own good.

When he's not writing about the latest blockbuster or talking much too glowingly about "Piranha 3D," Matt can probably be found watching literally any sport (minus cricket) or working at - get this - a local movie theater. Or watching a movie. Yeah, he's probably watching a movie.