The Shilohs are bringing their penchant for love-struck jangle pop on the road to the Eastern U.S. in support of their recent Light Organ Records debut, So Wild. In observance of the Vancouverite four-some’s inaugural journey through the U.S., the band is sharing a public stream of So Wild (available now on Light Organ) via SoundCloud or get So Wild on iTunes and Spotify. The Shilohs also put out a 7″  “Private Lives” last year via Real Estate/Ducktails member Matt Mondanile’s New Images label, which you can listen to over at Pitchfork.
We wondered where the band’s love for pop originated and Ghettoblaster caught up with The Shiloh’s Johnny Payne to ask him about his favorite record.  This is what he said about The Beatles’ Please Please Me.
What is your favorite album?
The Beatles’ Please Please Me.
Do you remember when you received or purchased the album?
Taped it off of an LP when I was 12. Revolver on side B.
What is your favorite song on the album?  
“Ask Me Why.”
What is it about the song that resonates with you?
It’s a perfect pop song. Sung and played live during a four-hour Abbey Road session. A testament to how good a live band the Beatles were. The lyric has this theme of heartbreaking happiness that is one of my favorites in pop music too (see “then he kissed me” “baby I love you” etc…). John sounds so tender and fragile. 
Have you ever covered a song from the album?  
Sometimes at family Christmas parties we jam on “Boys”. My sister sings it and I do the “bop shoowop a bop bop shoowop”
What is it about the album that makes it stand out against the band’s other output?
Ahhh…I love discussing this. Well, it’s just so pure and live. Simple pop songs on the surface but brilliantly crafted and performed. They’re perfectly arranged for a four-piece band (aside from the occasional handclaps) and they knocked it out in two days! Singing and playing live. Listen to Paul’s bass line on “I saw her standing there”. He’s playing that while singing one of the most memorable vocals in rock and roll. No big thing…
Have you ever given a copy of this record to anyone?  What were the circumstances?
There’ve been songs on mix tapes for girls before but come on…everybody already has it right? I could have talked about “Nilsson sings Newman” or something a little more obscure that I love but I assume you wanted the truth…
Which of the records that you’ve performed on is your favorite?  
The only Shilohs album we’ve released: So Wild.
What is your favorite song on the album and why?  
I like “LA”. We pieced it together one thing at a time after Mike and I did a pass on acoustic guitars and vocals together in the room. We knew it would be a little sloppy without the click track so it could have gone either way in the end. But it turned out just how I wanted. Loose and ready. 
(Catch The Shilohs at one of these U.S. tour dates:
Aug 30 – Brooklyn, NY – Coco 66*
Aug 31 – New York, NY – Joe’s Pub
Sept 1 – Philadelphia, PA – Kung Fu Necktie*
Sept 3 – Washington, DC – Black Cat*
Sept 4 – Harrisonburg, VA – Blue Nile*
Sept 5 – Raleigh, NC – Hopscotch Festival*
Sept 6 – Charlotte, NC – Evening Muse
Sept 7 – Asheville, NC – Jack of the Wood*
Sept 8 – Atlanta, GA – Smith’s Olde Bar
Sept 10 – Knoxville, TN – Barley’s Taproom
Sep 11 – Chattanooga, TN – JJ’s
Sept 12 – Lexington, KY – Willie’s
Sept 13 – St. Louis, MO – Plush
Sept 14 – Kansas City, MO – Davey’s Uptown Ramblers Club
Sept 15 – Manhattan, KS – Auntie Mae’s Parlor
Sept 18 – Columbia, MO – Roxy’s
Sept 19 – Louisville, KY – Rye
Sept 21 – Indianapolis, IN – Do317 Lounge (My Old Kentucky Blog Presents)
Sept 24 – Chicago, IL – Red Line Tap
Sept 25 – Columbus, OH – Natalie’s Wood Fired Pizza
Sept 26 – Cincinnati, OH – Midpoint Music Festival
Sept 27 – Canton, OH – The Auricle
Sept 28 – Toronto, ON – TBD
Sept 29 – Montreal, QC – TBD
*with Free Time)