“You want it louder?!” asks New York’s Marnie Stern, as the crowd requests a more cacophonous approach a couple of songs into the set promoting her eponymous third album. The crowd laps up all of the raucous, rough and tumble avant-garage rock she throws at them, finger-tapping her way through a set which, although arresting at first, eventually becomes restricted by the basic set up of her band. Good, grimy fun though.

Have you been to Brighton before?
Oh, yeah, many times. I love Brighton.

Do you ever get annoyed that you can’t stay and see a city you’re playing when you’re touring?
Yeah, but I got used to that a long time ago. I don’t recognise that anymore.

There seems to be a grander sweep to the new album. Is there any reason for that?
Reverb helped! No, its just my mood, kinda how I was feeling at the time.

Do you get annoyed when people describe your guitar technique as ‘shredding’?
No, I don’t mind shredding but I do mind when people point out I’m a female guitar player.

What are you listening to while you’re out touring?
Nothing really; I really don’t listen to much music at all.

What is a typical day for you on tour?
Well, after playing tonight I’ll probably go back to the hotel, do a crossword, read a book, and then we’ll probably wake up pretty early tomorrow and just drive. I don’t do the driving though!

Do you ever get homesick on tour?
I usually bring my puppy but she didn’t come with us this time. We were gonna bring her but at the last moment we couldn’t. She keeps me company.

Marnie Stern, Audio, Friday 19th November 2010
Words by Jack Prescott