When was the last time you saw some crazy-detailed stop motion animation and a live band?  Not recently enough, I can guarantee.  Now you can curb that craving with the audio and visual stylings of Billygoat.

Billygoat is David Klein and Nick Woolley.  Together, the duo make stop motion animated art films, and score them with a DIY homemade blend of harp, keyboards, accordion, glockenspiel and electric guitar. We’ve got their album in our hot little hands and we can’t wait to tell you all about it.  Look for the review in the coming weeks.  In the meantime, we got a chance to chat with them about their work, their upcoming tour, and how they want everyone to feel happy.

Check out a sample of their work below, and then read on to learn all about it.

Dioscuri Part II from Billygoat on Vimeo.

How did you guys meet? What inspired you to work together?

We (David and Nick) met at the Echo nightclub in Los Angeles. We started recording lo-fi 4-track experiments in David’s living room. Putting paper and foil in the upright piano, painting our faces, hitting out of tune guitars, (really coming up with some bizzarre sounds). Now almost five years later, we really have a more structured formula. I think what inspired us (David and Nick) to work together was that our approach and interest in music is very opposite which results in a broader sound. (Think Courtney Love and Kate Bush in a celebrity death-match). Corey, our drummer, is great to work with not only because of his musical abilities but also the fact that he’s a solid and humble guy in general.

Your films are incredible detailed. How long does it take to make one?

Only 1-2 minutes of footage is created each month because stop-motion photography is so extremely tedious. It’s the prepping that really takes quite a bit of time and what we are doing behind the scenes that consumes equal if not more time than actually shooting photos. If you’re hasty with this process the results can weaken. It does take about 12-16 months to complete an animation.

Can you describe the process you go through to make each film?

Our process involves shooting in a room and recording images that inspire us. The set dictates where subjects are going to be placed as it morphs over time. It’s a lot like the game MouseTrap, in that everything is cause and effect. We rarely script and our ideas can completely change overnight sending the animation down a completely unpredictable avenue.

What all materials do you work in?

Wood, paint, light, paper, fabric, and projected images.

Does each piece inspire the music that goes along with it?

Yes, definitely. Occasionally the music and animations take turns talking though.

Do you guys have an artist statement? Is there any particular theme or message you’re working to express?

Not necessarily. Our work is meant to be entertaining and evoke happiness in the viewer. It definitely has a very DIY approach and our audiences pick up on that. We’d like to think that you don’t have to possess top of the line production gear to be satisfied with your end product.

Are you looking forward to the tour? How have your live shows been so far?

It’s been absolutely refreshing and we are looking forward to traveling with Little Dragon. We did play a show last night and I think as a band we are having fun with the material. It seeming less stressful now that we have live drums and not samples.

What has been the highlight of your time as Billygoat thus far?

When we first moved to Portland we played with Musee Mecanique at The Woods. It was well received and we ended up meeting some cool people that night. We (David and Nick) both work at that venue now and it’s our family.

What other projects do you guys work on, either together or separately?

All three of us work together now carving wooden paintings that contain light fixtures (kleinandwoolley.com). We currently have a show up that’s doing well and is helping us to prepare for the tour.

And finally, is there anything else you’d like to say about the films, the music, or anything else?

We will be releasing a limited edition EP while touring. We finished recording on Monday and will release Dioscuri as an enchanced Audio CD (with a quicktime file of the animation).  We are also touring with the latest animation, ‘Sophia.’ Expect dual recorders, groovy jams, and a mini Asian-influenced wind-up toy marching band.

Many thanks to Billygoat for talking with us!

Be sure to check these guys out when they tour — dates are posted here.  For those of you reading along with us in Philadelphia, they’ll be at Johnny Brenda’s on January 23, 2010.