Aside from the BRMC show, I also had a nice time hanging out with friends and family and learning to use oil pastels. On Saturday, my friend Joyce showed me how to use oil pastels. It was interesting layering and mixing colors. My drawing didn't come out to great (Annie, the Norwegian pop princess, from URB magazine), but it turned out better than it started out. On Sunday, I practiced driving on freeways with my mom. I still want to stick to local roads while I have the time and leisure to do so, but I'm sure I'll get back to freeway driving soon enough. We also had lunch with my grandma for her birthday at a Chinese restaurant in Irvine. I wasn't too hungry, so I didn't eat much then.
I met up with Suzanne and Jodi at my house at around 3:30 PM, they had been shopping in the area. We left for the Wiltern soon after changing for the show (we all went casual). When we got to the Wiltern, there was already a line which made Jodi sad. We still managed to get our usual front row spots. We also were highly amused by Robert's Hispanic doppelganger (who claimed to dress that way because of the Jesus and Mary Chain). Jodi and Suzanne were standing next to him for most of the show, and he was apparently also amusing to Robert and Peter. The bands were all really good, I liked the first band Lower Heaven mostly for the autoharp played by the lead singer. Their music was pretty cool too.
The Black Angels were actually really good too, not that it's a surprise. I liked their new songs as well as the old ones. It's not a huge departure from the last album, but it's very listenable. They occasionally switched off on instruments and the bassist would play a stand up drum while one of the guitarists would switch to the bass. They made pretty seamless transitions to their different spots on stage. I can see why BRMC likes the band so much, they make some very good music. BRMC came on not too long after, with their old banner and lots of extra amps piled up in front of the drum kit. Later, we would find out that the extra amps were for the Black Angels to jam with BRMC for a good 10+ minutes.
BRMC played an amazingly good setlist, which included everything from "The Likes of You," "20 Hours," and "Vision" to "Steal A Ride," "Killing the Light," and "Cold Wind." Lots of great less played songs, plus they played the new song "River Styx," which was starts out a lot like Depeche Mode's "Personal Jesus," but it goes into a more swampy bluegrass kind of sound. I will go into more detail about the show later, but during "Whatever Happened To My Rock 'n Roll?" Peter was taking people's cameras and grabbed at mine twice! It was actually more funny then mean, he was having a good time taking them and giving them back right after. After the show, he said he knew he wouldn't get my camera because I had it wrapped around my wrist.
Anyways, I got a lot of photos and videos from the show, still working on uploading a lot of video. Here are my photos from the show:
BRMC: http://www.flickr.com/photos/porcupiny/sets/72157604327086184/
The Black Angels: http://www.flickr.com/photos/porcupiny/sets/72157604325430568/
Lower Heaven: http://www.flickr.com/photos/porcupiny/sets/72157604325364688/
Here's a video of part of the jam with the Black Angels:
and the end of Heart + Soul as well as the first part of the jam:
Monday, March 31, 2008
Sunday, March 16, 2008
Supersmall: a fun event for all!
The benefit for Downs Syndrome known as Supersmall proved to be an entertaining and educational night. I enjoyed learning about the Nudibranchs a.k.a. Sea Slugs, who are both hermaphroditic and usually very poisonous and beautiful. It was amusing to see all the pictures of their group sex and the narration that went along with the photos. We also learned about the $300 million dollar rovers that the Jet Propulsion Laboratory are sending to Mars. It was pretty interesting to use the 3-D glasses they provided to see different pictures of the surface of Mars.
The comedy routines were pretty entertaining too, one had a couple guys running around on stage doing amusing mind tricks. There was a guy called Mr. Extraordinary in a funny diamond pattern suit, who gave out $10 to the first person who claimed it and then went on to explain what that person had that no one else in the audience had. He also had a small hole in his pants, but that was only slightly distracting because it looked like he had orange underwear underneath.
Even the musical acts were amusing. Carina Round is a female British singer who was wearing a polka dot dress and red high heels. She pointed out that she does funny things with her legs while she performs and her songs were pretty good too. Acoustic and folky, but also very distinctive and different. She ended her set with a song that used a pedal to record and loop her vocals, it sounded pretty cool.
The Lampshades were just hilarious from the moment they came on stage. The female singer looked a lot like Meredith from the Office in a red bellbottom jumpsuit and the guy looked like a sleazy lounge singer with a fake skinny mustache drawn over his upper lip. He was also sipping a drink and smoking a cigarette through the whole performance. They started off with their version of "The Facts of Life," then went on to play "Light My Fire" while the female singer continuously emphasized that they're not a couple. They did a bit on celebrity obituaries and in between one song, the male singer pretended to fall asleep then woke up. They ended the set with their version of "Mandy," during which the male singer wandered off stage to refill his drink.
Peter Hayes of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club played a short, but sweet set of 7 songs which included a couple covers (Cool Water and Long Black Veil) and a new song (which he later told us was called "A Fine Way to Lose"). He also played "Shuffle Your Feet," "Complicated Situation," "Fault Line," and closed with "Am I Only." I only took pictures during "Complicated Situation" and I was recording video of everything else. It was such a nice intimate acoustic set. The new song was kind of country sounding, and had some sad lyrics about losing someone.
You can see and hear 4 of the songs from the set on my YouTube account. Speaking of which, I was excited to learn that my cell phone can watch YouTube videos on it. If you have a Motorola RAZR V3m, you should see if you can watch YouTube videos on your phone! I have a job interview in Brea today, and I'm more nervous about driving there by myself than the interview itself. Wish me luck!
The comedy routines were pretty entertaining too, one had a couple guys running around on stage doing amusing mind tricks. There was a guy called Mr. Extraordinary in a funny diamond pattern suit, who gave out $10 to the first person who claimed it and then went on to explain what that person had that no one else in the audience had. He also had a small hole in his pants, but that was only slightly distracting because it looked like he had orange underwear underneath.
Even the musical acts were amusing. Carina Round is a female British singer who was wearing a polka dot dress and red high heels. She pointed out that she does funny things with her legs while she performs and her songs were pretty good too. Acoustic and folky, but also very distinctive and different. She ended her set with a song that used a pedal to record and loop her vocals, it sounded pretty cool.
The Lampshades were just hilarious from the moment they came on stage. The female singer looked a lot like Meredith from the Office in a red bellbottom jumpsuit and the guy looked like a sleazy lounge singer with a fake skinny mustache drawn over his upper lip. He was also sipping a drink and smoking a cigarette through the whole performance. They started off with their version of "The Facts of Life," then went on to play "Light My Fire" while the female singer continuously emphasized that they're not a couple. They did a bit on celebrity obituaries and in between one song, the male singer pretended to fall asleep then woke up. They ended the set with their version of "Mandy," during which the male singer wandered off stage to refill his drink.
Peter Hayes of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club played a short, but sweet set of 7 songs which included a couple covers (Cool Water and Long Black Veil) and a new song (which he later told us was called "A Fine Way to Lose"). He also played "Shuffle Your Feet," "Complicated Situation," "Fault Line," and closed with "Am I Only." I only took pictures during "Complicated Situation" and I was recording video of everything else. It was such a nice intimate acoustic set. The new song was kind of country sounding, and had some sad lyrics about losing someone.
You can see and hear 4 of the songs from the set on my YouTube account. Speaking of which, I was excited to learn that my cell phone can watch YouTube videos on it. If you have a Motorola RAZR V3m, you should see if you can watch YouTube videos on your phone! I have a job interview in Brea today, and I'm more nervous about driving there by myself than the interview itself. Wish me luck!
Wednesday, March 05, 2008
The Raveonettes, Be Your Own Pet @ Detroit Bar 3-2-08
The crowded Costa Mesa Detroit Bar was treated to the sweetly surf-guitar tinged sounds of The Raveonettes, one of Denmark's finest exports. Opening their set with the new song "Hallucinations," dual guitarist/vocalist Sune Rose Wagner and Sharin Foo harmonized perfectly on the sun-soaked ode to new romance. The duo was backed by a standing female drummer with only two drums and a drum machine, but the sounds they produced were impressively full and layered.
The next song they played was the current single "Dead Sound," which is a faster track that is equally bright and sunny. The Raveonettes played a set largely taken from the new LP "Lust Lust Lust," but also threw in some favorites from the previous albums "Chain Gang of Love" and "Pretty In Black." "That Great Love Sound" was an exciting addition to the set with its upbeat tempo and hummable lyrics. They slowed things down with the song "Here Comes Mary," which sounds faintly like the Everly Brothers.
Another "Pretty In Black" song "Red Tan" highlighted the set with its nice relaxed beat. They went even farther back to play a couple tracks from their debut EP "Whip It On." Hearing "Attack of the Ghost Riders" and "My Tornado" in all their B flat minor glory showed the darker side of the Raveonettes. The newer material stood out quite well among these older songs. "The Beat Dies" features Sharin Foo's dreamy vocals on this lushly beautiful song.
"Black Satin" is another one of those songs that makes you think the latest album was written on a sunny beach. The Raveonettes picked up the pace on "You Want the Candy," a fast fun song that you might not expect to be about drug use. Another live staple was the rockabilly twang of "Love In A Trashcan," always a fun addition to their set. A cover of Stereolab's "French Disko" was a very cool way to show off the band's wide range of influences.
The Raveonettes closed the set with the darkly toned "Aly, Walk With Me," a song which demonstrates their ability to produce feedback and noise using the palms of their hands over their guitar strings. Though they left us wanting more, there was no encore. Be Your Own Pet opened the show with their racous punk rock music. The young band from Tennessee managed to excite the crowd with their off-kilter vocals and punky guitar riffs. They provided a stark contrast from the more controlled and melodic sound of the Raveonettes, but it was an interesting choice for an opener.
The next song they played was the current single "Dead Sound," which is a faster track that is equally bright and sunny. The Raveonettes played a set largely taken from the new LP "Lust Lust Lust," but also threw in some favorites from the previous albums "Chain Gang of Love" and "Pretty In Black." "That Great Love Sound" was an exciting addition to the set with its upbeat tempo and hummable lyrics. They slowed things down with the song "Here Comes Mary," which sounds faintly like the Everly Brothers.
Another "Pretty In Black" song "Red Tan" highlighted the set with its nice relaxed beat. They went even farther back to play a couple tracks from their debut EP "Whip It On." Hearing "Attack of the Ghost Riders" and "My Tornado" in all their B flat minor glory showed the darker side of the Raveonettes. The newer material stood out quite well among these older songs. "The Beat Dies" features Sharin Foo's dreamy vocals on this lushly beautiful song.
"Black Satin" is another one of those songs that makes you think the latest album was written on a sunny beach. The Raveonettes picked up the pace on "You Want the Candy," a fast fun song that you might not expect to be about drug use. Another live staple was the rockabilly twang of "Love In A Trashcan," always a fun addition to their set. A cover of Stereolab's "French Disko" was a very cool way to show off the band's wide range of influences.
The Raveonettes closed the set with the darkly toned "Aly, Walk With Me," a song which demonstrates their ability to produce feedback and noise using the palms of their hands over their guitar strings. Though they left us wanting more, there was no encore. Be Your Own Pet opened the show with their racous punk rock music. The young band from Tennessee managed to excite the crowd with their off-kilter vocals and punky guitar riffs. They provided a stark contrast from the more controlled and melodic sound of the Raveonettes, but it was an interesting choice for an opener.
Saturday, February 09, 2008
At the Echo/Echoplex
This has been a great week of shows for me thanks to Dana, the Beggars Group/Matador Records street team, and some members of BRMC. This first show this week was Dead Meadow at the Echoplex with Midnight Movies and the Great Northwest opening. I've seen Midnight Movies a lot in the past year and mostly for free, so watching their set was nice and familiar. I recognize a lot of their songs and found most of them pretty good. The Great Northwest were also a pretty good band, I would like to hear more from them. I am honestly a little bored by Dead Meadow, so I was happy to sit during their set after standing for the first two bands. It was nice sitting also because we saw Spike and Dana and him get along like old friends. Not surprising since they're both so talkative and friendly. After the show, we handed out Dead Meadow stickers and flyers with another street team member named William, who was from Denver.
The next show was The Lilys at the Echo with Magic Mirror and Richard Ross opening. Richard Ross was, I think, this tall guy in weird red genie pants who kept playing different saxophones. At first, I thought they were okay, but their set just went on and on. I was relieved when they finally finished. Dana noticed Spike enter the Echo first and then pointed out that Nick was sitting down near by. I noticed Robert coming in, so it was like being at a BRMC show. They were probably there for Magic Mirror, who opened for a few of their shows last year. Spike and Robert were lost in the crowd near the bar, but Nick was standing all around the side of the stage we were sitting at. It was kind of funny seeing him move every few minutes to stand in a different spot.
Magic Mirror's set was very good, especially after that first band. Their music is really getting familiar to me to, though I'd only seen them open for BRMC a couple times. I'm starting to recognize a few of their slower songs, the more political and gospel tinged ones. Anyways, they're a good band and I wouldn't mind hearing more from them. Before the Lilys's set, we moved from our table to the bar area, where we moved from the front of the club to the back where Nick and Spike were standing. Dana ran into Spike earlier and said hello. Nick came over near the start of the Lilys set and said hi. He mentioned he was getting over the flu and that the guitarist with the Lilys (who Dana told me was from a band called Holy Shit) was going to tour with A Place to Bury Strangers, a band I would like to see live some day. Then, he disappeared into the crowd.
The Lilys were really cool indie pop style music. They sounded great despite me not really knowing their songs very well. The tall singer was kind of funny at times. I definitely want to check out some of their albums, since I'd only previously heard a few songs I'd downloaded and from their MySpace. Near the end of their set, a guy started hitting on Dana and she shot him down for being too forward. Also, while he was hitting on her, Robert walked by and we both poked at him. Dana said her finger hurt from his rock hard abs! Poking aside, he didn't stop or say hi so we assumed his girlfriend was calling him home. After the Lilys set ended, Dana found Spike and said good bye to him.
Tonight was Super Furry Animals, Holy Fuck, and Abe Vigoda at the Echoplex. It was so packed and hot in there. No rock star sightings tonight, though Dana did spot a relative of her ex. The bands were pretty good, though I was getting really annoyed by this dancing girl during the first band's set. I guess Abe Vigoda was an okay band, but I wasn't too into them. Maybe it was the girl bugging me too much. Holy Fuck were next. They play mostly instrumental electronic music, and I really enjoyed it. It was really good, especially the last song. I have heard the album before, so maybe that's why I liked it more. Dana was too hot in there and sat out in the smoking area for most of their set. Her cousin Mike was trying to get in, but unfortunately, could not because it was so crowded and I think the show sold out.
Super Furry Animals came on after a lot of work from the guitar tech, who was preparing guitars for like half an hour before! There were a few interesting looking acoustic guitars with neat paintings and drawings on them. This was probably my fifth time seeing SFA live, but it was different from the previous shows. The singer came on wearing a big red helmet and singing with a mic to the side of it. All the members of the band hand interesting embroidery on their clothes, though I couldn't really get any good pictures of them. They played a lot of old and new songs from their many albums, so it was a very exciting and diverse set. One song, the guitarist on the side of the stage I was on asked everyone to put their hands to their heads like antlers and said it was the shortest song ever written, though it seemed more like a funny noise than a song. During one song the two guitarists and the bassist put all their guitars/bass up together. It was pretty cool!
Anyways, if you've read this part, you may want to see some pictures. Here's a link to my Super Furry Animals photos and my Dead Meadow record release party photos. Here are a few Super Furry Animals photos:
The next show was The Lilys at the Echo with Magic Mirror and Richard Ross opening. Richard Ross was, I think, this tall guy in weird red genie pants who kept playing different saxophones. At first, I thought they were okay, but their set just went on and on. I was relieved when they finally finished. Dana noticed Spike enter the Echo first and then pointed out that Nick was sitting down near by. I noticed Robert coming in, so it was like being at a BRMC show. They were probably there for Magic Mirror, who opened for a few of their shows last year. Spike and Robert were lost in the crowd near the bar, but Nick was standing all around the side of the stage we were sitting at. It was kind of funny seeing him move every few minutes to stand in a different spot.
Magic Mirror's set was very good, especially after that first band. Their music is really getting familiar to me to, though I'd only seen them open for BRMC a couple times. I'm starting to recognize a few of their slower songs, the more political and gospel tinged ones. Anyways, they're a good band and I wouldn't mind hearing more from them. Before the Lilys's set, we moved from our table to the bar area, where we moved from the front of the club to the back where Nick and Spike were standing. Dana ran into Spike earlier and said hello. Nick came over near the start of the Lilys set and said hi. He mentioned he was getting over the flu and that the guitarist with the Lilys (who Dana told me was from a band called Holy Shit) was going to tour with A Place to Bury Strangers, a band I would like to see live some day. Then, he disappeared into the crowd.
The Lilys were really cool indie pop style music. They sounded great despite me not really knowing their songs very well. The tall singer was kind of funny at times. I definitely want to check out some of their albums, since I'd only previously heard a few songs I'd downloaded and from their MySpace. Near the end of their set, a guy started hitting on Dana and she shot him down for being too forward. Also, while he was hitting on her, Robert walked by and we both poked at him. Dana said her finger hurt from his rock hard abs! Poking aside, he didn't stop or say hi so we assumed his girlfriend was calling him home. After the Lilys set ended, Dana found Spike and said good bye to him.
Tonight was Super Furry Animals, Holy Fuck, and Abe Vigoda at the Echoplex. It was so packed and hot in there. No rock star sightings tonight, though Dana did spot a relative of her ex. The bands were pretty good, though I was getting really annoyed by this dancing girl during the first band's set. I guess Abe Vigoda was an okay band, but I wasn't too into them. Maybe it was the girl bugging me too much. Holy Fuck were next. They play mostly instrumental electronic music, and I really enjoyed it. It was really good, especially the last song. I have heard the album before, so maybe that's why I liked it more. Dana was too hot in there and sat out in the smoking area for most of their set. Her cousin Mike was trying to get in, but unfortunately, could not because it was so crowded and I think the show sold out.
Super Furry Animals came on after a lot of work from the guitar tech, who was preparing guitars for like half an hour before! There were a few interesting looking acoustic guitars with neat paintings and drawings on them. This was probably my fifth time seeing SFA live, but it was different from the previous shows. The singer came on wearing a big red helmet and singing with a mic to the side of it. All the members of the band hand interesting embroidery on their clothes, though I couldn't really get any good pictures of them. They played a lot of old and new songs from their many albums, so it was a very exciting and diverse set. One song, the guitarist on the side of the stage I was on asked everyone to put their hands to their heads like antlers and said it was the shortest song ever written, though it seemed more like a funny noise than a song. During one song the two guitarists and the bassist put all their guitars/bass up together. It was pretty cool!
Anyways, if you've read this part, you may want to see some pictures. Here's a link to my Super Furry Animals photos and my Dead Meadow record release party photos. Here are a few Super Furry Animals photos:
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
BRMC @ The Key Club 1-24-08
Someone actually posted video of the entire show on YouTube, so check it out if you're interested in watching it from the front row. I was in the front behind one of Robert's monitors, which he later moved back for some reason. Me and Theresa got to the Key Club at 5:30 PM, right before it started pouring rain. It was freezing outside the venue, but at least they had rain tents up around the lines for people who'd gotten their early (some people were there at 6 AM!). My toes were frozen by the time we got inside, but were defrosted by the time BRMC went on.
The opening band that night was F. Scott and the Ashbury Band, who I'd never heard of. They went on at 8:30 PM and were pretty good, kind of a bluesy rock that had a bit of a 60's sound. I had seen some of the members outside the venue when I was waiting on the wrong side of the line. Actually, I thought the singer of the band reminded me of Peter, though a little shorter and with a beard.
After more waiting for the opening band to move their gear and the roadies to set up for BRMC, we finally had Peter come on stage with his acoustic songs at around 9:30 PM. He opened with "Grind My Bones," which wasn't on the original setlist. After "Complicated Situation," he was joined by Nick and Robert on "Shuffle Your Feet." Nick was miked up and singing back up vocals on a lot of songs. It was pretty cool to see him singing along too. Here's the setlist for the show:
Grind My Bones
Complicated Situation
Shuffle Your Feet
Love Burns
Berlin
Weapon of Choice
Howl
All You Do Is Talk
666 Conducer
Six Barrel Shotgun
Red Eyes and Tears
Aint No Easy Way
Promise
Sympathetic Noose
Visions of Johanna
As Sure As The Sun
American X
-
Took Out A Loan
Killing The Light
Spread Your Love
Punk Song
It was kind of standard setlist for a BRMC show, not that that's such a bad thing. Hearing Robert's cover of "Visions of Johanna" was interesting because he sat down on a monitor and played the entire song sitting down. It's a pretty long song, so it's understandable that he might be tired. During "Howl," Peter was on Robert's side playing the keyboard on the piano and Robert moved over to Peter's microphone. Later, they switched sides.
I took a lot of photos at that show, though not all of them came out clearly. Here's a link to my photos from the Key Club. Here are some of my favorite photos from that night:
The opening band that night was F. Scott and the Ashbury Band, who I'd never heard of. They went on at 8:30 PM and were pretty good, kind of a bluesy rock that had a bit of a 60's sound. I had seen some of the members outside the venue when I was waiting on the wrong side of the line. Actually, I thought the singer of the band reminded me of Peter, though a little shorter and with a beard.
After more waiting for the opening band to move their gear and the roadies to set up for BRMC, we finally had Peter come on stage with his acoustic songs at around 9:30 PM. He opened with "Grind My Bones," which wasn't on the original setlist. After "Complicated Situation," he was joined by Nick and Robert on "Shuffle Your Feet." Nick was miked up and singing back up vocals on a lot of songs. It was pretty cool to see him singing along too. Here's the setlist for the show:
Grind My Bones
Complicated Situation
Shuffle Your Feet
Love Burns
Berlin
Weapon of Choice
Howl
All You Do Is Talk
666 Conducer
Six Barrel Shotgun
Red Eyes and Tears
Aint No Easy Way
Promise
Sympathetic Noose
Visions of Johanna
As Sure As The Sun
American X
-
Took Out A Loan
Killing The Light
Spread Your Love
Punk Song
It was kind of standard setlist for a BRMC show, not that that's such a bad thing. Hearing Robert's cover of "Visions of Johanna" was interesting because he sat down on a monitor and played the entire song sitting down. It's a pretty long song, so it's understandable that he might be tired. During "Howl," Peter was on Robert's side playing the keyboard on the piano and Robert moved over to Peter's microphone. Later, they switched sides.
I took a lot of photos at that show, though not all of them came out clearly. Here's a link to my photos from the Key Club. Here are some of my favorite photos from that night:
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
Interview with Robert and Peter of BRMC in SuperSweet
Check it out:
http://www.supersweet.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=511&Itemid=39
Illustration: Amalia Caratozzolo
http://www.supersweet.org/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=511&Itemid=39
Illustration: Amalia Caratozzolo
Monday, December 10, 2007
Simone Legno signing @ Mobius
From the past few blogs, you can tell that I'm obsessed with Tokidoki. And this obsession has cost me hundreds of dollars in just a few months. Imagine if I'd gotten into it back when the bags first came out in 2005? I'd be in debt rather than nearly broke. Anyways, here I posted some of my photos from the signing to MySpace. There are many more on my Flickr account. I shared my photos with the girl who runs Tokidoki-blog.com, but later she said I had too many pictures of counterfeit bags. I guess if people really search through my Flickr account, they'll find the pictures, but even after I removed them from the set she said her readers would point it out in the "What's in my bag set." Anyways, I don't really need that much publicity for my photos. I'll just share some with people here:
Here are some photos of what Mobius sells:
Here are some photos of what Mobius sells:
Sunday, November 25, 2007
Best shopping day ever!
I totally rule at shopping... Here's a short list of what I got yesterday:
1) Emily Strange Epiphone Gibson SG Guitar (arrived via FedEx from ebay)
from Metro Park at the Cerritos Mall:
2) a 3/4 sleeve white Woven Tokidoki button up shirt with patches!
3) a Gatto Spinoso T-shirt by Tokidoki
4) Tokidoki Ahoy Matey T-shirt
5) Wire Heart Tokidoki Logo T-shirt (which I will return because it has holes)
from Big Lots in Buena Park:
6) 2 skeins of Patons Bohemian yarn (Indigo Indulgence)
7) 12 skeins of Patons Be Mine (furry rose)
8) 12 skeins of Patons Carmen (Chocolate)
from Salvation Army:
9) IKEA Effektiv Cabinet (only $20!)
1) Emily Strange Epiphone Gibson SG Guitar (arrived via FedEx from ebay)
from Metro Park at the Cerritos Mall:
2) a 3/4 sleeve white Woven Tokidoki button up shirt with patches!
3) a Gatto Spinoso T-shirt by Tokidoki
4) Tokidoki Ahoy Matey T-shirt
5) Wire Heart Tokidoki Logo T-shirt (which I will return because it has holes)
from Big Lots in Buena Park:
6) 2 skeins of Patons Bohemian yarn (Indigo Indulgence)
7) 12 skeins of Patons Be Mine (furry rose)
8) 12 skeins of Patons Carmen (Chocolate)
from Salvation Army:
9) IKEA Effektiv Cabinet (only $20!)
Thursday, November 22, 2007
Thursday, November 15, 2007
Interview with Robert and Peter of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
"Life inspires me to write music"
Interview with Robert and Peter of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
"If I only get 15 minutes of fame to say something, you want to make it count." - Robert Levon Been
"I guess the key word in that is life, it's full of everything." - Peter Hayes
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (BRMC) are a band of musicians who manage to create albums that range from hard rock songs (such as "Took Out A Loan" and "Need Some Air") to soulful melodies ("Killing The Light" and "Window") to acoustic ballads ("Am I Only"). They have built up a loyal following since they formed in the Bay Area in 1998 and have toured almost non stop in support of their well-received 4th album Baby 81, which was named for a Tsunami victim who was reunited with his parents in the aftermath. We were fortunate enough to catch up with BRMC as one of the headlining acts at this year's Monterey Music Summit, a multi-medium festival bringing together various artists with a commitment to social change and political awareness. Robert Levon Been (bass/keys/vocals) and Peter Hayes (guitar/bass/harmonica/vocals) of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club gave us an in depth interview on everything from politics, music journalism, touring, film, to outside interests and pet peeves.
1. What's the sound or direction are you headed for the next album or is it too early to tell?
Robert: I'm actually trying not to think about that because we're actually writing a lot right now and sometimes when you stop and think about it and conceptualize it, it goes somewhere else. Peter's been writing songs on acoustic guitar, really amazing like Howl country kind of things... blowing me away. And he stopped for awhile and didn't write anything for awhile, so I was wondering if he's still got it. A lot of those Howl kind of songs are just things he does on his own and doesn't really play them for me until they're close to done. I'm just as impressed with those songs he does as anything else, kind of like "Devil's Waitin'" and "Fault Line" and things like that. There's a nature to them and they're personal and they're pretty great. But then, we've also been jamming a lot as a band and writing these really hard core rock songs and those are coming at the same time. They're kind of contradictory in nature, so I don't know if our next record what the fuck it'll be. It's coming out of both place at the same time. I've also been listening to a lot of Nine Inch Nails and fantasizing about making a techno record. That's the conceptual part you don't want to know about.
2. Are you planning doing on any more tours in 2008?
Robert: We've admitted to Australia. Is Japan up there yet? Okay, that just got confirmed, it's 2 Tokyo shows. So, there's 3 in Japan. Hopefully, we're going to stop for awhile and not do anything. There's a plot of something to do later, but I can't say what it is because it's a really good idea, very very different from any tour we've ever done. You'll hear about it if it happens, it's about as creative as you can possibly get with touring. So, that's my tease for 2008. Maybe South America too, that's the dream for 5 years. Every time it gets close it slips away, so I don't want to jinx it.
3. What artists/bands have had the most influence on you?
Robert: Surprisingly, not the Jesus and Mary Chain. It's hard to think about the most because it changes from time to time. I've admitted to liking a lot of heavy metal when I was in junior high, Metallica and Alice in Chains, but I've come a long way since then. Ride, The Stone Roses, The Verve, I'm actually going to see the Verve in London in a couple of weeks and that's a big deal because there are not many bands that I'd travel to see and miss out a lot of our one week break.
Peter: I was just thinking of that the other day. I had an uncle that used to sing me and my brother songs when we'd go up to the mountains with him, he'd play "El Paso," "Cool Water," and this other song "Ghost Riders in the Sky," these kind of strange kind of country songs. I was thinking about it the other day when I was starting the lyrics for a song, I was kind of surprised how much that did affect me at as far as when I was 6, 7, 8 years old. Those songs got me thinking. Then I started listening to music for a long time and started paying attention more to the story than the song. The characters behind the music a little bit, like Johnny Cash, Moby Grape, the story of the band, music is the one thing I can know the people behind it. It means a lot to me.
4. How important is politics to you and your music?
Robert: Politics and music, I'd say for all three of us differently. Peter's the most politically minded as in he's got the drive and a lot to say and wants to say it. I've got a lot to say, but I don't really know if I want to say it. And I don't know what Nick (Jago) (drummer/percussion) wants to say, but I'm sure he'll think of something. Music and political things are hard for me sometimes because I'm of two minds, I don't know if it mixes all the time. I love Bob Dylan and John Lennon and I respect the political songs they've written and think those are some of the best songs ever written. At the same time, I think it's sacred ground in a lot of ways to think so highly of yourself to preach something like that. I'm always trying to catch myself, make sure it's worth... if I only get 15 minutes of fame to say something you want it to count.
Peter: It's only important for my personal gratification to get an annoyance out of my brain to get something out that I'm not hearing said by anybody else. As far as anybody agreeing with it or caring, it's not important... it's life, but the basic gist of any politics or ideas of religion is really kind of a personal (person) the nuisance of it. The hopes is that someone needs that to get heard, I would hope that the song would connect with it and that's great. As far as for the necessity of my own soul, that's the selfish part of it. The connection with other people with that kind of stuff, with those kinds of things, with any of it, it's kind of poetry, we're not all good at talking to people. You put it in a song and it helps relieve whatever frustration is there. I think a lot of people have that similar problem maybe, which is voicing what they feel. That's where music and art comes into play and can help voice that for people. That's where it becomes not selfish anymore.
5. Do you pay attention to music critics?
Robert: It changes, I think when it first started I read more, but then they all became so similar after awhile. It's hard to stomach or just kind of one after another. I think it's an art form to write about music, I really do. It's not considered one, but if you can do it a small amount of people can. I think a lot of people try using a lot of big words, but you can tell they're not really on the mark. I don't know how much mind I pay to it, it depends on what kind of mood I'm in.
6. Are there any journalists or magazines that you pay more attention to?
Robert: I like Under the Radar, I like Mojo. UNCUT sometimes, but there's like an avalanche of music and information where music and bands that make you feel overstimulated. I used to only feel that riding down Hollywood Boulevard, where it'd be too much information where it freaks me out. And now music is making me feel that way, that when I open a magazine there are so many bands. I don't know how anyone processes all of it. It's a shame, there used to only be a few bands. It was harder to be a musician, like there was more actual definition to what that means. Now it's anyone with attitude which is literally anyone.
7. Is the life of a touring musician what you expected it to be?
Robert: The honest answer is my dad warned me constantly, "Only do it if you fucking love it because it's really hard and it's really not what you think." When he'd say it every time, I just thought of myself as just so tough. The passion you have for it at the time, you just think you can not do anything. I've been warned to the breaking point, it's way more than you can imagine. You can't ever be asked to make that choice when you're 15 or 16, you think you're immortal and you should be because that's the only way you're going to get to the next point.
Peter: Yeah, it's hard and great, it's all those things. It's everything. I guess the key word in that is life, it's full of everything.
8. What is the strangest thing in your record collection?
Robert: Most embarrassing thing? Probably that Rihanna song "Umbrella." It's actually a good song.
9. What's your favorite book, movie/TV show, and food?
Robert: Book is the Martin Luther King's Strength (to Love). We're all pretty strung out on Indian food, so we try to find that. Favorite show is obviously the new Battlestar Galactica. I'm really crazy into films so I don't really have a favorite. The one I liked the best recently is "The Proposition" with Guy Pearce, Australian cowboy movie with Nick Cave music.
10. Who would you like to see as President of the USA next year?
Robert: I don't think any of them are going to get us out of the hole we're in. I think the whole system has got to change to do that. At the same time, I'm not going to piss away my vote on along the lines of someone like Ralph Nader or someone that will only end up letting your vote (be wasted). When push comes to shove, it's between two or three and it's the lesser of evils, you kind of have to do what you have to do until the revolution comes.
Peter: No, I don't really know enough about the candidates. I know what I'd like to see what comes out of it. I don't really trust democrat or republican, I think they're the same thing. I'd vote for a green party or the greener of the two, then I'd vote for neither of them and something that was a bit more on the peasanter side of life besides the ones with money. I guess I just don't have any faith that that's going to change, I don't see any candidates to get really fired up about. As far as I'm concerned, I'm kind of playing it safe and trying to be friends with everyone. I don't know what's afoot.
11. What band(s) would you like to see reunite?
Robert: The only other one would be The Stone Roses. I don't know who else, I'll think of it later.
12. You were saying before how you are really into films. Are you inspired by any filmmakers?
Robert: There's actually this guy who's a friend of ours he makes these short films. His name is Jamie Dag and he did the American X video that I just found out is going to get a proper release. I don't know if you can call it a 9 minute music video or a short film because we're not in it. It's hard to explain without seeing it. It's the thing I'm most proud of that we've done even though the Berlin thing that Tessa put together was really good. He's great and I've seen a couple shorts he's done and he's making more now. It's inspiring.
Peter: No, I don't keep track of that stuff too much. I don't keep track of their names, I barely keep track of musician's names. I get inspired by movies, moments and stories. It's the story, not the director or the actors.
13. What are some of your non-music related interests or hobbies?
Robert: Motorcycles would be cliche, films we talked about, traveling is another cliche in a way because we get to do that anyway, but just the fact that we're gettng to go to places like Vietnam and South America, that's like our other passion to explore places. We get to do music and cheat our way to these places. I like history. My history teacher in high school was the only class I really enjoyed. The teacher was passionate about it.
Peter: Darts... I try to make it to a shooting range when I can. Airsoft guns will do when nothing else is around. Motorcycles, just working on them, the one I got seeing if I can get it going again when it dies. Poetry, I like reading poetry. My favorite poem is by Henry Miller, I don't want to say he's my favorite poet. The poem is called "The Bread of Life." A collection of poems called birds or flowers or something. When you're walking through a thrift store or a book store and pick something out and read something you need to hear, that's kind of the same thing with the Bible. You read something when you need to hear it.
14. What inspires you in either songwriting or life?
Robert: For myself, just getting to a place where I stop using my brain. It's a very difficult place to get to, it's like the whole world was built to keep you from getting to this one place. When songs come out of it, I want to start writing sometimes in that place when whatever comes is pretty much proof to me that place exists. So if I can write it and prove it back to myself without leaving that state of mind, then maybe convincing myself it doesn't really exist or it's not that important that's the evidence of where I came from. It's like this subconscious place where things just make sense and you're removed from that center which also makes a lot of sense. It's probably more about being close to God. Songwriting is like the byproduct of being in a center.
Peter: Life inspires me to write music. I guess just trying to be aware of a lot of things kind of about, it's hard to explain... you try not to be a vampire and the whole deal. You don't want to force an experience to happen so you can write about, that's going to happen anyways. Like breaking up with a girl, that kind of heartache takes you to a place that makes you think you're right or something, that's kind of the point. You write from different places. It's just trying to keep eyes open as far as what's in life. Like someone walking down the street saying life is difficult, putting it in a song. To just make more sense, like "666 Conducer" was when I was working in that mechanics shop and I was putting the conducer into the car. Moments like you see "666" that kind of stuff conjures up. So everything kind of inspires.
15. What was the last concert you went to that wasn't your own?
Robert: I think it was Bob Dylan or Nine Inch Nails. I walked out of the Dylan show. I was looking forward to it for so long, first time I'd seen him. I guess it's partially due with his band being very traditional, kind of muso-session band, and it doesn't really feel like a band. What I guess he tells them to play, which doesn't sound like his songs, he changes the melody and instrumentation. He goes from the most amazing chords to the most standard form and the only way you can tell the song is from the words and nothing else is recognizable, so it was really hard for me to go through that. I just wanted to keep the image in my head.
16. What annoys you most?
Robert: Bratty kids. There's this line or quote similar to "There's nothing as poisonous or sharp, than that of an ungrateful child." I think it's a Shakespeare thing so he must have had problems with kids too.
Peter: I'd have to say mean people annoy me, mean-spirited comments and attitudes bothers the fuck out of me.
17. What are you rebelling against?
Robert: Haven't really been able to put it into words yet.
Peter: Am I supposed to say "What have you got?" I'm rebelling against my own stupidity. All the crap that you've put on in the world is all our problems. I'm rebelling against that as well as the asshole in me that is capable of doing the exact shit that I hate.
18. What is your favorite city in the world?
Robert: Pete and Nick like Nashville a lot. Pete was going to go back there after the tour and live there for 2 months or something. Nick likes New York, but he's actually okay with LA right now. I stopped believing the grass is greener so it's where ever we land or where ever we have good friends and family. It's Monterey today... I used to be so miserable and shit talk places, it's not real.
19. How important was music for you growing up?
Robert: Not as important as it was for Peter. Actually, I didn't really tune into it until later. I listened to a lot of metal stuff because I had skater friends who were smoking, drinking, and fucking too soon. We all knew those kids in elementary school and junior high. I didn't have any other friends and even though I was pretty good comparatively, those were like my peeps. And then I would listen to whatever they listened just to have music as a community. Now looking back, it was really limited compared to what music can give you when you're tuned into it. And I was wondering what the fuck I was doing with my life... And everything went from black and white to color. Like why didn't anyone tell me this was here? The difference between listening and hearing. I don't know how to explain the difference really between the two, like to someone who can't hear. They remember that camping trip because they listen to that one record the whole time with their friends and that was great and that was kind of what you use it for in the beginning more so. But I guess you come to it when it's your time.
20. What they think the biggest problem was facing the world today?
Robert: It's the lust and need for money right now and I think it's just infected everything and it didn't used to be like that. No one can understand or feel that right now. Fifty years ago, it wasn't all about money that money wasn't king and it didn't shape everything. There was art and ideas and movements and now they're all back to branding and it isn't a bad thing unless you glorify it. Everything is based on money. It's a waste of society, politics, everything, it's ridiculous, healthcare, it's a perversion of humanity.
Peter: The world's biggest problem is they can't fucking get along. I mean it's supposed to be religion and money is the biggest problem. People need to relax about their money and what god they want to fight over. That's seems to be the problem and all the other things, like global warming and bees dying and all that stuff, I think, would all be fixed if they get out of their fucking ass and not be so concerned with those two things.
Interview with Robert and Peter of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
"If I only get 15 minutes of fame to say something, you want to make it count." - Robert Levon Been
"I guess the key word in that is life, it's full of everything." - Peter Hayes
Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (BRMC) are a band of musicians who manage to create albums that range from hard rock songs (such as "Took Out A Loan" and "Need Some Air") to soulful melodies ("Killing The Light" and "Window") to acoustic ballads ("Am I Only"). They have built up a loyal following since they formed in the Bay Area in 1998 and have toured almost non stop in support of their well-received 4th album Baby 81, which was named for a Tsunami victim who was reunited with his parents in the aftermath. We were fortunate enough to catch up with BRMC as one of the headlining acts at this year's Monterey Music Summit, a multi-medium festival bringing together various artists with a commitment to social change and political awareness. Robert Levon Been (bass/keys/vocals) and Peter Hayes (guitar/bass/harmonica/vocals) of Black Rebel Motorcycle Club gave us an in depth interview on everything from politics, music journalism, touring, film, to outside interests and pet peeves.
1. What's the sound or direction are you headed for the next album or is it too early to tell?
Robert: I'm actually trying not to think about that because we're actually writing a lot right now and sometimes when you stop and think about it and conceptualize it, it goes somewhere else. Peter's been writing songs on acoustic guitar, really amazing like Howl country kind of things... blowing me away. And he stopped for awhile and didn't write anything for awhile, so I was wondering if he's still got it. A lot of those Howl kind of songs are just things he does on his own and doesn't really play them for me until they're close to done. I'm just as impressed with those songs he does as anything else, kind of like "Devil's Waitin'" and "Fault Line" and things like that. There's a nature to them and they're personal and they're pretty great. But then, we've also been jamming a lot as a band and writing these really hard core rock songs and those are coming at the same time. They're kind of contradictory in nature, so I don't know if our next record what the fuck it'll be. It's coming out of both place at the same time. I've also been listening to a lot of Nine Inch Nails and fantasizing about making a techno record. That's the conceptual part you don't want to know about.
2. Are you planning doing on any more tours in 2008?
Robert: We've admitted to Australia. Is Japan up there yet? Okay, that just got confirmed, it's 2 Tokyo shows. So, there's 3 in Japan. Hopefully, we're going to stop for awhile and not do anything. There's a plot of something to do later, but I can't say what it is because it's a really good idea, very very different from any tour we've ever done. You'll hear about it if it happens, it's about as creative as you can possibly get with touring. So, that's my tease for 2008. Maybe South America too, that's the dream for 5 years. Every time it gets close it slips away, so I don't want to jinx it.
3. What artists/bands have had the most influence on you?
Robert: Surprisingly, not the Jesus and Mary Chain. It's hard to think about the most because it changes from time to time. I've admitted to liking a lot of heavy metal when I was in junior high, Metallica and Alice in Chains, but I've come a long way since then. Ride, The Stone Roses, The Verve, I'm actually going to see the Verve in London in a couple of weeks and that's a big deal because there are not many bands that I'd travel to see and miss out a lot of our one week break.
Peter: I was just thinking of that the other day. I had an uncle that used to sing me and my brother songs when we'd go up to the mountains with him, he'd play "El Paso," "Cool Water," and this other song "Ghost Riders in the Sky," these kind of strange kind of country songs. I was thinking about it the other day when I was starting the lyrics for a song, I was kind of surprised how much that did affect me at as far as when I was 6, 7, 8 years old. Those songs got me thinking. Then I started listening to music for a long time and started paying attention more to the story than the song. The characters behind the music a little bit, like Johnny Cash, Moby Grape, the story of the band, music is the one thing I can know the people behind it. It means a lot to me.
4. How important is politics to you and your music?
Robert: Politics and music, I'd say for all three of us differently. Peter's the most politically minded as in he's got the drive and a lot to say and wants to say it. I've got a lot to say, but I don't really know if I want to say it. And I don't know what Nick (Jago) (drummer/percussion) wants to say, but I'm sure he'll think of something. Music and political things are hard for me sometimes because I'm of two minds, I don't know if it mixes all the time. I love Bob Dylan and John Lennon and I respect the political songs they've written and think those are some of the best songs ever written. At the same time, I think it's sacred ground in a lot of ways to think so highly of yourself to preach something like that. I'm always trying to catch myself, make sure it's worth... if I only get 15 minutes of fame to say something you want it to count.
Peter: It's only important for my personal gratification to get an annoyance out of my brain to get something out that I'm not hearing said by anybody else. As far as anybody agreeing with it or caring, it's not important... it's life, but the basic gist of any politics or ideas of religion is really kind of a personal (person) the nuisance of it. The hopes is that someone needs that to get heard, I would hope that the song would connect with it and that's great. As far as for the necessity of my own soul, that's the selfish part of it. The connection with other people with that kind of stuff, with those kinds of things, with any of it, it's kind of poetry, we're not all good at talking to people. You put it in a song and it helps relieve whatever frustration is there. I think a lot of people have that similar problem maybe, which is voicing what they feel. That's where music and art comes into play and can help voice that for people. That's where it becomes not selfish anymore.
5. Do you pay attention to music critics?
Robert: It changes, I think when it first started I read more, but then they all became so similar after awhile. It's hard to stomach or just kind of one after another. I think it's an art form to write about music, I really do. It's not considered one, but if you can do it a small amount of people can. I think a lot of people try using a lot of big words, but you can tell they're not really on the mark. I don't know how much mind I pay to it, it depends on what kind of mood I'm in.
6. Are there any journalists or magazines that you pay more attention to?
Robert: I like Under the Radar, I like Mojo. UNCUT sometimes, but there's like an avalanche of music and information where music and bands that make you feel overstimulated. I used to only feel that riding down Hollywood Boulevard, where it'd be too much information where it freaks me out. And now music is making me feel that way, that when I open a magazine there are so many bands. I don't know how anyone processes all of it. It's a shame, there used to only be a few bands. It was harder to be a musician, like there was more actual definition to what that means. Now it's anyone with attitude which is literally anyone.
7. Is the life of a touring musician what you expected it to be?
Robert: The honest answer is my dad warned me constantly, "Only do it if you fucking love it because it's really hard and it's really not what you think." When he'd say it every time, I just thought of myself as just so tough. The passion you have for it at the time, you just think you can not do anything. I've been warned to the breaking point, it's way more than you can imagine. You can't ever be asked to make that choice when you're 15 or 16, you think you're immortal and you should be because that's the only way you're going to get to the next point.
Peter: Yeah, it's hard and great, it's all those things. It's everything. I guess the key word in that is life, it's full of everything.
8. What is the strangest thing in your record collection?
Robert: Most embarrassing thing? Probably that Rihanna song "Umbrella." It's actually a good song.
9. What's your favorite book, movie/TV show, and food?
Robert: Book is the Martin Luther King's Strength (to Love). We're all pretty strung out on Indian food, so we try to find that. Favorite show is obviously the new Battlestar Galactica. I'm really crazy into films so I don't really have a favorite. The one I liked the best recently is "The Proposition" with Guy Pearce, Australian cowboy movie with Nick Cave music.
10. Who would you like to see as President of the USA next year?
Robert: I don't think any of them are going to get us out of the hole we're in. I think the whole system has got to change to do that. At the same time, I'm not going to piss away my vote on along the lines of someone like Ralph Nader or someone that will only end up letting your vote (be wasted). When push comes to shove, it's between two or three and it's the lesser of evils, you kind of have to do what you have to do until the revolution comes.
Peter: No, I don't really know enough about the candidates. I know what I'd like to see what comes out of it. I don't really trust democrat or republican, I think they're the same thing. I'd vote for a green party or the greener of the two, then I'd vote for neither of them and something that was a bit more on the peasanter side of life besides the ones with money. I guess I just don't have any faith that that's going to change, I don't see any candidates to get really fired up about. As far as I'm concerned, I'm kind of playing it safe and trying to be friends with everyone. I don't know what's afoot.
11. What band(s) would you like to see reunite?
Robert: The only other one would be The Stone Roses. I don't know who else, I'll think of it later.
12. You were saying before how you are really into films. Are you inspired by any filmmakers?
Robert: There's actually this guy who's a friend of ours he makes these short films. His name is Jamie Dag and he did the American X video that I just found out is going to get a proper release. I don't know if you can call it a 9 minute music video or a short film because we're not in it. It's hard to explain without seeing it. It's the thing I'm most proud of that we've done even though the Berlin thing that Tessa put together was really good. He's great and I've seen a couple shorts he's done and he's making more now. It's inspiring.
Peter: No, I don't keep track of that stuff too much. I don't keep track of their names, I barely keep track of musician's names. I get inspired by movies, moments and stories. It's the story, not the director or the actors.
13. What are some of your non-music related interests or hobbies?
Robert: Motorcycles would be cliche, films we talked about, traveling is another cliche in a way because we get to do that anyway, but just the fact that we're gettng to go to places like Vietnam and South America, that's like our other passion to explore places. We get to do music and cheat our way to these places. I like history. My history teacher in high school was the only class I really enjoyed. The teacher was passionate about it.
Peter: Darts... I try to make it to a shooting range when I can. Airsoft guns will do when nothing else is around. Motorcycles, just working on them, the one I got seeing if I can get it going again when it dies. Poetry, I like reading poetry. My favorite poem is by Henry Miller, I don't want to say he's my favorite poet. The poem is called "The Bread of Life." A collection of poems called birds or flowers or something. When you're walking through a thrift store or a book store and pick something out and read something you need to hear, that's kind of the same thing with the Bible. You read something when you need to hear it.
14. What inspires you in either songwriting or life?
Robert: For myself, just getting to a place where I stop using my brain. It's a very difficult place to get to, it's like the whole world was built to keep you from getting to this one place. When songs come out of it, I want to start writing sometimes in that place when whatever comes is pretty much proof to me that place exists. So if I can write it and prove it back to myself without leaving that state of mind, then maybe convincing myself it doesn't really exist or it's not that important that's the evidence of where I came from. It's like this subconscious place where things just make sense and you're removed from that center which also makes a lot of sense. It's probably more about being close to God. Songwriting is like the byproduct of being in a center.
Peter: Life inspires me to write music. I guess just trying to be aware of a lot of things kind of about, it's hard to explain... you try not to be a vampire and the whole deal. You don't want to force an experience to happen so you can write about, that's going to happen anyways. Like breaking up with a girl, that kind of heartache takes you to a place that makes you think you're right or something, that's kind of the point. You write from different places. It's just trying to keep eyes open as far as what's in life. Like someone walking down the street saying life is difficult, putting it in a song. To just make more sense, like "666 Conducer" was when I was working in that mechanics shop and I was putting the conducer into the car. Moments like you see "666" that kind of stuff conjures up. So everything kind of inspires.
15. What was the last concert you went to that wasn't your own?
Robert: I think it was Bob Dylan or Nine Inch Nails. I walked out of the Dylan show. I was looking forward to it for so long, first time I'd seen him. I guess it's partially due with his band being very traditional, kind of muso-session band, and it doesn't really feel like a band. What I guess he tells them to play, which doesn't sound like his songs, he changes the melody and instrumentation. He goes from the most amazing chords to the most standard form and the only way you can tell the song is from the words and nothing else is recognizable, so it was really hard for me to go through that. I just wanted to keep the image in my head.
16. What annoys you most?
Robert: Bratty kids. There's this line or quote similar to "There's nothing as poisonous or sharp, than that of an ungrateful child." I think it's a Shakespeare thing so he must have had problems with kids too.
Peter: I'd have to say mean people annoy me, mean-spirited comments and attitudes bothers the fuck out of me.
17. What are you rebelling against?
Robert: Haven't really been able to put it into words yet.
Peter: Am I supposed to say "What have you got?" I'm rebelling against my own stupidity. All the crap that you've put on in the world is all our problems. I'm rebelling against that as well as the asshole in me that is capable of doing the exact shit that I hate.
18. What is your favorite city in the world?
Robert: Pete and Nick like Nashville a lot. Pete was going to go back there after the tour and live there for 2 months or something. Nick likes New York, but he's actually okay with LA right now. I stopped believing the grass is greener so it's where ever we land or where ever we have good friends and family. It's Monterey today... I used to be so miserable and shit talk places, it's not real.
19. How important was music for you growing up?
Robert: Not as important as it was for Peter. Actually, I didn't really tune into it until later. I listened to a lot of metal stuff because I had skater friends who were smoking, drinking, and fucking too soon. We all knew those kids in elementary school and junior high. I didn't have any other friends and even though I was pretty good comparatively, those were like my peeps. And then I would listen to whatever they listened just to have music as a community. Now looking back, it was really limited compared to what music can give you when you're tuned into it. And I was wondering what the fuck I was doing with my life... And everything went from black and white to color. Like why didn't anyone tell me this was here? The difference between listening and hearing. I don't know how to explain the difference really between the two, like to someone who can't hear. They remember that camping trip because they listen to that one record the whole time with their friends and that was great and that was kind of what you use it for in the beginning more so. But I guess you come to it when it's your time.
20. What they think the biggest problem was facing the world today?
Robert: It's the lust and need for money right now and I think it's just infected everything and it didn't used to be like that. No one can understand or feel that right now. Fifty years ago, it wasn't all about money that money wasn't king and it didn't shape everything. There was art and ideas and movements and now they're all back to branding and it isn't a bad thing unless you glorify it. Everything is based on money. It's a waste of society, politics, everything, it's ridiculous, healthcare, it's a perversion of humanity.
Peter: The world's biggest problem is they can't fucking get along. I mean it's supposed to be religion and money is the biggest problem. People need to relax about their money and what god they want to fight over. That's seems to be the problem and all the other things, like global warming and bees dying and all that stuff, I think, would all be fixed if they get out of their fucking ass and not be so concerned with those two things.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)