By Aly Carr

Maybe you know of John Moen from his entertaining performances as the drummer for The Decemberists, maybe you know of him because he played with Elliot Smith, or The Minus 5, or a million others. Maybe you know of him because he just plain rules the school. Either way, in a recent interview with John we got to learn about something new that you’re going to know him for; his latest music project, Perhapst.

The Merry Andrews Show: Has it always been a goal of yours to have an album where you play the majority of the instruments? If so, how did you know that this was the right time to pursue it?
John Moen: It was never really a goal of mine to be the only instrumentalist. I had acquired minimal skills on a few instruments over the years and it was more a convenience than anything else. I made the album on the fly and didn’t have a band or very much money.

TMAS: How long did the writing take for the songs on this album? And what is your writing process?
JM: The songs were written over a period of years. I suppose my process is to not be in too much of a rush. Ha. I sort of strum the guitar until I start humming something that inspires me to hum further. Something like that.

TMAS: How exactly did you and Stephen Malkmus come together to work on the Perhapst album?
JM: I was playing drums for The Jicks at the time that I decided to do my own album. Some of the recording occurred in Stephen’s Basement (very generous of him I might add…) and he would pop down on occasion to check in on my progress, so I handed him a bass or whatever was close at hand and pushed “Record”.

TMAS: How in the world did you learn how to drum? (I’m blown away every time I watch a video)
JM: I learned by playing with people (often terribly) for years, starting when I was a 13 year old. Lots of crummy jams. And some groovy ones, too.

TMAS: The Decemberists played a couple of songs at a Barack Obama rally earlier this year. How have politics in general or this election in particular influenced Perhapst?
JM: I don’t write very overtly about politics, but people are always influenced by the world around them. I am no exception. Go, Obama!

TMAS: Chris Funk of The Decemberists actually plays in the Perhapst live band. Have the rest of The Decemberists band members been supportive of this endeavor?
JM: Yes, the band has been very generous with positive feedback; and in Chris’s case, positive rockin’.

TMAS: Can you share anything with me about the song, Incense Cone?
JM: The song is a bit of a ramble about being anti-social… I think. It’s about being blamable or being a sponge for other peoples criticism; helping others avoid reality by taking their flack. I just realized that it’s sometimes better NOT to explain your songs. Oh, well…

(next are quirky questions from our listeners)
TMAS: What do you think you would be doing if you weren’t a musician?
JM: I would be an unsuccessful mediator or an introverted gardener. I would not be a mathematician or a clerk.

TMAS: What was your first car?
JM: My first car was a ’70 Volkswagen Bug. It was awesome.

TMAS: What are some bands that you are into right now?
JM: I am into Norfolk and Western and Loch Lomond. Both great Portland bands.

TMAS: What is a website that you visit daily?
JM: www.blazersedge.com

TMAS: Lastly, what are the touring plans for Perhapst?
JM: No time to tour. Maybe someday…

While it might be more professional to post a video of John playing the drums or singing, I feel like this one of him crowd surfing is off the chiz-ain and I can’t resist.

click play to watch our interview with brian roberts and brett anderson of ha ha tonka.

FYI: their music is as awesome as their sense’s of humor.

an interview with ha ha tonka. from aly carr on Vimeo.

enjoy this interview with margot & the nuclear so and so’s very tall and very awesome guitarist, andy fry.

By Aly Carr

The Merry Andrews Show: There are some very interesting song titles going on in your band like Hello Vagina and Vampires in Blue Dresses. How do you come up with these titles?
::laughter::
Andy Fry: They’re all coming from Richard, the song-writer. However, when you are recording a song and you hear it seven hundred times in a row you start saying things that are sort of related… like non-sequitur things come out of peoples mouths and you hear them, they stick, and then a lot of times they actually do have another meaning but sometimes they don’t.

TMAS: How mysterious! A new EP just came out, where did the inspiration for it come from?
AF: The idea was just to do a live recording of some of the songs that are going to come out. So, we went to this place in Iowa and went upstairs, we all sat around in a room, played some songs and they recorded it!
TMAS: Simple enough!
AF: Yeah!
TMAS: Was it fun?
AF: Yeah, it was really fun especially after spending two years making a record; it’s kind of cool to make an EP in a day.
TMAS: Not as rigid feeling?
AF: Yeah…it’s just quick. I like it!

TMAS: We actually have some emails from listeners and they have some questions for you!
AF: Alright!
TMAS: Jesse said, “Margot & the Nuclear So and So’s are in my top 5 favorite bands at the moment. Where do they get the inspiration for the type of music that they play? And he says as an upcoming solo musician he needs reference and support.
AF: Inspiration… I think most of it comes from frustration and dark places like jealousy, anger and bitterness and then you try to do something constructive and channel it into something else other than drinking or killing people.
TMAS: Everyone has those feelings, and you have to put them somewhere.
AF: Yes, and it’s like…I always want to make stuff and I like music the best and I think there is something about Richard’s songs in particular that we all strongly understand. It helps that we all grew up in the same area; there is a common bond.

TMAS: Another listener said, “I think that most of your songs forgo the traditional breakdown- what do you think that means about you as a band?”
AF: I do think that we are very aware of the traditional formula and we always try to not do it, but I would never sacrifice a song just to play that game. It turns out there is always another way to do it, which is another reason we take so long to record.
TMAS: For example, in the song Talking in Code there isn’t necessarily a “breakdown” but there is that really powerful moment where it goes…“Now I’m sleeping alone…”
AF: That was actually something Richard wrote in his head. He said, “I want it to be like I’m barely audible over the music, like I’m screaming.” I think he intentionally got drunk to do that vocal, so he could scream like that…

TMAS: I feel like I know how you came up with your band name, and that it has to do with The Royal Tenenbaums, but one of our listeners in Massachusetts would like to know for sure, so I figured I would ask.
AF: There is no answer to that question. It just came.
TMAS: In a dream?
AF: Well sort of, I mean… we’re drunk a lot…so…
TMAS: Yeah, us too.
AF: I think it was just the way the words went together and made nonsense. It’s completely unexplainable. “Nuclear” sort of represents a family and then “So and So’s” is sort of the opposite… and if you have the “nuclear so and so’s” you have to use “Margot” because it just fits.

TMAS: Tell me all about the new record.
AF: We have two coming out. One is only going to be on vinyl and digital, we recorded 25 songs… those are the ones that we picked and put them all together and made an album. And the other album is what Epic picked as the songs they wanted. So, there are two, not really a double record, because there are 4 or 5 songs in common… I see it as like… there is an album and a CD…
TMAS: But the vinyl is cooler, right, because it has more songs?
AF: Well, it depends on how you listen to music. You know? Some people want to listen to a whole album and not get up or skip around. Other people want to listen to just songs. I love the record we made as a record better, but there are definitely songs that I’m glad are coming out. It’s complicated.
TMAS: And the names are Animal and Not Animal? And Animal is digital and Not Animal is the vinyl, right?
AF: Not Animal is the CD one. It’s so confusing… it’s great! I love it! There is nothing better than not knowing what’s going on!
::laughter::
TMAS: When do they come out?
AF: Animal comes out on September 30th and Not Animal comes out on October 7th.
TMAS: Oh! Make them wait a week! Hard to get!
AF: That’s right!

the drews recently got to sit down with daniel balk and billy cadden of the postelles for a lovely interview at lollapalooza. we will also be featuring their tunes on an upcoming episode of the show, so pay close attention!

from left to right: john speyer (bassist), billy cadden (drummer), aly, and daniel balk (lead singer.)

By Aly Carr

The Merry Andrews Show: Okay, The Postelles? I know you’ve been asked this before- but how did you come up with your band name?
Daniel Balk: It was just a late night spur of the moment thing. We were trying to get a bunch of names and it’s really impossible to come up with a name unless you want to be like, really Indie and be “the spider under the chair” or something. But we wanted a pretty basic name and it was sort of like a Motown name like The Rondelles.
Billy Cadden: but we’re post that period so it’s like…The POSTelles so I guess there actually is a story behind the name…

::Really loud burp and laughter::

BC: Awesome!
TMAS: I’ll transcribe the burp!

TMAS: So, we have some questions from our listeners. Do you have any phobias?
DB: Uh… Yeah- drummers!
::laughter::
BC: Arachnophobia. Bugs…any bugs! I have bug bites! ::shows band-aid on arm:: If I see a spider or a snake I freak out, but I love vampires and monsters.
TMAS: Vampires and monsters are not in the same category as spiders and snakes.
BC: But I mean…I would love to meet big foot.
TMAS: Who wouldn’t? You know…I’ve been bitten by two brown recluses.
BC: You’re really lucky to be here to talk about it.

TMAS: What was your first job?
DB: I was a tennis counselor. I taught tennis to little kids in New York City. Yeah, it was fun. It was cute.
TMAS: That is cute.
BC: I did an internship at RCA Records, but my first real job… well, I work at HBO.
TMAS: Doing what?
BC: They sort of put me wherever they need me.

TMAS: If you were not a musician what would you be doing?
DB: Something creative, I guess. Maybe something in the music business, but that’s not creative really…
TMAS: Why not?
DB: It could be I guess, so maybe in the music business, or maybe I would be a writer.
BC: I would be a professional model. Look at these cheekbones and this hair.
TMAS: I’m having a hard time keeping my clothes on, to tell you the truth.
BC: No, really, I’m interested in film, so I would do something with film. I did our videos actually. They were highly criticized, by the way. I got tons of comments on our YouTube like “I don’t like this angle you used at 3:14.”
TMAS: And were you like… “fuck off??”
BC: I actually spent only 2 minutes on it, but I wanted to write back on their videos and say “You’re horrible – The Postelles” but the band wouldn’t let me. The people liked the songs but said the video was shit so I just wanted to be like “Your videos are shit and you don’t HAVE any songs!”
DB: Is this going in the interview?
TMAS: This type of conversation is RIGHT up our alley. And I’m going to comment on those videos.

TMAS: This is the last question and it’s my favorite question ever.
BC: It’s going to be mine too.
TMAS: If your house was on fire what would be the first thing you would save?
DB: My dogs, I think.
BC: My dogs?
DB: I woudn’t take your dog!
BC: But that would be MY answer! Maggie!

::laughter::

DB: Okay, other than dogs- my guitar, and my laptop because it has all of my songs on it.
BC: My memory box. I have a box full of memories.
TMAS: Is it imaginary?
BC: It basically just holds all my tickets to movies and concerts.
TMAS: That’s really romantic.
DB: That’s not romantic at all.
BC: I would save my ex-girlfriend that I have locked under my bed. I have her stored under there.
TMAS: Is she taxidermied?
BC: No. She’s alive. I feed her once a day.

TMAS: Okay…the real last question.
DB: That was the fake last question?
TMAS: Is this your favorite Lollapalooza interview?
BC: It is… because even though we enjoy answering the same question over and over and over again this has probably been the most refreshing interview. In fact, this isn’t only my favorite Lollapalooza interview; it is my favorite interview ever.

Check out some of our artist interviews from this past weekend at Langerado …

Matt Pond PA, Matt Pond

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Trevor Hall, Trevor Hall

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Trevor Hall, Chris Steel (Percussionist)

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Dr. Dog, Toby Leaman (Vocals)

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Steel Train, Jack Antonoff (Vocals/Guitar), Evan Winiker (Vocals/Bass), Scott Irby-Ranniar (Vocals/Keys), Daniel Silbert (Vocals/Guitar), Jon Shiffman (Vocals/Drums)

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Will Hoge, Will Hoge

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Hoots & Hellmouth, Sean Hoots (Vocals/Guitar)

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