How did you guys meet and end up starting the band?
Adam:
I’m Adam, I play guitar and sing.. also triangle. Aha. We all went to high school together actually in Davis, California. Ted and I played in a band called Paper, Scissors, Rock, it was like a dorky wannabe Weezer band. Nick was in a band called Mommy And Daddy, which was like Red Hot Chili Peppers vibe band, they were like the biggest band in high school. Jared, who’s doing synths with us, we just picked him up for this tour, but he also went to high school with us, so it’s like a high school reunion. Ahaha.
Nick:
This is Nick on drums! I think it originally started between Adam and I. I found this toy keyboard and it sounded weird when I plugged it into this sound system, it distorted in this weird way and you could only play like two note chords at once so I don’t know it was kinda restrictive, but also liberating. Then we slowly accumulated more players like Ted joined, and then we switched from a drum machine to actual drums and it kinda morphed into the final formation of the four piece. Then we have the fifth, Jared, jumping on synths which I feel like is the missing piece to make a nice live set.
What bands or artists are your guys' biggest influences?
Ted:
I’m Ted Davis and I play the bass! We listen to all kinds of music, I think we’re all pretty into music from all different genres, I think. One band that has influenced Nathan, Adam and I a lot forsure is Toro Y Moi. Lately I’ve been listening to Amnee.
Adam:
Steve Lacy is sick!
Ted:
Steve Lacey is tight. Shadae! Is that how you say it?
Yeah! She’s great.
Ted:
Dude yeah I was listening to her all day. Haha. I mean the Beatles and The Beach Boys are like super classics and oh yeah the Kinks, and Cleaners From Venus. Yeah that’s probably sufficient. We could go through every band, but that might take a while aha.
Do you think your city or community has an effect on the type of music you play?
Adam:
I have to say that our community did not affect the type of music we were playing which was kinda a weird experience because we were just kinda writing whatever kind of music we felt like. In the bay there weren’t really other acts making similar music which was interesting when we first started playing shows.
You guys definitely started at like the “Surf Rock” indie comeback in Bay Area and LA. There’s a lot of local bands now in the bay that sound like you guys, or more just kinda take influence from you guys.
Adam:
It’s weird because like we never thought of ourselves as a surf sounding band, but people kept saying that, so we just like started thinking okay that’s just like what we're gonna be called, but I don’t know, it’s hard to say because we're like trying to figure out what to call our music, but I think it’s a product of having a wide variety of influences.
Ted:
It’s always more boring to try to cater to one genre or one sound. It’s more exciting to one day just write a heavy track and another day write like a super emo, sensitive track.
When did you guys first discover the local music scene in your area and what does that scene mean to you?
Adam:
Well,l in my mind a really big moment was when we played this secret show which they used to do a bunch. It was called the Secret Show Society and they would throw shows at Fort Funston and other secret cool locations. It was like where all these kids would go who weren’t 21 and who wanted to hang out and do something off the grid. It was just all these really cool bands like Melina from Jay Som, her band Summer Peaks played. All the bands who were doing anything at that time played that show and there was just a ton of kids just hanging out so in my mind that’s when we like experienced the scene I guess. The Bay is also really weird because it’s disjointed, which is kinda of unfortunate because I feel like it’s almost like a competition, some people will like do their thing and then they won’t really reach out to other people. I felt like anytime we could connect with other bands and feel like there was a community, it was really special. So there was a good few years where that happened, it was a lot of fun once we started to do it.
For a while I didn’t think there was a music scene in the Bay Area because it’s so gentrified and expensive to live everywhere, I just thought there wasn’t enough money for the artists anywhere. I was really surprised though because there’s actually a lot if you look closely, especially in the east bay.
Ted:
It comes in waves. Before the whole band moved down here, I lived out here by myself and it took me a long time to fall into any kind of music scene which was kinda surprising coming from Davis where all our homies in high school were playing garage shows and stuff.
What’s been the journey to your sound and where do you see yourself going next?
Ted:
We all came from the music scene in Davis and it seems like our song writing style is constantly evolving as we grow as people and as we experience new artists that we enjoy. There’s just always different influences in your life and I think as artists we all try to incorporate things that inspire us day to day.
What artists or bands currently playing do you guys look up to or idolize?
Ted:
I like The Drums. When I was in high school Julian Casablancas was my fucking idol, that was big thing for Nick and I.
Adam:
We just played some shows with The Garden and their live performance really inspired me because they take it to a level I didn’t expect they would because they go so hard. I’m like how do I go that hard live, but it’s kinda hard when your playing guitar and singing because they’re kinda dancing around and shit. It just made me wanna make more turnt and fucked up music so I could like do a flip into the audience.
Ted:
That level of performance was crazy. It’s like a second nature to those guys.
*Nathaniel the last member of the band walks in*
Nathaniel:
Hello.
Hey we're doing an interview, do you wanna chime in?
Nathaniel:
Sure.
*He then proceeds to ask the band something and then leave.*
What are your guys favorite local venues to play at or go see shows at in the Bay Area?
Nick:
The Fillmore is sick. Last month we opened for the Radio Department at The Filmore. I would say it’s my favorite venue in San Francisco, it was sick to finally play there. I would say a smaller venue that I like is the Chapel in the Mission District. We’ve played the Rickshaw Stop a lot.
Adam:
The Rickshaw is like our San Francisco stomping ground.
Nick:
We’re playing The Independent tomorrow which is a pretty sick venue and has pretty good sound there so I’m pretty excited about that.
Are there any local bands from the San Francisco Bay Area that you guys look up to or are inspired by?
Adam:
We’re on tour with No Vacation who’s from the Bay and they’re really great, I love their music. Jay Som, too, fucking great.
Ted:
Brian Jonestown Massacre, they’re a little older though. Oh and Part Time.
Adam:
Oh and you know the Grateful Dead, greatest band, just kidding, the worst band ever out of the bay!
Oh wow really? You would get fought by some Santa Cruz hippies for saying that, be careful! Ahaha.
Ted:
Yeah some guy on acid is gonna come up and stab you! Ahaha.
Adam:
You should check out Mallwalk, if you haven’t heard of them. They’re from Oakland, they’re like the cut little janglers doing their thing.
That’s all my questions! Anything else you wanna say?
Ted:
We love love!
Adam:
Yeah I’m good, I don’t wanna say something stupid.
Okay thank you guys so much!
words and pictures by mac
