Riding Shotgun With the Stars of Track and Field
They're a little bit electro, and a little bit rock'n'roll. Portland's three-man Stars of Track and Field dabble in the bleep arts as well as the school of rock with some extracurricular moping and the results are, well, pretty fantastic. Aurally delicious, you could say. You can find Jason Bell's answers to my queries below. The good Mister Bell lets us in on topics such as Orlando, Florida (good crowds!), the Epic Cafe (egg sandwiches!), and what might happen if you try to relieve yourself in public in tiny Texas towns (disorderly conduct!). Once you've studied up, meander on down to the Black Cat on November 15th, to see the Stars of Track and Field warming up the stage for Mister Dulli and the Twilight Singers (Also with Jeff Klein - $15).
Our first gig was: Our friend Damon's porch in Portland for a bar-b-q.
Our favorite venue to play is: The Great American Music Hall.
Hygiene on tour is: A common occurrence.
Our favorite thing about touring is: Making art and drinking whiskey.
And the least favorite thing: Feeling sick from drinking whiskey.
City with the best audiences: so far it's Orlando.
The band member most likely to disappear after a show is: Dan.
The tour bus/van smells like: Grape Gatorade.
Laundry is: a) washed regularly, b) washed irregularly, c) we go shopping a lot: Never enough.
What's the most unusual item on your rider? Black socks.
Who controls the music in the touring vehicle, and what are you listening to at the moment? It's pretty mutual... we've been rocking Willie Nelson's "Phases and Stages"... brilliant record... Aphex Twin's "Come to Daddy" e.p...
Your new favorite watering hole after being on tour? And/or the best place to get greasy, hangover-curing food? Epic Cafe in Tucson... amazing egg sandwiches.
Most amusing memory from your current or most recent tour? Dan getting cited for disorderly conduct in Shamrock, Texas for urinating in public.
What's your favorite thing to do while on tour? Favorite thing for me to do on this tour is harass Jeff Klein.
Please name the city you wouldn't ever play in again? Or, if not a particular city, what venue makes your skin crawl? Can't think of one.
What can people look forward to at a Stars of Track and Field gig? People should expect effort... at the very worst we work really hard and take song execution seriously.
You have ringtones. Have you ever been out and about and heard someone's phone ringing to one of your songs? I've never even heard any of our ringtones... are they cool sounding?
Have you been to the top of the Washington Monument? I never have been to the top... but I've been in the Capitol building basement where the secret tram whisks cowardly politicians to and fro so they can avoid media that they own.
What would you like people to be saying about Stars of Track and Field in 50 years? Hopefully people will conclude that SOTAF never compromised their art or principles.
First thing you would advise a first-time visitor to Portland to do or see? Definitely go to Powel's bookstore on Burnside St. have a coffee and pick out some literature.
Favorite star of track and/or field? Me.
Please recite a line of poetry: I really have no ability at literary retention...
And finally, it's BigYawn's round. What's your poison? Patron.
For current information on SOTAF, head to www.starsoftrackandfield.com, or www.myspace.com/starsoftrackandfield