Riding Shotgun With Matt Pond PA
Captivating. Delightful. Enchanting. Luscious. All of these words (and perhaps a hundred others) describe the music of Matt Pond PA. Led by Mister Matt Pond, this quintet of transplanted Brooklynites creates a soft and inviting dreamscape. But don't let their gentle beauty fool you. They do cover the Stranglers, after all. Nice guy Matt Pond has all the answers (Liquor! Naps! Eye-patches!), as you'll see below. Of course, once you're done reading, I suggest (very, very strongly) that you think about venturing up to Balmer to check out Matt Pond PA gently rock the Ottobar with Straylight Run ($14).
May I first say that Big Yawn is great name for anything. Yes it is.
Touring is:Endless right now. I dream of hotels and driving and snakes in the trailer. That last part is difficult to explain.
Our first gig was: Hard to remember because a) it was so terrible b) it was so poorly attended c) it was too long ago d) all of the above.
Our favorite venue to play is: I like the Bowery. And North Six in Brooklyn. Maybe because we live there -- maybe because those places rule.
Hygiene on tour is: Whoa. This is a nerve right now. Weeks and weeks in a van. I challenge anyone to be pristine in these conditions... But things are better than before. The days of sleeping on the floor in the basement are distant. We shower now. We are mostly civilized. That is the way I'd like to portray ourselves.
Our favorite thing about touring is: Meeting people. We like the part after we play where we're all on the same level. Where there are no microphones or stages.
And the least favorite thing: I love to drive. But this kind of driving makes my head hurt. I'm prone to speaking out loud to myself when faced with this much monotony. And I really don't like seeming crazy in front of other people. Or even at all.
City with the best audiences: Chicago's cool. The last time we played, they put up with our out-of-tune guitars like they couldn't hear them. You see, the backstage was right next to the freezing out-of-doors and the stage was incredibly hot -- no instrument can stand those kinds of ups and downs. Yet the audience remained on our side the entire time. That's rules.
The band member most likely to disappear after a show is: Dan. Only in the pursuit of good times. That's a noble way to be lost. He's generally excused.
The tour bus/van smells like: It smells like feet. I don't like that smell. I wash my feet regularly. I think someone else does not.
Laundry is: a) washed regularly, b) washed irregularly, c) we go shopping a lot: These days we actually do our laundry. Like champions.
What's the most unusual item on your rider? Is liquor unusual? That's mostly what's there. Pardon us, but we enjoy the occasional cocktail.
Who controls the music in the touring vehicle, and what are you listening to at the moment? Be Your Own Pet. We all listen to each other's music. We all complain about each other's music. That is our life.
Your new favorite watering hole after being on tour? And/or the best place to get greasy, hangover-curing food? We go to Daddy's in Brooklyn. It's homey. Is that a word? For food -- it's always Amarin in Greenpoint. It's not greasy or anything except for perfectly inexpensive delicious Thai food.
Most amusing memory from your current or most recent tour? Last night, we were certain that the cops were going to bust our hotel room. We took all sorts of evasive action. Then were kept awake by a louder party a few doors down. Less amusing than it is just dumb.
What's your favorite thing to do while on tour? I love sleep and naps. Anything that makes me feel less crazy.
Please name the city you wouldn't ever play in again? Or, if not a particular city, what venue makes your skin crawl? I prefer to maintain a positive outlook on this whole thing. It will drag you down if you focus on the negative bits.
What can people look forward to at a Matt Pond PA gig? We play as hard as our soft rock will allow. It's different than writing and recording. I don't want to play in front of people unless it's everything and more.
Apart from the obvious cd, what's the merch item of yours you think people should shell out for? Vinyl is the only other thing that I can legitimately support. I like t-shirts and whatnot from other bands -- but I won't play sales-person.
What's the most essential thing needed to successfully dress like a pirate? Obviously the eye-patch. Sometimes, I wish I could always wear an eye-patch. It's almost somehow a sign of power. I'm into it.
Best thing written about Matt Pond PA that you've ever read: I try not to read anything about ourselves anymore. It makes my stomach hurt.
Have you been to the top of the Washington Monument? Not yet.
What does the future hold for Matt Pond PA? I have no idea. We just finished our next record, we're on tour, and I'm about to take a nap. That's all I know.
What would you like people to be saying about Matt Pond PA in 50 years? I'm really trying to live like I'm in the moment. In 50 years, I'll probably be somewhere else. It's not something I can affect or imagine.
Please recite a line of poetry: I've mostly given up on poets for prose -- and I won't take a line out of context -- because doesn't make any sense. But 'Some Trees' by John Ashbery and anything by Louise Glðck.
And finally, it's BigYawn's round. What's your poison? Recently switched to Jameson. With a little ice. Thanks.
For more Matt Pond PA goodness, please see www.mattpondpa.com or www.myspace.com/mattpondpa.