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Gapeseed Interview What the hell is your story? Ed: We have been together for a long time playing all sorts of stuff, but as a three piece we’ve been around for three years. We are about to record our second album in October Pete: Breezemont Day Camp, I am seven years old. Spaghetti Eddie (Ed: duh, its Ed) is the kid in my bunk who never stops laughing and is always picking his nose. His favorite time of the day is lunch when we get cafeteria veal patties. We hit it off. Mike was the new kid in seventh grade. We didn’t get along at first because he was new and I was extremely insecure. Because he played bass and I played drums, we were thrown together in the school band playing such rhythm section rockers as "Jingle Bell Rock" and "Theme from Star Trek." I guess music’s only been improving since. Where does the name come from? Mike: Medieval England. The term was used as such "The jester is sowing gapeseeds again." It refers to daydreams and perceived unachievable goals. A Gapeseed is something that causes one to gape. Sometimes people have said my stomach is a Gapeseed. Ed: Sort of a last minute dictionary scramble. It’s been a recent point of debate but it’s okay. Pete: It’s something you gape at, or an object worthy of awe; yes a bit pompous but aren’t we all musicians? If you were a hard-nosed rock journo-type, how would you describe your music...favorably and unfavorably (that’s not a diss, just an experimental question!)? Mike: Actually I think hard-nosed rock journalists like our music more than other people. They are subjected to so much K-rap (crap) that they respond positively to music that doesn’t follow the same structure every time. Ed: We put the rock back into art. Everyone reckons Beerframe is the ‘zine of the moment. What do you guys reckon? Ed: Beer is outer. It can’t be contained within the petty walls of a frame. Although I’m sure it makes for interesting reading. Pete: Mike’s the museum of rock ‘zines curator so I’ll let him take this one. Mike: Being the ‘zinehead of the band I will gladly comment. Beerframe is cool (who doesn’t love beer?), and pretty popular here too, but right now my favorite are Wind Up Toy, Caught in Flux, and Tailspins. Liz Clayton puts out Wind Up Toy from Ann Arbor, Michigan. It is a veritable guide to Middle American indie rock. She knows a lot of cool people and loves cats too! Caught in Flux is a great ‘zine from New York City with a wonderful sense of humor. In the last issue (#10) there is a cool interview with Palmolive, the drummer of the Slits and the Raincoats. Both of these have excellent ‘zine reviews and are great sources for other cool ‘zines. Finally, Tailspins is from Chicago. This is a larger scale "zine" actually bordering on (dare I say it) a magazine that has excellent coverage of the Chicago music scene and incredible artwork. Brent Ritzel is not afraid to publish anything. What would be your ideal live line-up with you included on the bill? Mike: It would be at Radio City Music Hall, where I saw my first concert ever (A Flock of Seagulls opening for the Fixx). But we would have to borrow a time machine to travel back to the late 80s. The bill would be Gapeseed, Minutemen, Sonic Youth. Ed: Tom Waits, Truman’s Water, Bunny Brains and Gapeseed. Let’s play a word association game... Sophia Loren Gapeseed: purrrrrrrrr Australian rock Mike: Gerling, Vegemite sandwiches and Men at Work Ed: The skills to pay the bills Sterling
Morrison Pete: RIP. What a life - from downtown NYC band and Andy Warhol and some the greatest three chord songs ever, to a Texan tugboat captain and Degree in Medieval Studies. Vegetarianism Mike: A concept impossible for me to comprehend. Pete: Sort of like not getting MTV in stereo, you’re only getting half the picture. Ed: Sometimes eggplant tastes like chicken, but then again, what doesn’t? Favorite
place to eat? Give us a Gapeseed discography so far... Pete: Do a seven inch and a CD count as a discography? "Flanzer" seven inch Silver Girl Records released 11/93. Lo Cell CD Silver Girl Records released 10/94. Videos for "Grifting Ballistic" and "1:59" from Lo Cell. For the future: New full length out in early ‘96, split seven inch with Autro-rockers Gerling. Mike: We are really psyched to be planning a split seven inch with our mates in Australia, Gerling. They rule. I know you three guys are all really good buddies as well as being band-mates. Please discuss... Mike: This fact is an integral part of Gapeseed. We were all high school friends and have played music together for the greater part of ten years. This close knit, insular relationship has definitely shaped the sound we have developed. Gapeseed is an extension of the friendship, an expression of our triumphs and frustrations as three young men living, working and playing music in New York City. I can imagine playing music with other people, but I can’t imagine ever achieving the level of personal intensity that occurs within the confines of Gapeseed. What
is your ideal pet and why? Ed: Dogs that look like bats (french bulldogs), or hummingbirds...I like hummingbirds. Best records you’ve heard all year... Mike: There are a bunch of great bands out there for sure. Some of my favourite records of 1995 include the latest releases from Panel Donor, Bardo Pond, Idaho, The Sea and Cake, Shellac, Candy Machine, Holiday Flyer and Baboon. Poem Rocket - a band from New York - has released some incredible vinyl, their new Bear Records ten inch is amazing. I love Gerling’s recent tape too. Pete: Candy Machine’s A Modest Proposal is cool. June of 44’sEngine Takes to the Water has some really great arrangements - their songs take their time, but somehow move right along. Ed: Bunny Brains and Tetsuo. Vinyl or CD and why? Mike: Both actually. Vinyl is cool for the warm sound and ambience, but CDs are great because they are so durable and smaller. Let’s keep an open mind here, ther are positive and negatives to both. Ed: Vinyl...’cause Eddie Vedder’s really pushing it hard these days.
If Gapeseed was an American sitcom, what would it be? Mike: We would definitely be The Dukes of Hazard because, just like Boss Hog controlling everything in Hazard County, there is an invisible force here in New York City that controls everything. If you’re in with it you have it made, if not the cops will be chasing you in the General Lee around the County. Pete would be Luke Duke, and Ed would be Ennis because he is a dipstick. I would be Daisy Duke. Pete: We would be that great sitcom What’s Happening. Ed would be Re-run because he was always dancing and laughing - you know, the class clown type. Mike would be Rodge because he was the responsible one, and he wears glasses. I would be Dwayne because the other two are always telling me to shut up, like "Shut up doo-wayne!" Only its more like "Shut up Pete/Dingus/Dumbass/name of the month/etc." But what about Dee you ask? Well when Mike gets drunk, he really does turn into another person, and just like Dee, he’s really annoying. Do The Simpsons really rule? Mike: Yes they do rule. Homer is a typical American male; mentally challenged, likes beer and donuts. Sounds kinda like me. Pete: Who OJ or Homer? Well, we’ve never had a monarchy here, constitutional or otherwise, but if OJ walks maybe he’ll eventually run for office and then I guess, a Simpson would rule. form your own supergroup Ed: Six Finger Satellite playing back-up for Don Ho. Pete: Dual guitar of Thurston and the cheesy guy who wears a leather vest with no shirt underneath from the sitcom Full House and plays guitar (ie. he’s a rocker). I think his name is Jesse. I think the sonic interplay here would certainly worth hearing. Continuing in this vein, I think putting Iggy Pop up front next to a real rock & roll frontman like the guy from Poison could be fun. Iggy: YEAH...WELL ALL RIGHT...etc." Poison Guy: "Talk Dirty to me." Mike: Mike Watt on bass, MCA on bass, Kim Gordon on bass, Charles Mingus on string bass. It would be an indie rock bass symphony playing such hits as "1812 Overture," Vivaldi’s "Four Seasons" etc. Tell us about some cool young bands Tetsuo from Chicago, Poem Rocket from New York City, Gerling from Sydney, Compulsion Betty from Los Angeles, Holiday Flyer from Sacramento, and Biscuit from Detroit. |