tenured: T. Scanlin, M. Kelly, R. Murray, C. Lindo
emeritus: M. Wijsen, A. Rubin, D. Modie, D. Bailey
adjunct: P. Main, J. Robbins, J. Palmer, A.F. Levy, A. Welch, C. Clune, B. Kaphan, A. Prellwitz
LittleBook: How did you find each other??
(Marty:) My roommate Oden came home with Pillbox, Tim's first band's 7". Compared to a lot of the East Bay bands of the time, I was really impressed with the lyrics, melodies, and guitars. Not long after, I saw his ad for a drummer either at Amoeba in Berkeley or the East Bay Express. He cited bands like Wire, Gang of Four, and Minutemen, so I figured we'd be pretty compatible. Ross and Chuck came around a few years later after we had parted ways with our original bass player (Mark Wijsen) and were also looking for second guitar and vocals. Chuck, who we knew from his band The American Professionals, actually auditioned on bass first, and played a number of shows on bass. Aaron Rubin (Mr. T Experience, Samiam) played bass for a while, then left - like Mark - for career and family reasons. We knew Ross from Amateur Night, his band with Greg Heller. The first time he came down to our practice pad he had all of our songs down pat. We've kept this lineup for the last seven years.
LB: What's your most memorable moment as a band??
(Marty:) Recording with J. Robbins.
LB: Where do you practice? What do you drink at practice? What do you do at practice when you're practicing?
(Marty:) We used to practice in Emeryville, drink beer and eat challah that Mark would get from his job as a baker at Semifreddis. When we weren't practicing we would generally bullshit about the Bay Area music scene. Nowadays we practice in our separate corners of America and occasionally meet up in SF. I've switched over to seltzer.
LB: What's does being in a band mean in 2009?
(Marty:) I can't answer that in the general sense, but for me vis-a-vis Actionslacks the meaning has changed quite a bit in 15 years. Early on it connoted certain aspirations to quasi-fame or just trying to find a way to make a living as an artist. Now we've given up grabbing for the "Nirvana brass ring" (as Fluf coined it) and I for one have been having more fun than ever.
LB: What's the best / worst thing about being a band in San Francisco??
(Marty:) Best: SF is, to quote the m
id-90s KRON tagline, The Best Place on Earth. Worst: We are too rarely these days "a band in San Francisco."LB: What do you want people to know about your band, what are you doing next??
(Marty:) We've committed to making and releasing a new batch of songs on an annual basis. This year we released Kids With Guitars and are set to record the follow-up at Tiny Telephone in mid-November. We're playing the Bottom of the Hill on November 18 with Love is Chemicals and Ex-Boyfriends.
LB: What's up with your CD where can I get it, where did you record it??
(Marty:) Kids With Guitars has seven songs and was released digital-only this year. It is available via iTunes, etc. Recorded May 2008 at Tiny Telephone, SF with Aaron Prellwitz. We may bundle Kw/G with this year's EP as a CD release next year. We're also planning a rarities CD to commemorate our 15th anniversary.
LB: Was there a local show you remember that inspired you to start a band??
(Marty:) Early on, I was inspired by Archers of Loaf at the Bottom of the Hill and Jawbox and fIREHOSE separately at Slim's (all circa '93-'94).
LB: Favorite venue to Play??
(Marty:) The Bottom.
LB: Have you played the Bottom of the Hill before? What do you like about it?
(Marty:) The sound, the space, the staff, the food, the beer, the crowd.
LB: Do any of the members ever take their shirts off at a show or at practice??
(Marty:) Never, even under the hottest conditions. I have a picture of Chuck taking off his shirt at a photo shoot once, while he was changing out on an Oakland sidewalk. It kind of looks like a Smith's album cover.
LB: Who's the smelliest member after a sweaty gig??
(Marty:) Used to be Tim's feet, but he's gotten that under control.
LB: Where do you think live music is heading??
(Marty:) There could be a renaissance, as artists rely on touring to make money. Also as listeners tire of their computer speakers/earbuds and hanker for real experience. Pure conjecture, I don't really know. But I've always thought that good live music beats the best recorded music. You just can't replicate the energy, the sound, the power of the moment.
LB: How do you feel about people downloading your songs for free, do you offer free downloads??
(Marty:) We're OK with it and have offered free downloads. Music wants to be free. But we appreciate it when people who heard of us after freeloading buy stuff later or donate towards our recording costs. Since we don't tour these days we don't have many opportunities to make $ through live shows and merch.
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