PREWAR YARDSALEinterview |
Prewar Yardsale- d - hi Brad- hello = Jell-O Prewar Yardsale- d - how are you? Brad- I am all good- antistyle- and you guys? Prewar Yardsale- d - good, just hanging around the house. antistyle Prewar Yardsale- m- hi Brad- How was the trip to the UK- Superfun? Prewar Yardsale- d & m - yeah, it was so much fun. we had a great time. we wish we were still there. Brad- Tell me about it- what happened where did ya go, what did ya do? Prewar Yardsale- d & m - ok, we 're gonna sorta answer together. we basically went to a different city everyday/night, played in london, newcastle, birmingham, leicster, brighton, and leeds. and drove around in a van w/ kimya, jeff & jack lewis, mmm usa, seth, anders, toby, maurice ( do you know him), and this friend of seths, gareth, who drove us around. Prewar Yardsale- d & m - the shows went great, lots of crowds, and really fun. Brad- I don't know Maurice- what was the best part? Prewar Yardsale- the people there are so nice and really into music. this guy gareth is in a band called mistys big adventure, from birmingham, and they played w/ us too one night, and gareth came on tour w/ us and played melodica w/ seth and jeff. Prewar Yardsale- d - Maurice produced seths album ( I think - but don't quote me on that - I think he is the executive producer), and he is also a photographer, and a big dufus fan. Prewar Yardsale- d - and he also helped out a lot, and manned the merchandise table every night at the shows Prewar Yardsale- d & m - it was quite an adventure, hanging out w/ all ten of us, 24/7 Brad- I think I have emailed Maurice and got some dufus pics from him Brad- What was the most adventurous part? Prewar Yardsale- d & m - probably the driving in the fog on the dark rodes late at night, on our way to birmingham in the middle of the night, and not being sure where we were going to sleep , and also playing to these large crowds of british kids, and being nervous Prewar Yardsale- d - but the kids are so nice and into the music, and very welcoming Prewar Yardsale- m - eating at the rest stops ( called MOTA's) Brad- You guys were nervous? how if at all did it affect you? Prewar Yardsale- d & m - mike gets more nervous than me. he play the guitar really quiet, I just get nervous before the show, but once it starts I'm ok. I think it makes me non-verbal ( which is a rarity for me) Prewar Yardsale- but as the week went on we were less nervous. and the last time we went to London ( in April ) we were MUCH more nervous. this time we felt a little bit more like we knew what to expect. Brad- No need to be nervous- I bet you guys rocked the place, even with a quite guitar. What was the wildest crowd for you guys? Prewar Yardsale- m - I would get grumpy and do bad sound checks, and get worried that I was being grumpy and that people were getting annoyed w/ me. Prewar Yardsale- d - oh yeah, he was most definitely grumpy!!! Prewar Yardsale- m & d - London, really big place, really crowded, and the most dense crowd. Prewar Yardsale- d & m - there were people so close to the stage, practically on top of it, and taking pictures, and videotaping. they weren't most " wild" as far as behavior, but it was an intense. Prewar Yardsale- d - birmingham was wild too, more like a party crowd, but also very packed. both the London and birmingham shows sold out, and that reflected in the room, totally packed and crazy. Brad- Who came up with AU Base? Prewar Yardsale- d & m - mike wrote the song au base, and there was an art gallery in Chelsea called AU Base. Prewar Yardsale- d - mike used to write a lot of songs about art and w/ art references Brad- Who came up with the name Prewar yardsale? And what came first the band or the song? Prewar Yardsale- d & m - the band came first, then the song Prewar Yardsale- d & m - we both sorta made up the name together Brad- How did you come up with the name? Brad- oops Brad- How did you guys meet? And when did the band start? Prewar Yardsale- d & m - we live on the upper west side in a prewar building, and it's a residential neighborhood, so we wanted to do something residential, and yardsale also represents that, and our eclectic ( junky) instrumentation. Prewar Yardsale- d & m - we went to high school together, but didn't really know each other until a few years later. we started dating in college ( 15 years ago). we started the band about 3 years ago . Brad- Had you both been doing music solo before? Prewar Yardsale- m - we met at a cindylee berryhill show at the fort on rivington st Prewar Yardsale- d - no, but I always wished I did Prewar Yardsale- m nope Prewar Yardsale- d - m's answer is a big lie, he has always played music and written , ever since I have known him Prewar Yardsale- d - I never sung before, or did anything except play the flute in school. but I was always SOOO into music Brad- I knew that Mike had- But I didn't know if Dina had or not. What is the biggest Lie that either of you have ever gotten away with? Prewar Yardsale- d - huh? with each other, or in general? Prewar Yardsale- d - I don't even know. I don't really lie very much, I did when I was a kid, though Brad- general- unless- you wanna devulge something here Brad- ok not lie tease Prewar Yardsale- m - I lied at work once about something, but don't really lie Prewar Yardsale- m & d - mike might do that more than me. he's a wiseass Prewar Yardsale- d - like the cindylee berryhill meeting above. not true Prewar Yardsale- d - what about you? Brad- I told Vanessa once that I hated Chinese food and kept it up for 3-4 years Prewar Yardsale- d - why would do that, then you couldn't eat it?? Brad- True not with her- I liked it but not as much as she did Prewar Yardsale- - ah ha Brad- How did you guys decide to put the band together? whose idea was it? Prewar Yardsale- d & m - no one in particular. we just started playing together. mike wanted to do something different from playing solo, so we just messing around together. Brad- Where was your first gig together? How was it? Prewar Yardsale- d- I started playing on the floor, playing a refrigerator drawer Prewar Yardsale- d & m - the gershwin hotel, that our friend mattithias put on ( the antifolk king), from the band fellinis basement. he used to put on shows there, and billy syndrome would DJ between the acts, and I sat on the floor and played the drawer. it was tension filled Prewar Yardsale- d - I was nervous, and it was good, in an interesting way, but I didn't really know what I was doing. but it was exciting. we didn't have a band name yet Prewar Yardsale- then our next gig was at stone soup, a night that Nan used to put together ( and mike came up w/ the name stone soup, no matter what cindylee berryhill says) at the C note. and adam green played, and jeff lewis. but jeff's guitar didn't work, so almost used mikes guitar, but he instead just walked off the stage . adam said he ' wigged out" Brad- What is Antifolk? Prewar Yardsale- d hmmmm Prewar Yardsale- m - I would say it's for acoustic music, acoustic guitar based music, that's a hybrid of folk, punk. but I don't think my definition would limit someone else's. that's how I approach it, but other people might approach it other ways Prewar Yardsale- d - acoustic based, lo fi, punk and folk influenced, lyric oriented music Prewar Yardsale- d - what do you think it is? Brad- I get that a lot- I am no expert but I think it is for people who think that you can still be innovative with an acoustic guitar. Prewar Yardsale- d- me too. I think if you add the electric guitar, and then add a full band, it looses its antfolkness to a certain extent. you become a rock band. and there is nothing wrong w/ that, but it changes Prewar Yardsale- d & m - so we have some new recordings coming out, that we're excited about Prewar Yardsale- d - we have a 7 " vinyl single coming out, that was supposed to be ready for our tour, but it got delayed, but it's finally done. Brad- When are they coming out? what is gunna be on em? Prewar Yardsale- d & m - well the single is done, but we don't have it yet. it's going to be on a small uk label called a-ok. ( we're the first release sort of). so it should be distributed in the UK in the next month or 2. but it should be available at the rough trade shops in london , and maybe some other local london shops. and we will get some copies in the next week or 2, that we will sell on the Olivejuice site, and at gigs. it has 4 songs - bicycle free NYC, she used to be cool, moron english punk, psychadelicate ( amphetimine version) Prewar Yardsale- d & m - and we're almost done w/ a new album that mmm usa recorded. we put 6 of the songs out on a cd called potluck that we brought w/ us to the uk to sell, but we haven't made them avail. here yet. that was the ep version, that I made on our new cd burner, but it should have about 10 songs or so on it. hopefully we will finish it up in the next month or 2 Brad- Sweet, An Oj release as well right? Prewar Yardsale- 0h, the label the single is on is a-ok-records. I think that is the correct spelling. they have put a few other singles on a label called crustaceans and reptiles, but they are sorta pop electronica, so that are starting a new label name for more poppy sounding music and we are the first release under that name. potluck is going to be an OJ release Prewar Yardsale- m - for $20 you can pre-order potluck w/ a signed poster Prewar Yardsale- d - don't listen to mike Brad- What songs are gunna be on Potluck? Prewar Yardsale- m - actually, all joking aside, the songs are probably the best songs we have ever written. and it's sort of incoherent ( there is no theme, like Lowdown), but the individual songs are more well written as entities unto themselves. Prewar Yardsale- psychadelicate (qualude version), brother can you spare a dime, instrumental novelty, pied beauty, peak, philadelphia, life of my party, maybe creme brule ( which is a sonic youth song), and maybe a few others Brad- We had the belmont stakes of antifolk- who would be in the running for the BCS (college football's Bowl Championship series)? Prewar Yardsale- m - well, the moldy peaches would be running # 1, but they would get disqualified for breaking up, but if they weren't , they would be the clear favorite, and easily win any bcs championship, as they did in ny at the recent cmj music fest, when they made the daniellsoin famille look like a choir band, and made the indie rock community look like they were still playing in massachusits. Prewar Yardsale- m - and the next best antifolk teams are jeff lewis, kimya solo, adam green solo, the babyskins, and then a tossup between a bunch of others Prewar Yardsale- m - including steve shiffman and the land of nod, herman dune, rachel lipson, and leah hayes Brad- Where do you guys fit in? Prewar Yardsale- m - I don't where we fit in. we're consistantly good, but not the best. and we'll always have a good showing, but never have the best Prewar Yardsale- d - I don't know the answer to that. i'd like to win the championship, but I don't know how Prewar Yardsale- d - oh, and diane cluck. I think most of these acts are more experimental than us in their performance style and lyrical style, and that makes them come up from behind and always surprise you w/ something new. and some of those acts are fresh and new, so they seem so exciting right now, like leah hayes, and rachel Prewar Yardsale- m - we're like a big 10 team Prewar Yardsale- d - herman dune is a band from france, that is living here now for a few months, and hanging out on the scene. they are incredible. and leah hayes is a new woman on the scene, ( friends w/ herman dune), and really good. rachel lipson has dome some performing and writing w/ jeff lewis, and is on one of his singles, and is doing a lot of solo stuff now, and very good song writer. Prewar Yardsale- m - the acc is a mess Prewar Yardsale- m - the acc is worse than the big east Brad- Acc for life- I ain't no fair weather fan Prewar Yardsale- you have to check out herman dune. they have also been playing a lot w/ deep sound diver and turner cody, jamming w/ them at gigs Brad- It is tough being where I am to know what is going on Prewar Yardsale- m - today's game w/ 11th ranked florida state vs. the 22nd ranked Fla really shows how important the acc still is. Brad- I am a NC state fan Prewar Yardsale- d - well, first off, enough about football, 2nd, I'm sure it is hard, but definitely try and do some searches and research on herman dune. I don't know if leah or rachel have any internet stuff up yet, but I should tell them to send you there cds. Prewar Yardsale- d - is this interview long or short, compared to what you have done? Brad- Short so far- 2 Guest questions from Timothy Dark- #1 Dina how do you feel about all the sick statements made by the people on the message board. Prewar Yardsale- d - well, I think I pretty much answered them on the board. I don't like being objectified, or put in a perverse sexual context. and I that doesn't mean I have hang ups, as some stated. the language was misogynist, and mike thinks it's slanderous. my answers are on the board pretty much, so I don't feel like getting into it again. Brad- ok Prewar Yardsale- d - I just feel like those board topics can go on forever, and it gets a little annoying Brad- Timothy Dark #2 Is it true that James Levy is your brother? Prewar Yardsale- no, someone joked about that , so I think at some point I answered that he was, but no he isn't. Prewar Yardsale- m - oh , mike wants to ad james levy to the bcs listings. Brad- 12 different countries have visited your page on my site! Prewar Yardsale- d - how can you tell that? that's pretty cool. I think your site is so great. it's great that someone has a site, w/ artist pages for some so many artists Brad- Homestead has site stats that I can look up Brad- About 75 % of the visits to the prewar page are USA Prewar Yardsale- wow, that's cool Brad- Other countries include- South Korea, Sweden, Finland, and spain Prewar Yardsale- what % of total visits to your site are usa? Brad- Let me check... Brad- In the past 3 weeks about 75 % Brad- Slovinia Prewar Yardsale- ah, so we're on level w/ the rst of the board Prewar Yardsale- slovinia to us? Brad- Slovakia- to the site Brad- Czech Republic Brad- tons of places Brad- shew Prewar Yardsale- d -oh, wow. do you have the site linked to search engines ( even though I don't really know what that means) Brad- I think Homestead does that for me Prewar Yardsale- what else should we talk about? Brad- I have gotten some hits from people looking up Prewar Yardsale Brad- What other music are you guys into? Prewar Yardsale- what do you mean? like doing searches? Brad- yep Prewar Yardsale- m - well, other than antifolk, indie rock Brad- Like what? Prewar Yardsale- m & d - we might try and scalp tickets tonight to see sonic youth and the liars Brad- I am dumb in that arena enlighten me Prewar Yardsale- m & d - sonic youth, the black dice, the strokes, the yeah yeah yeahs, the dead meadow, the sliver jews, belle & sebastion, papa m, hope sandoval, le tigre, sleater kinny, the white stripes, the dirtbombs, quixotic, the detroit cobras, the come ons, the aislers set, erase erata, then from the geriatric ward, bob dylan, the velvet underground ( more from years back) Prewar Yardsale- m - we're gonna rate some new antifolk records, is that ok? Brad- Sure go ahead Prewar Yardsale- have you heard jeff lewis's collaboration cd? m - this cd is a fun idea and worth listening to just for the idea itself, however most of the collaborations help to point out the weaknesses of each performer away from their usual collaborations. the best highlight is a diane cluck song that verges on being a religious vesper. mike gives it a thumbs up, after second thoughts d -oh , ok, I didn't know we were going to write a review. I love the cd, and can never get kimya and jeffs songs out of my head. I give it a thumbs up Prewar Yardsale- d - I don't know if I feel like doing this...( the reviewing cds, not the inteview) Prewar Yardsale- d - is there anything else you want to ask us? Brad- I don't have the Cd - he sent it to me but it has his songs form Austin in it instead. I have all the Kimya and Jeff Songs on a different Cd but I do not have the Jeff and diane ones Brad- Yes I want to ask.. Prewar Yardsale- d- the jeff and diane ones are very good Brad- I can imagine that they would be- great as I like both of them separately. Have you guys ever been in the middle of a fight and then had to play a gig anyway? Prewar Yardsale- m - we got divorced once and then played a gig, and then got remarried after the gig. Brad- ahahahh Prewar Yardsale- d- I remember one time we got into a big fight, because wanted to play some new songs we didn't know, and I didn't want to , and I refused to, and he got really mad, and we went on stage totally pissed at each other Prewar Yardsale- d- that has happened more than once, we fight over what to play or what kind of set list to do... and we're nervous too, so it adds the tension Brad- Do you guys fight about music more than anything else? Prewar Yardsale- m - only when we have a gig, but other wise we fight about other stuff, but we don't fight that much Prewar Yardsale- we're fighting about how to answer the questions. Brad- Who is the boss? Prewar Yardsale- no one really Prewar Yardsale- we're each in charge of differnt things Brad- ahhh Brad- How do you guys write songs? Prewar Yardsale- we usually pick a topic, and then write the lyrics first, and then work out a guitar melody. and add the other other parts Brad- Do you write it all together? Prewar Yardsale- usually Brad- What is the most auto-biographical song you have? Prewar Yardsale- m - we have autobiograhical fragments sprinkled throughout or songs, but none are really all autobiographical. Brad- What is your favorite lyric in a song you have written? Prewar Yardsale- m - I don't know if I have one Prewar Yardsale- d - I have never even thought of that before Brad- wanna skip it? Prewar Yardsale- m - let's see, a new lyric "the heart my grows will grow on you" Prewar Yardsale- d - I need to think about it I think Brad- ok Brad- Do you have any questions for me? Prewar Yardsale- did you get the pics of jeffs videos? Brad- yes Brad- I did- Should I go ahead and post em? Prewar Yardsale- d -do you find it hard to be the " moniter" of this sight? do people try and get you to do things for them? Prewar Yardsale- sure, you can post them. we'll try and send you more too. and write something Prewar Yardsale- M - How come most of the artists on your site are from NY? is there good acoustic based music else where? athens, chapel hill? san fran? do you know how many artists on your site are from other places besides ny? Brad- It is fun to run the site- that is why I do it. As far as do things for people- I rarely write anything for the site so I tell people up front that I don't really write reviews (cause I don't think I write well) Brad- Hold up I will answer... Prewar Yardsale- d- uh huh. I was just wondering if anyone asked you to favor them in some way. maybe the a booker of a club would feel. but I guess you don't write reviews, so that does make it easier. it seems like a really fun thing to do. it must be a lot of work too. I think everyone really appreciates it too. Brad- That is changing, but a lot of the people on the site are from NYC some that are not include- people from Cali, Atlanta, Chicago, Baltimore and other places and I am looking at getting some from Oklahoma and Korea among others Prewar Yardsale- do you think all the artists are really antifolk? or can you not answer that one? Brad- I try to run the thing as fair as possible which is easier since I don't create most of the content, What people send me is what I post Brad- Don't know if they are- that is the beauty of the fanlight deal- Example- I like Chris Chandlers stuff a lot I knew he played the Fort so I asked him to be on the site he said that he had a kinship with antifolk but wasn't sure he was antifolk. I think he fits well on the site and I am happy to have him on it Prewar Yardsale- ha anyway, I think we have to go soon. can we wrap up soon? Brad- We will - we just have fast five if you don't have any more questions for me Prewar Yardsale- ok Prewar Yardsale- I think we're done w/ questions Brad- #1 - How much money do you have in your wallets now Prewar Yardsale- I think we both have about anywhere between 2o and 40 dollars... Brad- #2 What is your favorite place to eat in NYC? Prewar Yardsale- m - americana deli d - any mexican restaurant Brad- #3 Which one of you is more shy than the other? Prewar Yardsale- d - mike Brad- #4 You guys met in college- what were your majors? Prewar Yardsale- no, actually we knew each other in high school, just never really spoke, and we went to different colleges, but started dating anyway ( just to clarify) mike has a bachelor of fine art and I majored in fashion buying and merchandising Brad- #5 Is there any rockstar that you would love to see get their ass kicked? Prewar Yardsale- no - we love rock stars! Brad- Cool!! I hope that you guys had fun!! I will check spelling and post pretty soon if that is ok! Prewar Yardsale- cool, thanks a lot. hope you had a nice thanks giving. talk to you soon!!!! Brad- Be good thank you so much!! |
the Prewar Yardsale interview |
