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all photos: Shervin Lainez

We could start this post by writing how much we miss Hard Tomorrows, the band Casper Bangs members were in before, but lets not tread those nostalgic waters. That story is sooooooo late mid 2000s. We’re in the late late 2000s now and there is a new music venture to talk about. A venture in which Rob, in relational bliss, wrote a bunch of songs on his desktop, dedicated them to the one he love(d) and intended them for you to enjoy.
It is both everything and nothing you’d expect if you’ve heard his stuff before, and that is a good thing.
Casper Bangs plays their first ever show @ The Black cat tonight and so we collectively sat down with Rob and shot some questions out and over.
This is what transpired:

How long has it been since Hard tomorrows broke up?
We played our last show in July 2007, so almost two years.

What have you been up to since then?
Not much, just thinking about ways to make myself prettier. That’s what I do with most of my time.

What do you think has happened in the DC music scene in the last couple of years that people need to be paying attention to?
I hear there’s this sweet ukulele player at the Gibson on Sunday nights. Check him out.

What are your opinions of other members’ new projects?
I dig the other members new projects. Thomas, Rishi, Charlie and Dennis are amazing. Those guys are great musicians and I love playing with them.

How did Casper Bangs come about?
I wanted to write a solo record, and in the process I became Casper Bangs. I thought it would be cool to take the last name of my love as a stage name. Then we split and I realized I was an idiot. I struggled with what to call myself. I went back and forth, got drunk a lot, hollered at a bunch of strange Eastern European women, and that’s when I finally got some clarity. I just said fuck it, own it…and went with Casper Bangs.

What has influenced you during the writing of the songs on the EP?
Well first off, I wrote an entire record. I’m doing a digital release of three songs as a preview. The full length will come out in late Fall 2009.
Lots of things inspired me during the writing process. I just write about what I know: so that means Dom Perignon, Crystal, 23-year-old Macallan, girls in stockings, and Zack Efron. Ya know, deep meaningful things that stay with you your whole life.

It’s much different than Hard Tomorrows.
That’s right. My new goal is to become the Kayne West of Indie Pop.

What are some of your favorite things to do in the summer in DC?
I like to ride around the city on my bike, get real sweaty, and then go to the Dupont public pool and flirt with gay men.

Where do you shop for skinny jeans?
I find that digging through a woman’s closets is the cheapest and most fun way to acquire new skinny jeans.

Do you believe in God?
You mean John Lennon? Yes.

Do you believe in the Beatles?
No, I believe in the Ray Davies.

Worst show you’ve ever played?
It was a Hard Tomorrows show back in 2005. We were opening for Silver Sun Pickups and Earlimart. We didn’t play particularly bad, but when we saw how great the other two bands were, we were like damn…we got some work to do.

Best hug you’ve ever given/received?
I like to hug Kathryn and I like it when she hugs me. We’re best fwends. I wrote a song about it on the record.

Favorite male celebrity hair?
That’s a tie between Johnny Depp and River Phoenix

Favorite guitar string?
The “A” string.

Did you have a zine in the mid 90’s? If so what was it called, if not what would it have been called if you did have one?
No I didn’t. If I had one it would have been about gymnastics and hip-hop because that’s what I was into in the 90’s. I would have called it Katsu Matsu.

And the inevitable twofer: This is a relationship album. Tell us more about the link between your personal relationships and the music… + You dated a girl who started sleeping with your drummer. And then you dated another girl who started sleeping with your drummer. How has that effected the sound of your percussion. Okay, sorry, no more of that.

It’s cool. I’ll play a little. That whole thing is so in past, like the second season of Gossip Girl. To be honest, the drummer dated both girls first. I just fell in love with them. Of course it effected everything. He laid down the beat for this record and he has played a big part in my relationships for the last 5 years. I am still very fond of him and he is one of the best drummers in DC.

Also, this isn’t exactly a relationship album. It’s not like I wrote 75% of the songs about this one girl named Kathryn, then took the last name of her and put it in my stage name, and then put her picture on the promotional discs I’ve been handing out around town. Hold on…shit.

WANT MORE:
Download these songs @ http://casperbangs.bandcamp.com/
Socialize online here: http://www.myspace.com/casperbangs
And Check Casper Bangs live for the first time ever tonight @ Black Cat (with Deleted scenes)

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