One night at an upscale private college I was standing outside listening to some music majors talking about Scott Joplin. “Joplin” they complained to each other – for lack of any women to talk to – “wasn’t a truly important pianist”. When asked why, they explained that he was too accessible, his rhythms and movements too spry. He was, for their college-y tastes, just too god-damned fun.
The Presidents of The United States of America are a band that should be a lot more respected than they are. Presidents are a fun band, an accessible band, an unpretensious band and a very successful band. They have what most musicians would kill for: a self-regenerating fanbase who pass their albums down from brother to sister, cousin to friend as a right of passage into early adulthood. They should be as big as Weezer and as respected as They Might Be Giants.
I had a short chat with guitarist Andrew McKeag, short mainly because I woke him up at 8:00 am for this call.
Marty: I love how you guys have this regenerating fanbase
Andrew: I know, it’s amazing. I think there are certain albums that just define a certain period of your life, you know? People keep finding that first album and they just love it, it‘s funny to see how the young audience keeps coming to our music.
Marty: You’ve been in the record industry for a long time, how has it changed since the big hit 90’s?
Andrew: I don’t think it changed enough. The labels had an opportunity to get out ahead of file sharing and figure out how to make money off digital media. But they resisted change and now they’re doing badly. I’m telling you, it couldn’t have happened to a nicer bunch of guys.
Marty: Let’s say the presidents wanted to add a fourth member, maybe a three-keyed piano? Obama or Clinton?
Andrew: It would depend on who could drink the most whiskey.
****
Presidents of the United States of America new album These are Good Times People was released on March 11. They play at the 930 Club on Tuesday night (tonight) with Jack Talcum and Ludo.
from Michael a week a go:
One Sleepless Wrestle: Stars love Martin Royale.
Baltimore loves Marty Royale.
Marty Royale loves Stars.
And fuck, even I love Marty Royale solo (w/o WSC).
More to come when I get back from Alabama with my truck. Promise.
Post this though. It’s a good enough review.
March 25, 2008 at 8:41 amMichael: while I generally try to refrain from saying (in public anyway) that bands “suck”, I will say that Martin and I disagreed about this one. He tried to convince me of their goodness, but…no dice.
Coming from you, I think “…even I love Marty…” is the strongest endorsement he’s had on this tour! Ta, Taylor
March 25, 2008 at 8:52 amTaylor: I give good endorsement.
March 25, 2008 at 9:16 amI saw these guys in the 90s because the Fastbacks were opening for ‘em and while their crowd was (is?) a bunch of dingleberry jockos they were a lot of fun despite their album’s mediocrity. So there.
Please post more of Michael’s reviews so we can lol at them.
March 25, 2008 at 9:28 amthey do a mc5 cover!! its sooo good! what mainstream pop band puts an mc5 cover on their album? presidents of the united states
i just got this dune buggy 7″ picture disc, im stoked.
March 25, 2008 at 10:06 amI was at the Stars show. Didn’t really see any difference between Marty solo and a Washington Social Club show. Half of his set was half assed played WSC tunes.
Stars were great though.
Actually, they weren’t Social Club songs. See here:
http://www.digitalfreedom.org/utilities/blog.html
Michael: I’m going to accept your comment above as an inside joke. Its nice to have one with you. I was feeling left out.
March 25, 2008 at 5:25 pmHmm… I guess I must have been at a different show than the plant that wrote that review.
March 27, 2008 at 8:54 amI have been a Presidents fan since the very first time Lump came on (99.1) WHFS oh so many years ago. Last week was the first chance I had to actually see them live.
Verdict: dissappointed!
The house was packed and the band went back and forth between old and new, but there was just something missing, kinda like every fix you’ve had after the first one. I’ll keep loving the albums, but I feel like I just found out that Santa Claus is real, but lives and works in New Jersey. :-\
March 29, 2008 at 11:40 am
Marty - this band sucks.
On another note I sent a few-lined review of your show in Baltimore and Svetlana told me to “fuck off” via silence.
March 25, 2008 at 8:38 am