Whipping Post favorite Shark? were cool enough to grant me an interview before they head off to SXSW to melt some unsuspecting faces. The guys give us a peek into who influenced them at a young age, trying to make it as a successful band in Brooklyn, and the decision to give away all their music FO' FREE.The Whipping Post: Seriously, what is it about Brooklyn bands, they're everywhere.....and good! Is it something in the beer?
Kevin Diamond: It's a matter of people of a like mind searching for a hub. The hub can be anywhere: Portland, San Fran, Brooklyn, Baltimore.
Andy Kinsey: We're in the middle of an amazing period that will never be repeated.
WP: With so many bands in the Brooklyn scene, do you find it hard to set yourselves apart? Is there a lot of competition?
KD: It's actually one of the main benefits to being in Brooklyn. You meet so many like-minded bands and musicians and you end up playing together a lot, putting each other on your bills, and it's like some kind of support system.
AK: We're all in it together, so it's pretty simpatico.
WP: You're hitting SXSW soon. What are you looking forward to the most?
KD: Excited to check the city out, going to Todd P's MtyMx festival immediately afterwards. That should be a blast.
WP: You're sound is so unique to everything else out there today. What types of recording techniques do you use to get that "lo-fi underground garage" sound?
KD: All the recordings we have right now were done (mostly) by me alone, in our practice studio or in my apartment. I'd say the main technique I utilize is a combination of trial and error and happy accidents working in unison. Most of my favorite recorded moments were initially mistakes. We've recently begun recording together as a band, which is adding a bit of polish that I think is welcome, though I'm sure I'll make a mess all over the final product before I show it to anybody. I love a good mess.
AK: 8 track cassette recorders, elvis mics, pure luck and coincidence.
WP: What bands influenced you growing up?
KD: I was a new wave kid growing up. That was my doorway into post punk, and then punk. I guess I did it all backwards. Divo, XTC, Oingo Boingo, Talking Heads.
Andy Swerdlow: I listened to a lot of blues growing up. Muddy Waters, Howlin Wolf. I used to go to the record store and find the dirtiest sounding band I could.
WP: Any current bands influence you? Not someone who you necessarily enjoy listening to, but someone who you might hear and say "man I'd like to try that out in the studio"?
KD: There's a band from Atlanta called Carnivores that I'm in love with. We played with them recently. Ty Segall, Screaming Females, Jeff the Brotherhood, Blank Dogs. Cloud Nothings are amazing cause that kid is only 18. My music sucked when I was 18.
AS: Radiohead has been doing some amazing things with distortion for a long time. Surfer Blood got some really great vocal sounds.
WP: You guys are quickly becoming known for your live shows. How do you keep up that enthusiasm day in day out?
KD: Oh man, it's not hard to keep enthusiastic about it; it's the best part for me. Even if there are two people in the audience, which happens a lot in BK, I want those two people to have the best time in the world.
WP: What do you wish people would take away from one of your shows?
AK: A hangover
WP: Do you guys have day jobs?
KD: Doesn't everybody?
AK: Yes and no. a combination of unemployment, mac & cheese, and physical labor.
AS: sloppin' mashed potatoes on yo' plate!
WP: There are a few very basic types in every successful band: your rebel, your shy bashful type, and your heartthrob. So who's who?
Shark?: Rebel - Kevin. Shy and bashful - Andy K. Heartthob - Andy S.
WP: Alright time for the lightning round....Beatles or Stones?
Shark?: Kinks
WP: Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock, or Aziz Ansari?
Shark?: The red haired cable guy from the Verizon commercials.
WP: Britney.....still do-able?
Shark?: Don't know about that one, but Toxic is one of the best songs ever recorded.....so yes.
WP: Ad-lib: I (blank) when I hear (blank)
Shark?: I SHIT when I hear AFRO POP
WP: Musical guilty pleasures?
KD: I love pop shit. Party in the USA is one of the best songs of all time. NOBODY DOESN'T LIKE THAT SONG!
WP: If the band turned into Survivor, who gets kicked off first and why?
KD: Swerdlow because he never showers!
AK: NOT Swerdlow, he makes McGyver look like a handyman.
WP: Best band of the 60's, 70's, 80's, and 90's. One per decade.
KD: Zombies, Devo, Replacements, Pavement.
AK: CCR, Wire, Pixies, Breeders.
WP: Offering up all of your music for free over at your bandcamp page is like a gift from Jesus. What made you decide to give it away?
KD: It doesn't cost me anything to make it, so why charge people for it? I'd rather have people hear it, like it, come to a show and enjoy themselves. When it comes to renting out a studio, paying for a producer and an engineer, and pressing CD's and stuff, then we'll charge cause otherwise we'd go broke.
WP: What's your ultimate goal as a band?
KD: FUN FUN FUN! I want asses shaking and heads bobbing and drinks beign drank!
AK: To rule.
AS: Melt faces and/or pants!
Make sure to visit the Shark's bandcamp for your copy of Noise Maker.
Shark? - "Tesla"
Download it play it over and over and over and over....
AK: 8 track cassette recorders, elvis mics, pure luck and coincidence.
WP: What bands influenced you growing up?
KD: I was a new wave kid growing up. That was my doorway into post punk, and then punk. I guess I did it all backwards. Divo, XTC, Oingo Boingo, Talking Heads.
Andy Swerdlow: I listened to a lot of blues growing up. Muddy Waters, Howlin Wolf. I used to go to the record store and find the dirtiest sounding band I could.
WP: Any current bands influence you? Not someone who you necessarily enjoy listening to, but someone who you might hear and say "man I'd like to try that out in the studio"?
KD: There's a band from Atlanta called Carnivores that I'm in love with. We played with them recently. Ty Segall, Screaming Females, Jeff the Brotherhood, Blank Dogs. Cloud Nothings are amazing cause that kid is only 18. My music sucked when I was 18.
AS: Radiohead has been doing some amazing things with distortion for a long time. Surfer Blood got some really great vocal sounds.
WP: You guys are quickly becoming known for your live shows. How do you keep up that enthusiasm day in day out?
KD: Oh man, it's not hard to keep enthusiastic about it; it's the best part for me. Even if there are two people in the audience, which happens a lot in BK, I want those two people to have the best time in the world.
WP: What do you wish people would take away from one of your shows?
AK: A hangover
WP: Do you guys have day jobs?
KD: Doesn't everybody?
AK: Yes and no. a combination of unemployment, mac & cheese, and physical labor.
AS: sloppin' mashed potatoes on yo' plate!
WP: There are a few very basic types in every successful band: your rebel, your shy bashful type, and your heartthrob. So who's who?
Shark?: Rebel - Kevin. Shy and bashful - Andy K. Heartthob - Andy S.
WP: Alright time for the lightning round....Beatles or Stones?
Shark?: Kinks
WP: Dave Chappelle, Chris Rock, or Aziz Ansari?
Shark?: The red haired cable guy from the Verizon commercials.
WP: Britney.....still do-able?
Shark?: Don't know about that one, but Toxic is one of the best songs ever recorded.....so yes.
WP: Ad-lib: I (blank) when I hear (blank)
Shark?: I SHIT when I hear AFRO POP
WP: Musical guilty pleasures?
KD: I love pop shit. Party in the USA is one of the best songs of all time. NOBODY DOESN'T LIKE THAT SONG!
WP: If the band turned into Survivor, who gets kicked off first and why?
KD: Swerdlow because he never showers!
AK: NOT Swerdlow, he makes McGyver look like a handyman.
WP: Best band of the 60's, 70's, 80's, and 90's. One per decade.
KD: Zombies, Devo, Replacements, Pavement.
AK: CCR, Wire, Pixies, Breeders.
WP: Offering up all of your music for free over at your bandcamp page is like a gift from Jesus. What made you decide to give it away?
KD: It doesn't cost me anything to make it, so why charge people for it? I'd rather have people hear it, like it, come to a show and enjoy themselves. When it comes to renting out a studio, paying for a producer and an engineer, and pressing CD's and stuff, then we'll charge cause otherwise we'd go broke.
WP: What's your ultimate goal as a band?
KD: FUN FUN FUN! I want asses shaking and heads bobbing and drinks beign drank!
AK: To rule.
AS: Melt faces and/or pants!
Make sure to visit the Shark's bandcamp for your copy of Noise Maker.
Shark? - "Tesla"
Download it play it over and over and over and over....
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