10 questions with: My First Earthquake

  Crush / Image courtesy My First Earthquake

Quirky bay area indie rockers My First Earthquake are releasing their latest EP, Crush—a collection of summer-inspired songs—with a headlining show at the Rickshaw Stop tomorrow, June 17th. The bill also includes The Downer Party and The Attachments, so if you hadn't already planned on attending? You really, really should.

To celebrate the excellence of Crush (which you can download for free on My First Earthquake's website, or stream if you can't download), it seemed both desirable and necessary to subject them to 10 Questions. Luckily, the band was more than amenable to such a show preview, and if you haven't at least chuckled by the end of this interview, feel free to send Your Examiner hate mail (she is confident that her inbox will remain empty!).

1. You are giving away your new EP for free. Why? Do you have plans for another full length album?

Our desire for people to hear our music is greater than our desire to make money off our music. Because recording is so expensive, we often can't give it away for free, but for this EP, we could. Plus we want to get the good karma tumbleweed rolling, as we will be financing the next album (due out this fall) through fan donations through Kickstarter.

  My First Earthquake / Photo by Amber Gregory

 
2. At least some of you seem happy in your non-music careers. How does this affect your perspective on the band, potential record deals, etc?

Having non-musical careers we're happy with takes the stress off. It's absurdly hard for a four-piece band to make a living wage. We're also not convinced that the 'tour until the wheels fall off' mentality makes much sense. Our approach is to focus on making new fans around the world via the internet, try lots of cheap experiments, keep our overhead low, and not burn out. We enjoy making music as a band and hope to do it for a for while.

3. Your lyrics are very unique and stand out from all the formulaic garbage out there on radio today. What is your songwriting process? Does one of you write all of the lyrics, and/or is there a collaborative element?

Rb: Chad and I will often start out with synths and bass loops and see if we find a lyrical hook. Then we will take it to the rest of the band to add legs and arms. I write all the lyrics, but I get feedback from the boys when words like "manbreasts" are used too much in a song :)

4. What is in heavy rotation on your iPod right now?

Chad: Tap Tap, St. Vincent, and The Rural Alberta Advantage
Rb: I'm going through a Bill Withers and Sam Cooke phase.
Dave: Dominique Young Unique, Neon Indian, Tanlines, The National
Andre: Spinal Tap's first four albums

5. Other than yourselves, of course, what local bands are you totally digging right now?

Maus Haus (not to be local for long), The Old-Fashioned Way and A B & The Sea are such cuties! Very excited to play with The Downer Party this Thursday. (Rb) I love Sierra's voice!
 
6. Tell me about your "golden moments" as a band.

Feeding The Morning Benders egg salad that had been left out in the sun and winning a team jailai tournament. In the SAME DAY!

7. Have you ever had any embarrassing stage accidents? Wardrobe malfunctions?

One time, Andre was drumming and he cut his finger on a broken cymbal. Gradually, he started to bleed all over his snare drum. It was on the second song of the set and so about 8 or 10 songs later, his snare drum was covered in blood. Each time he hit the snare, a light pink spray would rise into the air. Andre was playing a white drum kit at the time. By the end of the set, he was light headed and his drums looked like Sam Raimi shot a film there.

BTW - this was not during a MFE show.

8. What do you consider the best show you've ever played-and why?

Our Cafe du Nord album release last June. It was a sold-out show, the crowd was into every hip flick and jumpkick we did. It is always crazy to see your lyrics being sung back to you by the audience, and that night was flat out bizarre for that.

9. What if you had a song that became a smash hit? Would you be OK with that, or would some of the side effects bother you?

Chad: If we made some money on the hit, it'd be nice to have a little more time in the studio. Recording sessions are paid by the hour, so they tend to be rushed affairs.
Rb: I think I would be solidly ok with that as long as it was a song I was proud of. I could see the side effects being a lot of money and time to make more songs and music videos which are two of my favorite things.

10. Any words of advice for your fans?
 

If you like a band, let them know. There's nothing better than an email from someone who enjoys your music.

To our young female fans, choose books over boys. To our young male fans, choose bookish girls.
 

My First Earthquake / Photo by Amber Gregory