Matt Kollar & the Angry Mob: honk if you like sexy music

Performing live on Press Pass Music

Matt Kollar and the Angry Mob is a band from Huntington Beach that has recently been featured in OC Weekly and on Press Pass Music on KUCI. The members of the band answered questions about what is essential to every Angry Mob song, and who they would like to write songs with, among other things.

Someone finds out you're in a band and asks what the band is all about. What's the bumper sticker response to that question?

(Matt) Honk if you like music that has slept around with too many genres to keep count. But has secretly always been in love with a much older man, folk music.
(Lizzy) Honk if you like my dancing.
(Ryan) Honk if you like existentialism.
(Nate) Honk if you like well mixed sound.
(Evan) Honk if you like sexy music.

What is essential to every Matt Kollar and the Angry Mob song?

(Matt) Tom Waits once said something along the lines of "I like my songs to have a road-map" I really like that and I think I like to keep that in mind with my songs. I like them to take you somewhere, I don't mean that I've written them with the intent to "move you" I just mean that it's nice to listen to something that takes you out of your world and brings you into the world of the song. Just like all the old folk songs do. Movement is essential as well as letting the songs continue to grow and evolve. And Ryan Macleod doing an accordion solo.

I'm at your show and you want me to buy your music. What's your pitch?

(Ryan) If you enjoy the sounds we create with our various musical instruments we recommend buying our compact disc music reproduction device as a pragmatic and enjoyable method of re-producing said air vibration patterns in your mode of transportation, abode etc.
(Lizzy) If you don't wanna be angry don't listen to the angry mob.
(Matt) I've parted with my name tonight to bring to you our new record Farewell Adventure! I've let my name loose, and it has ran wild. It's even showed up on our new website see if you can catch it.
(Nate ) If you think this is mixed well, you should listen to the record. It's even better.
(Evan) It's got glockenspiel.

If you could write a song with any two artists (living or dead), who do you choose and why?

One of my favorite musicians is E from the Eels, every time i've seen his live show it's been more brilliant than the last one and it's really given me inspiration to make every show we do a different exciting one. You know in the 80's how Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers opened for Bob Dylan and then were his backing band for his set? That's what I suggest Matt Kollar and the Angry Mob and the Eels do. How about it E?

Ben Folds is another favorite, when I was in high-school I got in to his records. I remember first listening to "One Angry Dwarf" off of Whatever And Ever Amen and just stopping dead in my tracks when his piano solo came on. After listening to that the grand piano we had in the living room looked all the sweeter.

And Tom Waits of course! Sorry that's three but c'mon I don't even have to explain that one. The man's brilliant.

What is your favorite place to play in OC?

We had a great time at Alta in Newport Beach last night, we've played there a few times now and It's really great for the ego because every time we play there it seams to get more packed and stuffy. Last night Elizabeth Messick sang the elevator hit classic "Girl From Ipanema" at Alta with great success. Unfortunately there aren't that many venues in Orange County, but the ones that are around and aren't the dreaded "pay to play" are absolute quality. Detroit Bar is a fine place, the people that work with them and the Orange County Music Awards have been good to us.

What would you be doing if you weren't making music?

I'm a big movie geek. We actually have a weekly Matt Kollar and The Angry Mob man movie night where the girls aren't allowed to come. In fact I just finished watching The Spy Who Loved Me only hours before I typed this interview for you. A fine picture, and Jaws is one of my favorite villains ever. I really like that he gets a girlfriend in Moonraker too. It really brings a message of hope to us gawky looking guys with metal teeth that are just looking for love like the rest of you gents. But I digress. I think I would be doing more things involved with film if I wasn't making music. Or at least watching too many movies for my own good.