While most hipster white people are listening to Flight of the Conchords, us New Englanders are getting our laughs from a different musical humorist; Robby Roadsteamer. Roadsteamer has straddled the line between comedy and music for the past seven years, performing at comedy clubs and in rock clubs with his band or as a solo performer. He's seen the worst of both worlds - good bands and good comedians struggling to be heard over the din of wannabes. Originally the lead singer of the band the Sweatpant Boners which was a metal/punk band formed with Ken Susi of Unearth and Adam Dutkiewicz of Killswitch Engage. Now he's running solo with his gut-busting acoustic rock comedy tunes. Robby sings about all sorts of weird shit; from how wonderful Allston, MA is to peeing with your father...as ridiculous as the may sound, it's hilarious. It may take a while for one to "get it" but while other New Zealand acts are mocking the folk-indie genre, Robby is poking fun at the Elliott Smith wannabes and grunge rock posers. You can download Robby Roadsteamer's whole album, "This Album Syncs Up With Toejam and Earl" right here. You can also see Robby at the Slipper Room on 167 Orchard St. in New York City on the 25th of May at 8pm with Shane Webb.
So here's this weeks edition of the Kuestionnaire with Robby Roadsteamer...Enjoy.
1. Of all the bands/artists in your CD/record collection, which one do you own the most albums by? Springstein
2. What's in your record/CD player right now? From A Basement On A Hill
3. What song would you say sums you up? Memory Lane
4. What's your favorite local band? HUMANWINE
5. What was the last show you attended? Jason Bennett And The Resistance
6. What was the greatest show you've ever been to? Springstein Fenway Park 03'
7. What's the worst band you've ever seen in concert? The Sweatpant Boners
8. What show are you looking forward to? Campaign For Realtime at the Paradise
9. What is your favorite band shirt? Someone send me something.
10. What musician would you like to hang out with for a day? Elliott Smith... I know
11. Metal question - Jeans and Leather vs. Cracker Jack clothes? Cracker Jack
12. Sabbath or solo Ozzy? Sabbath
13. Commodores or solo Lionel Ritchie?
Commodores
14. Punk rock, hip hop or heavy metal? Hip Punk Metal
15. Name 4 flawless albums: From A Basement On A Hill Figure 8 Darkness At The Edge Of Town Strange Days
16. When did you realize you were a music geek? Right now
17. What was the greatest decade for music? 60's... People still believed music could be much more than background music for Lexus commercials
18. Any favorite music-related videos/DVDs you own? Hedwig And The Angry Inch
19. Do you like Journey?
Why not
20. What is your favorite movie soundtrack? Natural Born Killers
21. What's the crappiest CD/record/etc. you've ever bought? Bell Biv Devoe
22. Do you prefer vinyl or CDs? Vinyl
Robby Roadsteamer - In Allston Mass
Robby Roadsteamer - They Laid Your Father Off From the Dick Factory
Robby Roadsteamer – Sad Cat Land
Robby Roadsteamer – I Put a Baby in You
Happy Record Store Day! Don’t forget to support your local independent record store and see whoever is performing at that specific record store. I know that the Dresden Dolls are going to be working the register at the Cambridge, MA, Newbury Comics and that Robby Roadsteamer is playing at the Nashua, NH, Newbury Comics. Also Björk will be screening the 3-D version of her new video for Wanderlust at a few select stores. Unfortunately I’m working today so I can’t attend any of these events. So in order to cheer myself up, I’m just going to play music on Hype Machine throughout the day. Yay!
Folks who work here are professors
Don't replace all the knowers
with guessors
Keep'em open
they're the ears of the town
-Tom Waits
Moving on. Welcome to the second installment of my Kuestionnaire with Division Day. This time around with singer/keyboardist Rohner Segnitz. Rohner seems to have a little fascination with heavy metal, who woulda thunk it?
1. Of all the bands/artists in your CD/record collection, which one do you own the most albums by?
-toss up between Lungfish and David Sylvian
2. What's in your record/CD player right now?
- The Blue Nile, "High"
3. What song would you say sums you up?
-probably either "Forgotten Empire of dark Witchcraft" by Behemoth, or "The Art Of Parties" by Japan.
4. What's your favorite local band?
-Xasthur
5. What was the last show you attended?
-Chapin Sisters @ the echo. Which was more like a couple of friends' B-day gatherings at the Echo, and the Chapin Sisters' incidental soundtrack.
6. What was the greatest show you've ever been to?
-impossible call, but some contenders: ok, actually, currently everything's eclipsed by Enslaved at SxSW 2008.
7. What's the worst band you've ever seen in concert?
-impossible call. too many.
8. What show are you looking forward to?
-nothing on the books right now, but i would love to see in the near future: Portishead, Radiohead, the re-united 90s fave Gyromonkeyhead.
9. What is your favorite band shirt?
-sadly, no band shirts are currently in my fave shirt stable, as i'm real picky about shirts. but i have plans to order an amazing Deathspell Omega shirt very soon.
10. What musician would you like to hang out with for a day?
-David Sylvian.
11. Metal question - Jeans and Leather vs. Cracker Jack clothes?
-Corpse Paint.
12. Sabbath or solo Ozzy?
-Sabbath. But only the first couple albums.
13. Commodores or solo Lionel Ritchie?
-Lionel. I am a fan of dancing upon the ceiling portion of rooms.
14. Punk rock, hip hop or heavy metal?
-i know punk is cooler, but pretty much totally heavy metal. though i have much to say about which heavy metal.
15. Name 4 flawless albums:
-Flawless is a real strong word, but some of the closest i know:
"Secrets of the Beehive," David Sylvian. "Hats," The Blue Nile. "Geogaddi," Boards of Canada. "Natten's Madrigal," Ulver.
16. When did you realize you were a music geek?
-maybe when i started several imaginary record labels at around 12 (including Malady Records, and Switch-Comb Records {yknow, like those combs that were like switch-blades except they were combs}).
17. What was the greatest decade for music?
-impossible call. my answer for today: '73-'83.
18. Any favorite music-related videos/DVDs you own?
-a collection of all of Japan's videos; Enslaved, live in Bergen, Norway.
19. Do you like Journey?
-mostly no. but steve perry gets some credit for having an unmistakable voice.
20. What is your favorite movie soundtrack?
-Twin Peaks: Fire Walk With me
21. What's the crappiest CD/record/etc. you've ever bought?
-"Please Hammer Don't Hurt 'Em." oh wait, that was the awesomest.
22. Do you prefer vinyl or CDs?
-always vinyl, except on those days when i prefer vinyl.
Division Day – Tigers from the album, Beartrap Island
The Chaplin Sisters – Toxic (Britney Spears Cover)
Kata Rokkar is trying something new. I’m going to be sending this little questionnaire (but with a ‘K,’ get it?...shut up) to different artists and bands and see what they say. I’ll be asking things like, “Favorite Local Band” or “Commodores or solo Lionel Ritchie?” Nothing deep or serious; just me being a rock geek goofball.
So to kick things off, I have guitarist Ryan Wilson and lead singer/keyboardist Rohner Segnitz of Division Day answering the 1st Kuestionnaire.
Part 1 consists of guitarist Ryan Wilson’s answers.
1. Of all the bands/artists in your CD/record collection, which one do you own the most albums by?
- The Beach Boys
2. What's in your record/CD player right now?
- The Sweet Hurt: Everyday Mistakes EP
3. What song would you say sums you up?
- Definitely "Tubthumping" by Chumbawamba, because I get knocked down but get up again.
4. What's your favorite local band?
- The Mae Shi
5. What was the last show you attended?
- Le Switch, Tigers Can Bite You, Rademacher @ Spaceland
6. What was the greatest show you've ever been to?
- Doves @ The Mayan Theater on the Last Broadcast tour
7. What's the worst band you've ever seen in concert?
- oh man, that's rough. no comment.
8. What show are you looking forward to?
- Portishead
9. What is your favorite band shirt?
- My new glow in the dark Roky Erickson shirt. It has skulls all over it.
10. What musician would you like to hang out with for a day?
- Scott Walker
11. Metal question - Jeans and Leather vs. Cracker Jack clothes?
- I don't know what that is, but I know Rohner would say Corpse Paint.
12. Sabbath or solo Ozzy?
- Solo Ozzy.
13. Commodores or solo Lionel Ritchie?
- Commodores
14. Punk rock, hip hop or heavy metal?
- Definitely punk rock.
15. Name 4 flawless albums:
- Pale Saints: In Ribbons; Pavement: Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain; Stiff Little Fingers: Inflammable Material; Dr. Octagon: Dr. Octagonecologyst
16. When did you realize you were a music geek?
- When I was in junior high / high school I would stay up late surfing allmusic.com and listening to my discman. I'd be making lists of bands related to bands I liked and then trying to find them on trips to the local Music Trader. On rare occasions, somebody's older brother or sister would drive my friends and I out to Lou's Records, which was (and probably still is) the best record store in San Diego. I spent a lot of $ on CD's. ha.
17. What was the greatest decade for music?
- probably 1965-1975 - does that count?
18. Any favorite music-related videos/DVDs you own?
- Neil Young Live In Berlin. It's a live show on Neil during the tour for "Trans." It's great because you get to see him stomping around stage singing through a vocoder mic that's attached to his dark glasses. Plus, it just rocks. Also, I don't own this, but I saw "The Future Is Unwritten" (Joe Strummer) when it was in theaters and I think it *might* be my favorite music-related doc.
19. Do you like Journey?
- Nah. But I have a special place in my heart for "Don't Stop Believing"
20. What is your favorite movie soundtrack?
- "Dead Man"
21. What's the crappiest CD/record/etc. you've ever bought?
- Pearl Jam: Vitalogy. Not because IT'S crappy, but I just remember really not feeling it when I bought it as a kid. I sold it back.
22. Do you prefer vinyl or CDs?
- Vinyl all the way.
Division Day will be playing the wonderful Troubadour with Facing New York this Friday the 18th of April at 9pm.
Division Day – Enjoy The Silence
The Mae Shi – Run To Your Grave from the album, HILLYH
