Fri. May 9th: The
Centimeters
The Centimeters and Les Georges Leningrad @ The Hooch 817 Queen St. West (above
the Gypsy Co-op). doors at 9pm 19 + $10 advance tix on sale Monday April 14th @
Siren, 463 Queen St. West.
http://events.toronto-goth.com
The Centimeters have the distinction of being voted L.A.s weirdest band, and
having one of their CD's produced by long-time fan David J of Bauhaus. David J
liked the band so much, he invited them to tour with Love and Rockets, and open
for their final show at the Roxy. Drawing comparisons to Kurt Weill and Tom
Waits, the band is currently on tour in support of their new album 'Live at
Coles'. The Centimeters have already made on lasting impression on Toronto,
with what turned into a two-night stint last August, and garnered them a 4 star
review in
NOW Magazine. 'Live at Coles' is exclusively available through
their website, www.thecentimeters.com. They will be returning to Toronto on
May 9th with Montreals¹ notorious performance-art electro-rockers Les
Georges Leningrad, and one of the groups¹ vocalists and main songwriters,
Max Gomberg, took some time out recently to answer some questions about the
band.
Mandra: I've read uncategorizable, but what would be the best way to
describe The Centimeters sound?
Max Gomberg: I would say we are a hybrid. A little bit country a little bit
rock and roll. That sort of thing. Relying heavily on mistakes and mutations
for role models.
M: How did the band react to being voted L.A.s weirdest band by the L.A.
Times?
MG: Well, we decided to celebrate by handing out pamphlets about eating
disorders to local students. I don't believe anybody voted. I think it was just
the opinion of a lonely journalist who considers Swansons Hungry Man dinners to
be exotic.
M: Could this have to do with the onstage attacks that sometimes
occur?
MG: I think the dinners had a major role in the majority of the attacks.
Especially the frozen peas with glass onion.
M: How did you end up working with David J of bauhaus?
MG: He showed up to a couple of our shows with Daniel Ash about five years ago.
A couple years later, he helped us by appearing in some footage for our video
'Help Is On The Way', as well as helping us produce the single for the title
track. Oh! And he also let us open for Love and Rockets final show at the Roxy
in Los Angeles where fans were so disappointed with us that he had to write a
rebuttle on his website entitled 'In Defense of the Centimeters'. I have great
respect for him.
M: Is there room in our culture for an art-based vision of music, meaning,
music that begins with words and form, not image as we see in pop culture?
MG: Just destroy the Television and you would probably accomplish the task. I
suppose if you cut out live performances that would help? It seems like there
are more important ideals to accomplish than repressing idol worship.
M: Your lyrics and music are coming from a very original space, dealing with
topics that not everyone would touch, or perhaps even think of (GMOs, World
Trade Center). What are you thinking about when you write your songs, what
processes do you go through?
MG: I first think of the end of life and the stimulus it provides for the hear
and now. Then, a flash of ridiculous paradoxes crowd the entrance to my cortex.
They are all carrying signs complaining about this and that. Then there is
struggle. Then when all great attributes and accomplishments are put forth in
front of the desk of death, there dribbles a laugh followed by a tugboat of awe
and despair. And then I imagine something else happens because life is
unpredictable.
M: We will be making the Nofimagazine mp3 of The Centimeters take on the
Jacques Brel classic' 'NEXT' available on the site? Can you tell us about why
you chose to cover the song?
http://www.nofiradio.com/Centimeters-Next.mp3
MG: Jacque Brel has a way of putting things that no one else can drop a hat to.
It's also a song Nora (Keyes) believes in with all her heart and that gives it
an extra added force.
M: Do you receive many comparisons to the cabaret/vaudeville sound?
MG: Yes. When people need to describe us in three words or less that's usually
what pops out.
M: When will you release the next album,''GIRLS HAVE HANDS'', and where can
our readers get a copy?
MG: 'Girls have Hands' will be available on April 22nd and will only be sold on
our website, www.thecentimeters.com until further actions transpire. We also
have a new live CD that contains all of our ballads we perform which is
entitled'The Centimeters Live at Coles, September 14th, 2001'.
For more information on the Centimeters;
www.thecentimeters.com info site
http://www.spacebaby.net/ record company for 'The Lifetime
Achievement Awards', and 'Help is On the Way'
interview by mandra,
april 2003
|
