Another special night of local music beckons Friday at the baby Emo’s (Lounge). Headlining will be fast rising favorites Golden Bear, featured recently as the Artist Of The Day by Spin Magazine, while fellow Austinites Peel celebrate the release of their self-titled debut out now on Peek-A-Boo Records. Sandwiched between the two are the Midgetmen who specialize in beer infused punk n’ roll fit to kick off any weekend, or week-day for that matter. This weekend’s gig marks their 5 Year Anniversary. Actually they prefer “5 Year Birthday” -- probably get more beer that way. Either way, it promises to be a blast considering past annual Midgetmen celebrations have included complimentary champagne, iPod raffles, and 400 orange balloons. Don’t ask, we didn’t. We did ask them a series of other questions to check up on their past, present, and favorite taqueria.

How did the band get together? Where are ya'll from originally?

Justin Petro: As anyone in the band will tell you, I have a penchance for singing Billy Joel. I grew up outside of Philadelphia, where they’re tearing all the factories down. In a drunken stupor and watching some talent-less act at The Black Cat (RIP), Marc and I decide that, “Yea, we can do this”. Jon and I had been messing around on weekends -- and a few of those “messes” are still played today. When Marc and I moved and had a big house, it seemed only logical that the smallest room be dedicated to the loudest endeavor.

(Click to continue reading interview after show information)

The Midgetmen: [official site] [myspace]
Golden Bear: [official site] [myspace]
Peel: [official site] [myspace]
Mice & Rifles: [official site] [myspace]
Team Fabrication: [myspace]

Golden Bear, the Midgetmen, Peel, and Mice & Rifles; Team Fabrication before the bands and in-between sets.
Friday, May 11th
Emo's Lounge [Map]
Doors at 10pm

Poster courtesy of the Midgetmen.

How did the band get together? Where are ya'll from originally? (cont.)

Alex Victoria: I'm from Pittsburgh. I invited myself into the band during a conversation with Marc. He didn't have the balls to say no and I had brought a 12-pack, so it was pretty much written in stone. I also knew that being able to play your instrument means nothing for a rock band.

Jon Loyens: Perlman went to a few shows with Alex and invited him over to play with the three of us. I knew Alex a little from work, but we didn't really start hanging out until after we both went to a J. Mascis show with Marc.

Marc Perlman: I'm from Long Island, New York. We got together over the realization that anyone can get free drink tickets in this town on a Tuesday night as long as you own a distortion pedal. Now we get free drink tickets on weekends and we're slightly less bored.

What are some of your childhood memories of music and its role in your lives?

JL: There are pictures of me at 5 with a toy plastic Strat that I got for Christmas one year. I didn't get serious about playing until I was 15 though. I loved all the typical guitar player stuff and went through all the typical phases (Clapton, Hendrix, blues, shredding and then into the Pixies, Dinosaur Jr., etc.) The two single biggest influences on me have got to be Robert Quine and Richard Lloyd... I love everything those two guys have played on, but in particular all the guitars on Matthew Sweet's Girlfriend are unreal.

AV: I played piano with my mother at an early age, spent hours and hours digging through my Dad's 60s and 70s vinyl and finally was very lucky to have an older brother who introduced me to late 80s alternative at a young age. My two most religious rock experiences are:
- Bruce Springsteen '84, Pittsburgh Civic Arena: I was in 3rd grade and the usher moved me to the 7th row when my mother complained that I couldn't see the stage. This would never happen today.
- Pavement '94, Peabody's, Cleveland and Alroza, Columbus: My brother and I stayed at the same Red Roof Inn as the band. To me it was like meeting mythical gods. I had never even seen a picture of them. I had no idea they were just normal guys. In my eyes, they were Bruce Springsteen. Their records never captured how great they were on this tour.

JP: I didn’t grow up listening to pop music really – or, I should clarify – pop music of our generation. My parents were older than my friends’ parents and I was literally stuck about three or four decades behind. I listened to a lot of Elvis when I was young. Eventually, after getting made fun of enough, I expanded my collection. The two tapes that I first bought were the Beastie Boys Licensed to Ill, and GnR’s Appetite. I’ve always had a taste for a good pop song

MP: My favorite musical memory is seeing Neil Young & Crazy Horse at Madison Square Garden with my dad two nights before he drove me to college. I've yet to experience anything else that has changed my life quite like that night.

Current inspirations?

MP: We’re all in agreement that the Hold Steady are a great inspiration for drinking normal looking guys everywhere that want to rock.

Is High Life (2nd album title) a direct reference to beer?

JL: High Life is a double reference. We all live pretty good lives and, hell yeah, we love the Champagne of Beers.

What is the song writing process like? Do you guys set aside a time to sit down and write songs or is it more impulsive?

JL: We do whatever works at any given time. Everyone contributes to the writing. Sometimes Alex or I will come with complete songs and sometimes we just have a riff to build off of. Even when we have a complete song, it's rarely the same after the band gets to it. I think we're really good as a band at editing. Marc has a great bullshit meter; if a song sucks, he'll let you know quickly and he's right 99% of the time.

AV: We're happy to get a new song every couple months. Lately we don't really try -- it just kind of happens.

We sighted a DIY stamp on the CD -- is that true?

AV: Yes, it’s all DIY. Jon and I primarily do the recording. At first, I had some rudimentary equipment and skills from some independent study classes I had drank through in college. I learned enough to be dangerous. Since then, Jon has stepped up and gotten much more involved. Petro does all the graphic design - posters, artwork. Marc does pretty much everything else - booking, promotions, tours, general motivation, organizing our disorganized asses, scheduling practices, promotions. Marc knows everyone in the Austin club community. I like going to bars with him because he gets discounts. No one knows who I am. Jon also drives the van.

JP: We really are – almost – 100% DIY. There are our unsung not-quite-members who help us out like Chad (our do anything roadie), Bryon (our favorite fan), and Jambo (my ever reluctant drum tech).

MP: I don’t know everyone downtown, but I know just enough to get drinks for free just frequently enough to not be disappointed.

We noticed that the first album pseudonyms (of each band member) are different from the second album (ie. Pabst Smear vs The Mastermind). Is there a comic book hero vibe you're aiming for or is it just good ol’ fashioned fun?

AV: I hate comic books and the whole culture around them. I just wanted to be like Mr. Bungle. It didn't really work for us-- we're not nearly cool enough.

JP: The second album was more a result of Marc yelling at me to get the fucking artwork done. I had to come up with something that still fit, but was funny as we had kind of outgrew the first round of names. I’d like to actually think the next album we’d just be us. We’re older now and I think previously that was really just us living out things we never really thought we’d do.

MP: I'm just upset that Robert Zimmerman and David Jones took the good stage names. Fortunately, I've got until 2009 before the next album comes out and I need a new pseudonym.

Does the band take up your time full time or do you have other jobs?

AV: If we didn't have jobs, there would be no band. I think the band of the future records DIY, releases on the internet, and work another job to pay the bills.

JP: There’s a lot of education we’re wasting up there on stage that drunk. Seriously.

MP: Given how lazy everyone else is, the band is a full time mental job for me... and hopefully my boss does not read that.

Thoughts on Austin, SXSW, Austin City Limits Music Festival, taquerias -- anything you love or hate about Austin?

JL: I love it all. I think people need to realize that SXSW is an industry conference though while ACL fest is truly fan friendly. I think ACL fest and SXSW compliment each other very well. I have to give a shout out to Maru, the sushi place near where I live. They've got the best sushi lunch special ever.

AV: I love SXSW. I take off work every year, usually my brother and Dad come, and we run around drinking beer and watching bands. It has changed a lot since I moved here in 1998 but who cares? Where else are you going to have this much fun? There's nothing I dislike about Austin -- except that SXSW refuses to let us in after 5 applications in a row! ACL is great -- except for the people, their stupid fucking chairs, and the dust.

JP: I moved here claiming I’d be here for 6 months, not 7 years. I’d be lying if I said that I wasn’t here because of the boys in the band. Clearly there’s other perks here, but from a city perspective it’s hard to beat. This was one of my favorite SXSWs. Luckily, I didn’t run into the drama of parties being shut down or any of that jazz.

MP: I think that people get too wrapped up in the idea that any of these events are anything but money-making operations. If they weren't in it for the money, they would have put The Midgetmen on the ACL Fest bill, right? My coworker is constantly talking about El Chilito on the east side, but I believe enough white guys in rock bands go there already for tacos, so I refuse to go. I don’t think Curra’s is technically a taqueria, but I love the one on Oltorf.

What are some acts you have enjoyed (or not enjoyed) touring and/or playing gigs with?

JL: Just Guns are good guys.

AV: We've never toured with anyone, but we've played with lots of bands in other cities. Even the shittiest ones are really nice people who generally show you a good time when you visit their city. I am continually amazed at how nice people are to touring bands--even mediocre ones. It makes touring really fun. The free beer totally kicks ass as well.

JP: I can’t say there was ever someone we didn’t like playing with. In general, the bands are all pretty good people. I think we’ve met the best ones out of town on the road though. In other cities, where a musician isn’t the person sitting next to you at the bar, they have to work harder. They appreciate a band on the road and there is definitely an amazing amount of hospitality out there.

MP: Besides Just Guns, my favorite other local shows have been with La La Land and the Misguided Lemming. There was a great band we’ve played with twice in Kansas called Mankato and I’m shocked no one else thought the show with Future Lisa in Minneapolis was deserving of being listed.

Who would be a dream artist you'd like to tour with?

JL: Wrens, Hold Steady.

AV: Hold Steady, Thermals, Wrens, Pavement -- basically any bands that look like they're having fun.

JP: I think we’ve already gushed enough over the Hold Steady. I think the other folks are all dead by now, tragically.

MP: I’d like to play one song with Willie Nelson, because my mom would be super excited to get free tickets to see that debacle. Silkworm is gone, but not forgotten – but playing with Bottomless Pit would still be very cool.

If you could change one thing about:
a. America

JL: Get rid of lobbying. Immigration laws need to be revamped. I guess that's two things.

b. the World

AV: No more packaging. The amount of shit used to package even the smallest item is repulsive. The internet has made this even worse with all the mail order and whatnot. We should turn off the internet and teach each other how to make stuff again. Do you have any idea where cheese actually comes from?

MP: Alex has asked the definitive question of our generation. Let’s end this interview and let everyone ponder the answer.

Photo by Eric Uhlir on Flickr .