By By Brian Menegus , Staff Writer
I recently had the pleasure of seeing Algernon Cadwallader at the legendary Lower East Side punk venue ABC No Rio. After their set, guitarist Joe, drummer Tank, and singer/bassist Peter met me outside the venue to answer a few questions.
The Chronicle: How did you first form as a band?
Peter: I met Joe on the bus in high school, and he said “what’re you listening to,Weezer?” I blew him off, and then, like, a few weeks later we were in a band. And then we were playing in bands for a while. So it started in high school. And we met Tank through another band-
Tank: I’m just hired help.
Peter: He liked us so much, he couldn’t help but join the band.
TC: Where do you feel that your musical influ¬ences come from?
Joe: Chicago and The Beatles!
Tank: Yes! Perfect!
TC: How do you feel about how you’ve, in a sense, become the poster children for a new wave of fun, but technical bands like Snowing and Monument?
Peter: Y’know..I don’t know if I’d say that, but I’m into it. Those are a lot of our good friends. Even just the music- I’m really into it, and I don’t think it’s just like a copy of anything else.
Joe: They’re all our really good friends, and its awesome seeing them play really good music as well.
TC: On that note, how do you guys go about getting together and writing songs?
All Three: Jammin’!
Peter: Taking parts and moving them around.
Joe: And putting them back together
Peter: then condensing it to two minutes
TC: You mentioned during your set that you were releasing a new 7″ tomorrow (September 20th). Do you have any thought on when you might release a new full-length?
Peter: Yeah definitely! We’re at least half done writing it. We’re about to do a two month tour though, so when we get back we’re gonna finish writing it and record it. We’re hoping by next spring.
TC: Excellent! How did you meet your pres¬ent Japanese tour-mates Malegoat, and what’s your relationship with Craig Woods of Be Happy Records?
Peter: Craig Woods is an old friend and we’ve just been playing in bands together and with his bands forever. He a super-motivated guy and he wanted to put out our CD. He was the first person who ever wanted, like, put out anything by us, y’know, it was just ourselves, and he was all about getting it out there. He did pretty much everything for us. As far as Malegoat goes, we met them on the internet, which is a really cool way to meet people and then to actually…it’s a big deal for them to be coming over here. It’s crazy that can happen through just emailing. Anything’s possible. I’m glad it hap¬pened, those guys are f**king rad.
Tank: Japanese as hell. So good.
TC: What five bands do you think people should be looking out for?
Joe: Well…I like the Beatles
Peter: *laughing* Yeah, when that drops, its gonna blow your mind
Tank: I’d have to say, Peter the Piano Eater, Joe Reinhart, Algernon Cadwallader. Pretty much us
Joe: A lot of bands like Snowing, 1994…they’re just really awesome bands to play with on a regular basis.
TC: And lastly, your favorite song to play live?
Joe: Are we all together on this?
Peter: On three! 1…2…
Tank: Mine’s ‘Spit Fountain’
Joe and Peter: Ah, you ruined it!
Peter: Alright fine! 1, 2, 3
All: ‘Spit Fountain’…
