Welcome to another edition of "8 Questions with...." my ongoing interactive interview series with the fine folks I count as friends here on MySpace. The format is simple....as I explained to a person who wanted to be my "friend" yet wouldn't even answer a "hello,I'm...."message. I'm not here for numbers or popularity...I really do like the folks I have on here and this format allows me to get to know them better...and I encourage you all to add them so you'll also gain a great person as a friend.
First off...my thanks to everyone who made my blog entry "Plain Livid" a Top 5 blog in the Pets and Animal section. If I raised the awareness level just by one person,then I felt I made a difference...if you haven't seen it yet,take a second and do so.
Many times I stumble across great bands by accident,either by visiting a band I do know,someone recommends them or I just happen to catch lightening in a bottle...in this case,it was because Antietam and I had a mutual friend in the great Barbara Manning,I read the band's profile and listened to the music listed on the page...and was blown away. Heavy,experimental,quirky and ALIVE tunes are a trademark of Antietam and have been for over 20 years. Lead vocalist Tara Key guitar playing has gained her much respect from various writers and critics. Personally,I was hooked on the name...and wanted to know how these guys (and gal) came up with the name...so you know what I did,right?
Below is a review of the band's latest release "OPUS MIXTUM"
"WORDS ABOUT OPUS MIXTUM Spin (March 2008): "Now in their third decade, this Kentucky-spawned, New York–based trio could pass for a bunch of eager newcomers who can't decide what kind of band they want to be when they grow up. Although the two-disc, 26-track Opus Mixtum lacks focus, the sprawl of ideas is dazzling: tensely elegant rockers ("Pennants and Flags"), mesmerizing free-form instrumentals (the nine-minute "Tierra del Fuego"), psychedelic-funk fusion ("King Me"), and good old-fashioned punk aggression ("You/I"). As always, Tara Key's husky, offhand vocals and inventive yet precise guitar embody hip charisma, generating heat without straining for effect. Four Stars. (Jon Young) "
With such high praise being said,its time now for 8 Questions with............NYC's own Antietam
comments and kudos are always welcome:
1. Introduce yourselves (name,hometown,favorite beanie baby)
TIM: Tim and Tara, NY by way of Louisville, KY, Josh, NYC
Re Beanie Babies: Don't know!
TARA: As above, but ask us about the beanie babies after Josh's first child is born in a couple of months!
2. How did the band form?
TIM: First version formed by 4 ex-Louisvillians in Hoboken, NJ in 1984.
Current version started in 1991 in Manhattan with current lineup.
TARA: Tim and I moved from Louisville, after having the Babylon Dance Band there from 1978-1983. We originally enlisted 2 other Louisvillians to come North; after we 4 parted ways, in 1986, a 3rd Louisvillian came onboard from 1988-1990, and in 1991, a young Josh Madell joined up and remains. He is an honorary Kentuckian and celebrates Derby as vigorously as a native Bluegrasser.
3. How did you come up with the name for the band?
TIM: We liked the sound and the meaning, it was the bloodiest day in American history, the day of reckoning for the American experiment, see the Emancipation Proclamation. Unfortunately, now the most misspelled, misstated, misperceived band name in history, see Auntie Em, Antidam, Anti-Nam, etc.
TARA: We were playing at CBGBs in 1984 and needed one ASAP. Seeing as it is a pivotal point in the American Civil War, my father never understood why we used the Northern name for the battle instead of Sharpsburg-the North named battles with geographic concerns and the South went for the nearest town. Apropos of our feisty stage show, a bloody battle has turned out to be not too far off base as a descriptor.
4. When did the each of you decide you wanted to make music your career?
TIM: Nothing better has occurred to us yet.
TARA: When people started digging it back in Louisville and fans of all ilks offered me more attention than the sum of all of my dates in High School and college rolled into one! I went from being the picture-shy senior to poster child for librarian by day, rocker by night. I still enjoying surprising people who meet me in the "civilian" world with that odd juxtaposition of nerdy vs larger than life.
5. With the demise of radio and the major labels,do you feel signing with a indie label was best thing for the band?
TIM: Signing with a major might have been nice.
TARA: Let's put it this way. We never had the choice to make. But considering what happened to almost all of our peers that did have the option, I am perfectly happy to not still be paying off my company dinners, bad videos, tour buses, lawsuits and suites at the Chateau Marmont from 1986 on. I have also been lucky to work with people who truly believed in the tunes, not the cash flow potential.
That definitely influenced the work we were able to do without thinking about pleasing suits. But, hey, suits are welcome to like us too. We are equal opportunity rockers!
6. Do you as a band, ever spend time together off the stage? If so,what kind of activities do you do?
TIM: Recently, we all attended a Kentucky Derby party. I have hit the exacta the last three years.
TARA: Of course-I would find it next to impossible to be in a band with someone who I didn't hang with. My band is my platoon and we are each other's bodyguards. When there were pinball machines to be had, we played the silver ball a lot. Now we play the one in Josh's basement (Bride of Pinbot, for those over the age of Grand Theft Auto). We give some pretty hellacious joint parties and soon, I would imagine Tim and I will be babysitting…
7. What's more important to you: acceptance by your peers or record sales? Explain your position.
TIM: Hey, who wrote this question? Dunno. We want it all!
TARA: Yeah- do I have to decide?! I think all of our peers hope for us to hit it out of the park with sales every time. Besides, when the ship comes in, they all know I'll book us all a Palazzo in Venice on the Grand Canal to have a month long party, so it would be in everyone's best interest for us to sell massive amounts of records in our 24th year as a band. I guess the universe must be saving that for our 25th anniversary….aw gee, thanks –y'all didn't have to get us anything!
8. How has MySpace/YouTube helped your band the most?
TIM: Lots of folks have heard us through MySpace.
TARA: Since I work in a library, I am very tuned into how browsing in a library often gives you the answer you want in a unexpected, roundabout way. The chain-linking aspect has led people to us in a logical fashion-through a portal of another band that is simpatico, so I think that is of great value. It also affords old fans who don't go to clubs or shows any longer or who are no longer listening with an ear to the ground of the news of the latest rock the ability to see and hear what we are up to. We have reconnected with many many fans this way. The rock is here to stay-you might not be 20 and in a club all night, but it is nice to have a way into my age peers' lives that doesn't involve massive amounts of alcohol and the annoyance of being the oldest person in the room.
9. If I saw you in concert for the first time,what could I expect seeing you live?
TIM: Tara rolling around the floor with her guitar.
TARA: Tim leaping nearly through the roof in a straight vertical line of joy. Josh drumming like a crazed Muppet with longish, weightless hair. Me pacing, charging, stalking, declaiming, thrusting, on my knees, leaning against Tim,
threatening to climb on Josh's drums, playing behind my head. Then we start the second song!
10. Take us inside Antietam on a day of show,what does the band do to prepare itself before hitting the stage?
TIM: Tim does calisthenics before the show back stage. Josh carefully considers which seventies leisure suit he might wear, then opts for a t-shirt. Tara changes her strings on her Les Paul.
TARA: Tim reads Shakespeare, Josh has a leisurely top shelf bourbon, Tara writes set lists that everyone complains they can't read, then hides to say a special mantra and prepare for corporeal transport for 40 minutes. Through libation and molecular reassembly.
11. If you had a hospitality rider,what three items would you want on it?
TIM: For Tim and Tara, it would have to be a really good espresso, like from Tazza d'Oro or San Eustachio in Rome, or Heine Brothers in Louisville etc. We are all fans of various fine Kentucky bourbons. For a third, Tim and Tara would definitely defer to Josh to get him any kind of fine vegetarian fare. He has spent many tours on grilled cheese, and has graciously entered barbecue joints with us.
TARA: Uh huh-ditto on the espresso tip. Ristretto. Double. If it doesn't look in volume like the rich, beautiful deep brown, terse, concentrated version of a salt lick, don't bother! Then a pinball machine Addams Family or later- Williams or Stern acceptable-no Data East, please. Lastly, Pappy Van Winkle 20 year old, 90.4 proof bourbon before the show, along with a spread of Manchego, Bocconcini (cow or buffalo are fine), Fontina Val d'Aosta, Robiola (only the young) and Parmesan Reggiano (quince paste on the side) and crackers-and after the show, a credible red wine from Northern Italy (Lagrein or Marzemino preferred). OOPS-I have a lot of imaginary demands!
12. Which of you fans will comment on this interview first?
BOTH: All of the new ones we make at your site! I hope they will.
Please link to our MySpace page and our record label, if ya don't mind, Michael:
Not a problem! To add Antietam or buy a CD,please go here:
myspace. com/antietamnyc
http://www. carrottoprecords. com/artists/antietam/
