The Untitled Interview #139 – BiMA.fest Edition: Starring Skydivers

It's just about that time, to once again venture up the I-95 corridor to partake in some Baltimorean musical hijinks at the BiMA.fest 2011. After last year's fun, my expectations are high. I spoke with a few of the bands you need to know about playing BiMA.fest this year about all things festivus.

I shall now try to avoid making any sort of parachute joke as I discuss the next band, Skydivers. I've been listening to their pretty, pretty little ditty "Summer Sky" over and over again, friends, and I strongly urge you to check these little 80s indiepop revivalists/shoegazing sassypants rapscallions out. The band below discusses what festivals mean to them. And shamans. Sweet.


Fuzzy Logic:
Band you're most looking forward to seeing at the festival?

Spacey: I’m looking forward to seeing Skydivers at the Festival. I have made arrangements with a local shaman, who will enable me to leave my body and watch Skydivers play while I am actually playing with Skydivers. It’s going to be cool. I’d also like to see the Sky Drops. Playing with our buddies Red This Ever and Retrogramme is always great. Also, I’ve never seen Stargazer Lillies, but they seem to be full of Shoegazey goodness.
Leah:
Alto Verde, since I keep buying gear from Nick Bertling at Music Go Round.
Michael K: This being my first time checking out live music in Baltimore, I'm just looking forward to seeing anyone. Oh, and Skydivers, of course.
Spacey:
You’ll probably need to speak with the Shaman.

Duncan:
Skydivers. Duh.

Leah:
Who are these Skydivers people again?


FL: What was the first festival you ever attended, either as a musician or member of the general public?
Spacey: Hmmm…I’m going to hearken back to the Walls of Sound Fests that Skydivers played some years back. Out in Fredericksburg, VA. A bunch of bands playing shoegaze/blisspop/dreampop/etc all day and nite. It was fun, and we made some good friends at those events.
Michael K:
Some outdoor music festival I went to as a kid living in Holland. I can't recall who played, but remember that it was way cool and they had frites!!!

Spacey:
And wooden shoes!

Duncan:
The Fresh Fest in Cincinnati, OH, 1984. Run-DMC headlined with Whodini and The Fat Boys, with Newcleus opening.

Leah:
The 1998 HFStival at RFK, where I alternated between melting and checking out Dave Grohl's gear. We like gear. Though I'm sure it was not nearly as entertaining as Duncan's day with Run-DMC.

Spacey:
And Newcleus! Jam On It!


FL: What would you advise the out-of-towners to see/do while they’re in Baltimore? Spacey: Check out the Eiffel Tower! See the fabulous…um…pyramids.
Duncan:
Reach for the sky and say good bye to your long-cherished valuables.

Spacey:
Duncan is our “sunshine on a cloudy day.”

Leah:
Make sure to stop by the sushi capital of Maryland - downtown Towson.

Spacey:
Really?

Michael K: Have some mussels at Bertha's and check out the Aquarium...not necessarily in that order.
Spacey:
Can’t you just get mussels at the Aquarium?


FL:
Favorite thing about festivals?

Spacey: The rides and carnival games. The almost musical sound of children laughing as they romp through the midway in wonderment. Oh, wait. Music festivals. I think I really enjoy the grand scale of the event. It’s really cool to be involved in such a Big Thing. Michael K: The eclectic mix of music and people.
Duncan:
I love the feel and vibe of music outdoors. The air is alive and “bristles with the energy, and echoes with the sound of salesmen.” Sorry…couldn’t help myself. I would say that there exists a certain unreproduceable quality to an outdoor music festival. The indoor festivals retain the eclectic mix of bands whereby music is sorted into pigeonholes and those fitting in adjacent holes are grouped somewhat together in one venue.

Spacey:
“...adjacent holes…?”

Duncan:
The music is usually better fidelity when indoors due to somewhat experienced (hopefully) soundpersons working steadily at the venues and aware of unique sound aspects of the venue. Always appreciate that when it happens. Outdoor festival sound is usually of lesser fidelity whereby even things like the wind can affect the sound fidelity depending on where you sit. I like both for what they do best.

Spacey:
Duncan will now demonstrate further with a Powerpoint presentation.

Leah: Outdoor festivals are the only time individuals of my semi-gothic pallor see the sunlight. With, of course, the added plus of being able to check out lots of gear. Yes, more gear.

FL:
Best Baltimore-centric song?

Spacey: Not sure what kind of answer you want from me here, but I will say that “Standing Outside A Broken Phone Booth with Money in My Hand” by Primitive Radio Gods mentions Baltimore (“…a plane takes off from Baltimore and touches down on Bourbon Street…”). So that’s my answer.
Leah:
It's a tie between "Blue Skies over Dundalk" by Mary Prankster, and "Walking in an Essex Wonderland."

Michael K:
I live in the DC area, so I'm gonna have to go with Leah on "Blue Skies Over Dundalk" by Mary Prankster.

Duncan:
No such thing as a good Baltimore-centric song. Closest thing to it would be Live’s “Shit Town” about York, PA. “The Wire” rocked, though.

Spacey:
“I’ve got sunshiiiiine, on a cloudy day…”

Skydivers play the first day of BiMA.fest 2011.


mp3: Summer Sky (Skydivers from Hello. Atmosphere)

[photo by Graeme King]

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