The Untitled Interview #191: Starring Paul Smith (Maxïmo Park)

To say I am excited to see Maxïmo Park when they visit DC this weekend is to greatly, vastly, and voluminously understate the exact level of of my anticipation. Back when I first got my mitts on their glorious record A Certain Trigger, I nearly wore the CD out listening to it again and again and again..."Apply Some Pressure!" "Going Missing!" "The Coast Is Always Changing!" And of course, my ultimate favorite, "Kiss You Better!" This group of Geordies (that's Newcastle-ians to you uninitiated) captivated me with their collection of jaunty, impassioned, utterly charming songs, and I've been in smit ever since.

It is with a certain giddy joy, therefore, that I present to you the following musings from delightful Maxïmo Park mouthpiece Paul Smith (4/4 time! Field Music! Eddie Vedder!). And don't forget to pencil in their gig at the U Street Music Hall this Saturday. I'll be there, quite possibly glazed over in glee.  

Fuzzy Logic: How the hell are you?
Paul Smith: Pretty good. I'm tired but still excited by a trip with Africa Express where Western musicians travel the country and collaborate with African musicians on a train, with gigs in the evening.

FL: What was the last song you listened to?
PS: "Lost Verses" by Sun Kil Moon.

FL: Playing music is:
PS: Meant to be fun. Writing it is a different matter.

FL: What album most made you realize you wanted to make music?
PS: Life Without Buildings - Any Other City.

FL: Beatles or Stones?
PS: Beatles.

FL: Top 5 albums (of now, of this month, or of ever):
PS: Ever: Life Without Buildings - Any Other City, Cat Power - Moonpix, Kate Bush - Hounds of Love, Pullman - Turnstyles and Junkpiles, Cocteau Twins - Heaven Or Las Vegas.

FL: Favorite music-related movie?
PS: Radio On directed by Chris Petit.

FL: Half-full or half-empty?
PS: That depends what day it is...

FL: Which of your peers do you think is making the best music these days?
PS: Field Music.

FL: What’s the first thing you think when you wake up in the morning?
PS: Time to go to the bathroom.

FL: Little-known Maxïmo Park fact?
PS: I've seen people say our music is jerky, post-punk, but most of our songs are in 4/4, the standard rock'n'roll time signature!

FL: The greatest record store in the world is:
PS: Amoeba Records, LA and San Fran. They're so big and well-curated, you could be in there for days.

FL: Shaken or stirred?
PS: Stirred.

FL: Best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
PS: Pride before a fall.

FL: How do you know when you've played a really great show?
PS: The audience let us know!

FL: If you weren’t in a band you’d be:
PS: Struggling.

FL: What are you most looking forward to about coming back to tour America?
PS: Road Trip! And the opportunity to play our songs to people who've waited a while, plus new people, hopefully.

FL: If you were so inclined, whom would you form a tribute band in honor of?
PS: I do a mean Eddie Vedder impersonation, so Pearl Jam, I'd have to say!

FL: Best song ever written?
PS: "A Day In The Life" by The Beatles.

Comments

Popular Posts