What was the biggest fun during the making of the last album?

There are a few moments during the making of a record where it starts to come alive or turn from something that was in your head or only existed in the practice space into a real record. Usually, they occur right after the band has recorded the basic tracks (the instrumental performance of drums, guitar, bass) or finished the rough mixes. Any time we could take a step back and appreciate the progress from a bigger picture we all got collectively excited. It was a nice boost of morale to counteract the times that we got bogged down in details or nitpicky stuff.

If we want to know you, which song do we have to listen to? And why?

“Wide Open Road” by The Triffids is my favorite song. It’s really pretty.

The music industry has changed a lot (or so they say). What did it bring you? And what not?

I have only been interacting with “the industry” in a limited capacity for a couple of years but I get the impression that no one has any idea what they’re doing. For Mooner, it means we can do whatever we like as a business with no one really getting in our way but there’s also no organized path for making our business sustainable. I think the music business tried the organized, top-down, draconian method for a while and it failed miserably. Now the industry is a mix of leftover show biz types who still want their artists to lip sync their performances and staunch DIY groups who would rather to go to the pressing plant and press their own records than have someone else do anything for them. All camps are competing for the same money and it’s strange to watch the ways in which they try to cooperate. I have a job outside of music so I don’t have to take the industry side too seriously.

Who is the best musician in the world nobody has heard of yet? And why will this change very soon?

The Vulgar Boatmen are one of the greatest rock bands in history. They should be counted among greats like The Replacements, Velvet Underground or Big Star.  Chicago’s Arts & Letters is one of my favorite artists; he does 60s pop and baroque pop very well. Iowan powerpop band Twins, however, will hopefully be big within the next year.

She tells you she will decide on a 5-song-mixed tape if there is going to be a second date. Which 5 would you put on?

“You Don’t Know Me” by Cindy Walker five times in a row.

What’s up for the next couple of months?

We’re opening for the Flamin’ Groovies on November 12th at the Beat Kitchen in Chicago then writing and recording the new record in March.