Hey guys, here’s a cool thing I got to do with a really rad person, and a new friend. Tell us what you think of it!
Shout out to my friend Ben Bondy for doing this!
You just moved to London. How’s that going? What are your plans there?
Yes! I got here three weeks ago, or something like that, I’m terrible with keeping track of time, but it’s been interesting so far. I’ve gotten lost more times than I can count, and spent nights at some of the worst pubs and clubs in London, and quite possibly the world. *cough *cough Fabric, but I’ve also had some really rad times already, and people pretend to be polite here, unlike New York. I actually just started working at the Vice London office today, which should be very excellent. I’m working on two projects, the first being a documentary about Black Sabbath, and the second is a project we are doing with Sony, but it’s a secret.
Tell us a little bit about your band.
My band Friendless Bummer started a little less than a year ago when I had some time, and wrote a bunch of tunes. I was listening to a lot of doo-wop at the time, but I can’t really write just plain doo-wop because I’ve spent most of my life playing in hardcore, punk, and metal bands, so it was sort of a fusion of doo-wop and punk. We put out a demo I think in May of this past year, and recorded and released a digital version of our ep just last month which can be downloaded here! http://www.mediafire.com/?icupns83m7z8az3. It’s really different from our demo, but if you like psychedelic noisy garage stuff, you might like it. When I get back to the states we are recording a few more tracks, and are trying to release a deluxe version on tape. We just want to play as many basement shows as we can, and spread the word of satan.
You also have a clothing line. How did that start?
Well, when I was about 15 a friend and I started a tee-shirt line that was pretty successful. The designs were cheesy because we were really in to collecting sneakers, which I think all kids involved in hardcore in the early 2000s can relate to. I figured that I might as well try something while I had free time, which I have very little of these days. It started last May when I knew I would be working at a bar all summer, so I knew that during the day I could work on designs and marketing etc. The first designs were simple, black and white color-way graphic prints, but through the past year I released a couple of pocket tees and two oxford shirts. I haven’t had time the past several months to work on the project, but as soon as I have time and money to put back into it, I’m going to be working on some denim and more oxfords, and potentially a couple of hats.
I’m a bit of a sweater nut. What’s your favorite sweater? (feel free to take a photo of your favorite sweater. That would be kind of cool)
My favorite sweater is actually my newest sweater, and my first purchase in London. It’s a forest green Carhartt sweater with gold geese embroidered into it. My other favorite sweater is my Ralph Lauren cashmere sweater with suede elbow pads.
Best dressed person you’ve seen lately on public transportation?
There are a few that stick out in my mind as of late, all three were Japanese, obviously because the Japanese always look the best, but I’ll just tell you about my favorite. The first was an older guy decked in Junya Watanabe X Levi’s gear, the denim jacket, as well as the patchwork jeans. He also had a Junya Watanabe denim bag from I think F/W 2009, which was probably the best Junya collection ever. Under the jacket he just had a white tee on, but my favorite part was his feet. Bape Manhunts.
Favorite place for a burger? And which cheese is on that burger?
Easy, Kuma’s Corner in Chicago. The place is really metal, and all the burgers are named after metal band, so it’s really rad. They have Makers Mark and Jack Daniels on tap, so how could it not be good? The burger I get there is called the lair of The Lair Of the Minotaur, which has whiskey poached pears, and smoked brie on it, all on top of a pretzel bun. It’s incredible.
Someone offers you $300,000 dollars but you have to spend a year looking like the dude from Tokio Hotel. $300,000 is a lot of money, but you’d be putting your dignity on the line. Would you do it?
HELL YEAH. First of all, that’s a lot of money. Secondly, I have no dignity, or integrity to put on the line. Thirdly, if all I have to do for $300,000 is look like a woman with a porcupine on her head for a year I would do it. I plan on dressing like a woman with a beard for a year of my life anyway, so yes, definitely.