Heya Erica, Erika, and Mandy! You released quite the kick-ass debut indie rock album at the end of July on Sick Room Records. What has the past month and a half been like for you all since its release?
Hi, and thank you! The response we've gotten has been overwhelming, and we haven't seen one bad review yet. It's incredibly encouraging.
How long have you been together as Motherfucker and why didn’t you reform under your previous band’s name, Incendiaries?
We have been playing as Motherfucker for a little over 2 years now, and the reason we didn't reform as Incendiaries is because we had another band member (Mary Joyce) who played guitar. Incendiaries was very much the sum of its parts, and it wouldn't be Incendiaries without Mary. We started playing again as a three-piece and discovered a different sound. That sound needed a different name.
You’ve previously released an EP titled Tae Kwon Do, but it doesn’t seem to be available online as far as I can tell. Are the fighting styles, oops, I mean, musical styles similar on the EP and album or does your album kick higher and harder than the EP?
Tae Kwon Do is available on our Bandcamp page at [url=https://motherfuckermotherfucker.bandcamp.com/album/tae-kwon-do]https://motherfuckermotherfucker.bandcamp.com/album/tae-kwon-do[/url]. Tae Kwon Do has raw power. Confetti has "more Satan". All of our songs are 'punch-in-the-air' rock.
You’re known for your energetic and in-yer-face shows and you’ve played a ton of gigs in Atlanta and your hometown of Athens. What are the main differences between the two cities, or at least the venues you’ve played at?
That's a tough one. There are a few bands who identify as Athens/Atlanta bands like we do. We see a lot of new faces in Atlanta, and there's a lot of encouragement and growth potential there. However, Athens has an ever-changing music scene with a ton of flowing creativity, which is very inspiring.
Did you go into the recording studio with all the songs already fully formed from playing gigs or did you have to hash some stuff out more in the studio or even create new songs?
Some of those songs were written shortly after the inception of our band. Some of those songs were written two weeks before we recorded. All of the songs were intensely rehearsed before our studio time. Erica wrote some of the vocals during the time that we were recording, but we wanted to show up ready to track.
Are there any songs in your arsenal that didn’t make the cut on Confetti?
Nope. We showed up at the studio with a neatly wrapped package. That being said, we had a song called “D.Y.Y. (Do Yourself Yourself)” that we just didn't think was as strong as the others. We ended up re-working that song before we began recording, and now that song is called “Zang”!
When you perform live do you play any cover songs? If so, what’s your go-to cover song and if not, what would your dream cover song be to play live?
The closest we've come to playing a cover is when Erica pretends to be Stevie Nicks during the end of “I Want the F”. We realized that a short section of it sounds a little like "Edge of Seventeen". Our dream cover song is "Everybody Wants to Rule the World" by Tears for Fears.
Motherfucker is a pretty raw and inflammatory epithet, let alone band name! Why did you choose this moniker and weren’t you concerned you’d be blocked online and no one would be able to find out about the band? That kinda makes me wonder now if there’s a band called Spam…LOL
Ha, we get this question kind of a lot. But this band was formed with only one show in mind. We didn't see it as a risk; we knew that it would raise eyebrows and that we would get more people to watch us. Erica made duct tape stickers for that first show and we stuck them on all of our friends before we played. We created a buzz on purpose. We find it hilarious that this band is already more successful than any of our past projects.
By the way, for band + spam, Let Me Google That For You
I think your usual stomping grounds for gigs are Athens and Atlanta, but you have toured supporting other artists. Which band was your fave to tour with? Are you gearing up to tour sometime in the near future?
We have only been on a tour with one band, and that's The Powder Room, who are also from Athens. They are our brother band, and we do love them. As for future plans, we hope to hit up the east coast and have our sights on Europe.
You’ve got a chip on your collective shoulder and come roaring out of the gate on the 9 tunes that make up Confetti. Why isn’t it all sunshine ‘n’ lollipops for you? Has it been a hard slog to get to where you are now in life and/or the music field?
When you're in a band called Motherfucker, you can't take yourself too seriously. We have fun and write songs that make us want to punch the air. There is catharsis in that. All three of us have paid our dues, so to speak, and have several years of touring band experience. But we do this to feel more like ourselves, not for the little glory there is to be had. It's a long way to the middle if you want to rock and roll.
Who and/or what are you inspirations? I’m guessing that L7, Babes In Toyland, and Jack Off Jill (who’ve all had reunions this year), as well as QOTSA and The Jesus Lizard, and Mötorhead maybe, fit in there somewhere as bands you admire, but maybe I’m mistaken?
We hear that we sound like L7 and The Jesus Lizard a lot. It's cool that you picked up on Motorhead because “Wild Cherry Nightmare” was inspired by them. As far as big influences go, we most frequently reference Black Sabbath, Shellac, McLusky, Erase Errata, and Hot Snakes. Those are the bands we talk about most.
Can you explain the meaning of the lyrics for “Carl Sagan’s Ghost”?
"Carl Sagan's Ghost" was written very quickly and the vocals seemed to develop naturally once the instrumental part was solidified. We are interested in the dichotomy of organized religion and scientific knowledge. It seems like a more recent thing that you have to choose one side or the other, and we wanted to explore that. A couple of the lines are direct Carl Sagan quotes. Also, Carl Sagan said some epic shit.
How did you connect with Sick Room Records?
We are a part of a family of bands who throw occasional get-togethers in various cities in the U.S. We were invited to play one of those get-togethers in Chicago, met the head of Sick Room there and discussed recording an LP. We are stoked that it came to fruition and have had a great time working with them.
What are your favorite haunts in Athens (and/or Atlanta); music or otherwise? I’ve been to Atlanta and remember visiting a few record stores and thrift shops, but I can’t remember their names…
On any given day of the week, you'll most likely find Mandy at Avid Bookshop looking for her next favorite read, Erika at The Caledonia Lounge catching a rock show, and Erica at Hi-Lo, a local gastropub, hanging with friends.
Lastly, can you please list your official site(s) so we can find out more about you and your music?
Sure thing:
Bandcamp
Facebook
Sick Room Records
Instagram: @motherfuckerband
Twitter: @mfrocksyourface