Mt St Helens Vietnam Band Explodes Amazon Conference Room
Back at the dawn of the calender year, I sent a note 'round the Amazon Music squad asking for their 2009 predictions. Who would break big in 2009?
One of the memorable responses was from Chordstriker Jason Kirk: The Mount St Helen's Vietnam Band.
He was kind of joking. The Mount St Helen's Vietnam Band were the Seattle band-of-the-minute, who had performed a total of two shows. They sold out Neumos, a feat that well-established bands often fail to duplicate, and, yes, they were great: weird and joyous, with imaginative song structure and the goofy interplay that perhaps only a family band, that is a band that includes family members, can pull off.
As far as we knew, they had recorded nothing more than a demo tape.
Leave it to Jason to be right, even in jest.
The Mount St Helen's Vietnam Band is indeed rumbling. The album streets Monday. It's produced by Scott Colburn (Arcade Fire, Animal Collective), and it's very good.
We were pretty tickled that the band stopped by Amazon Music Galactic Headquarters Command Center, conference room 1432, and played four songs, albeit without their keyboardist. They also served us ice cream. We like ice cream.
We asked The Mount St Helen's Vietnam Band four questions:
What’s the inspiration for the song “Going on a Hunt”?
Benjamin: We were having a band meeting at our manager’s house. She has a young son and he suddenly chimed in “did you forget, Mom, we’re going on a hunt?” I just thought that was great. But the song’s about relationships, like when one person wants to be adventurous, and one is sort of just stagnant.
If you weren’t touring, but could still play hooky, what you do?
Marshall: Just go back home to rest and watch movies, and eat as much as I want: fried chicken, pizza--anything but mushrooms.
What tour stop are you most apprehensive about?
Jared: I’m worried about SXSW. It’s going to be incredibly exhausting. We’re playing seven times in three days. I’m usually wiped out after just one. I think we’re doing a couple of outdoor shows, an in-studio performance for WOXY, and a few club shows.
What is your favorite time signature?
Matt: 5/4 feels weird but you can get a groove going with it. It doesn’t go where you expect it to.
Christie on March 24, 2009 at 04:42 PM
Awesome fishbowl and the ice cream was *yummy*! Thanks for stopping by MSHVB!
Tammy Dammer on March 21, 2009 at 12:11 AM
I would just like to say: that is my freakin brother! And he is going to be quite famous one day!!! :)
Shelby on March 08, 2009 at 02:28 PM
Love MSHVB! They really did rock the conference room right and they killed it at Neumo's Friday night. If you have a chance to catch their tour - do it!
saaya on March 08, 2009 at 12:46 AM
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