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Caity vs. Midriff
Oh my lord you guys, it's like I hit a diamond mine on MySpace! Small local hometown bands (which you know I love) AND Ska/Punk music, it's a two-fer!
I was doing my usual MySpace crawl turning up nothing upon nothing upon "wtf-if-this". I was just about to give up my search for the day, bearing no fruits from my labours, when I clicked on a page for a Minneapolis based Punk/Ska band called Midriff. As soon as it started playing I got this total Big D and the Kid's Table meets The Mighty Mighty Bosstones who proceeds to have a child with Andrew WK, but then gives the baby up who then gets adopted by a mid-to-late 90's Offspring kind of vibe. (Dudes, look... I know that sounds weird, but you're just going to have to trust me here. I don't know what else to tell you.)
Either way, I fell in love with Midriff's sound and upbeat jive. (You kids still call it jive, right? Probably not.) I was absolutely stoked when I put in the request to chat with them and got a reply from Chad Clay (Guitars/Vox/Keyboards), this meant that I could proudly and properly introduce you wonderful readers to Minnesota's own: Midriff.
"We were going through drummers like the Red Hot Chili Peppers go through guitarists." - Chad Clay: Midriff
First of all, Let's start with a little self introduction for our readers who do not know who you are. Who are you and what do you do for the band?
Chad Clay: I play guitar, sing half the songs, and do the recording/mixing.
Johnnie Timm: I play bass and sing about half the songs.
Casey Palbicki: I play the drums and do some vocals too.
Johnnie Timm: I play bass and sing about half the songs.
Casey Palbicki: I play the drums and do some vocals too.
How did Midriff form?
Chad Clay: Johnnie and I first met in karate class and have been in a band together since middle school. We were going through drummers like the Red Hot Chili Peppers go through guitarists.
Johnnie Timm: In 10th grade, we had a gig at a friends birthday party but our drummer canceled the day before. We called up Casey (who attended a rival karate dojo!) to fill in. He came out, played one song and we were like, "OK this guy rocks, he's our new full-time drummer."
Johnnie Timm: In 10th grade, we had a gig at a friends birthday party but our drummer canceled the day before. We called up Casey (who attended a rival karate dojo!) to fill in. He came out, played one song and we were like, "OK this guy rocks, he's our new full-time drummer."
Your band is based out of Minneapolis, Minnesota. What is the local scene like, and have you found it particularly hard to crack into?
Casey Palbicki: There have been some big names to come out of here such as Prince and Bob Dylan. In the 80's there was a pretty thriving punk scene too. Right now the live music scene feels very underground. The hip-hop scene seems to be having the most success, especially with Rhymesayers.
Chad Clay: We do have a very dedicated, although small, underground Ska scene held together by www.mnska.com. We tried breaking into the local music scene back around 2003 and failed miserably. We couldn't get any shows other than house parties! We honestly haven't tried to crack into the local music scene since then.
Johnnie Timm: The scene, as in the big scene including all working musicians, is awesome because with ambition you will never run out of projects. I'm not going to say it was hard to crack into, simply because I always could have put in more effort. All it takes is effort, persistence, and time.
Chad Clay: We do have a very dedicated, although small, underground Ska scene held together by www.mnska.com. We tried breaking into the local music scene back around 2003 and failed miserably. We couldn't get any shows other than house parties! We honestly haven't tried to crack into the local music scene since then.
Johnnie Timm: The scene, as in the big scene including all working musicians, is awesome because with ambition you will never run out of projects. I'm not going to say it was hard to crack into, simply because I always could have put in more effort. All it takes is effort, persistence, and time.
How would you describe your live show to someone who had never seen Midriff perform before?
Chad Clay: I can't remember! We haven't played a live show since 2004! Ha! Although, we do finally have a showing coming up on April 17th at The Red Sea so I guess we'll find out! I'm guessing it'll be remembered by us throwing out about 100 of our CDs into the audience.
Johnnie: Imagine three working stiffs stumbling upon their old dusty instruments and saying "Hey, remember when we used to play punk and ska all day long?". Then after a montage of rehearsals, those working stiffs are playing a show.
Johnnie: Imagine three working stiffs stumbling upon their old dusty instruments and saying "Hey, remember when we used to play punk and ska all day long?". Then after a montage of rehearsals, those working stiffs are playing a show.
What do you do to pump yourselves up for a show? Any pre or post show rituals?
Johnnie Timm: I don't have a ritual but if I did, it would involve playing some Journey and probably releasing an eagle.
Casey Palbicki: As for post show, sometimes people want us to keep playing so for an encore we'll do a ska punk version of Super Mario Bros. theme song.
Casey Palbicki: As for post show, sometimes people want us to keep playing so for an encore we'll do a ska punk version of Super Mario Bros. theme song.
[Caity's Note: I took a poll among a non-biased group of people (...pretty much just my friends, actually) and it turns out that releasing an eagle is the absolute best answer we've ever had to this question at The Sound Faction. I gotta figure out a prize for Johnnie now... I'll accept suggestions!]
What inspires your lyrics, and is there one that means the most to you specifically?
Casey Palbicki: The lyrics come from each one of us, so each song is quite different depending on who wrote it. Some are about drug addiction, others about being in bad relationships, while others are about the media machine and corporate corruption.
Johnnie Timm: I wrote Chain Gang when I was working the graveyard shift at an envelope factory in Minneapolis during my early twenties. I hated money, and rich people. This was because I was broke and suffered from class envy. I took that and wrote a song about scantily clad teenagers with credit cards.
Johnnie Timm: I wrote Chain Gang when I was working the graveyard shift at an envelope factory in Minneapolis during my early twenties. I hated money, and rich people. This was because I was broke and suffered from class envy. I took that and wrote a song about scantily clad teenagers with credit cards.
What are your goals for your music?
Chad Clay: We have absolutely no expectations of "getting big" or even making any money so our goals are simply to have a good time creating music, playing it, recording it, and then putting it out there for free.
Johnnie: My goal is to have fun and make audiences have fun.
Johnnie: My goal is to have fun and make audiences have fun.
What has been the biggest moment for you so far? Conversely, what has been the biggest challenge?
Johnnie Timm: Our biggest moment was finally finishing our album which had been 7 years in the making! For about 6 years we had lost all the recordings and the band was essentially non-existent during this time. Then, last year we found the recordings and finished them up in Chad's bedroom recording studio. Really, my favorite moments are hearing great comments from people who randomly find us on last.fm, myspace, etc... The biggest challenge is just finding the time to get together. We all have such different schedules with full-time jobs, school, etc...
The music industry is a tough one to be in, what fuels your passion to keep going?
Johnnie: Whenever being a musician is tough, I tell myself "I have a great day job, so who cares if I fail as a musician?"
Casey Palbicki: Maybe it's considering ourselves not part of the music industry. We actually write songs against the music industry! Ha!
Casey Palbicki: Maybe it's considering ourselves not part of the music industry. We actually write songs against the music industry! Ha!
What can we expect to see from Midriff in the future?
Chad Clay: It's a mystery to even us! We'll probably begin playing more shows (if we can get them!) and hopefully record another album this year and put it up on the internet for free.
Now, The Sound Faction staff is comprised of six girls, and we are completely random at best. We like to end all of our interviews with five random questions to finish it all up on a light note. Here goes:
If you had to be stuck forever in an 80's teen movie, which would it be and why?
Chad Clay: The Karate Kid, because the 3 of us would join forces with Mr. Miyagi and kick the Cobra Kai's ass!
Casey Palbicki: Ferris Beuller's Day Off, or The Karate Kid. Although I wouldn't mind learnin' some dance moves in the movie Breakin'.
Johnnie: Weird Science. Girls are complicated, why not just program one with parameters any man can appreciate while not being called insensitive, selfish, lazy, or neglectful?
Casey Palbicki: Ferris Beuller's Day Off, or The Karate Kid. Although I wouldn't mind learnin' some dance moves in the movie Breakin'.
Johnnie: Weird Science. Girls are complicated, why not just program one with parameters any man can appreciate while not being called insensitive, selfish, lazy, or neglectful?
Which is worse, cheeto fingers or juice moustaches?
Chad Clay: Cheeto Fingers, especially if you've been eating the red hot fiery ones and then you rub your eyes.
Casey Palbicki: Cheeto fingers, lick all you want, that stuff ain't coming off.
Johnnie: Cheeto Fingers
Casey Palbicki: Cheeto fingers, lick all you want, that stuff ain't coming off.
Johnnie: Cheeto Fingers
If you could be the Champion of Anything what would it be and why?
Chad Clay: I'm already a self-proclaimed champion of Mike Tyson's punch-out as I'm able to beat him with only my left hand on the controller. Casey is also a champion as he can beat Super Mario Bros. from start to finish in slightly over 5 minutes.
Casey Palbicki: I'm thirsty for the Mario record! I'm within seconds of the world record.
Johnnie Timm: Guitar Hero
Casey Palbicki: I'm thirsty for the Mario record! I'm within seconds of the world record.
Johnnie Timm: Guitar Hero
What is your favourite and least favourite dance craze?
Chad Clay: Love all the classic 90's dances. Johnnie and I used to rock our middle school dances with back flips, spins, the running man, always getting a crowd around us and occasionally getting money thrown at us once.
Casey Palbicki: Love any move by Michael Jackson, especially the Smooth Criminal video. I'm not a fan of the electric slide however.
Johnnie: I like the Boogaloo, and hate the Macarena.
Casey Palbicki: Love any move by Michael Jackson, especially the Smooth Criminal video. I'm not a fan of the electric slide however.
Johnnie: I like the Boogaloo, and hate the Macarena.
What fashion trend (male or female) confuses you, and why?
Chad Clay: It's not a trend but I never understood why people wear shirts with a huge designer logos plastered on them. It's like, "you just paid a ton of money for that shirt so you can walk around and be their billboard. Shouldn't they be paying you to wear that?"
Casey Palbicki: I wonder why 80's clothes have become in style again, especially among females. I thought we got past the 80's for good?
Johnnie: Tight rolling of the pants. Those androgynous looking boys from Uptown are doing that again now and I don't understand it.
Casey Palbicki: I wonder why 80's clothes have become in style again, especially among females. I thought we got past the 80's for good?
Johnnie: Tight rolling of the pants. Those androgynous looking boys from Uptown are doing that again now and I don't understand it.
And finally: here is your shameless self promotion spot. Anything you'd like to say about yourselves or your band that we haven't touched on?
Chad Clay: I just encourage people to come visit us on http://www.last.fm/music/Midriff say hi, download all our songs for free, if you like the tunes, share them with your friends. Thanks!
Casey Palbicki: Also check out http://www.garageband.com and look for Midriff. Come see all of the sweet awards we've won on a site that is full of haters.
Casey Palbicki: Also check out http://www.garageband.com and look for Midriff. Come see all of the sweet awards we've won on a site that is full of haters.
Massive thanks to the guys from Midriff for taking some time out to chat with us and introduce themselves to you guys! If you want to hear samples of their music (and you know you do) check out the last.fm link above or: Their Myspace Page! I highly recommend getting your groove on to their song "Christina Aguilera Is My Future Wife"... I think I've played it at least 20 times this morning. No, seriously...
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