Interview with SLUSHY!!
photo by Whitney Peck
I recently was able to speak with local bubble gum poppers Chris and Brent about their group Slushy! We talk about The Beatles, T-Shirts, teeth, and the latest Slushy releases! The world of Slushy is definitely a happening and groovy place...
SSC: Hey dudes. What is the next release you have in the works?
CHRIS: We have a new single coming out on Randy Records, Candy b/w Pocket. Both songs were recorded in Randy's Garage. Randy just released the Uh Bones "Only You EP" and he's putting out singles by Dead Ghosts and Vacation Club along with ours, so we're happy to be in such amazing company.
BRENT: Don't be surprised if we have a brand new tape out this summer.
SSC: I really like the new shirt you released recently. Who designed it?
C: Adam Pezen designed it. He's a rad artist here in Chicago and he also plays in Soft Candy, which is maybe my favorite band that we've never played with.
B: Mr. Adam
SSC: Have you considered adding a bassist to the group?
C: We've kicked around the idea but we keep coming back to the two-piece. We've been playing as a duo for a little over a year now, and we've gotten to the point where, sonically, we sound like a full band. The idea of adding people comes more from wishing there was one more person to help with all the band business like making flyers and booking shows and all that. But as far as being a band goes we're happy with the two-piece.
B: Since joining Slushy I've played every instrument in a live setting. Someday we might be a full band, It can get rough on my feet and knees. We have not found our Keith Moon or John Entwistle. It will put us 3+ months back to rehearse a new band. We would have to buy a van, we can fit everything (right now) in a car.
SSC: I see that you love The Beatles. What is your favorite Beatles song? Or favorite album?
C: I pretty much love everything from the "live" era, when they were really excited to be The Beatles. The run of albums from up to Rubber Soul is fantastic. They were just putting everything they had into writing killer tunes. Right now, I'm feeling like my favorite song is Day Tripper. Or Please Please Me. Or She Loves You. Or Nowhere Man.
B: Revolver was the first actual Beatles album I got and listened through all the way, so it's my favorite. "There's a Place" is probably my favorite, but "I want to your Hold your Hand" Is the best. The early live records are great because they play fast, have a punk sound, but those recordings are full of screaming girls.
SSC: If you were given creative control over a music video for any song of yours without any budget constraints, what song would you do and what would be in the video?
C: I Love The Beatles. Hire Paul and Ringo to play us in the video. We'll play John and George.
B: Fun In The Sun, The beach, beach balls, girls in yellow polka dot bikini's, O.G.'s, Silvertone/Kay/Arline/Domino/Harmony/Teisco guitars, umbrellas, coolers, you get the picture.
SSC: If you could play any venue in the city, what would it be?
C: The Burlington is my favorite place to play. That back is room just feels like a secret underground club, and it sounds amazing. Plus it's like a block from my house. We haven't played Animal Kingdom but I've been to some shows there and it's great. Basically, if your basement is a venue, we want to play there. We'd love to someday play the Metro and Lincoln Hall.
B: There are a ton of great venues in Chicago with great people that run them, we play Burlington all the time. It's very comfortable for us, we can walk there. Places we have yet to play: The Hideout, Wally's Word, Double Door, Bottom Lounge, Logan Square Auditorium / Monument, Cafe Mustache, Gallery Cabaret.
SSC: Where does your inspiration to write music come from?
C: I'm inspired by my friends, who are wonderful and lovely and talented people. They all contribute to this in different ways, from just providing good vibes, to exposing me to new music that excites me, to providing honest feedback of the music I create and making me want to improve, to making awesome music/art that makes me question how I can become that good.
B: Listening to music all the time, watching new and exciting bands, deep depression.
SSC: Is there a main songwriter or do you both share the load?
C: I used to write all the songs and record demos of them, and then we'd have to learn how to play them as a two-piece. Sometime we'd practice and start playing a riff and then I'd try to write a song around that. Recently though we've been a lot better at building and finishing songs together, a lot more collaboration.
B: I've always brought hooks to the table, but we've been playing Chris' songs we know and love for years know, there's probably 50 of them!
SSC: Are either of you in any other groups?
C: The Lemons
B: None that are currently playing out...Mickey, Party Bat, THING...
SSC: What are some of your favorite local bands?
C: Todays Hits! Also, Uh Bones, The Bingers, Hollow Mountain, Twin Peaks, Star Tropics, The Biz.
B: Current bands: Los Ice Creams (ehh em), The Sueves, Heavy Times, Radar Eyes, Running, Magic Milk, Mac Blackout, Negative Scanner, Rainbow Gun Show, Culo. All time: Shadows of Night, The Yolks, Busy Signals, The Shoes, Ides of March, Pezband, The Pony's, Glass Bricks, Hot Machines, Hollows, Off Broadway, Daily Void, Tyler Jon Tyler, Brain Idea, Mannequin Men,
SSC: And one last question, and it might be the most important...do you like slushies?
C: No, my teeth are too sensitive.
Take a listen to their most recent tape release ALL THE RAD DUDES!
http://slushy.bandcamp.com/
Check them out tonight live at Cole’s Bar with Twin Peax!