SJF

You wrote on your website that you are a recordshopaholic.  What’s the last record that you purchased?

MS

Well, I’ve discovered iTunes again.  I’ve been getting random singles.  Things like “Sugar” by Tonic.

SJF

So, you’re in support of purchasing downloaded music.

MS

As an indie artist, if anybody wants to download my music, no matter how it goes out – even if they don’t pay for it.  There’s good things and bad things to each one.  How ever my music gets out there is good.  If they want to pay for it, that’s even better.

DM

As a musician, I’d like to get paid.

MS

This is our job.

SJF

Do you have day jobs?

MS

He works at a radio station. 

DM

I do promotions.

MS

Try promoting us for a change.

DM

Yeah, I’m sure a country station could do well for us.

SJF

How did you meet the rest of your band?

MS

I met Dave through Ian, our drummer.  Dave and Ian had seen me play a couple of times at a local Modesto place. It took him like a month to come over because he had pneumonia.  He knew of a bass player.

DM

It was heartbreaking at first because she already had a bass player.

MS

The guy I had had three kids and a job.  He was really good but he didn’t want to gig any more.  And then Dave played and he was hired.

SJF

What do you see as the next step in your career?

DM

Arenas!

MS

(laughs)  Yeah, arenas with pyrotechnics!  We’re at a point where we’re playing good venues with bands that have great crowds.  We’re past the competition part.  We’re all struggling in this scene together.  We can play the shows and bring a bunch of people in and play the shows.

DM

We have our friends.  They have theirs.  Every one has their fanbase and they can all mingle and create a bigger fanbase.  People start to come to everybody’s shows.

MS

We’re doing all that by ourselves.  Booking, venues.  It gets harder as the venues get bigger.  Promotion.  We have a little street team.  IF we get to the next step, we will need someone to help us do it.  But, we’re not actively looking.

DM

We’re doing good things.  Now we need something else to drive us forward more.  So, we’re thinking of possibly getting a manager.  We are at the step where we’ve done everything we can.  Now which investment and risk do we take?

MS

I think our cd is pretty good –

DM

You just need real musicians to play on it.  (laughs)

MS

College radio would take it.  B93 is really supportive, too.  We could get regular spins if we had some bigwig person supporting it.  But that costs money.

MS

We do have people reaching out to help. 

DM

Like that one guy in LA…”I’m gonna make you a star!”  I’d never thought I’d hear that.

MS

He was a lawyer.

SJF

Are you having a good time?

MS

Absolutely.  It’s fun, but it’s hard work.  You just dive in.  And sometimes you think, “Oh my gosh, what am I doing?”  I’m onstage and there’s all these people looking at me, and I think “I could be at home watching a movie.  What am I doing?”

DM

Everybody says being in a band is a dream.  It’s still a job.  A fun job, but still a job.  You dive in and struggle more, but you’ve put too much investment in to just quit.  You have to look deep within yourself and ask, “Am I a quitter or am I going to keep going?”

SJF

I read that you’re a big Beatles fan.  Do you have a favorite Beatles track?

MS

Every album is good.  I have no complaints about the Beatles.  “Something” is probably my favorite.  That song is genius.  The guitar solo in that is one of the best guitar solos ever.

SJF

What is your favorite album of all time?

DM

Primus “Sailing the Seas of Cheese.”

MS

My favorite album – I like the Jason Mraz one right now.

SJF

She says Jason Mraz and you say Primus.  That’s definitely a different musical perspective.

DM

That’s why we get along so well.  She shows me music, and I say “That’s cool.”  I show her music and she says, “Whoah.”

SJF

What is the best concert you’ve ever seen?

MS

That’s a hard one.  Jason’s pretty darn good.  You think his cd is good?  Well, he’s so, so good live. 

SJF

Who is your favorite Muppet?

MS

Kermit the Frog is definitely my favorite.

IS

It’d have to be Animal, because he’s the drummer.

DM

Mine would have to be Gonzo or Beaker.

SJF

Do you have a favorite swear word?

MS

(pause)  Golly.  (pause)  Jeepers.

SJF

Jeepers could be a swear word if you use the right tone.

DM

They’re all equal to me.  I love them all.

IS

Horseshit.  Emphasis on the shit.

SJF

What is your favorite place to hang out in the Valley?

MS

Definitely music stores or Krispy Kreme or Cold Stone.

SJF

Do you have a favorite record store?

MS

I kind of like CD Baby or Amazon.  I am a shop on a whim girl.

DM

I like finding small mom-and-pop shops.  Obscure stuff that you’d not find.

IS

I agree because I still have a record player.  A lot of older stuff.

SJF

Do you have a favorite video game?

MS

I am kind of a sucker for PacMan, but it’s on my Macintosh, so it’s MacMan.  I’ve gotten to the point where it plays over and over on the last level.

IS

I don’t play many video games.  I read.  Anything that’s bashing Bush.

MS

I also like Skippo.  It’s a card game.  It’s so awesome. 

DM

I get stuck on those games with the little balls where you match them. 

SJF

Any other Valley favorites?

MS

Taquerias.  I love taquerias.

IS

Taco trucks!

DM

I’ve traveled a lot.  The one thing you can’t beat are the summer nights.

MS

With the sky so open!  All the stars out.

DM

You can sit out all night.  You just can’t beat it.  It’s perfect.  Especially with a big burrito.

MS

It’s on the way to everywhere, too.  You can go skiing.  Go to the beach.

IS

You both took [my answer].  I’ll just have to say, “I like it here.”