They
used to be called Scene Creamers. Now they are called
Weird War. Either way, you are in for a good time. The
band is bringing its Pol Pop Dance Party across the
USA. That's right, it's a dance party with live music
and DJs. And the Weird War can Go-Go with the best of
them. Their cool, psychotic funk with searing psych
guitar is the perfect accompaniment for mass body movement
in some dark, smoky cavern. They are bringing the party
to Ralph's on October 7th.
Weird
War have a long, interesting heritage in the form of
Ian Svenonius (formerly of Nation Of Ulysses and Cupid
Car Club) and Michelle Mae (formerly of Frumpies, Witchypoo),
who have teamed up creatively since the Make Up brought
a new gospel/soul sound to the independent music scene
in the mid 90s. After the break up of the Make Up, Svenonius
appeared solo as a crazed soul-singer named "David Candy"
and Mae teamed up with Svenonius for the first incarnation
of Weird War, who released their debut in 2002.
Then
came the Scene Creamers, which featured Svenonius and
Mae with guitarist Alex Minoff (former Six Finger Satellite)
and their debut album "I Suck On That Emotion." The
lineup remains for Weird War, and they will complete
the transition to their new/original name with the release
of "If You Can't Beat 'Em, Bite 'Em" later this year
on Drag City.
Regardless
of what you call them, you should check them out. Last
time the Weird War came to town Svenonius had an arsenal
of dance moves that would blow you away. He talks about
The Scene Creamers and Weird War below. I've used the
name Scene Creamers for much of this interview, but
rest assured, they are called Weird War:
Scene
Creamers have a significant amount of 60s psychedelic
influence, Do you feel that it is accurate, or are you
going for something entirely different than that?
Terminology as re: music is a difficult obstacle. But
the sixties as an era is not anything we're trying to
conjure up. We are thoroughly modern people with a 21st
century sensibility.
I
know that the Scene Creamers don't seem interested in
copying old styles, but I think you do pay tribute to
some of what came before. Is there something about the
psychedelic era or its aesthetic that you are trying
to apply to your music or your message?
No. the psychedelic influence is just the arcane metaphysical
component of all music; from Babylonian Xanfan to the
Wagnerian leitmotifs and including anything good between
or since.
Is
there a limited timeline for the Scene Creamers? I'm
thinking of NOU, Cupid Car Club, Make Up, etc. who were
all fairly short-lived groups. Do you think that Scene
Creamers will outlive the other bands?
Scene Creamers are dead now. We recently lost our name
in a legal dispute with some French graffiti artists.
We are therefore undergoing a dramatic transformation
whereby we are called Weird War, Our original name.
Long live Weird War.
One
of the really interesting things I read about in another
Scene Creamers interview was the comments about conservative
attitudes in rock and roll - where bands are staying
within specific genres and clichés. Is that the most
disparaging thing that's going on in music today?
Rock N Roll is the primary means of subjecting the world
to the "global" liberal market system through it's proliferation
of capitalist ideology. So in a sense, the music is
subversive and abhorrent.
Do
you seek to counter that for yourselves only or for
the rock and roll scene in general? Do you think that
you can inspire others to break out of their conservatism?
Rock and Roll per se isn't worth saving... Nor is that
the point. We DJ our shows as well and try to have a
nice time.
You
are going to have a new single at the show, is that
right? Is there a new album in the works as well?
Yes it's being released on January 30th on drag City.
The single is called AK 47 and is a preview of the new
work.
I
understand that with this Scene Creamers tour, you are
bringing a dance party to every city -- The Pol Pop
Dance Party. Can you tell me a little bit about how
that idea came to fruition?
It's just an attempt to break the concert out of its
typical formalist character. Shows shouldn't be oppressive
events with bands paraded out in endless succession
and random heavy metal blasted between groups. It's
an attempt to control the atmosphere and have a party.
Maybe next time we'll bring chairs.
What
can you tell me about the DJs -- DJ DIGNIFICANT WORM,
DJ NAME NAMES, DJ AUTHENTICITY -- are these additional
people that you are bringing along, or are they your
own DJ personas?
Some say it's us in our alter egos.
Have
the audiences been eager to participate in the dance
party? I ask because North Dakota and Minnesota can
be a reserved place at times. Not always, but more often
than not. What do you do to get people dancing?
Compulsion through good music.
Do
you have any dance moves that you will be showing the
crowd how to perform?
The roach assassin, the 12 ounce curl, the loquation
and more.
