Noise FM is one of the most talked about bands on the local music scene today. These two brothers and their always-changing cast of bass players are definitely leaving their mark with listeners around the Kansas City/Lawrence area and beyond. No one should pass up an opportunity to see these guys play. They'll be playing this Saturday, December 12th at The Bottleneck in Lawrence, KS so bundle up and go check these guys out, no excuses. The show starts at 8 pm.
Two Pandas: You’re like Lawrence’s own Jonas’ Brothers. Would you agree or disagree with this statement?
Alex: It’s funny that you say that. I generally make the same comparison whenever we’re asked to describe our sound. We used to be even more like the Jonas Brothers when our younger brother Alvin was in the band.
Austin: He’s dead.
TP: Do the two of you have musical backgrounds together?
Alex: We’ve been playing together in various bands since we were in middle school. Our musical tastes and talents intertwined at a young age and have evolved to the point where we literally cannot be separated. We’ve tried playing in bands separately and we can’t function.
TP: Last spring you played at SXSW. Tell us about that experience.
Alex: SXSW is an experience. There was a night when one of the members of [Kansas City pop-rock quartet] The ACBs acquired a nice bottle of champagne and we found ourselves dancing with Perez Hilton. I also saw Janeane Garofalo walking down 6th street. Austin got chewed out by “comedian” Todd Barry. That guy’s a dick. Oh yeah, and we managed to play 3 shows that went really well.
TP: We know you work with someone out of Chicago. What is that person’s title and what exactly do they do for you?
Alex: We are managed by Mike Racanelli of Goldmill Artist Management in Chicago. Mike does a good job of exposing our music to new crowds and contacts, helping us with show opportunities and keeping “the business” of The Noise FM in order. He does all the behind the scenes work that we’re incapable of doing ourselves.
Austin: Lately, he’s had to make sure we’re taking a break from playing Modern Warfare 2 to actually do something music-related.
TP: As far as we know, you have done recording in both a recording studio and by yourselves at home. Having experienced both, which do you prefer most and why? What are the disadvantages and advantages of the two?
Alex: I’m a perfectionist like you wouldn’t believe. I generally approach a song with very specific ideas for everything from how the guitar tones should sound to how keyboards and synths should be panned to volume swells... you name it. So it’s great to have complete freedom to address all of those things when I’m recording on my own. However, there are obviously limitations to working on your own. It’s good to have a fresh set of ears and a second opinion when you work with someone else. And it’s also nice to work with engineers who actually know what they’re doing, as opposed to me just messing around in our basement studio until I get a desired result. We’re currently working with Josh Browning at Hey! Bulldog studio on music that will hopefully see the light of day in early 2010.
TP: You’ve had bass players move in and out frequently since the band started. What’s the deal with you guys and bass players?
Austin: We’re like small children: we don’t work well with others. Plus there is an arrogance that comes with the standard bass player that just drives me crazy. But seriously, it’s ridiculous. Basically every time we find a guy to fill in he moves on to bigger and better things. Or just decides to give up music entirely.
TP: This is a question we ask all of the interviewees, so we’re going to ask you. What does the future look like for Noise FM?
Austin: Hmmm, gloomy. Not for us, but for the rest of the world. The Noise FM is going to be like Viggo Mortensen in The Road. The world will be crumbling down around us, and we will still be here playing ‘Circles.’
TP: You share a house with members of Lawrence’s Cowboy Indian Bear. Are they as good of roommates as they are musicians?
Austin: They’re in a band? They have been good friends of ours for several years now and we share much in common with them beyond just a love for music. It’s great to have a constant flow of music running through the house. There is always noise flowing through the halls; we practice in the basement, CJ and Beau record a lot of demos upstairs, and about once a week we will meet in the middle floor living room for some Beatles Rock Band.
TP: Lastly, rumor has it that the two of you can be seen dancing on table tops around town in Lawrence. Is this true?
Austin: Yes, every Saturday afternoon at Joe Schmos on Mass Street and every Monday night around midnight at The Pool Room. It’s tough playing in a band; you always have to find something to help pay the bills.
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