I get the feeling that a Modern Convenience live show would be something to behold. Every picture I came across had someone lying or kneeling on the ground, amid a mass of blurry instruments. It would seem to fit the energy blast emitted from their recently released album “Fuck With Fire” – a mix of Jay Reatard and Dead Kennedys; Terry Malts and The Misfits.
Transplanted from Memphis, Modern Convenience is a vessel for multi-instrumentalist Mikey B, and an apt description would be fuzzed out rock and roll with a solar-powered laser beam guitar.
He’s a space cowboy, with a knack for some dirty, catchy, new wave, punk rock with a bit of T. Rex glam and Peter Murphy creep. One listen to a song like Gaga or Skin of Wax and you’ll fall in line under the tractor beam to board the mother-ship.
Modern Convenience recently released “Fuck With Fire” on cassette on Maximum Pelt and on Cd form P.V.C. Hex records.
We are…
Mikey B. – guitar, bass, drums, vox (on recording) guitar and vox (live), Mac j (bass live), Carlo (drums live)
People say we sound like….
People would say we sound like a less sexually oppressed wire that’s been listening to a ton of Chuck Berry ha!
How did you become Modern Convenience and what’s with the name?
I was playing in a few bands at the time (Antique Curtains, Dead Trends, Alpha Numerals) as they started to fizzle out and I still had the desire to tour a lot. I decide to try and make these bedroom recordings I had real. As far as the name I had these pictures I use to draw of this 50’s style TV that I use to write Modern Convenience on, so I thought that was a fitting name for this band. Something that was considered the future at the time is now a primitive version of an existing technology.
Tell us about the punk-sci-fi scene in Nashville?
The scene in Nashville is pretty diverse which I like. I’m still pretty new to this town. I lived in Memphis for years but one of the cooler bands in town right now is Lady Rider; they’re a space punk, Motorhead type band – really cool stuff and I also dig Ttotals (trippy heavy space rock from the future and past) and Hans Condor rules! All different bands but all really good,which kinda makes the scene pretty open to whatever.
What music has had an influence on your sound?
Early rock and roll stuff like Chuck Berry, Rolling Stones, Kinks etc.. mid to late 70’s punk rock Iggy Pop, Wire, Screamers and as far as more modern bands I love The Intelligence, Blind Shake, Man or Astroman – I love the surf rock.
Tell us about your live show…
I like to make it as fun, loose and unpredictable as possible. I try not to have a shtick. I don’t like writing set lists so if the band doesn’t know what’s gonna happen neither will the crowd. It can get pretty wild but it comes from a place of fun. I think our best shows are when we’re having the most fun and being the most ridiculous.
What influences the band lyrically?
Rock and Roll, heart break, and Sci fi Films ha!
Best concert we’ve ever seen…?
For me it was The Hives. I wasn’t a huge fan before I saw them live years ago but man they put on such a great live show. I actually went to see the band who was opening up for them called Reigning Sound but The Hives killed, plus they got Greg Cartwright to come back on stage to do a cover of the Compulsive Gamblers “Stop” and “Think it Over” which made it a perfect night.
If you could pick any time to travel back to for music, where would you go and what year would it be….
It would be the early 80’s that way I could catch some James Brown, Devo, and Richard Hell, at some point in the same year while they’re still in their prime. Punk music was still kicking then and you had this other art punk thing also happening in the underground.
What tunes are currently on heavy rotation for you…
Lately I’ve been listening to the Clone Defects and the Dikes of Holland last record a lot; as well as the Black Monuments out of Grand Rapids. Mac has been listening to The Intelligence.
If you could open for any band right now who would that be and why?
The Blind Shake, they’re one of the more exciting bands to watch live, they just go from start to finish which I like.
If you could only bring ONE record (you can all answer if you like) in the tour van/bus/plane what would it be?
I would have to bring the Italian band Ultra Twist “No Beer No Fun” EP. It’s a tradition to start the tour off with this song. Mac says The Intelligence “Males”.
When you’re not playing and have some time off, where could we find you…
I love riding bikes around town, or just going to checkout bands and art shows.
From the Random Question Generator:
If you had to act your age what behaviour would you change?
Ha! I have no idea
What’s up for 2015/2016?
A new record is in the works, some EPs, touring and general drunken debauchery .
