(Photo Courtesy of Strange Lot)Strange Lot, this week’s Bandcamp gem, was dug up a little bit closer to home — which is Tempe, for those of you who have stumbled upon The State Press from another realm. The vibes that pour forth from the “Walk of the Sun EP” are a heady mixture of distorted garage pop, psychedelic distortion, beach side sunshine and a subtle dose of darkness.
Why we still rely on beach-y as an adjective to describe music that seems right at home in the oppressive sunshine of Arizona is beyond me, but it works. Strange Lot, though, is appropriate whether you’re soaking up rays alongside pink flamingo lawn ornaments or actually within the vicinity of a beach.
State Press reporter Zachariah Webb chatted with front man Dominic Mena about the group’s influences, Cornish Pasty and Strange Lot's show at the Trunk Space on Friday, Sept. 12.
The State Press: Obligatory question: So how did Strange Lot come about? Who’s in the band? How did y’all wind up together?
Dominic Mena: Strange Lot came about as a solo recording project I had while playing bass for another band. I didn't plan on sharing the music but once the other band broke up I decided to go forward with it. It has now grown into a full collaborative band with Tim Lormor on drums, David Dennis on bass and myself on guitar and vocals. We all essentially know each other through Craigslist.
SP: So you guys all synced up over Craigslist? Did one of you post "Wanted: Musicians for Post-Punk Psychedelic Band?" How did that come about?
DM: Haha, well Tim was the drummer for the last band I was in (which also met through Craigslist), and I later posted an ad seeking a bassist with some of my influences. Dave responded among a few others, but he was the best fit in the end.
SP: What inspires your music both with regards to other music acts/sounds/vibes/etc. as well as other, non-musical elements of life on planet Earth?
DM: Bands that take the extra step to go a little further with their music like Grizzly Bear and The Flaming Lips are major inspiration. Visions of people moving to music or anything that makes them "feel" also influences our music.
SP: Quick: name your favorite Flaming Lips song and/or album? Can also be one of your favorites — I'd hate to narrow you down to one choice.
DM: Favorite album has to be “The Soft Bulletin,” and favorite song in general is "The Sparrow Looks Up at the Machine"
SP: You literally just released your first EP, “Walk of the Sun.” It sounds pretty damn good. I’m a big fan of the song “Upside Dwners.” What was putting the EP together like?
DM: Thank you very much! Putting it together was stressful at times but always worth it. Considering I was in another band at the time, I recorded all the parts myself. It was a great experience, but I'm excited to work on our full-length with each of us recording on our instruments and collaborating on parts.
SP: Whoa, whoa. You're working on a full-length album? How's that coming along? Any idea when it might hit the World Wide Web?
DM: Yeah we're about to start recording our full length within the next week or so. Our sound is coming together quickly, so it's been fun to work on the new songs and work as a team to make them great. We decided on a tentative release date, but it's hard to say since it's still early in the process. We're excited to get the tracks down, so it shouldn't be too long...
SP: Who did the rad album artwork?
DM: My rad sister Amanda painted it in high school, and I always thought it'd make a sweet album cover.
SP: If you had to pick the ideal visual accompaniment to your sound, what would it be?
DM: Driving away from the scene of a crime while clouds of green and orange swirl above you.
SP: Where in Tempe should the dear readers of The State Press be eating?
DM: Le Cornish of Pasties.
SP: When you’re on the Internet, what do you typically wander through/where do you normally wind up?
DM: I wander through YouTube listening to new music, though I usually end up on Protools working on something.
SP: So, who and/or what are you listening to at the moment?
DM: Currently listening to Mac Demarco, Tame Impala — and a washing machine rumbling in the distance.
SP: Try to pin down your sound with a long string of genre-y adjectives.
DM: I believe the editors of YabYum said it best with: "Beach-revival psychedelia filtered through the lens (speaker?) of a post-punk modernity."
SP: Heard y'all were on NPR’s Tiny Desk Concert Series? What was that like? What did Steve Goldstein chat with you guys about?
DM: That was a surreal experience. It was a first for each of us to be in a real radio station like that so we were all excited and honored to have been asked to play for them. Steve asked us about the psychedelic sound, our lyrics, and other curiosities about the band. Everyone was extremely nice and we had a great time.
SP: You’ve got a show Friday, Sept. 12 at the Trunk Space. People should go that, right?
DM: If you're looking to escape the realities of this world then this show is for you! It's $7, all ages and starts at 7:30 p.m.
You heard it from him first, dear reader. So go forth, download Strange Lot’s “Walk of the Sun EP” on Bandcamp. Or better yet, go to its show at the Trunk Space and investigate their rad sound for yourself — it’ll be jamming with Tele Novella, Psywave and Del Funland.
Reach the reporter at zachariah.webb@asu.edu or follow him on Twitter @zachariahkaylar.
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