In 2010 I interviewed artist Kevin Peterson for my blog, My Favorite MAOI (music art or inspiration). I had seen his work on an art site I would frequent to view the artists of the day. This was a few years before he was picked up by my art family at Thinkspace Gallery. Now his work is selling out at every show and his work is gracing the cover of the Red Hot Chili Peppers latest album, “The Getaway”. Peterson’s grown tremendously as an artist over the last six years and I’ll be interviewing him later this year for his exhibition this August with Thinkspace. In a toot my own horn fashion and hipster inclinations of “I heard about it first” here is my interview with Kevin Peterson from 2010.
Name: Kevin Peterson Nickname: K. Peterman, Kelvin, Uptown, K. Pumpernickle, Roger Pudactor, Kpeezy Sign: Taurus
Favorite: Breakfast food– Donuts! Scent– Donuts! Flower– Donuts! I mean Lilies.
Q1. How many times have you been pulled over? And why?
A1.Like ever?? I dont know -several. Expired registration, inspection, driving without headlights, tail light out. Littering (i know thats bad but i was just a stupid kid). Curfew violation (also a stupid kid). Im not a speeder though!
Q2. What animal is your spirit guide?
A2.Liger
Q3. What’s your vice?
A3.Peanut butter cups. Donuts! Oh and nicorette.
Q4.If you could live in a movie for a day, which movie would it be? Would you be yourself or another character?
A4.The Departed. I’d be Marky- Mark, I think hes the only one who makes it out alive.
Q5.If your art was an ice cream flavor which one would it be?
A5.Chunky Monkey – cuz I like things that rhyme.
Q6.Did you have an imaginary friend as a child?
A6.I dont think so.
Q7. Personal Quote?
A7.”Be the change you want to see in the world” I dont usually get the credit for it – but yeah- that was all me.
Q8.Do you believe in horoscopes and zodiac signs?
A8.Maybe- but I dont pay much attention. I had to look up how to spell Taurus.
Q9.Do you drink coffee? If so how many cups a day?
A9.For sure- 3 or 4
Q10. Best show you have ever been too?
A10.I really loved Will Cotton’s show at Mary Boone last year with the big gingerbread houses.
I fell in love with Kevin Peterson’s work the moment I saw the juxtaposition of innocent children in a graffiti filled playground. They are as at home as they would be running across lush green fields. He captures their expressions with his talent for realism. From the texture of the walls that colorful writing is drawn to the strands of hair that fall down the child’s face; Kevin draws you in and dares you to see if it’s a painting or photograph.
The best way for me to be truly focused on work is if I’m listening to music. The music helps me to get in the zone and my Monday playlists have been helping me stay accountable for staying in the zone. If I’m listening to music, then I can just add a favorite track to the playlist and use it here (the blog) later. I want to compare it to some recycling productivity sustainability effort, but maybe that is because I’ve been doing a lot of work on eco brands. Anyways, today while I was in the final stretch of a batch of content for a client; I went from listening to Battles to Pelican to Marnie Stern to Fang Island. FANG ISLAND! I click the related artists to Marnie Stern on Spotify and Fang Island appeared, this small little band I interviewed back in 2010 and saw open for Matt and Kim. It was a total throwback moment and why I’ve decided to share my old interview with them, with you, right now.
Fang Island
Posted on October 3, 2010 – My Favorite MAOI
FANG ISLAND:
chris georges– guitar.
jason bartell– guitar.
michael jacober– bass.
nicholas andrew sadler– guitar.
Name: chris georges Nickname: crust crustopherson Sign: Aries
Favorite: Color. Seafoam green Food. Tacos y burritos Magazine. Mojo, 60s-70s rollingstone, creem
Q1.What have you said you would never do, but have ended up doing? A1.I was straight edge in highschool
Q2. What animal is your spirit guide? A2. Chester Cheetah
Q3. What’s your vice? A3. Windmill strums
Q4. If you could live in a movie for a day, which movie would it be? Would you be yourself or another character? A4. “The Kids Are Alright. ” I would be myself in the crowd at every show.
Q5. If your art was an ice cream flavor which one would it be? A5. It would be every flavor on a sugar cone. It would taste like sweet, sweet infinity
Q6. Did you have an imaginary friend as a child? A6. The Ultimate Warrior
Q7. Personal Quote? A7. “Mein fraulein likes to party all the time”
Q8. Do you believe in horoscopes and zodiac signs? A8. No way
Q9. Do you drink coffee? If so how many cups a day? A9. Yes way. As much as it takes.
Q10. Best show you have ever been too? Q10. Black dice and sonic youth opening up for lightning bolt. That or Meatloaf at Mohegan sun.
Name: Jason Bartell (guitarist/singer) Nickname: Bread Sign: Me Up
Favorite: Color: Aqua red Food: Mom’s white chili Magazine: That one Spin where Radiohead had their faces photoshopped
Q1. What have you said you would never do, but have ended up doing? A1. Be mistaken for Nic Cage
Q2. What animal is your spirit guide? A2. KFC Double Down Sandwich
Q3. What’s your vice? A3. (See spirit animal)
Q4. If you could live in a movie for a day, which movie would it be? Would you be yourself or another character? A4. I’d be the cameraman on the set of Holy Mountain
Q5. If your art was an ice cream flavor which one would it be? A5. Extra Spicy
Q6. Did you have an imaginary friend as a child? A6. Yes, all the future members of Fang Island
Q7. Personal Quote? A7. “Does people still say ‘stoked?’”
Q8. Do you believe in horoscopes and zodiac signs? A8. Sometimes?
Q9. Do you drink coffee? If so how many cups a day? A9. I eat 5 bowls of coffee ice cream a day. It equals about one cup.
Q10. Best show you have ever been too? A10. Rhys Chatham’s 10 guitar orchestra, performed in an abandoned silo.
Name: Mike Nickname: Jonathan Davis Sign: scorpion man
Favorite: Color: Money Green Food: Candied Quarter Magazine: Fortune
Q1. What have you said you would never do, but have ended up doing? A1. Said, “I love you.”
Q2. What animal is your spirit guide? A2. Falcor de Never Ending Story
Q3. What’s your vice? A3. Homework
Q 4. If you could live in a movie for a day, which movie would it be? Would you be yourself or another character? A4. The maestro of The Pied Piper
Q5. If your art was an ice cream flavor which one would it be? A5. Rum Craison
Q6. Did you have an imaginary friend as a child? A6. Oh, thats what those were….
Q7. Personal Quote? A7. “the soup is gentle”
Q8. Do you believe in horoscopes and zodiac signs? A8. Oui
Q9. Do you drink coffee? If so how many cups a day? A9. Never.
Q10. Best show you have ever been too? A10. American Gladiators (’92)
Name: nick andrew sadler Nickname: nickiiii Sign: libra
Favorite: Color. chrome (is that a color?), Food. eggs Magazine. popular science magazine.
Q1. What have you said you would never do, but have ended up doing? A1. cry
Q2. What animal is your spirit guide? A2. cat
Q3. What’s your vice? A3. coffee
Q4. If you could live in a movie for a day, which movie would it be? Would you be yourself or another character? A4. pennies from heaven, myself.
Q5. If your art was an ice cream flavor which one would it be? A5. brie.
Q6. Did you have an imaginary friend as a child? A6. no, but I honestly believed at one point that other people were not real and i couldn’t decide whether or not what i was experiencing around me was some pre-programmed act, like a play.
Q7. Personal Quote? A7. “sorry, my phone got turned off”
Q8. Do you believe in horoscopes and zodiac signs? A8. yeah.
Q9. Do you drink coffee? If so how many cups a day? A9. my french press is blown out and my teeth aren’t as white. my best ideas seem to happen when my cheeks are buzzing and my eyes are burning.
Q10. Best show you have ever been too? A10. oops tour, philli. with lightning bolt, arab on radar, the locust, pink n brown, orthrelm, etc etc etc.
If Explosions in the Sky had a fun unjaded totally upbeat and excited for life younger sibling, it would be Fang Island. Fang Island, mostly instrumental but instead of being melodic, is more a series of intense guitar riffs and epic rock progressions. And the vocals, instead of haunting and lingering behind the music, it’s more like the almost audible bar chant of a local pub rocking out to the jukebox. On their website they say that their intention “was to make music for people that like music”. Well boys, mission accomplished. Every song dripping in joy and pure love for the music they are creating, how can a person that loves music not love Fang Island.
please visit Fang Island’s myspace page to hear more music… (currently on tour with Matt & Kim and then off to another tour with Coheed & Cambria…isn’t this band just awesome!!)
Wow – see I even mention a Myspace page, I think it’s better to find them on bandcamp at this point. I wonder what these boys are up to now. Also now that I’ve watch Freak and Geeks, I would like to say that I believe Fang Island could have written the soundtrack to the entire show. They are the band Jason Segels character wishes he would have been a part of.
