If you were making a mix for our readers, what would be the first three songs you’d select?
Don’t Look Back into the Sun - The Libertines
I Was A Lover - TV on the Radio
Alex Chilton - The Replacements

Name any musical influence(s)?
We all hold Radiohead in very high regard.

What new music are you currently listening to?
Peter, Bjorn and John is a new favourite of Dave and mine. Also, the Hold Steady’s new album is fantastic.

Name a band (current or defunct) that would be your dream act to open for on a major tour?
Well, it would be a dream to open for Radiohead, but even in our dream we’d feel very unworthy of sharing a stage with them…

Who, if anyone, would you like to collaborate with?
Born Ruffians or the Meligrove Band… possibly We’re Marching On. We’ve never tried to collaborate on anything with anyone before though, so I’d be really interested to see what we’d come up with.

Tell us something about you that we can’t find on Google.
Graham, Josh and I were in a high school play together that involved a scene where we play strip poker… that’s where I first really got to know them.

Band
MySpace

CBC Radio 3 recently posted their Top 94 Tracks of 2006.

I thought I’d be kind and allow you the opportunity to download the Top 9(4) seeing John hasn’t won satellite players for us yet. Remember kids, these mp3s are for your listening pleasure. Please, support these artists and buy their music!

1. Joel Plaskett Emergency - “Nowhere With You”
2. Malajube - “Montreal -40c”
3. Islands - “Rough Gem”
4. Cadence Weapon - “Oliver Square”
5. The Hidden Cameras - “Awoo”
6. The Stills - “Destroyer”
7. Amy Millan - “Skinny Boy”
8. Final Fantasy - “This Lamb Sells Condos”
9. Meligrove Band - “Our Love Will Make the World Go Round”

If you were making a mix for our readers, what would be the first three songs you’d select?
Well, I would say that they should check out “Don’t Leave Me Blue” by none other than the Blue Van;)

Other than that 3 songs could be:

The Black Keys - Your Touch
The Divine Comedy - Lady of a Certain Age
Girl Friday - Apple Lime Ginger(unsigned artist, can be found on myspace)

Name any musical influence(s)?
The Small Faces, The Kinks, Otis Redding, Sam Cooke, The Rascals…

What new music are you currently listening to?
The Divine Comedy’s new album “Victory for the Comic Muse”, Dr.Dog, Little Barrie, Mando Diao, etc.

Name a band (current or defunct) that would be your dream act to open for on a major tour?
Well, The Stones would be an obvious choice. - The list is f**cking long, but if I should choose a couple of old bands, it would be Peter Green’s Fleetwood Mac(the one and only), Free…

Who, if anyone, would you like to collaborate with?
Hmm…that’s tough. There are alot of people that we admire and would love to collaborate with - and it had to be some that we all could agree on. Dan from The Black Keys would be fun, our friend Nic Cester from JET would be a blast as well, Smokey Robinson, Aretha Franklin…James Brown would be insane, but it’s a little to late for that;)

Tell us something about you that we can’t find on Google.
Per collected pieces of glass as a child, I(steffen) hate horror movies, Allan enjoys going fishing and Søren secretly sings Alicia Keys in the shower.

Love
Steffen - The Blue Van

Band
MySpace

If you were making a mix for our readers, what would be the first three songs you’d select?

i would say that the first three songs–and this is with the grave, extreme caveat that this is an apallingly unfair question!–would be “lonesome tonight” by new order, “and your bird can sing” by the beatles, and “everyday people” by sly and the family stone. terrible question: just think of all the songs that will storm off
all huffy–miffed to be left out of my list! i mean, what about Bowie’s “Heroes” or ANYTHING by syd!! help me, rhonda, kip!

Name any musical influence(s)?

see above.

What new music are you currently listening to?

i’m listening to The Radio Dept. quite a bit–they are one heckofa shameless new order rip off, but somehow, some way, one forgives them for it. maybe because they are swedish and probably don’t know any better–being from a sort-of island country and all. hahahaha. i really like the new yo la tengo record; i audition the beatles on an almost-daily basis, so that doesn’t count; i have been going back to Durutti Column a bit, and i fall asleep pretty often to Cocteau Twins; i am very fond, latterly, of The Pretty Things “SF Sorrow.” i listened to that record around 27 times in a row the other week–i am sick, i know. really quite an obsessive/compulsive NERD sometimes! i tried to like the Doors again (last time i dug them was when i was 5). i failed; they really suck. morrison was the biggest poseur who ever “rocked.” yuck.

Name a band (current or defunct) that would be your dream act to open for on a major tour?

i don’t know about this question; i don’t open up very often. kidding. i think we’d like to keelhaul XTC out of live-retirement and get them drinking copious amounts of lager after the gigs. on a more realistic note, i’d bring two beatles back from the grave…well, three, cause PAUL IS DEAD, you know…and go out on stage in
full on anti-plutonium spacesuits cause EVERYONE would just be hurling things to get us off and…”ladies and gentlemen–the beatles” on stage. i’m a dreamer, but i’m not the only one.

Who, if anyone, would you like to collaborate with?

i don’t collaborate, really. i might PRETEND to entertain Natalie Imbruglia’s ideas–for obvious reasons hahahahaha–but i don’t play well with others. unless, it seems to me, you ARE Lennon or McCartney, songwriting is a dreadfully on-your-lonesome occupation. and let’s face it: those two didn’t REALLY write together, now, did they?

Tell us something about you that we can’t find on Google.

googling the black watch you wouldn’t find out that i don’t really exist–that i am just a fond figment of your imaginations–and that, despite not existing, i play tennis just about every day here in southern california, and that i have read everything by the severely underrated novelists Henry Green and Anthony Powell and William Boyd. oh: without having ever studied it, i can practice Tantric Sex–whatever THAT is–while levitating and reciting “The Canterbury Tales” (backwards). sorry you asked now, aren’t you? hahahaha.

Band
MySpace

CBC Radio 3 consists of three major parts all devoted to Canadian arts and music: a Sirius Satellite Radio station (channel 94), a weekly podcast from the CBC Radio 3 website, and streaming audio on the same website.

The satellite network does air some music by international artists in its playlist, but is primarily Canadian content; the webstream and podcast are 100% Canadian music.

CBC Radio 3 recently posted the results of their First Annual Bucky Awards. I’m pleased to announce that our very own contributor extraordinaire, John Teeter, was nominated “Biggest Fan”.

John walked off with a Sirius Satellite Radio, and more importantly…CBC Radio 3’s undying respect.

If you were making a mix for our readers, what would be the first three songs you’d select?

Wilco - Nothing Up My Sleeve
Pedro the Lion - Rapture
Eisley - Just Like We Do

Name any musical influence(s)?

Nirvana, Fleetwood Mac, Slint, Dave Binny, The Forms, Mary Margaret O’Hara, Snailhouse, Wooden Stars, PJ Harvey, Sparkle Horse, Fugazi, June of 44, Smog, Neil Young

What new music are you currently listening to?
Iron and Wine, Beirut, Born Ruffians, cRAP Your Pants, Orillia Opry

Name a band (current or defunct) that would be your dream act to open for on a major tour?

Wilco

Who, if anyone, would you like to collaborate with?

Mike Feuerstack (Snailhouse)

Tell us something about you that we can’t find on Google.

I get really itchy knuckles and palms.

Band
MySpace

If you were making a mix for our readers, what would be the first three songs you’d select?

First three! How can you tie that down? With me, as for most people, they would change all the time. The same as if you asked me whether I preferred Razorlight or Kaisers? Beatles or Stones? Or if I preferred Gin or Vodka? Fuck, you know that would change depending on how i’m feeling, where, when, how drunk - it’s the same with this. Going on everything right this minute I’d probably have the Strokes in there somewhere.

Name any musical influence(s)?

There’s so much good music around and when you’re exposed to it, you can’t help but be influenced, old and new. Good music is good music, be it a song, a lyric, a drum beat, anything. As a band, and as individuals, we’ve quite an ecletic mix of tastes, from rock and reggae to folk and jazz… You know when you hear something good and when something’s shit! Doesn’t matter what style it is. Like most bands the early groups would be there for us - The Beatles, The Kinks, Dylan. They’ve had a knock on effect influencing bands up ’til now, and played a part in our music too.

What new music are you currently listening to?

There is so much in the way of new music to choose from. I wouldn’t say it’s all good - as some of it is fucking dire - but there is a lot that is worth a listen. Martha Wainright, Jamie T, Bedouin Soundclash. More often than not I listen to a lot of new music just by going to gigs in Brighton & London. There’s lots of great bands knocking about.

Name a band (current or defunct) that would be your dream act to open for on a major tour?

I would want a band whose gigs aren’t predictable - where there’s a bit of carnage thrown in. It’s always great to play gigs in your home town but there’s something about playing to a new crowd out of town too, not knowing how the music will go down or whether it’s gonna fucking kick off. I like to be on edge like that. I think to open for The Clash on tour would’ve had that feel.

Who, if anyone, would you like to collaborate with?

If I was to collaborate with anyone, I would want it to with someone who has a completely different style to ours, you know. I’d want to test my boundaries musically, instead of turning out something that’s safe. Wouldn’t want to waste an oppotunity to be seen in a different light. I really like Damian Marley, and would love the opportunity to work with him. There’s lots of different genres of music to explore, so easy to be typecast and who the fuck wants limits.

Tell us something about you that we can’t find on Google.

There’s probably a good reason for those things not to be on there! There’s always secrets. And that’s appealing. If you knew everything, then you’d stop asking questions. When you stop asking questions, you stop fucking living and just start existing.

Band
MySpace

Who are some bands or artists you think are worthy of being the “Next Big Thing”?

I don’t know, I never concern myself much with the popularity level of the groups I take to, other than hoping that it’s high enough to ensure that the group can function going forward… that they sell enough music and concert tickets so that they are encouraged to make more music and do more tours. Though sometimes I do actively wonder in a review why a particular artist doesn’t catch on with the public; because demand is an acute factor in any artist’s ability, let alone desire, to record and perform some more.

As for the artists I am listening to a lot right now, I’ve just been through a period where I’ve listened to The Decemberists’ last two LPs and bits and pieces of their first two nonstop. And I wouldn’t be surprised if they graduate from theaters to small arenas soon. They’re just fabulous, the way they’ve evolved. On the other hand, I don’t know why The Pernice Brothers are still playing small dives and gin joints after a decade of great work, while some people who couldn’t write a song as good as Joe Pernice’s worst are such huge cult items. For younger bands, I think The Long Blondes are really hot stuff. I like music that has a really catchy melody but also has something challenging or strange and unique going on behind it. It’s good to get a great young band like that, because I lamentably think most of the best new music today is being made by people who’ve been doing this a long time, but who still have a real fire in them-a real hunger, still. And I think there is room, for sure, for Jon Auer and Ken Stringfellow of The Posies or Bob Mould or Don McGlashan of Mutton Birds and Roddy Frame from Aztec Camera, or your Mission of Burma or Radio Birdman, who made some hot records of late even though they’re all older than I am! But I’m always glad to find a Rogue Wave or Long Blondes, someone I love that might be half my age. It means the genre can’t die. And then neither can my own unstoppably enthusiasm flag.

Tell us something about yourself or The Big Takeover that we couldn’t find on Google.

I think the common misconception of me that I’ve encountered is that I live breathe and sleep music 24 hours. I find that endlessly amusing and I enjoy that immensely! It makes me feel like a super character in the Justice League or something. “Don’t worry, Musicguy is here, he’ll take care of it!”

I won’t deny it’s an obsession of mine, as that would be pretty ridiculous, right? But I spend an equal amount of time obsessing and pondering on other subjects. I love U.S. history and can talk for hours about the American Revolution and the founding fathers as something of a small specialty; and I love challenging and debunking the sort of feel-good history most of us got in grammar school. You know, the kind where the U.S. is always brave and heroic and good and noble. It’s pretty funny. I love sports, particularly baseball, and I can tell you the outcome of just about every World Series ever played. And I still play softball a few times a week in Brooklyn, eight months of every year in a couple of leagues. I love playing shortstop. In fact, I’m really jazzed this year because our team won the championship for the first time in 10 years, we were all so incredibly happy! I used to play ice hockey weekly too for some years, getting banged around out there, which was really intense. What else? I was an economics major at NYU so I read The Economist closely every week and pay attention to what the Fed is doing, the markets, fiscal policy. And I follow politics in the New York Times and The Economist and watch The Daily Show just about every night on Tivo. And my idea of other TV watching is tons of old movies, from the ’20s silents through the ’60s, like Buster Keaton’s The General or The Third Man with Orson Wells-I go through periods where I begin to think I know Robert Osborne, that guy who narrates Turner Classic Movies, I see him on TV so much! [laughs] And I travel a lot with my wife to distant shores, like Japan and central Mexico and Argentina, which I find completely fascinating. And I think best of all, I’m really lucky because I rather love my wife and friends, most of whom I’ve known for decades, I’m glad to say. I feel really that lucky to have so many people to talk to and share all this stuff with!

That’s it, but can I make an editorial point of this all, aside from just my silly biography? I always say in my mag that I’ve never used music as something to shelter me from the world, or escape from it, but just the opposite. I think music is the most powerful reflection of what’s going on in the world, in people’s lives. It can seem so universal and powerful when you’re listening to some old 1920’s blues songs or something and it seems to describe what you’re going through right now! This endlessly amazes me. When I was a kid, especially, I loved how punk rock made me want to go to my high school and college classes and pay attention and ask a load of questions to my teachers and professors about history and current events and social
norms, etc. It made me a better student I think.

So when someone calls me a music geek, or when someone like the Idolator calls Big Takeover the “music nerd omnibus” I both laugh and say that maybe we all need to redefine what a “geek” or a “nerd” is, if that’s me or our readership, or someone reading this right now! Because I truly believe I’ve never felt like that. I think my passions have made me more interested in the larger world around me, not less. It’s one of the reasons that the editorials I have written in our magazine have covered such a variety of topics, not just music, like health care, war, crime, death, fiscal policies, romantic loss, 9/11, the hockey strike, the gentrification of New York, the celebritization of culture, etc. etc. I want that to inspire our readers to see the connection between music and life, not run from it.

OK, aside from that, the second most common misconception about me is that, even where it comes to my fervent interest in music, I actually have always considered myself more a musician than a writer!!! I know most people don’t think so or don’t even know that. But, I’ve been in three bands that have recorded and released albums, back when that was a lot harder to do, and one of them toured a lot and got a good amount of commercial and college airplay and MTV play for a few years. Of course it’s because it’s been easier to make a mark as a writer. Because as a writer I talk about and cover dozens and dozens of bands that you might like, so we have an instant connection there, right? But as a musician, I’m just another drummer in one of 40,000 bands asking you to listen to them this week, so it’s easy to get lost in that sense! And a lot of people just don’t make the jump, as a result, between those two pursuits of mine. They like our magazine but don’t know any of my recordings, and don’t really seek them out. So it goes. They think I might be just “slumming” it or “moonlighting,” but that’s not what I think about it at all. All three bands I put everything I had/have into. In fact, my old punk rock band Even Worse (see photo above) actually started and played its first gig in Manhattan a month before the mag began, so I’ve always been doingboth.

And I think I was happiest as a music person from 1990-1993, when Springhouse was on Caroline like I mentioned; back when we were releasing our albums and touring and getting our first video “Layers” on MTV’s 120 Minutes, and we were getting interviewed with our photos in Rolling Stone and Melody Maker and Tower Pulse and all these other big mags. I really loved touring when the gigs were good and writing and being in the studio, it’s actually what I’ve always loved doing the most! We were sort of an aggressive dreampop or shoegaze band, a little like House of Love or Catherine Wheel or Cocteau Twins and Low, and I loved it that we had fans that had never read my writing; that made me feel great, actually! I liked it a lot when people liked both, naturally. So I’m so glad I got to do all that, even though I nearly had to quit the mag. No really! Ask my bandmates, I’d be on the phone with my Sprint card in Portland or Seattle in the middle of a tour calling advertisers and asking them to take ads out in the mag! It was crazy! And those were important experiences for me in seeing the country and understanding the crazy life that recording and touring musicians face. It helps when I interview them for the mag, I think, that I’ve done the things they have so they don’t have to explain. They sometimes open up to another musician more who knows…

To that end, let me say that I think my most interesting and exciting year all around was probably 2002, because it’s not only the year I got married, but both Even Worse and Springhouse reformed and played gigs that year, and my ’00s band Last Burning Embers also played around town with bands I admired like Gene. Wow, was that year was something! Even Worse played some shows at CBGB with the other punk groups we’d come up with from’80-’82, like Kraut, False Prophets, Adrenalin OD, Nihilistics, and The Mob. I loved that! And Springhouse played four shows with The Chameleons, one of my all time favorite English bands of the ’80s, so that was incredible too. The Washington D.C. show at The Black Cat on that mini tour was probably my favorite night as a musician or music person ever, because so many people were singing along to our songs, I was stunned and so gratified! What a feeling!

I really wish I were still doing it regularly. Last Burning Embers stopped last year after putting out our LP. But Springhouse has been in the studio for the first time in 14 years and we’ve just now finished our third LP, very different than the first two. I know our singer/guitarist Mitch Friedland has posted some of the new songs on our new MySpace page if people want to hear the new direction, and we’re looking for a label for the LP now. So I’m still trying to keep an iron in the fire, to remain creative on that end. I always sing a song on every LP, so that’s good fun for me too. All three bands have websites, and Even Worse and Springhouse have myspace pages. So hopefully people will go there and hear some music for themselves and judge for themselves if I have anything to offer in that arena as well. I’ll give all the web addresses:

www.bigtakeover.com
www.lastburningembers.com
www.evenworse.com
www.tripalot.com/springhouse/
www.pinkfrostrecords.com
www.myspace.com/bigtakeovermagazine
www.myspace.com/springhouse
www.myspace.com/evenworsemusic

On the minus side, just to show my life is not always roses as lucky as I’ve been, my label Pink Frost that I started two years ago with a good friend has been something of a bust, sales wise, despite two pretty good LPs by Doug Gillard from Guided By Voices and Last Burning Embers. Which is too bad for this reason, if nothing else: I think I could have done so much for so many artists if that had succeeded. I had a whole wish list I was talking to. But you can’t be a success at everything. At least I know in my heart I tried. That’s fine. I think we will put out more, but it’s got to be slow going.

You choose the topic: Give me a “Jack Rabid’s Top 10″ that hasn’t appeared anywhere else.

Woah, that’s an odd one. How about this. I will just list the ten and you can pick what the topic is:

I’m a uniter, not a divider
We’re gonna get ‘im. We’ll smoke ‘im out.
They will greet us with flowers
Mission accomplished
Bring ‘em on!
You don’t go to war with the army you wish you had
The insurgency is in its last throes
You’re doin’ a heck of a job, Brownie
I’m the decider
We’ve never been “Stay the Course.”

How’s that? Can I get a medal of freedom for that?

If you were making a mix for our readers, what would be the first three songs you’d select?

Constantines - Love in Fear
Constantines - Hotline Operator
Constantines - Lizaveta

Name any musical influence(s)?

Neil Young

What new music are you currently listening to?

Jason Collett, Cons, Felice Brothers. and listening to clips of new kings of leon on you tube. I am really pumped for that new disc.

Name a band (current or defunct) that would be your dream act to open for on a major tour?

Neil Young or The Band

Who, if anyone, would you like to collaborate with?

I’m really bad at that and don’t think i could collaborate.

Tell us something about you that we can’t find on Google.

I am learning the entire Bruce Springsteen dance to “Dancing in the dark”

Website
MySpace

Download: The Endless Elevator EP