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Here’s a list of some of our summer crushes: Mary-Kate and Ashley, Beyoncé, that guy with the glasses who works at Commerce Bank on 26th Street and the cuties of Portland’s All Girl Summer Fun Band. (Kim Baxter on guitar + vocals, Jen Sbragia on guitar + vocals, Kathy Foster on drums + vocals and Ari Douangpanya on bass) These talented girls sing catchy candy rock about video games, actor Jason Lee and parallel parking on their latest CD titled 2. They even politely ask Becky if they can borrow her boyfriend. (Hey Becky, does your boyfriend happen to work at the bank?) Recently we emailed these talented ladiez to find out what the girls of Summer are up to this summer. Click here to listed to the All Girl Summer Fun Band's new album!
Hey there! How’s your summer been? What are you all up to? What do you do to have fun and stay cool?
Kim: We just got back from a two-week tour! We have a couple more tours planned for this summer. While I’m at home I plan to sew, work on my thesis, learn Adobe Illustrator and Pro Tools and write some new songs. When it gets hot, I like to go ice-skating with my boyfriend (even though I’m not very good at it) and hang out and play music in the basement where it’s cool.
Kathy: Rocking out! AGSFB and my other band, Thermals, went on tour together. Right now, Thermals are currently on tour in the UK. When I get home, I'll be chilling with my friends, rocking some more. I like being outside and eating ice cream, too. And listening to music.
Jen: I am taking the summer term off from school to sleep in, stay up late and watch Conan, brush up on my life drawing skills, do some stencil graffiti, and oh, get married. To have fun and stay cool I like to see movies, go swimming, and spend time in the frozen food aisle at the grocery store.
Ari: Right now, I am in Tokyo for work. I think that it is a fun way to spend the summer even if it is only for ten days BUT it is not a good way to stay cool. To stay cool, I like to go to the movies.
Tell us a bit about your new album, 2.
Jen: It's awesome! We all busted out with distortion pedals to rock it up a notch. I'm very proud of it and looking forward to writing more music.
Kathy: I like the recording a lot. And the songs have progressed from our first album. They are more rockin’ with more distortion and beats. The songs are so fun to play too. I love all that loud sound around my head!
Kim: We went into the studio only knowing half of the songs. Which is crazy, now that I think about it, but for some reason while we were doing it, I just knew it was going to work out. We recorded about 7 songs one weekend, then had a week or so off and we wrote 7 more. I thought they were going to end up as filler songs, but they ended up being my favorite songs on the record. I’m really excited about this record. I think it represents us really well!
Ari: I really enjoy this record! I have fun playing the songs and the entire process of writing to recording (even though at times it was stressful and tiring) was so much fun. This record holds good memories for me.
What inspired your hit about actor Jason Lee?
Jen: I saw him on the Carson Daly show and I just instantly developed a little movie star crush. But I knew about him before that, I think it was just seeing his interview and how he reacted to the host and the idea of MTV that got me. He seems to like obscure music. We are both the same age… I dunno, he was just really cute.
Ari: I didn't write the song but Jason Lee looks damn good in a beard, doesn't he??
Kim: The fact that he can turn 10 degrees past 180! Absolutely amazing!
What was it like making your first video?
Kathy: It was fun and went by really quickly. We did it in one day with one camera. I like how it looks. The 8mm film has that awesome grainy quality.
Kim: It was fun because our friend Greg made it. So we all felt really comfortable the whole time.
Jen: Fun, but I was worried the whole time about the camera adding those "ten extra pounds" you hear about. And, I think it did. I wore my "40 isn't fatal" shirt as a stance against ageism. HA! No really. Serious.
Ari: I think that I was in a hurry to get back home to watch a basketball game. Which is often the case with me. Besides that, Greg Brown the director is the bomb!
Tune talk... What else are you all listening to these days? What are some of your all-time fave summer jams?
Ari: I just bought a Kaito EP and I am really sad that I did not bring it with me to Japan. I am sad that I missed their show in Portland. I am also anxiously awaiting the new Shins record. If they would get their butts in gear and get on it, I wouldn't have to wait much longer! Favorite summer jam: Nelly, "Hot in Herre". Just kidding... sorta. I think that there are too many to name!
Jen: I am listening to a compilation tape of lady soul singers on 45. I also love the band Saturday Looks Good To Me, the new White Stripes, and as always, talk radio. We played a show with Visqueen and I loved them. As For summer jams, I would have to say that boysenberry is the best, followed by marionberry, then peach.
Kim: I was randomly checking out internet radio stations, and I came across this French Hip Hop station. It’s all I listen to now when I’m at home. It’s so good! I am also excited to hear the new Shins record. And I will forever love The Pixies and Heavenly!
Kathy: My current faves are Deerhoof, Kaito, Flaming Lips, E*Rock, and American Analog Set.
What advice do you have for our readers who would like to start bands?
Ari: Do what you feel is right for you, don't give up and have fun!!
Jen: Don't be shy. Practice your instrument but don't get caught up in not being good enough.
Have fun! Don't be afraid to hit the wrong note. Put an ad up in a music store to narrow your search for bandmates.
Kim: Don’t be intimidated by the fact that others might play better than you. That doesn’t matter! Just figure out your own style and go with it.
Kathy: Playing music is so much fun and, to me, necessary in my life. I don't know what I would do without it. It can be really therapeutic. So, I encourage everyone to play music! Whether it be in a band, or by yourself. It's really helpful to play with your friends because you learn a lot from each other. If you start learning your new instruments at the same time, you can grow together and not feel any pressure. It is also helpful to play with people that are better than you. That also helps you learn. And those people can teach you some tricks you might not learn from an instructor.
Crush alert! Crush alert!.. Who or what is your current summer obsession?
Ari: All the time crush: Jimmy Fallon.
Jen: First and foremost: my fiancee Jesse. Then, Jason Lee and Fred Armisen from SNL.
Kathy: Funky home-made fashions. I like cutting up things and making them into new things. You get something new from something old. Like a cool skirt from an old pair of pants, or an experimental tank top from a tired tee. I like to add things too, like embroidery or eyelet trim to skirts and t-shirts. I've started seeing my whole closet as a blank canvas!
Kim: Old-fashioned pharmacies that still have soda bars in them! As for summer crushes, I’d have to say Jake Gyllenhaal in "Lovely and Amazing" (he’s so cute with black hair!) and Topher Grace (Eric on That 70’s show). Oh, and my boyfriend, Chris and Jen’s fiancée, Jesse… hee hee! Just kidding! It’s getting hot in herre! Sing it with me, Ari!
07/16/03 |
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