There’s something tragic—and kind of beautiful—about a great band breaking up before most people in the city even had a chance to hear them. Such is the case with Seattle’s Universe People, an incisive post-punk trio who are calling it quits next month. You have two more chances to catch them live: tonight at Chop Suey [Childbirth’s album-release party] and October 17 at the Funhouse, opening for the Urinals). Consisting of guitarist/vocalist Jo Claxton, bassist/vocalist Kimberly Morrison, and drummer Min Yee, Universe People cut two albums—2013’s Go to the Sun and 2014’s Are Coming to the Dance—that showed allegiance to the concise, astringent, and yet sweet songwriting principles ushered into rock parlance during post-punk’s initial burst of creativity. Fans of groups like Au Pairs, Slits, Liliput, and Pylon should explore Universe People’s catchy, nuanced take on this style. UP's dissolution leaves a void in this city’s music scene, but Morrison may have summed up the rationale best by saying, “It’s a bummer to move gear and play and then try and figure out how to split eight dollars three ways.” Nevertheless, Universe People are leaving us with three more ebullient songs before pursuing other projects, about which you can read more in the interview after the jump.
Can you go into any detail about why Universe People are splitting? In the last year, it seemed like you were getting better with every show.
Jo Claxton: I don't think of it as "splitting." just "finishing." There are a few reasons:
I've had a difficult time creatively moving forward writing songs for us. I've also grown weary of late nights at clubs with strangers (my friends who are mostly in their 40s have done their duty and seen us enough times.) We are also at an awkward point with the band where we are asked to headline but we don't really have a strong enough draw. I feel responsible that we can't bring in more people to see some of these great touring bands that we play with.
Also, Min and I are happy that we put out the last record, but are not interested in financing and putting out another and there has been no label interest in us. So we would just be releasing music digitally, which is okay, but I really like putting out records. I love our new recording, three songs that is just out now on Bandcamp. I wish it could be a vinyl 7-inch, but we just don't have it in us.
If it wasn't all of these reasons combined but only one of these factors, then I would stop being a pussy and write some more songs and keep it going. But all these reasons combined made me decide that it was time to stop. And the reason for announcing it was so that people would know and have two more opportunities to see us if they wanted. I hate it when bands break-up or "finish" and I don't get the chance to see them one more time knowing that it's the last.
Min Yee: I agree with Jo. Besides, finishing a band when you're still good is really the way to go out.
Is there any chance of a reunion at some point?
Jo: Probably only in our basement.
Min: If we were asked to play with Kleenex/Liliput or Dolly Mixture, then I'd think a reunion show could be likely.
What’s your best memory of being in Universe People?
Jo: There are a lot, this band was so fun! Our shows with Baus in Oakland were awesome and we love that band so much.
Min: We did a tour last fall to support our second LP, and that was one of my favorite times in Universe People. Being on the road with Jo and Kimberly was great—they carried all the gear, taught me all about the Smiths, and totally partied way harder than me. Other than that, the playing in the basement is the most fun.
Kimberly Morrison: There are too many great memories to possibly pick one, but about a year ago, we did a few shows down the west coast. After playing in Portland, we were trying to load out, and Min had the keys to the van (and was distracted). We kept asking him if it was unlocked as we were lugging stuff through this gravel parking lot, and he finally turned around and noticed that one of us had a big cabinet and the other his bass drum. He looked at us and said “huh, good job!" and while walking and twirling the keys around on a finger of one of his two free hands, threw over his shoulder, “This way to the van, ladies!”
Your most memorable show?
Min: There was a show in Olympia at a place called Metcalf Manor. Matt Metcalf is like a rock-and-roll vampire, who is mysteriously aged but still has a full head of long black hair, large glassy eyes, and a large mansion-like manor with a separate performance barn in the back of a large plot of land. I expected a barren room, or at least a trashed-out place. But it was clean, there was a huge stage, pro lights and sound, and Matt miked up everything, even the hi-hat.
The bill was the kind where you don't know any of the bands and you expect the worst. Matt refused to say who was playing when and insisted the bands “figure it out for themselves.” The first band was terrible and is best described as a bunch of 20-something bros whose best CD in their collection is Red Hot Chili Peppers. The kids in the audience ate it up. 35 of the 40 people were teenage and apparently were not only at their first "concert" but on their first drunk. It was wild dancing and crazed teen endorphins in an unsupervised barn show. I think we seemed like weird old relics to everyone. But as foreign as we seemed, the kids still danced with wild, drunken abandon. We decided to head back to Seattle and skipped seeing the last band. A week later, we were in line crossing the Canadian border and I spied a CD on the dashboard that said “Fruit Juice.” It was the last band from the Olympia show, who gave us their CD before we left. We were all shocked when the music that came out was a batch of super-well-done T.Rex-inspired modern glam-pop masterpieces. I wish we'd stayed to see them!
What’s your worst memory of being in Universe People?
Jo: The worst thing was kind of balanced with a great thing. Kellie [Payne, UP's original bassist] moving away to Utah was devastating for me because she was a big part of the inspiration for Universe People. I couldn't imagine replacing her. And then when Kimberly agreed to step in, that was incredible! I couldn't believe how lucky I was to get to play with two amazing talented ladies like them!
Min: When you play a show and you don't make enough to buy a single beer at the place you just played.
Currently Kimberly’s playing in Steal Shit Do Drugs and Min’s in Dreamsalon, but will Jo be involved in any musical projects in the near future? Do Kimberly and Min have other plans for other endeavors besides their current commitments?
Jo: I am ready to get weird, or weirder. I want to just work on recordings at home without necessarily the intent to play live and try and get looser with music. I would like to do some one-off projects still with Min and Kimberly and other people. I want to sing with Cameron from No Grave (so hopefully he reads this). I've been threatening to buy a double bass, which I have no idea what I will do with. Maybe I'll get jazzy.
Min: I'll still make music, but won't be playing shows. There comes a time when there generally isn't much satisfaction in playing shows. Dreamsalon might still do the occasional show every four months. Jo and I live together, so we can go to the basement and make music whenever we want. There's no plan yet, but there will be something. Matthew Ford and I have collaborated with Jim from Overdose the Katatonic on a noise project, and I hope to do some more of that. And I'm sifting through old recordings of my old band Bend Sinister to find some choice nugs buried in the ferric oxide.
