On the eve of Akimbo's grand display at this year's Bumbershoot, Teen Cthulhu sat down in the Akimbo practice space and had a talk about our favorite subjects: patchouli, world music, and Pedro the Lion.
Wasn't there some mix-up on the Bumbershoot website? Tell us about that.
Nat: "Yeah our 'comrades' down in California who play wonderful, wonderful world beat music [in another band called Akimbo] have a website that confused the Bumbershoot folks. They thought we were them, and our description on the promo website was, uh, wrong. Yeah, I raised some hell about that."
Jon: "I think they thought we were going to play our world beat set."
Well I think the old description is better than the "spazz-core, nu-metal" description they have now. We've given you guys a lot of crap about that world beat thing over the years too.
Jon: "Yeah, you did."
How did that make you feel?
Jon: "Not too bad considering it came from 'Teen Ska-thulhu.'"
Oh, roast!
Nat: "Yeah, Teen Patchouli."
Cap! Yeah, we're gonna edit that out. How did you guys score that show at Bumbershoot?
Jon: "Uhhhh. It's not too punk rock. We filled out an application."
Will you have the vinyl version of your record for Bumbershoot? Can you even sell merch at Bumbershoot?
Nat: "They make you consign your merch to a company they have and you get a ridiculously low percentage of the sale. We aren't going to do it. We'd rather not sell anything."
I heard that Pedro the Lion is playing right after you guys!
Nat: "Fuck those dudes."
Do you hate those guys or something?
Nat: "I hope they get stabbed in the eye."
Jon: "There's gonna be a lot of kids waiting through our set to see Pedro the Lion."
They're gonna be pretty bummed out. [At this point in the interview a pile of gear falls over, and we decide that since Pedro is much tighter with God than any of us, we should drop the subject.] What other stuff do you have going on in the near future?
Nat: "What is there after Bumbershoot?"
Jon: "We are playing the Old Fire House 10 Year Anniversary! It's really cool because the Old Fire House is a great venue and it's been around for 10 years."
Thus the "10 Year Anniversary" theme for the show? [Silence.] Uh, what do you think about the TDO being overturned?
Nat: "Fucking dope."
Jon: "Very good."
Nat: "Fuck those puritan bastards that initiated it."
What's the worst thing about heavy bands and music in Seattle?
Nat: "Jackassery."
Jon: "There's not enough of it."
Who do you love?
Nat: "No one besides Teen Cthulhu." [Rustle of money changing hands.]
Jon: "I'd really have to say you guys [more money changes hands] and Wormwood."