Sound of Urchin ("SOU", "Urchin", "The Sound of MF Urchin") is a diverse "outsider arena-rock" band from Brooklyn NY and New Hope PA. SOU is known for their eclectic songs and unique line-up of a drummer who sings ("Tomato"), two lead guitarists ("B-ILL" and "Seahag"), and a bassist ("Michael Davidson"), and for their energetic, spontaneous live shows and heavy touring schedules. Glide’s newest columnist Melissa Brodeur recently tossed a few questions the way of Tomato.
What was it like playing on the Craig Ferguson show?
Well, it was one of the biggest highlights so far in Urchin history. I mean, it was one of those things where you know that it’s gonna be stapled in time, and if you nail the performance, it will represent you to the world. We were so pumped that morning, and the whole experience could not have gone better. The coolest thing was when we were loading into CBS studios, the first thing we saw was Bob Barker’s big white Cadillac parked right at the loading dock! Now, we are huge "Price is Right" fans, so we were blown away by the whole thing… and then after we recorded the show, the producer asked us if we wanted to go backstage to the Price is Right set, so we did, fresh off of playing on the show, and spun the big wheel and saw all the games and prizes – it was nuts; especially because the song we played (There Are People In The Clouds) has the line "I’m gonna spin the big wheel" in it. Sometimes life just works like that, nuts. But the coolest thing about playing the show was when they said go and we rocked the song out in front of the studio audience, and we saw a bunch of fans and friends from LA stand up and go crazy, it was like a gig, but on TV, on this set that I’ve seen on TV before. It was really cool.
Who has been your biggest musical influences?
I mean, I have so many influences, but off the top of my head… Phil Lynott from Thin Lizzy is a huge influence, and he is SO underrated, with so many amazing songs that span the spectrum… Bob Pollard of Guided By Voices, another one who is just amazing… Stephen Malkmus of Pavement… and then there’s like Springsteen, Slayer, Marley (I’m a huge classic reggae fan), Flaming Lips, John Bonham and Zeppelin, old Aerosmith, The Clash, Motley Crue, 70’s oldies… man, so many influences… anthem-rock, i’m a fan of anthe
What are a few things you must have in your dressing room?
Peace and quiet before the show (which never happens!), a bottle of Jack and diet coke (gotta watch the empty calories), a place to plug my i-phone in to listen to 70’s oldies music (last time we played Nectar’s we listened to nothing but Carole King!), a big couch to lay down and veg before the show, i like to have either Subway or sushi before a show, heat, plenty of waters and towels (!), the accommodations to party and bring back people to party after the show (I’m old school like that).
It’s four hours before your show where would you be and what would you be doing?
Laying on the big couch (see above), listening to 70’s oldies music, getting ready to eat some Subway or sushi (I have to digest before the show so I don’t eat close to showtime), and waiting out the excruciating hours before we get to turn it up and rock out!
If you could pick any meal to have before a show what would it be-beverage included?
I have had the best shows after a good light sushi meal, your basic tuna roll, eel avocado roll, maybe some brown rice and gyoza appetizer or something… and some hot sake, but not too much… I gotta go light before a show, otherwise it just weighs me down and I have a sluggish experience on stage. I also can’t drink too much before a show, I need to go into it with all the energy and a clear head. Once I’m on stage I can nurse some Jack between songs and enjoy the show, but I still can’t get too messed up. It doesn’t do well for me being the singer and the drummer, ha ha.
What is your favorite album to listen to while you are trying to relax?
Probably
Survival by Bob Marley. Or any old classic reggae… the Lee Scratch Perry
Arkology box set, yeah, that too.
If you could hang with anyone still alive, not a musician, who would it be?
Wow, good question… hmmm… you are stumping me on this one… Anthony Bourdain! Because I think the guy is brilliant, would be a good hang, and I know I could learn something from him… he seems honest and insightful, and down to earth, and not preachy or full of himself, and not self-righteous. There is nothing worse than people who are self-righteous.
If you weren’t the drummer/singer for Sound of Urchin what would you be doing?
I would do something real easy, like mow lawns at a resort in southern Florida or something. Something outside in the sun, in Florida, or Mexico. Mexico is my favorite place in the universe, fyi.
Birds or Bees?
That’s easy, bees! "God make bees, bees make honey, God make man, man make money", a quote from Yellowman.
Jesse Tenser – The Sound of Urchin
