ComfortComes

Black Moth Super Rainbow

Hi, How are you today?

tobacco: amazing!!!

How is Pittsburg treating you these days?

Tobacco: Pittsburgh has never treated us very well – i don’t think they like us there, but we’re technically from outside of pgh, so i guess it’s ok.

the seven fields of aphelion: some people have recently started warming up to us but at times it can be a harsh town. the landscape of pittsburgh is my favorite of any city i’ve seen so far. the hills and views and hidden places you can find are endless and beautiful.

Can you tell us a bit about the upcoming album “Dandelion Gum”?

Tobacco: dg was 3 years of work that I’m crazy proud of. It’s about witches in the local woods who make candy for wandering strangers. Each song is supposed to be like a different experience that someone had after eating some of it. There’s no real narrative to the stories, but you have to kind of feel it through the music and interpret the words if they don’t make sense.

I just noticed the cover for your album “The House of Apples and Eyeballs” with The Octopus Project. Can you explain that cover to us?

Tobacco: that was a corn on the cob guy crying because we got bottom billing on that record. OR just another way of showing how sadness and fun can be the same thing sometimes.

How was it working together with The Octopus Project?

Tobacco: it was great – we’re both headstrong about how we like to do things, but I think we compromised in all the right places. it was even more fun working on our set for SXSW this year. That’s when I realized just how insanely good they are at what they do.

The Seven Fields of Aphelion: I went to sxsw super anxious about how we would pull together this huge show with only two chances to play with the op beforehand, but as soon as we got together it was instantly magical and rainbows and lasers shot out of every ones fingers and eyeballs. so much fun! so very very loud!

You have had a relationship with Graveface / Southern Records for quite some time. Is the relationship with them usually solid?

Tobacco: always solid. Southern came on board in late 2006, but have been really into what we’re doing so far. Graveface has let us do what we want for years now and has never said no to one of my weird ideas. we’re tight on a personal level, so no matter where we go, we’ll always be working with them in some way.

The seven fields of aphelion: Ryan from Graveface has saved us from complete despair on several occasions. and one time after we thought we had died in Toledo and thought for sure we were ghosts, we called him up to see if we were still people, and we were. and he lets us sleep on his floor when we visit. Chicago has started to feel like my second home.

Are you guys a big fan of Super Rainbows?

Tobacco: I’ve never seen one in real life, but I’m sure I would be.
The seven fields of aphelion: yes, we would love to go to Japan.

How does the band write music? Is it a solo effort from one of the members or more a group composure?

Tobacco: I write and produce most of it on my own, but bring everyone else in when there’s something i can’t do. The live show is a lot different because everyone learns parts that I’ve written, but does whatever they want with them. So it sounds like a different beast and you might not realize how many arms and legs our drummer (iffernaut) has until you’ve seen us in person.

What are your current favorite bands?

Tobacco: I just got the new Deerhunter and Eluvium cds to make an effort to listen to hyped up music, and I really really like them, so I’ll be doing more of that. Bibio is one of my favorites, and the black angels have the most awesome vocalist right now.

What is next on the agenda for the band?

tobacco: we have to keep supporting the record and hopefully someday (soon) make another one and we’d like to be able to put together a show up in the bmsr woods this summer, but we haven’t figured out how to invite people without telling them where it is.

By John Siwicki