Interview with Qui

Interview by: Mindiana Jones
Big Wheel Contributor
 

The manly noise rock duo Qui is ready to bestow a new album, "Life, Water, Living" upon the world. February 25th 2013 will mark the release of the band's first full length since "Love's Miracle," their 2007 collaboration with David Yow (Jesus Lizard/Scratch Acid.) In celebration of this joyous occasion, Qui will hit the road for a west coast tour, kicking it off February 28th at The Satellite in Los Angeles.

They will be headed up the coast to Seattle with fellow hot and heavy rockers Moistboyz, and then cruising back down to LA on the solo.

Witnessing a Qui performance is a magical experience. Paul towers over his warm toned, tiny Gretsch set like a jolly fair skinned giant, while Matt eludes a subtle bear appeal, sway and sweating his heart out all across the stage, sensuously strumming his Gibson ES135. Qui melds together a legion of influences to create a sound that is notably Qui. Hints of jazz dashing up rock riffs, an awkward quirkiness, and their ability to perfectly fuse voices all emphasize their exclusive sound.

Recently Qui have been pushing the boundaries of bromance with their latest video, "Whateryadoin." The killer Qui track features a sensual bass line and silky smooth harmonizing vocals that blend together like a thick and creamy milkshake.  The video delves into the hidden sexual tension that grows over years of being in a committed musical relationship, and shows guitarist Matt Cronk longing for special attention from drummer Paul Christensen. The video previews a track that will be on the upcoming "Life, Water, Living" release.

BW- So the music video is...

Matt-"Whateryadoin."

Paul- That song is going to be on the full length coming out at the end of February, "Life, Water, Living."

Paul- It is out on the 25th of February, and we start gigging the 28th.

Matt- You can order it from Cobraside, or from our site www.ihatequi.com  It is a full length and going to be CD and LP.

BW- Is that what you recorded with Deaf Nephews?

Matt- Yes.

BW- Awesome, so this "Whateryadoin" video.  You illustrate bromance quite well. Is this based off reality?

Paul- No

Matt- No...no.

Paul- No, I just remember thinking it would be funny to base a song off of that. With the years of people asking in interviews, peers, friends, contemporaries, you know...are you guys a couple? How often do you make out?  How many times have you had sex? Stuff like that.

Matt- It has been hypothesized that we are gay for each other, but we are not.

Paul- So yeah, we thought it would be funny to sorta press the issue, and throw it in everyone's face.

Matt- Yeah, it's just a funny thing to do. It's like one of those...you know your sitting with your friends and someone gets the idea "Hey guys, wouldn't it be funny if..." we try to do all those things that we think of.  "Hey, wouldn't it be funny if we had a song about how I want to have sex with you?" You know. We do a lot of that kind of stuff. 

Paul- The most recent video we filmed stars the lovely Nicole as Goldie the clown. During the verses, she is lip syncing the vocals and then Matt and I are in the back ground wrestling in our tighty whities and its pretty hot...and during the chorus there are a bunch of still photos of her around town as Goldie. It's real icky.

Matt- It's hard to watch.

Paul- It is hard to watch.

Matt- It's because of how sexy we are.

Paul- It's definitely one of those things where we were like "Hey we should do that" OK let's do it.

Matt- It has been fun just doing every stupid thing we think of.

BW - So, this upcoming tour your out with Moistboyz?

 

Matt- We are just out for the first week, from LA to Seattle, then going out for a week on our own, making our way back.

BW- February 28th is at the Satellite in LA?

 

Matt- Yes.

BW- So I hear you have a special Greeting Card Release Out?

 

Matt- Yeah, that is called "No-Legs," and was actually some stuff we had recorded back in 03, with some live stuff from 05. We made a record that never got released, and then some of it got reworked with David Yow and put on "Love's Miracle."  So we put that out in November 2013, and it came packaged in a handmade greeting card. People can pick it up at the gigs. 

Paul- The Artwork is by David. It's pink. 

Matt -You know, Christmas is just around the corner...

BW- Or Valentines Day?

Paul - Actually that would be perfect, you know it's pink, and you can  write on the inside and make it hateful or welcoming, whatever you want.

BW- So Paul, if you were to send your band mate Matt this card, what would you write in it?

Paul- I would put a used banana peel inside, because when he would open the card, it would fall to the ground, and then, well... tripping... slipping and sliding all through the house... and then we he goes off camera KABOOM! You know, so that's what I would put in there.

BW- So is that a love felt or hateful greeting?

Paul- Oh, it's both...it's Qui. That's how we show affection to each other.

BW- What about you Matt, what greeting would you like to send to Paul?

Matt- Oh, I would probably put a nice note like "Hey Paul, no special occasion, I just wanted to say what's up. I hope your having an awesome day, I'll see ya at practice later, love ya buddy, alright later." Something like that.

Paul- His was an even bigger lie than mine.

BW- What are you guys working on right now?

 

Paul- Well we just worked on and recorded a little single for a release on Three One G, which will be out in April. 

Matt- That will be a split with Secret Fun Club. Then, we have a ton of sorta half done songs, we keep trying to find time to get in and crank on. With playing gigs, recording, and working full time, it's been a little more slow going than we would have liked. We will have another batch of stuff soon.

BW - Where did Qui start?

 

Matt- We both grew up in Minneapolis, we met when we were like 16 in high school. We were buddies, but we didn't really start Qui until we moved to California when we were like 21 or 22.   

Paul- Yeah, it was 2000, so like 23.

Matt- We sorta played together goofing around, and tried to get some things together, but when we moved out here is when we actually solidified what we were doing. 

Paul- Yeah, we came out here and played with a few different people, but nothing really stuck...so after being frustrated with not gelling with a 3rd person we decided to be a two piece...and then gigs ensued.

BW- did you move to LA together?

Paul- We moved to LA together from Santa Barbra. Once we got down here, it was down to business.  

BW- When you moved to LA did you live together?

Matt- Yep.

BW- Did you share a room, were times tough back then?

Paul- We had a one bedroom apartment. So I had the living room/kitchen, and Matt had the bedroom/bathroom. It was like one big room with a wall.

BW- Matt, you let him use the bathroom right?

Matt- Within reason....I mean I had a girlfriend at the time, and you couldn't get to the bathroom without going through the bedroom. So if we were in the bedroom making love, Paul would just have to take care of himself in the sink.

Paul- He let me use the bathroom, and I let him use the kitchen...pretty much whenever.

Matt- We lived together in a bunch of different places, and come Saturday we will be living together again.

BW- Well congratulations.

Matt- Thanks.

BW- So, as a two piece going on tour, tell me about road time bathroom breaks? Do you guys go in together or spread it out and take turns?

 

Paul- We typically go together every time.

Matt - Yeah we love it.

Paul- It's rare when just one of us has to go, and if just one of us does, the other guy has no problem going along with it.

Matt- We both drink a fair amount of Dr. Pepper and Earl Grey Tea, so every couple of hours its nice to just get out and stretch your legs and have a pee.

BW- Do you guys ever cross the streams?

 

Matt- We have  in our life, but it's not something we do often.

BW- You mean it's not like a special pre-show ritual?

Matt - We are gonna do it for Paul's birthday.

Paul-  Yeah we have... but it has definitely been years. 

Matt - We're older...

Paul- Yeah, that's more of an early thirties thing, we're in our late 30's 

Matt- Mid Thirties.....or late mid thirties.

P- Late mids....we're Late mids. My birthday is in like a month.

Matt- Which will put you at 37.

Paul- Which is not old...

BW- Have you guys ever had any musical injuries?

 

Matt- Yes. I don't have it so much anymore, but growing up I had bad tendinitis and carpel tunnel in my left hand. I don't hear so good, if I scream a bunch my throat hurts and I loose my voice so I have to rein that in. I have a bad back from being hunched over a guitar.

Paul- Dead hands, finger nail sensitivity, pelvis discomfort, difficulty breathing, difficulty swallowing, numb lips.

Matt- Involuntary trembling....

Paul- I have hit my left knee, cut a finger open a few times.  It was pretty cool in Europe I did that and there was some blood on my snare for like a week. It was pretty cool.

BW- Being a touring band, and coming from Minnesota, has there ever been a time where you guys had to cuddle, merely for warmth and survival?

Paul- That wasn't on the road...and we weren't in Minnesota... and we didn't need warmth.  We've cuddled a few time over the years.

Matt- Sure, well you gotta understand were best friends, best friends of 20 years. Eventually your gonna cuddle, and it's not that big of deal, and it's not even a sexual thing...for me.

Paul- There was a time we were sleeping in the van somewhere in rural Nevada...or somewhere. Anyway we snuggled that night, it was kinda chilly.

Matt- There was that night in Utah, that horrible night in Salt Lake City where we didn't quit snuggle but should have.

Paul- Yeah, we got heckled by a midget, and one of the 3 people at the show that night offered his trailer for us to sleep in, so we slept on the floor of this trailer, which was about wide enough for one body, and a small L shaped corner, so we just kinda sporked each other. 

Matt- That was a tough night. Also, the trailer was unheated and we were sleeping in these dirty giant military sleeping bags in Utah in the middle of December. And that God Damn Midget...

BW- How do you guys feel about hecklers, do you appreciate them?

Matt- Um...they are so seldom funny or clever. I can enjoy a good rejoinder with someone but it's just so seldom interesting that it's just like ahhh....shut up.

Paul- We used to be in a band called "The Gentleman Callers" which had a much more fun, drinking, rock n roll vibe, and that was sort of encouraged, and we got to do a lot of that with that band.

BW- Have you ever have anything thrown at you?

Matt- Yep. We opened for the Ataris in 2004 in San Diego, and it did not go over. Someone threw a golf ball it hit me square in the forehead.

BW- What makes you guys happiest as a band?

 

Paul- The writing process is what I take the most joy out of. 

Matt- I would say preforming. I like the writing process too, but if I had to pick a favorite. I enjoy every aspect of all of it. I like humping gear, I like driving to gigs, I like all the admin work that goes into it. One of my favorite things in the world is getting in the room and making stuff up. But if I had to pick a favorite part of it all I would say playing on stage. 

Paul- I like writing because when you have an idea that your excited about, you might sometimes have an idea of where it is going to go, but then you play it for your friend and it goes somewhere else. Something is created from nothing. I also feel it is the one things that is free about being in a band, you get to write songs. Everything else costs money but you can't get taxed for a song idea. You can do whatever you want with it. I guess I just like the thought of the possibility of where is this gonna take us. For instance, the last song that we recorded, it all started with this drum beat I had, and when I was first playing it and was jamming on it, it was kinda spazzy and jazzy. Then, through playing it with Matt it kinda got slowed down and became dancy, kinda 4 on the floor, and I would not of imagined it going that way. After recording it, it sounds way different than I ever would of thought. So I like all the transformations.

Qui will be hitting the road starting February 28th at the Satellite in Los Angeles. Check www.ihatequi.com for tour dates and links to their albums, including the upcoming "Life, Water, Living." 

 

 

 

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Show Preview: Mad Caddies with illScarlett – at The El Rey – Los Angeles, CA – February 4, 2014

The Mad Caddies are headed to the El Rey Theatre Tuesday, February 4th to kick off a west coast tour.  These Fat Wreck Chords staples have been causing happy dance outbreaks since their debut release, Quality Soft Core, in 1997. 

 

Their good time music is easily thrown into the Punk or Ska genera, but it consists of so much more.  Mad Caddies touch on everything from jazz to reggae,  dixie to rock, and everything in between.

Their signature sound is highlighted by Chuck's powerful vocals, easy to sing along to but hard to duplicate.  Mad Caddies are famous for having a tight horn section consisting of Ed on Trombone and Keith on Trumpet.  These brass masters give the music excitement and flavor, and allow Mad Caddies to touch on numerous musical styles.  The Mad Caddies are known for a driving rhythm section, creating songs that get the audience moving and coming back for more.  And don't forget the groovy guitar work of Sascha, who also is known to throw down a mean banjo riff. 

If your debating on hitting up this show, a listen to their live release, "Live from Toronto: Songs in the Key of Eh!" should help seal the deal.  Mad Caddies are a band you need to see live.  They put out great records, but there is a magic in their live performance, an energy that is hard to capture in the studio. When everything melds together just right, when the audience is singing along to Chucks every word, when the pit starts moshing to polka beats, then you will know you came to the right show. 

Check out Mad Caddies in Los Angeles at The El Rey Theater February 4th, at 9pm.  They will be joined by Canadian Punk/Reggae rockers illScarlett.  Be sure to check out The El Rey website for ticket information.

 

 

-Mindiana Jones-
Big Wheel Contributor

 

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Show Preview: 8th Annual Dre Day Featuring : Bad Cop/Bad Cop – Pu$$y Cow -Turkish Techno – and Hands Like Bricks at The Dragonfly – Los Angeles, CA – February 7, 2014

It's getting close to that time of year where Los Angeles Punks and gangster rap fans alike, gather to celebrate and pay homage to Los Angeles' prolific producer known as Dr. Dre.  

Friday February 7th will mark the 8th consecutive year that lead singer Joe Dana from local Punk band Pu$$y Cow will be throwing a birthday party for Dr. Dre. Each year he has gathered an amazing line up of Punk bands to play a set that includes at least two cover songs of something either sang, written or produced by Dre. Years past have included performances by Toys That Kill, Stab City, The Maxies, The Neighborhood Brats, and of Course Pu$$y Cow, as well as many other amazing bands. This years line up is no exception!

Headlining is the all female Punk band Bad Cop/ Bad Cop. They consist of members of Cunt Sparrer, Angry Amputees, Compton SF, The D'Maggs, The CIty, and The Radio Sweetheart. You may have seen them at Awesome Fest in San Diego last year. This band signed to Fat Wreck Chords and have been growing in popularity, for good reason. Their songs are infectious and packed with power. All four of these chicks bring it and bring it hard.

As always Pu$$y Cow will be setting the roof on fire with an ace stage performance, This year has been promised to have the most Dre covers that they have ever done in one Dre Day set.  

Turkish Techno and Hands Like Bricks will also be taking the stage at Dre Day to deliver the goods with seriously fun pop Punk performances as well.

Aside from the bad ass show there are other festivities that have become tradition such as the Eddie 40's hand competition (SEE THE VIDEO below) and a rap off at the end of the evening winners receive some gangsta ass prizes.

Here is some video from last years event -This is a MUST GO TO event

You will also have the opportunity to have your photo taken in The Chronic photo booth and free Dre Day stickers will be handed out as souvenirs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Last years event was at capacity by 7:45 in the evening. A lot people weren't able to get in, so don't make the mistake that many made last year of straggling to get there. Early arrival is suggested!
MORE info on this event can be found at the Dr. Dre Day Facebook page HERE

You can see full coverage, including video, photos, and write up of last years event HERE

-J.Moncrief-
Big Wheel Staff Reporter

 

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Show Preview: Gnarmageddon Fest III Featuring Slapshot – Dropdead – The Stitches, The Havoc – Libérate – Sex Prisoner – Graf Orlock – Done Dying – Bricktop – The Coltranes – and Fissure – at The Glass House – Pomona, CA – February 8, 2014

For those of you who are still sleeping off your New Year's hangovers, Gnarmageddon Fest III has announced their full, official lineup, and this year's show is not to be missed. 

Not only will Chula Vista favorites Take Offense be decimating the stage, but this year will also see the reunion of The Havoc in their first show since 2006, Los Angeles Punk veterans The Stitches, and a little headliner you may have heard of: Slapshot. 

That's right, Slapshot will be playing SoCal for the first time in 23 years, and only at Gnarmageddon Fest. (And no, I don't want to hear how much longer that is than you've been alive, thanks.)

If you don't know Slapshot, you don't know hardcore (and you certainly didn't grow up anywhere around the East coast). Slapshot has been around since 1985, and though they've done the usual expected lineup shuffling through the years, the current members include original frontman Choke, as well as guitarist Craig Silverman, whose credits also include playing for Only Living Witness, Blood for Blood, and Enemy Within. 

As a band, Slapshot have released more than 11 albums throughout their 27 year career, including a new EP just last year. Unlike other hardcore bands though, they've remained true to the old school hardcore sound, not straying into metalcore, rapcore, or any of the other branches of garbage that spawned as the mainstream started to seep in in the 90's.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Live, Slapshot are all energy, hitting you as hard as a puck to the face. Given the length of time since their last visit, this might be your only chance to see them live in California in your life time. Just like the last two years of this event, Gnarmageddon has proven to deliver an epic line up, so be sure to grab your tickets now.
  DO NOT MISS THIS SHOW

Go here for ticket information:  www.facebook.com/gnarmageddonfest


-Jo Problems-
Big Wheel Staff Reporter

 

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Show Preview: The Weirdos with The Middle Class, Audacity and Corners – at The Echoplex – Los Angeles, CA – December 13, 2013

Where are you going to be on Friday the 13th? If you answered, “At The Weirdos show at the Echoplex!”, you would be correct. Formed in ’77 by the Denney brothers, The Weirdos were one of the first (and best) Punk bands to come out of LA. Their first stint ran from 1976-1981, but they reunited quite a few times in the following for some one-off shows and tours. One appearance was at this year’s Punk Rock Bowling. If you missed that show, you missed a massive amount of boots and ‘hawks flying about the crowd.

The Weirdos only released a smattering of singles and EPs during their first go-round, and some compilations in the 90s and 00s,  so if you wanted to experience their music, you had to catch them live. Unfortunately, many of us weren’t around then or old enough to go to shows, so we missed out on hearing John’s growling vocals and Dix’s fast and hard guitar riffs. We can remedy this on the 13th by heading over to the Echoplex.

The other band on the bill not to be missed is Middle Class. Hailing from Orange County, the Atta brothers (and Mike Patton) were the progenitors of hardcore Punk and the sound they helped to create spread across the country, influencing many of the up and coming bands then (and now). Though only together until ’83, their sound evolved over the years and with each EP release. Though only playing a rare show here and there, Middle Class still puts on a fucking fantastic set.

Though I haven’t had the chance to check out the other two openers, Audacity and Corners, I can only guess that these will be the next bands to put on your radar. The Weirdos and Middle Class are fucking awesome, and I can’t imagine them having openers that suck, so make sure you check them out.

See ya in the pit!

Get tickets at a $5 discount with the Big Wheel code:
                                     Enter promo code: bigwheelmag
  at The Echoplex - Los Angeles, CA - Friday December 13, 2013
   Get the special discounted tickets HERE

-Anni Thyme-
Big Wheel Staff Reporter

 

 

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Show Preview: SKAmania Holiday Extravaganza Featuring Pat Kelly & The Clarendonians – at Los Globos – SilverLake CA – December 7, 2013

Friday December 7th local reggae and ska regulars will once again converge on silver lake, at the now infamous and vastly important reggae clubhouse known as, SKamania! In what felt like an eternity, SKAmania returns for their ‘Ska  & Rock steady Holiday Extravaganza’ featuring The Steady 45’s, Queen P, Chris Murray and BOTH Pat Kelly & The Clarendonians being backed by The Delirians.

 

For as long as one could remember SKAmania had been introducing locals to the finest Jamaican artists from the country’s golden era to artists of today in what was always a perfect mash up of the past and present, continuing that trend SKAmania picks up right where it had left off. For those with their ears closely to the ground and hips glued to the dance floor, have no doubt noticed the influx of top level Reggae, Rock steady and Ska to wash over the west coast in recent years as Local labels have brandished their artists with a glimmer in their collective eyes, left Coast mainstay SteadyBeat Records will no doubt swell with pride as both The Steady 45’s and The Delirians accent this remarkable year ending show.

Local favorites The Delirians have been featured across all media outlets near and far and how could one question it? The talent these young men display has been seen with the likes of Ken Boothe, Jimmy Cliff, Eric Monty Morris and Pat Kelly to only name a few. And now return to the old stomping grounds with label mates The Steady 45’s. Adding to the Rock steady Flavor The Steady 45’s bring with them a very polished sound and dance craze invoking energy that has help propel them to the top of Los Angeles’s ska scene in a short amount of time placing them amongst the young elite in the community.

Original SteadyBeat Records and recent SKAmania lovers will no doubt recognize another lovely face belting away beautiful tune after beautiful tune as Queen P makes her anticipated return to the Los Globos stage. Always assured a fantastic set, Queen P and her dynamic vocal range will only add more merriment to this Holiday Extravaganza.

The next Christmas gift under the Rock steady tree is old friend The Globetrotting-acoustic legend, Chris Murray. With as many frequent flyer miles as popular tunes Chris Murray has delighted audiences from every genre and creed. And BigWheelMagazine.com even had the pleasure of catching him class things up a bit amongst all the debauchery of this years Punk Rock bowling festival 2013 in Las Vegas. Aside from his sheer acoustic mastery fans know him from his countless appearances on endless Ska tracks and one of the most revered regular Ska/Reggae nights to come across L.A. Bluebeat Lounge. 

Rounding off the highly anticipated night will be Pat Kelly and The Clarendonians being supported by The Delirians. Since going solo in 1968 with ‘Little Boy Blue’ Pat Kelly has turned out some of the finest music ever to leave the island. SKAmania regulars will once again welcome him back to Los Angeles and the Los Globos Stage as he makes his triumphant return, and is sure to bring with him some dance floor favorites such as ‘How Long Will It Take’ ‘Soulful Love’ ‘Sunshine’  ‘I’ll Never Fall In Love Again’ and personal favorite  ‘Dark End Of The Street’. Never a disappointment and a huge draw, Pat Kelly is just one half of the co-headline bill sure to be one for the ages.

The other headline act, and final group of the evening The Clarendonians Ernest Wilson and Peter Austin will make their long awaited Los Angeles debut in smashing fashion. We join together in celebrating 50 years of Clarendonians music be it solo tunes or chart toppers as a tandem, including: ‘Rudie Gone A Jail’ ‘Rudie Bam Bam’ ‘Darling Forever’ ‘You Wont See Me’ ‘This Is My Story’ amongst countless others. The Clarendonians are a relic to the glory years, to be viewed, appreciated and held in high esteem. To miss December 7th for anything other than a medical emergency will leave you feeling like the Grinch for the remainder of the holiday season. 

 

 

-Gio Van Dam-
Big Wheel Staff Reporter

 

 

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