Everything you heard is true. Former Tucsonan Nobunny is making his debut return to Tucson this Saturday night (Not true: he’s actually playing the Grumpus Room on Friday night) and he’s bringing with him The Wax Museums, from Denton, Texas. Apart from being one of the most highly touted bands from the incest practicing Denton rock ‘n’ roll scene, The Wax Museums are an unequivocally perfect backing band for Nobunny. Paired together, The Wax Museums/Nobunny consortium is like grabbing a joy buzzer with your funny bone. They’re so catchy and crazy about silly music that smiles are contagious.
Don’t let the name fool you; The Wax Museums are anything but stoic, immovable human likenesses. Live, Paul Museum’s spastic faces come alive and literally pull you, hook, line and sinker, into the music. And as much as I like the records, none of them come close to capturing how powerful their live shows are. Their idiotic punk is often compared to a unique version of The Urinals, or an angrier Angry Samoans or a weird Nobunny who, it was once believed, couldn’t be out-weirded.
This Saturday, Nobunny and The Wax Museums are kicking off their tour with free pizza (available while supplies last). Make sure to get there early and then stay late, especially for Tucson favorites The Basement Apartments and The Okmoniks, who are going to make this into one hell of an extravaganza.
Actually, The Wax Museums/Nobunny have already played one warm-up show so if you’re not convinced that Saturday is going to be the best time ever, you can check out Victim of Time’s write-up of the “pilot” in Memphis. Also, when a Chicago-based blog says, “You ‘d be an idiot not to go,” about the Tucson show at Poblano Hot Sauce Factory, you should do what they say. Did I mention free pizza?
The Wax Museums are Paul Museum on vox, TV’s Daniel on guitar, Payton Smell-O on bass, and Surfs Up Jason on drums. Below, Paul and Daniel amiably discuss the intricacies of backing up Nobunny, cover songs and Denton’s rock ‘n’ roll scene.
AZNB: Your first 7” as The Wax Museums was just the two of you and a drum machine. How’d you go from that to where you are now?
P&D: We were doing those songs as a recording band only, but we wanted to play live. So we knew Payton and Jason and we got them. They made the band easier, a lot more fun and we were able to write more ‘complex’ songs. Plus our drum machine broke.
Last time I saw The Wax Museums it was in Austin and you covered a Nobunny song. And, right before that, Nobunny asked your drummer to play with him on a whim because his tape machine broke. Do you think that those events had any influence on you all touring the West Coast together? I mean, did he choose you or did you ask him to tour with you? How’d it happen?
P&D: Nobunny suggested the tour together, and we do what we’re told. We’ve known him for a few years now and it sounds really fun. Plus we have a mutual admiration for playing really stupid/simple songs.
How does it feel to be Nobunny’s full-time backing-band?
P&D: I wouldn’t say full time. You can’t cage the bunny. But it’s both an honor and a disgrace.
Nobunny’s not playing in your band is he?
P&D: He wishes.
I’ve heard you compared to Justin’s defunct band The Sneaky Pinks somewhere. Did being similar in sound make it easy to learn Nobunny’s quirky songs?
P&D: It wasn’t hard because we were already big fans, so we knew the songs already. Plus the fact that they’re simple enough for our dumb asses to play doesn’t hurt.
Are you looking forward to traveling with Justin? I hear his bladder is like a rat’s and he has to compulsively stop every hour to buy moccasins and discount tapes at gas stations.
P&D: Well Payton has to wash his pecker in the sink every hour, as well as spend all his change on Horny Goat Weed from a dispenser in the gas station bathroom. So we’re kinda used to this sort of thing, but we’re hoping Justin can mentor us in the finer ADD aspects of touring.
Your Ancient Structures 7” is a themed EP with the songs ‘Catacombs,’ ‘Stonehenge’ and ‘Pyramid.’ What inspired you to write about these wonders of the world?
P&D: WE LOVE TO LEARN.
Are you considering or do you consider any of your other records to be ‘concept albums?’
P&D: Not yet, but we have a doozy on the horizon.
Some of you have been traveling around the country with other bands (i.e. recently with the Potential Johns) What other tours are you planning with other bands? How does that affect your time as a band?
P&D: What are you talking about? Jason told us he had to go visit his grandma. But we don’t have any other plans to tour right now. Traveling with other bands really makes us miss each other. We value each other’s friendship. We really, really do.
Texas is a pretty dynamic place as far as the garage rock scene goes. Can you tell us a little bit about your history, growing up in Texas and playing in bands such as The Wrists, The Gash, etc., and what it is you especially like about Texas.
P&D: It’s not really that dynamic considering its the same four or five people in every band. We all grew up in small towns that didn’t really have anything going on musically. So it was easy to come together and start bands. Both The Wrists and The Gash were really shaky and didn’t get much done. Which is in stark contrast to the dynamo rock gods we are today.
What’re some of your favorite places to play across the nation and who do you like playing with the most?
P&D: Milwaukee, Chicago, Atlanta and Austin. We haven’t toured a ton but these places have always been great. We always try to play these places when possible and we have the best time ever 4-lyfe.
What are you working on as far as records and new songs go?
P&D: We’re always writing new songs and we’re saving up songs for another LP. We promise we won’t put out so many 7“s this year.
What covers do you do on your records and which do you often play live?
P&D: ‘Baby’s Playin Games’ by the Vomit Pigs, ‘Crowd Control’ by Really Red, ‘Meat Is Rotten’ by the Styphnoids, a slew of non-practiced Ramones songs and we’re working on a Village People cover.
Your show here in Tucson claims to have free pizza (and it will), but this isn’t your first free pizza show is it?
P&D: No, we played a free pizza show in New York where they gave free pizza to the bands and everyone who ordered a drink. They were small and crappy and had no flavor. So in order to get full you had to eat 100 of them. But they were free, so who cares? Then Camero Werewolf from Livefastdie got kicked out for elbow dropping a couch cushion.
On the other hand, Kevin Krunchie took us to for really expensive awesome pizza in Chicago. It remains a turning point in our lives.
It seems like your band could be misinterpreted or interpreted in many ways since not many people know what is being said. Have you ever considered releasing some of your lyrics?
P&D: That’s something we’re really against. Our lyrics aren’t that bad, but we’re sure the lyrics that people have made up for our songs are way better.
Are you going to play my favorite songs: ‘Claw You Like a Cat,’ ‘Pyramid,’ ‘I Eat Vomit’ and ‘Traffic Violation?’
P&D: We will play anything/everything you ask us to play. You name it you got it. Tip jar at the merch table.
Do you have anything you’d like to say to Tucson?
P&D: Don’t get your hopes up.
I’m afraid it’s too late for that. This Saturday night, Aug. 9, The Wax Museums meet up with The Basement Apartments, The Okmoniks and. of course. Nobunny at the Poblano Hot Sauce Factory, 648 W. Lester. The show is $5 and will start around 8 p.m. Get there early for free pizza!
