Huge Rat Attacks
Cougars
Release Date: September 30, 2006

If you were wondering who took the brain cell melting fuzz dump in the corner, well that was Huge Rat Attacks, and we’re not joking around when we say they are some messed up individuals (making great music, by the way).

The Minneapolis group has been hitting the local circit for a few years but are just now releasing their debut. Cougars is a 7-track psychedelic fiesta that accurately captures the brain-blistering energy and full-frontal assault of the group’s live show.

Huge Rat Attack’s progressive songwriting structure lurks subtlety under their sheer wall of searing reverb, distortion and pain, leaving the listener to embark on their own aural journey only to be awakened by the sonic wail of a large hungry rodent on three hits of acid. It’s no wonder groups like the Black Angels, Pink Mountaintops and Priestess love this band opening for them.

Huge Rat Attacks’ CD Release show is Sunday, October 1 at Minneapolis’ Triple Rock with Vampire Hands and the Deaf.

We sat down with singer/guitarist Jason Oehrlein and guitarist Jon Tester to talk about the album, dinosaurs, being on the “A-List” and werewolves. Read on…

What’s the backstory on your group?
Jason Oehlrein: My brother Justin and I started out practicing in my parent’s basement. We didn’t have a name at all until KC joined the band. We played together for a while until last year when Jon joined

Jon Tester: I joined about a year and a half ago. I guess they wanted to be louder than they were before.

So are a lot of the songs on this album older?
JT: Five of the songs on the record were demoed before I joined the group. The other two (”Sailing in Space” and “Oh, Shit Part II”) were just ideas at that point. We were able to take what they had and throw new ideas that I had and put those together more recently.

JLO: Some of them are actually quite a bit older. In fact Jon knew a few of the songs pretty well from when we went out on tour with his previous band, Tora! Tora! Torrance!

Do you have some new stuff you’re playing live now, too? How is it better/different?
JT: Oddly enough we will be playing a new song at the show on Oct. 1. We had a bit of writer’s block after we recorded. It took us a while to figure out how to write as a four piece. I think we’re finally figuring each other out. I’m really excited about the new song and others that are in the works. I think we’re taking more time to put them together so they flow better.

JLO: We kind of took a break from writing for a while, in the duration of this album coming out. Now that it’s finally out, I feel like we can move on with the next phase of the band. “Oh shit! Hit the red button” is the bloody battle, “Oh shit part 2″ is our journey home, and our new song is us ruling and reigning the land.

Have you toured outside of MN before? Any good stories?
JLO: We have been on 2 tours so far — both with Tora! Tora! Torrance! (TTT!), and they were great. I remember driving and thinking the only thing I had to do was worry about following the white van in front of us. I think my favorite part of tour was when we were in San Antonio, TX. Sam from TTT! had an aunt that lived there who was totally loaded, and they were out of town, but let us use their place while we were down there. We stayed there a few nights while we had a couple shows in surrounding areas. It was perfect - people were just getting over being sick and it had been long and rough drives getting there, and we got to get stoned and play water basketball in the backyard…..which was amazing!

JT: That aunt’s house in San Antonio was the nicest house I’ve ever been in. It had a Playboy Mansion style pool, and we got to stay there for about 5 days. More of a vacation than tour. Some of my other favorite memories with them:
-Underage Justin laying on the floor at a bar in Columbia, MO. He was absofuckinglutely trashed, so me and the singer of !TTT! decided to pour beer on his head.
-Waiting at a security checkpoint by the Mexico border and seeing the Huge Rat van cruise past us into the “Commercial Vehicles Only” lane. When asked how many people were in the van, Jason replied, “We’re in a band. Just band gear.” Somehow, he didn’t get arrested.

Two of your songs mention a hollideck. Please explain.
JT: Because Jason is weeeeirrrd. I don’t know. Jason?

JLO: The hollideck is what we would call “physical reality”. The computer is going to crash, astral projecting is becoming more difficult, and I’m ready to become pure energy….or a maybe squibbon.

Which drug would be best to take prior to listening to Cougars?
JT: Nothing too intense. The more relaxed the better. As cocky or however this comes across, the first time I heard “Oh Shit, Hit The Red Button,” it actually scared me. It turned out way more intense than I was expecting. Andy Meyer, who recorded the record, said it gave him nightmares. That’s a pretty big compliment.
JLO: Just wear your summeroffunsunglasses, man!

Who are your two biggest influences musically?
JLO: I have no idea, to be honest. I listen to Liars, Spiritualized, and T-Rex a lot though.

JT: I’m going to have to cheat here and use two scenarios. When I’m writing a riff, Black Sabbath or the Stooges. When the riff is already there and I’m just adding ear candy, I try to do stuff that wouldn’t be expected with loud heavy music. Probably Syd Barrett the most, in that situation.

What male guitarist do you have a non-sexual crush on and why? (or maybe sexual, you tell us?)
JT: Oohhhh. Sexy. I’d pick Syd Barret circa 1969-70. That guy was the most mysterious and interesting rock musician ever. Everything he did made sense, musically. From the videos I’ve seen, when he was on stage, you couldn’t look away from him even though their light showed practically begged you to not pay attention to the musicians, but at the experience as a whole. So much charisma in that guy. Oh, and he had some sexy hair.

Who are your two biggest enemies?
JT: Mr. Pibb and Dr. Thunder

JLO: Wind and Robots

Your new album’s artwork is very cool. It that an Interpol font I spy?
JLO: Maybe

Cougars are all well and good, but if Huge Rat Attacks was a dinosaur - what kind and why? (note: velociraptor is off limits)
JLO: A pterodactyl with laser eyes.

JT: Probably the Slashosaurus. It exists only in my mind. Let me paint the picture. Imagine a dinosaur the size of an average dog. Cute, cuddly, all around precious. But when it’s time to party, the resounding sounds of trumpets and feedback from the gods fill the air. That’s when we cue the psychedelic flashing background and the cute, cuddly dino transforms into Slash with a scaly tail and he melts your face off with a wicked solo…twice.

You guys have opened up for some pretty cool national bands in the past like Pink Mountaintops and The Black Angels - can you talk about them and any crazy stories?
JT: We opened up for Diamond Nights and Priestess at the Entry a few months back. We had just received “safety boleros” from my girlfriend. Basically, safety boleros are just sequined vests. We were in the basement during the Priestess set and while their drummer did his solo, we decided that it would be a good idea to run up on the stage and dance during it. Priestess didn’t think so. We thought they would like fun. Apparently, they don’t.

JLO: While the priestess drummer was doing his little drum solo thing, Jon, Casey, and Justin all went up on stage dancing in these gold shiny vests — they were pretty pissed off about it I guess. Total squares.

You guys are listed on the “A List” of Citypages Picked to Click — honored, humbled or don’t care?
JT: We lucked out. Vampire Hands were the “Picked to Click” band, so it works out to be two parties at once! And it’s always great to get on the A-List. There usually ends up being way more people at a show when that happens.

Where will HRA be in 5 years? 10?
JT: 5 years - Being the first band to play underwater. 10 years - Probably playing in hell.

JLO: I’m hoping to become a cyborg kickboxer by that point maybe. The problem is, we are from the future, and we have to worry about unraveling the space time continuum.

And now some Porridgelibs:
Finish this sentence: The government is _______ my _______.
JT: The government is harshing my mellow. Selfish pricks that only care about themselves and don’t care how long it will take to fix their messes.

Finish this sentence: Huge Rat Attacks _____ my ________.
JT: Huge Rat Attacks ruined my hearing. We’re sort of loud.

Finish this sentence: Werewolves are _________.
JT: Werewolves are in London. Warren Zevon told me that once.

JLO: Werewolves are badass. They wear sunglasses and leather jackets.