Rumor has it, listening to Minneapolis band Military Special’s new EP backwards induces a trance-like coma that forces you to enlist in the armed forces.
Best to just play it normally.
This week we had the opportunity to chat with the group about the band, the album and camouflage (well, not really that last thing)…
Who is Military Special?
Joe Schweigert and Peter Blomgren found themselves in the same city and decided to start a rock band based on previously written songs. They added keys player Charlie Smith and later incorporated prerecorded beats and synths, recruited second keys played by Danell Norby and enlisted drummer Jake Hartnett and bassist James Shaff. Jake had to dip out for a bike trip and now the band is going to play with Dylan from Economy Team.
How would you describe your sound?
In simple terms, we try to combine punk rock, new wave and electro house sounds. In reality, it ends up sounding like heavy, catchy, noise rock. We want to sound like Information Society with loud guitars, but sometimes end up sounding like Ratatat or Bloc Party. Who knew? Really all we want is a sound you can dance to when really drunk, or happy, or whatever.
How do you guys fit into the MSP music scene?
We weren’t sure if we would, at first. But we were able to hook up with two great bands Nobot and Plastic Chord, who helped to support and inspire us musically. Along with that, our friends Lucy Michelle and the Velvet Lapelles have been great to play with. They’ve helped expose us to a wider variety of listeners. We think we can appeal, at least a little, to the noise and punk scenes here while incorporating enough catchy keyboard melodies to get to the folks who enjoy a little indie pop or electronic.
What all went into recording the new EP?
We recorded the entire EP, as we call it, at producer Jeff Lorenzten’s home studio. This was a different process for us, as Jeff used entirely sampled drum beats to supplement the album. We recorded the tracks for fun over an extended period of time before the band was even really together, and ended up compiling all of them to use for our first release. It ended up turning out very well, but I can pretty much guarantee that the next release will be very different, and will incorporate our new lineup.
What’s the story with the track “Juggernaut” off the new EP?
“Juggernaut” is perhaps the most organic, and our favorite track, even though its the shortest, simplest and doesn’t have any lyrics. We wrote it as a song that you just can’t stop, even if you might want to sometimes. It was the most collaborative track on the record, and the one we recorded last, once Charlie was playing with the band regularly. It started as one keyboard riff, and literally evolved during a late night practice session, which rarely happens for us, and ended up as one of our favorite rock out songs to play live. Recording was a different process entirely, as Jeff fashioned it to be this synthy Ratatat-type groove song that was way more dance than rock. But now we have this great recorded version, and still have the same fun playing it live, best of both worlds, and stuff like that.
Tell us about your upcoming local shows.
Our release show was on August 30 at the Hexagon, and it was a really great time. We were able to play with all our friends, and the bar was really great to us, as always. We’re playing Economy Team’s CD release show on the 19th at the Uptown Bar, and a couple others in late September. We are really looking forward to our first Entry show on October 18th, and a possible appearance at the Uptown Theater.
Where can people get the new EP?
You can get it at the Fetus, or on iTunes, or pick up a personalized copy at one of our shows. We’ll be around.
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