Dr Manhattan is the kind of band everyone should know about, it doesn't matter if they like their music or not. A few summers ago, a friend of mine was introducing me to some music, she told me about heavyheavylowlow, suggesting some Fear Before songs I hadn't heard yet and sent me Big Chomper, Big Chomper by Dr Manhattan. I was floored and the song didn't leave my head for about a year and a half. Then this summer I picked up their self-titled Vagrant release at warped tour which has earned over 100 plays on my itunes since July. Hailing from Wauconda, Illinois, Dr Manhattan has released a demo, two ep's and this past year their self titled. You can catch them on tour next month with Foxy Shazam.
While we start off, give us a few, or maybe a bunch of words to describe Dr Manhattan as a band.
In short, we're biscuits and groovy.
In long, life is too short to answer long.
When I first heard of you guys a few summers ago, my first reaction was while your sound was something a little familiar, there was a twist of something different that no one else was doing. What do you think peoples first reactions are when they hear your music?
I think that's probably a likely reaction. I hope the initial reaction to our music is "Ugh. What trash" and then seconds later we are their favorite band.
The last time I spoke to you guys, you gave us a list of fashion do's and don'ts for 2008. How important do you guys think "dressing up" [in costume, in formal wear...in nothing] for a live show is?
It's important to do what feels right. If you feel like dressing up, you MUST. But if you're feelin a little casual, don't push it. If you tell yourself you HAVE to dress up it'll eventually feel like an obligation and will lose it's fun. Just like everything else in life. Do what you feel.
For your live show, which do you prefer better, a house show or a club show? Give us a bit of an explanation on why you picked what you did.
Ooooo that's hard. It really depends on a lot of things. A truly great show is a compilation of so many variables and cannot be determined by just the venue in which it's held. The people, the set, the food you eat, the temperature, the area, the time of year, etc. But i can say i like indoor shows more than outdoor. But still, so many factors can sway this. It's like asking, What's better? Pie or cake? It all depends.
You just finished up a tour with Heavyheavylowlow and Fear Before, what was it like touring with them? Any interesting tour stories that we could know about?
Touring with Heavyheavylowlow and Fear Before was like biting into a strawberry and discovering it's full of chocolate. Melty. Oh man. Lot's of stories. One time i got my head shaved by a man in a cat mask while playing a fake guitar made from scrap wood and a sharpie. that's the first memory that comes to mind. They're all our really good friends now and i don't believe we'll ever lose touch. True love.
Would you prefer to tour with bands you've known for a while or totally new bands that you've never really had the chance to get to know?
I really like meeting new bands. Like the hhll/fear before tour. We knew none of them and now they feel like brothers. What more could one ask for?
As a touring band, do you find it easier to find new good music or harder since you're exposed to so many bands?
Easier. I've been shown lots of new music by the members of the bands we tour with. Most recently Adam from Fear Before gave me Sigur Ros's Takk... It rules. Especially while driving. I listened to it with my girlfriend and ended up crying. It felt GOOD.
What are some of your guilty pleasures, or if you don't feel guilty for it, what are some things you totally love that people wouldn't expect from you all?
We all love to eat obscene amounts of food. There's never enough food. It makes you feel so good. Somehow we're still pretty skinny. That's because we train daily with Budokon Martial Arts, Yoga, and Meditation.
I don't know if that's a good answer for this question. But i do know that i'm hungry RIGHT NOW.
What are some future plans for Dr Manhattan?
Well, in the immediate future a tour with Foxy Shazam and The AKA's from Feb. 6th to the 21st!!!!!!!! And recording a new album in March in Seattle with Casey Bates and Chris Connely!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The exclamation points indicate a titilated attitude toward both of the latter.
Otherwise, follow our dreams at all costs. Even death.
"How beautiful would it be to die in the heat of your passion?"
-Phillippe Petit, Tightrope walker
Dr Manhattan's myspace.
-Tabitha Jones
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