InsulinFunk Interview with Push-Pull
by Blake Garris ~ May 12th, 2009. Filed under: Interview, Music.
From Bloomington, Indiana comes indie rock act Push-Pull. Getting comparisons from the likes of Fugazi, The Melvins and Weezer they’re set to release a sophomore full length Between Noise and the Indians on Joyful Noise Records June 23rd. We recently talked with the band about all this and some other things involving questions and answers and music.
To begin, the cover art for your album Between Noise and the Indians has a one-eyed cat on it. What is the symbolism behind that?
The album art is an actual painting by our friend Mark Rice aka Goatmother. The front and back were painted specifically for this album, and he would know best what he meant by the one eyed cat.
This is a stupid question, but what does the name Push-Pull mean anyway?
A theory of agriculture, an amplifier design, instructions on opening doors, surgical technique and it’s the way we relate to one another within our band.
You’ve been getting a lot of well deserved comparisons to Fugazi and the Melvins. And there are also some hints of Pinkerton era Weezer, I think. But what do I know? How would you describe your band to people?
Abrasive pop music. We appreciate hooks and melodies and the vast space between them.
You released your first album Hello Soldier!!! in 2005. What took you so long to come out with another one and what have you learned since then?
Since then we released an EP, “3” on Joyful Noise, as well as a split 7″ with Prizzy Prizzy Please. We have not learned much since then, except that we probably shouldn’t quit our day jobs.
I read an interview where you get a lot of your influences for your music from inside jokes, TV shows, movies and etc. Can you further elaborate that for me?
We are influenced by everything, just like the TV shows, inside jokes and movies we enjoy so much. When we quote movies, songs by other bands, etc we are relating it to something personal to me and you.
What’s a normal day like when you’re not on tour?
Working 9am-midnight. Pretty much like tour.
How would you describe a Push-Pull show?
Improbable, you just have to figure out the odds. Entertaining at least to us.
You’re signed to Joyful Noise Recordings. They seem to have good taste in the bands they choose. How did you get together?
Well technically we never signed anything. Karl was a friend, and he put out “3” for that reason alone. We think eventually he may have actually liked it. Who knows. But now we are sure that he is fully behind us cause he is working very hard on our new album.
What’s next for Push-Pull?
We are touring the Midwest in June. We’ve finally started writing some new stuff. And are working on remembering the old stuff. Also the possibility of a 7″ on Let’s Pretend Records.
And finally, what’s the meaning of life?
42.