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Mich State Interview w/ Ebert

draconian - 4-18-2004 at 04:15 PM

From the msureporter.com:

Ima Robot Ready to Rock MSU
L.A. Rockers Set to Bring Blazing New-Wave Sound Tuesday Night

PHIL GROTH, SENIOR STAFF WRITER philip.groth@mnsu.edu
April 15, 2004

The second leg of MTV's Campus Invasion Tour, set to hit Myers Field House on Tuesday night, will likely go more smoothly for Ima Robot, according to their lead singer, the mullet-donning Alex Ebert.

He said that as the tour progresses, audiences have been more receptive to the band's synth-infused punk and new wave.

"It keeps getting better and better," Ebert said via a telephone interview from Fort Meyers, Fla. "At first it was a little intense. Some of the crowds were a little unfamiliar [with our music]."

They were, indeed, unfamiliar -- a little hostile even. A young woman in Blacksburg, Va., threw a H****stank poster at Ebert in the middle of Ima Robot's set. And according to Street, a Miami entertainment magazine, Ebert stopped singing to chastise her.

"Generally, [we play to a different demographic than H****stank] but not right now," Ebert said, accounting for some of Ima Robot's lackluster audience response. "Now we are playing to the same kids."

While MTV's Choose or Lose campaign has been a big part of the tour, the band isn't particularly interested in promoting any specific issues or candidates. But Ebert thinks the band's ideology comes out through their music.

"It's not about single issues but the whole system," Ebert said. "It's more about social commentary."

And social commentary would make sense coming from a band with a lead singer who grew up listening to rap by such artists as Run DMC and NWA. It wasn't until he "lost faith" and got bored with rap in '96 that he started listening to rock music. Though he said hip-hop has had an influence on his lyrical style, so has the new wave and early punk he got into after becoming disillusioned with rap.

Though Ima Robot may not take any stances on specific political issues, Ebert did his part on the tour to help increase the voter turnout for students. At one stop on the tour, due to Ebert's insistence, the Rock the Vote tent stayed open throughout the concert, allowing students to register to vote while the bands were playing.

Ebert hopes that concert-goers get "something in the raw, something entertaining" from Ima Robot's set. Even though he would readily admit the tour has gotten better for the band, he still retains some modesty.

"Don't come expecting anything; you might get disappointed," he said, before offering some advice: "Get ready to shake your booty."

poobs - 4-18-2004 at 04:34 PM

I do shake my booty..That's for sure..:duh: :lol:

imanodoubtaholic - 4-18-2004 at 06:43 PM

poobs. your new avatar is great.
:lol:

it keeps making me laff.

poobs - 4-18-2004 at 08:38 PM

Ha! Thanks! It makes me laugh, too..:D :lol:

happysmilely - 4-18-2004 at 08:42 PM

kinda scares me, but then I laugh, and then I feel sick to my tummy :D
:lol:

nice Avatra poobanut :D

imanodoubtaholic - 4-18-2004 at 08:48 PM

yea and i always used to read your location as "excramento" instead of extramento.... so i used to always do this double take :o "excrament?!..."
stoopid me:duh:

poobs - 4-18-2004 at 09:09 PM

Oh my gosh..I never noticed that I spelled it wrong!! I meant Excramento!! :lol: