DUMB QUESTIONS/SMART ANSWERS: THE MAYAPPLES

ATTN SAN ANTONIO - WE ARE INSIDE YOU. Indeed, for the next week at least! But while we're here gettin our fix of rivers, walking, riverwalking and people named Emily and Liz, back the the glorious city by that bayou, aces stuff is brewing. But before all that, we're all remember the Alamo to have been able to get Matt of The Mayapples on record with some of our revolutionarily dumb questions. Observe:

What are some of your favorite records lately?
My favorite records lately have been, the She's the Queen e.p. by Starflyer 59 and also Fugazi's End Hits as well as The Bad Brains' Pay To Cum single and The Goods' Makin' the Sound record.

Are there any Houston bands who you've been digging lately?
Well for sure all of the Mia Kat Empire bands! I also really like Hearts of Animals, Motion Turns It On, Dizzy Pilot, The Paper Moons, Hear You Me, The Monocles, The Goods, Tambersauro, Wolf Explosion, There's so many it's hard to name all of them but I want them all to know that they are great, they all create a wonderful and diverse scene and are very much appreciated.


What's your secret Houston place?
That would have to be La Carafe ( I think thats how you spell it). It is a small dimly lit wine bar that is, I think, the oldest wine bar in Texas. It's really a chill place to go and talk. The place is neat, it looks like at any given time the whole old building could come crashing down! It's in the downtown area not far from Dean's and Notsuoh's.

What is the first sentence of the page you are on in a book you are reading right now?
As I left the railway station at Worchester and set out on the three-mile walk to Ransom's cottage, I reflected that no one on that platform could possibly guess the truth about man I was going to visit. Taken from C.S. Lewis' Perelandra. The second book in his epic space trilogy.

What's the best thing you have spent money on in the last year?
The best thing I have spent money on last year would have to be the Houston Music scene. I am also part owner of Mia Kat Empire, an independent record label/ art collective from Houston that focuses primarily on music from this area. I have spent money on the records we have put out but I also strongly believe in supporting local artists. Some of the best expenses have been our bands records and the purchase of other bands records from Houston as well as door fees to see them play live. I urge everyone else to look at the bands from our area as valuable and worthy of our attention and support!!! With all of this great stuff happening right under our noses, our bands shouldn't need to escape to Austin or Seattle or L.A. to make a living off of their art! Support the local guys!!

What is the best thing you got for free in the last year?
Some great friends and acquaintances from the Houston music scene.

What is the strangest, naturally-occurring physical oddity that you have ever seen firsthand? And did it make you nauseous? (question submitted last week by The Monocles)
Probably the classic movie "Freaks" from the thirties or forties. It is sorta sad kinda like a total exploitation movie of side show freaks but it has some redeeming emotional points. No, it did not make me nauseous.

What should we ask the band next week?
What are they doing to help foster community in the local music scene.

What do the Mayapples have going on right now?
We are still currently coasting on the single, 'The End Is Near' from the Mia Kat Empire compilation that we were giving out on CD last year until we all but ran out of the 5,000 disc pressing. However more songs have been written as we are also busy putting together a live set. Our plans are to continue with this until we have enough material to put out a full length record. As far as shows coming up. We will be playing at the Proletariat today with Tambersauro and The Lymbic System (early show) and also at Fuel Cyber Cafe in Humble on Saturday the 29th with Gretchen Schmaltz. Please come out and support us as well as the other great bands in our community!!!