Herewith for your reading pleasure is an interview I conducted with Sarah of Reading Rainbow for the now-on-hold iBook. Digi-publishing comes to the rescue when hard-copy publishing fails! Thank you internet!
Who/What/Where is Reading Rainbow?
Reading Rainbow is a lo-fi, no wave style band from West Philly. They are a duo. They also might be a little obsessed with LeVar Burton (but who isn't really?) Sergio suggested that we ask them to play for NASA's launch event. A good majority of us first listened to their stuff through myspace. I think what I like most about them, other then the songs Feral Kids and Oh Deer Lord, is how they co-opt vales from the television show to the way they work as a band. The feel of their music reminds me of a combination between the books Where the Wild Things Are and Lord of the Flies (…uh minus the violent hierarchy & replace with a collective utopia). Regardless, there's a zip of their songs for free available on their myspace, in addition to an 8$ CD, Songs to Sing to, purchasable through Paypal. The following is an e-mail interview done with RR’s Sarah.
Jamie: Who is Reading Rainbow?
Sarah: Rob Garcia and Sarah Everton
J: How did you come together?
S: We played music in another no wave style band, and came up with the idea for Reading Rainbow over a year ago. Then last April when we were supposed to play a show, our drummer couldn't make it, so we took it as an opportunity to finally do it. So basically, we wrote 8 songs, and I kind of learned how to play the drums in the 2 weeks before our first show. That's also when we recorded our cassette tape on a 4 track!
J:Who plays what? What do you use to make sounds?
S: Rob plays guitar, and keyboard/organ on the recordings, I play a snare, floor tom and symbol and we both sing. We also try to use as much tambourine as possible.
J:Where do you live now?
S: West Philly!
J:Is Reading Rainbow your first released album?
S: We never really named it, so I guess?
J:Are the voices on the album only yours?
S: Yes, except on the cassette our roommates at the time Caroline and Corey sang on 'Money and Prizes' with us!
J:Do you have a certain way you usually develop your songs?
S: Rob writes a lot of it, and I sometimes give input/write lyrics!
J:In addition to selling your album yourself though Paypal, your music is available for free on your myspace. Why?
S: Ultimately the point of making music is to share it. We want it to be accessible to anyone who wants it.
J:Can you tell me the lyrics to Feral Kids?
S: "Feral children! No future! Wild savage! We arreeee etc etc etc!"
J:How did you feel when LeVar Burton presented the character of Geordi La Forge on Reading Rainbow?
S: I loved the episode where they went behind the scenes of Star trek the Next Generation! I was a big fan of both shows! It was sweet when they showed how they used swirling glitter in water when they beam people up!! I was even Dr. Beverly Crusher for Halloween when I was 10!
J:Will you be going on tour?
S: As much as possible as soon as possible
J:Who influences you?
S: The Urinals, Velvet Underground, Half Japanese, Sun Ra, and The Magic Twig Community and all our other friends who we play with.
J:What other bands do you most often play with?
S: Eternal Summers (VA), Hologram (Brooklyn), Hermit Thrushes from here in Philly.
J:Who illustrated the fliers and album cover etc?
S: Me! I am in grad school right now for art actually. NO BIG DEAL.
J:Do you guys enjoy camping? If you do, can you recommend any sweet spots?
S: NO, which is lame! We really want to go camping! We have no camping cred. I hear the Pocono’s are nice though.
J:Hot dogs or marshmallows?
S: Turkey dogs and fish gelatin marshmallows!
J:What is success?
S: Putting out as much music we can on as many awesome small record labels as we can and being able to not work because we are too busy playing shows and doing art!!
J:(Sarah requested the following question:) What are your spirit animals?
S: I think mine would be a majestic grizzly-polar bear hybrid, and Rob's would be some kind of raccoon-fox. We are not furries though don't worry.
Rob and Sarah will be playing in Philly on the 5th and in Newark for our fund-rager on the 7th. To listen to their music or send them camping suggestions please find them on their myspace. Rob also has a solo side project called Sprained Ankles
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