SERPENTONE
www.myspace.com/serpentone
serpentone.com
About Serpentone
Band formed in 2004, with the longest standing members being Erika (vox/songwriting/guitar-playing/diva-bitch), Cyrus (original drummer, who has done fill-in work since 2005), and most recently, the adorable multitasking almost-sober chick-magnet bassist known as Skot. Somehow, these three managed to eke out time on Sundays during 2007 to record an album of sorts at Marty Vincelli's "Big House." Which is a house, that is big. Many amazing musicians have supported this band by filling the rhythm slots for live shows, including Carl Keil, Morgan Grace, Sam Henry, Tom Drama, Tim Flanary, Carl Keil, nolan void, and Susan Costa.
'Erika Meyer's voice is quite something else: she often reminds me of the raw-throated polemic of Vi Subversa—especially in the lyrical structure—and sometimes, when she really reaches into herself, as on the blistering 'Folding,' the unmatchable Thalia Zedek.'
-- Everett True, Village Voice
1. Name your influences and why?
1. my dad's record collection growing up, which featured a lot of old
folk, some Broadway show tunes, and sixties San Francisco psychedelia,
as well as The Beatles. I listened to all of it.
2. all the folk music (Pete Seger, Leadbelly) taught to kids in the 70s.
3. the hardcore punk scene I got into in high school
4. a lifetime of classic rock FM radio
5. Pacific Northwest music I got into after moving to Portland in 2000.
2. If you could open for anyone passing through town, who would it be ?
I am still kicking around so many songs, I really would like to make
another record. So, pretty much anyone talented, who could hook us up.
Steve Albini?
3. What songs do you cover and why ?
Though we have covered songs before, we haven't done any covers in a
long time.
4. Who do you get told you sound like ?
The most common are: Babes in Toyland and Hole. Everett True cited a
1970s British band, The Poison Girls, and Thalia Zedek. I was excited
by that. I think that with a rhythm section able to focus on the music
for a period of time, the music will really be able to come into its own.
5. Name a musician/band in town (male or female) that everyone should go see.
I guess if you are counting musicians who are from Portland, musicians
who moved to Portland, and musicians who claim Portland as a home base
even though they live on the road, and only occasionally play a show
here... Scout Niblett. She's in the latter category. Also, Morgan
Grace w/ Sam Henry.
Tell us what you are up to these days.
Our CD release show is at Ash Street Saloon this Thursday, June 26. I'm
really excited to play with Amoree Lovell and Polly Panic. This Ash
Street CD release show was supposed to be Cyrus's hurrah with us, but he
broke his hand on Saturday, so our friend M'liss will be sitting in for
him. We're looking for a drummer who can commit to the band regularly.
Tell us about the song you are giving us
'Minivan Mom'
Minivan Mom is one of my first songs. I'd lived in Portland about a
year, single mom, no family in town, my daughter was four. I was busy,
overtaxed, exhausted. My daughter and I spent an afternoon at OMSI and
I remember these suburban soccer mom women there with their kids, and
their nice clean clothes, white Nikes, professionally highlighted
hair... I was thinking about how I felt like these women in some ways,
yet also worlds apart. I felt like a twisted minivan mom.
SEE SERPENTONE LIVE HERE:
June, 26 2008 09:00 PM -
CD RELEASE! at Ash Street Saloon w/ Polly Panic and others....
June, 28 2008 10:00 PM -
Jolly Inn ACKBASH w/ thebrotheregg and Hand That Bleeds