The Usaisamonster
Photo by, Yeggs Records
Meet The Usaisamonster
The super duo has returned! The Usaisamonster has been a cornerstone of the noise rock scene since back in 2003 when they released “Tasheyana Compost”. With their first album in about 8 years, it is great to see they are still as potent as ever. Their infectious rhythm and energy have not waned one bit. October 30th marks the release of their latest album “Amikwag”. Listen to the single “Rapido Amigo” off the album out now. Read up and get to know this terrific band.
“FIRE FIGHTERS” A fill in the blank by The Usaisamonster
Once upon an ORC, there were three little pigs. The first little pig was very HAIRY, and he built a house for himself out of DOERS. The second little pig was SMURFY, and he built a house out of SHEEPS. But the third little pig was very BABOONY, and he built his house out of genuine PEPPERS. Well one day, a mean old wolf came along and saw the houses. "HEYO!!" he said. "I'll NAIL and I'll SAVE and I'll blow your house down." And he blew down the first little pig's PUD and the second little pig's POOPS. The two little pigs ran to the third pig's house. Thereupon, the wolf began blowing, but he couldn't blow down the third little pig's BLOG house. So he LUGGED off into the forest and the three little JILALIBADY pigs moved to Chicago and went into the sausage business.
Would You Rather
have to live for two years inside a Chuck E Cheese, or the guitar center on 42nd street?
Colin: guitar center, I'd make it work
Some Questions with The Usaisamonster
What was the creative drive behind your 2020 release “Amikwag”?
Tom: I think we were talking about making a new record before the 2016 election, but that made it clear that things were still fucked and that our band was still relevant. That was part of it, once we were committed, we wanted to make our best record yet and have fun doing so.
Has there been any change in your creative process between your 2012 and 2020 releases?
Tom: For sure, during the creation of almost all of our other records, we were a full time band playing as many gigs as we could, touring allot and living together off the road most of the time, so we would come off tour with lots of new song ideas that we would start working on right away. The writing process was pretty fast pace and in the moment and we could bounce ideas off one another right away. While making Amikwag, we were living in different states while devoting much of our time to supporting our families and being parents, so the writing was much slower and maybe more thoughtful than before. Also, as we were not limited by time, the production on this record is on a different level from all the others in vision and fullness.
What has been a recent innovation in music that you admire?
Colin: I gotta say I love the warbly lo-fi in today's hip hop. it’s very underwater and strange and psychedelic and outer space. I'm all for it.
When attending concerts do you prefer smaller venues with more intimate performances or larger stadiums/festivals? Why?
Tom: I love smaller venues. It’s all I really know, I’ve never been to any stadium shows! Well, that’s not true. We played Anarchist Metal Fest in a wrestling arena in Hermosillo, Mexico in 2002. That was a very large venue and there were luchadors painted on the walls.
What is your worst habit?
Tom: Watching Red Hot Chili Pepper’s live videos on YouTube while falling asleep.
Through the 16 years spent living in NYC what were the biggest changes you saw take place in the local music scene?
Colin: maybe its the same-ish. tons of talented folks trying to be busy and playing all the time and making moves to play and trying to make it, i imagine that never goes away, its just different people's times at different times.
Would you say the NYC music scene fosters collaboration or competition?
Colin: both! theres definately alot of gossip and jealousy, which i wish i could go back and ton down on in my life, but now i've removed myself from that and feel much healthier. simultaneously, there are TONS OF TALENTED FOLKS down to work jam record at ALL TIMES. folks who are just like you who whip out their calender and start talking dates, and they show up and bring it and get on with their lives. The pace in new york fosters creative collaboration between like minded musicians.
Any final comments? (This is your electronic soapbox for one last answer.)
Colin: thanks for having us! I'd like to say we are all ONE. those motherfuckers you hate? ONE. those you love? ONE. the bubblegum on the ground ONE. the leaf the sky ONE. "Please take a minute to think about those who loved you into being" - Tom Hanks as Mr Rogers.
Check out our new record here.