The OC Weekly interviewed Alex Knost about Tomorrows Tulips and the hiatus of the Japanese Motors. Keep on reading.Costa Mesa garage rockers Japanese Motors shocked the local scene when they informed OC Weekly last Tuesday that they were ditching their Jan. 20 gig with Vice label mates the Black Lips at Detroit Bar, canceling all upcoming shows including SXSW dates and going on "indefinite hiatus."
After playing a bit of phone tag, I got a hold of front man Alex Knost (he's also a pro surfer) this morning at his Costa Mesa home to discuss Tomorrows Tulips, the new duo he formed with girlfriend Christina Kee. I also asked him why Japanese Motors came to a screeching halt and if the band had a future. Knost offered fresh news concerning both projects.
OC Weekly (Wade Tatangelo): So, what prompted the formation of Tomorrows Tulips?
Alex Knost: Well, I really don't remember, exactly. I think Christina said something about hating to go to Paul Mitchell hair school and I asked her what she always wanted to do. She said she wanted to learn drums but thought that was ridiculous. We have similar taste in music and I showed her great songs that don't have complex drumming, played her Son of a Gun by the Vaselines, one of our favorite groups ... as soon a she put her ear to it and just concentrated on the beat, one hand on the snare drum, it gave her the confidence to just start whacking stuff.
Q: How long between when Christina started "whacking" the drums and the formation of Tomorrows Tulips?
A: By the next day we had three or four ideas for songs. Obviously, practice makes things a little perfect. I'd say maybe two or three months later we started playing around
Q: What's the story behind the name, Tomorrows Tulips?
A: It's kind of an inside joke. That's something for ourselves. We don't want to give it all away, y'know?
Q: Fair enough. The sound of Tomorrows Tulips is a lot dreamier and experimental leaning than Japanese Motors's. Would led you down this new musical path?
A: I still consider myself juvenile. I can barely play compared to most bands. You listen to 1960s music, it's not complicated, it's rock & roll. When you don't know how to do something very well it forces you to be creative and use trickery. The best thing about Christina being new on drums as she stumbles on all this creative stuff because it's first instinct. We're really trying to embody DIY aesthetic.
Q: Japanese Motors toured nationally and were signed to Vice. How serious are you about Tomorrows Tulips?
A: We're just gonan take it day by day. Obviously, we're passionate about it. We have this feeling of absolute fearlessness. We just recorded eight songs over at the Distillery [studio] on analog tape just like bands did in the 1960s and 70s. The [as-yet-untitled] EP will come out on the Papermade label that did the Dirt Dress series.
Q: Do you have a release date?
A: It will Take a little bit of time. We're only putting it out on cassette and vinyl. CDs are great to burn for friends but the lifespan is short. Tapes and vinyl last for a long time. We're doing that and writing new songs and talking to labels about a full-length we want to get done by the summer so we can hit road and start touring.
Q: Sound like between Tomorrows Tulips and surfing you have your hands full. Is Japanese Motors done?
A: Yeah, for the time being we all have decided to put in on shelf., we have full-length we never put out who knows what will happen in future after talking to [guitarist/bassist Nolan Hall] and hes' going to focus on photography. [Drummer Andrew Atkinson went back to his job. Nolan is working closely with Vans shoes and several magazines and looking to do showings of photographs and I'm excited for him. [Putting Japanese Motors on hiatus] was a mutual thing ... I'm really looking forward to Tomorrows Tulips. When you watch some like Christina make a song it really lights a fire in me creatively. It's been just the two of us but have been having people playing bass like Nolan and Matt McCluer of the Sweet Sweet Things. He's a very inspiring person to be around very with a profound work ethic.
Q: Do you plan to eventually grow Tomorrows Tulips from a twosome to a band?
A: We'll keep it as a two-piece as far as writing but it would be great to also play with talented musicians.
Q: Not to belabor this but Japanese Motors had a bunch of high profile dates coming up, opening for Black Lips playing SXSW, etc. Why stop now?
A: I think when you're passionate about something, obviously we worked hard to get where we were at, you don't want to sacrifice emotions. Having to keep playing due to pressure [to fulfill commitments] feels like a gimmick. We don't wanna do something we don't feel passionate about. We feel bad to the venues we left dry and fans but don't want be somewhere if our head is somewhere else. The future is unwritten, but as of right now, all feel strongly {about going on hiatus].
Showing posts with label Japanese Motors. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Japanese Motors. Show all posts
Tomorrows Tulips Feature
Tomorrows Tulips
Tomorrows Tulips formed on August 15th when Alex Knost bought a piccalo snare drum at the thrift store and handed it to Christina. The two spent 3 nights at Mike McQ’s distillery studio organizing some sort of an idea on how to play together. While socializing with Mike and discussing what to call the group it became vaguely clear what to do. The duo consists of stripped down pop that often disregards professionalism in anyway shape and form. Absolute Fearlessness prevails in creating songs that revolve around subject matter that consists of flowers, happiness, love, haircuts, friends, and un-macho-ism. TT will continue to make songs on cassette tape and post them on the internet until the release of the full length album that will be recorded at the distillery in late September and released on vinyl, cassette and cd in October 2009. Then with a VW bug tour across America to follow.
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Japanese Motors x Alex Kopps
BETTER TRENDS
This video was made for the song “Better Trends” by The Japanese Motors. The video follows the band into the streets of San Francisco on their hopeless, tongue and cheek search for a “better trend.” As the video progresses you travel through a variety of trend and fad graveyards, such as thrift stores and the now omnipresent vintage clothing boutique. The video eventually leads their search back to themselves and into a world of layered sun bleached video tape. You should be warned, this video was made in traditional no budget music video style with a baby stroller, boom box, skateboard and other antiquated tools of deception.
Old School
Some old photos of the Japanese Motors back in 2007. The band has changed their line up too many times. The only constant is change?Enjoy.
My iPod was a disappointment, Kind of.
As I make my rounds wasting my time on just about everything that is stupid, I came across a game/questionnaire, I did it, did it, did it again, again, and again, thats right 5 times, and I was only half satisfied in the final result with all 5 rounds. Some were right on, some scared me, and others I really asked WTF. So here are my results. If you question it, that means you are disappointed in my iPod as well.
Directions:
1. Put your iPod, iTunes, etc. on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer and put down what song is playing for that answer.
------------------
IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OKAY" YOU SAY?
Round 1 - All Of This – Blink 182
Round 2 – The Tragedy – The Color Fred
Round 3 – These Arms – Donavon Frankenreiter
Round 4 – Symbol In My Driveway – Jack Johnson
Round 5 – The Lightning Strikes: (i) What If… - Snow Patrol
HOW WOULD YOU DESCRIBE YOURSELF?
Round 1 - Positive Tension – Bloc Party
Round 2 – Stuck At The Airport – Money Mark
Round 3 – Bleeding Bells – Delta Spirit
Round 4 – She’s Only 18 – Red Hot Chili Peppers
Round 5 – Cliffdiving - +44
WHAT DO YOU LOOK FOR IN A GUY/GIRL?
Round 1 - Black Balloon – The Kills
Round 2 – You Could Be Mine – Guns N’ Roses
Round 3 – Epic – Faith No More
Round 4 – Road Trippin’ – Red Hot Chili Peppers
Round 5 – Downfall – Matt Costa
HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
Round 1 - Kings of Leon - 17
Round 2 – Holler Till You Pass Out – 3OH!3
Round 3 – Hell Yes - Beck
Round 4 – Our Love – Donavon Franenreiter
Round 5 – Since I Don’t Have You – Guns N’ Roses
WHAT IS YOUR LIFE PURPOSE?
Round 1 - Soco Amaretto Lim – Brand New
Round 2 – Inaudible Melodies
Round 3 – Merry Christmas – The Ramones
Round 4 – Buzzin’ – Shwayze
Round 5 – Cemeteries Of London – Cold Play
WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
Round 1 - Listen Up – The Beastie Boys
Round 2 – I Never Told You What I Do For A Living – My Chemical Romance
Round 3 – Borrowed Time – John Lennon
Round 4 – Limousine (ms rebridge) – Brand New
Round 5 – Rescue – Cipes And The People
WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
Round 1 - D.A.N.C.E. (MASTRKRFT Remix) – Justice
Round 2 – Cardiff-By-The-Sea – The Ataris
Round 3 – Plastic Jesus – Jack Johnson
Round 4 – Do You Remember – Jack Johnson
Round 5 – Spores – Say Anything
WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
Round 1 - The Pioneers – Bloc Party
Round 2 – Just A Friend – Biz Markie
Round 3 – Welcome To Malibu - Whitestarr
Round 4 – How Do I Fix My Head – Straylight Run
Round 5 – Superhero Girl – Eve 6
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
Round 1 - Good Arms vs. Bad Arms – Frightened Rabbit
Round 2 – Take It Or Leave It – Jet
Round 3 – Amber - 311
Round 4 – The Word You Wield – Say Anything
Round 5 – Let It Happen – Jimmy Eat World
WHAT IS 2 + 2?
Round 1 - One Ray Of Sunlight – Phantom Planet
Round 2 – The Ripper – The Used
Round 3 – Bonafied Lovin’ (Tough Guys) - Chromeo
Round 4 – Times Like These – Jack Johnson
Round 5 – Placer Culpable (Guilty Pleasure) – Cobra Starship
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
Round 1 - Seventy Times Seven – Brand New
Round 2 – Ladies and Gentlemen – Hot Hot Heat
Round 3 – Losing Hope – Jack Johnson
Round 4 – Showdown – Valient Thorr
Round 5 – Sympathy For The Devil – Guns N’ Roses
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Round 1 - Permutation – Red Hot Chili Peppers
Round 2 – She So Fly - Whitestarr
Round 3 – A Dustland Fairytale – The Killers
Round 4 – Set Me Free – Velvet Revolver
Round 5 – The Ballad Of Miss Kate – Matt Costa
WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
Round 1 - DVNO - Justice
Round 2 – Bad Kids – Black Lips
Round 3 – Trouble Maker - Weezer
Round 4 – How Deep Is That River – Mason Jennings
Round 5 – My List – The Killers
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO DO WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Round 1 - Kick Out The Jams – Rage Against The Machine
Round 2 – Listening – The Used
Round 3 – Savior – Red Hot Chili Peppers
Round 4 – Positively 4th Street – Bob Dylan
Round 5 – About A Girl - Nirvana
WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Round 1 - Little Devotional – Taking Back Sunday
Round 2 – Sugar Baby – The Kills
Round 3 – Better Trends – Japanese Motors
Round 4 – Jet Airliner – Steve Miller Band
Round 5 – About Failing – Say Anything
WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Round 1 - Carry You – Jimmy Eat World
Round 2 – Maggie May – Rod Stewart
Round 3 – Start The Show - Common
Round 4 – This Aint Living – G. Love
Round 5 – Kid Nothing vs. The Echo Factor – Gym Class Heroes
WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
Round 1 - Shell Shock – Gym Class Heroes
Round 2 – Blow Up The Pyramid – Valient Thorr
Round 3 – Rainy Day Women – Bob Dylan
Round 4 – A Decade Under The Influence – Taking Back Sunday
Round 5 – Details In The Fabric – Jason Mraz
WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST FEAR?
Round 1 - Spidersong – Say Anything
Round 2 – All Over Again – Phantom Planet
Round 3 – Hotel California – The Eagles
Round 4 – Come On Come On – Jet
Round 5 – Ode To Sunshine – Delta Spirit
WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
Round 1 - I Believe In A Thing Called Love – The Darkness
Round 2 – Little Devotional – Taking Back Sunday
Round 3 – My Back Pages – Bob Dylan
Round 4 – House Built For Two – Delta Spirit
Round 5 – Woman - Wolfmother
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Round 1 - Desecration Smile – Red Hot Chili Peppers
Round 2 – I Am Fred Astaire – Taking Back Sunday
Round 3 – Banquet – Bloc Party
Round 4 – Love Song - 311
Round 5 – For Reason’s Unknown – The Killers
SONG THEY WILL PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Round 1 - Lucifer – Jay Z
Round 2 – Scenopath - Emanuel
Round 3 – Pennyroyal Tea - Nirvana
Round 4 – The Dynamo Of Volition – Jason Mraz
Round 5 – Lithium - Nirvana
The bold ones are the ones I agree with in some way or another. As I said, some were solid and right on, others were way off.
The ones I am proud of in no order, except for the first three, Japanese Motors - Better Trends, Whitestarr - She So Fly, Brand New - Soco Amaretto Lime, Nirvana - Lithium, Cobra Starship - Placer Culpable (Guilty Pleasure), Chromeo - Bonafied Lovin, Rod Stewart - Maggie May, Delta Spirit - Bleeding Bells, The Killers - Dustland Fairytales, Taking Back Sunday - Little Devotional.
Japanese Motors | Self Titled Album.
In stores 10.7.08
1. Single Fins & Safety Pins
2. Regrets a Paradise
3. Coors Lite
4. B.N.E.
5. Pseudo Elitist Vagueness
6. Crooked Gun
7. Oh Brother
8. Better Trends
9. Interlude
10. Spendin' Days
11. Misery & Profits
x
OTHER JAPANESE MOTORS INFO - -
Listen to the whole album here: http://www.mtvu.com/music/the_leak/japanese_motors/japanese_motors/
4 songs were preformed from their forthcoming debut album on AOL’s The Interface.
Watch it now: http://spinner.aol.com/artists/the-interface/japanese-motors
-bum out.
The Summer of Alex Knost | WATER Magazine
http://www.surfline.com/water-magazine/digital/index.cfm?vol=27
check the link above. The story/article is rad. Alex Knost is rad. We are all rad.
rad.
Releases
I don't know what I'm more excited about. The fact that Shwayze has been on my playlists for a year now, its almost as if I'm over it already. But I've listened to him and blogged about him too many times to just throw in the towel and give up now. As for the Japanese Motors, this is just a single being released with only 3 songs, never-the-less, I'm stoked on it. Should be a big day for music but we'll see. RVCA should be proud of their talent that they sponsor... should be a proud day for them too. word.
Track Listing:
1. Single Fins & Safety Pins
2. Single Fins & Safety Pins - Radio Edit
3. Coors Lite
Track Listing:
1. Roamin'
2. Lazy Days
3. Corona And Lime
4. Buzzin'
5. Don't Be Shy
6. Hollywood
7. Polaroid
8. James Brown Is Dead
9. Lost My Mind
10. Mary Jane
11. Flashlight
single fins & safety pins
from VICE records:
Japanese Motors are the most exciting band to emerge from Orange County since the heyday of Social Distortion and TSOL. Hailing from Costa Mesa and comprised of RVCA pro-surfer and singer Alex Knost, guitarist Nolan Hall, bassist Chris Vail, and drummer Andrew Atkinson, the band is known around Southern California for the insane, all-night blowouts they put on as much as for the driving, raucous garage pop they set the partying to.
Rather than fight the influence of their surroundings like so many of their So Cal contemporaries, Japanese Motors have channeled it into their music, making tunes every bit as sun-baked and laid-back as their coastal environs and rife with positive imagery. "Most bands from here are trying to sound like they're from London or New York," Nolan says. "We embrace where we're from." In return for their local pride, the Southern Californian surf community has embraced them right back. Japanese Motors are part of RVCA's Artist Network Program and fellow surfers Emmett and Brendan Malloy (who made three White Stripes videos) directed the video for the band's first single "Single Fins & Safety Pins."
On August 19th, Vice Records will release this single, "Single Fins & Safety Pins," which contains the album version and a radio edit of the song, as well as b-side "Coors Lite," another track from their upcoming self-titled full length debut, due in October 2008. Japanese Motors hit the road in August, starting off in NYC, winding their way down the East Coast before heading back home to play with the Black Lips and at LA's Detour Fest....
Download Japanese Motors "Single Fins & Safety Pins" on Spinner.com
single fins & safety pins download
doin things
So, I bet you're sick of my blogging about random music, music you haven't heard of, or whatevs. Butttt, people, I know what I know. And today what I know is.... that Japanese Motors are all of a sudden in fast forward. I swear, even if they were no body's when I first heard of them, and you still think that they are still nothing to brag home about then, ok, do what you will. I will have you know this, the last time I told you about some one, or some people, or music, or, who cares, I just know that I threw up a post about Shwayze reality show in like December and now it's just starting to air and everyone is now knowing who he is when I was telling you how cool he was back in the da diz day. Along with you know, that girl who kissed a girl, and liked it, and Whoopi Goldberg kissed her to. (hahaha, YouTube it, it was from the morning talk show, "the view") ...Katy Perry.
So.... Japanese Motors, I'm telling you, Huge!! I hope, because the last half of what you just read you already knew, and I was just using what I wrote as proof I know what I know.
Here are just a few things that make me know that the Japanese Motors are doin things, doin work, and being most righteous bros... siiiiiick.!!
Beach Blanket Burnout -- Lead Singer/Front Man Alex Knost is an actor/director/surfer/musician. This film was shot in Australia and stars Alex Knost as Buster. Also check his appearance in the movie Tales From The Black Van.
Alex Knost and Chris Vail rockin' out on stage.
Al singin his skinny little emo/indie surf rock n' roll heart out.
Music Video shoot for the Japanese Motors first single, Single Fins & Safety Pins. How cool is this, they are rockin in the ocean. Can't deny that.
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