08/05/09
Text: Scott Indrisek
It's probably time we can stop referring to Cale Parks as "drummer for Aloha and White Williams" and simply focus on his excellently dark, 80s-inflected solo work. Parks released a new EP, To Swift Mars , this week. He shared some thoughts about being a percussive octopus and talked about what happens when you drop your laptop in front of Ian MacKaye.
BAND NAME: Cale Parks
HOMETOWN: I live in Brooklyn, but I grew up in Cincinnati.
DESCRIBE YOUR SOUND IN TWO SENTENCES: A one man percussive octopus making eccentric electronic pop music. Each note has a place.
FAVORITE NIGHTSPOT IN THE CITY YOU CALL HOME:I wish there was one place that had it all for me. I'm always at different places for different reasons, but I'm quite fond of Five Leaves in Greenpoint, Santos Party House, and Enid's.
THREE BANDS OTHER THAN YOUR OWN THAT YOU CAN'T LIVE WITHOUT: Broadcast, Cluster, New Order
YOUR MOST HORRIFIC CONCERT ACCIDENT OR THE MOST ECSTATIC CONCERT SUCCESS: I was opening for Ted Leo solo at the Black Cat in December. It's just me live, so I use some extra backing tracks from my laptop. Halfway through the first song, the sub bass rattled my laptop off the table to the ground. Everything just stopped. I picked up the laptop, pressed play and went right back into it. Luckily the laptop was okay. Turns out Ian MacKaye was there. Ted Leo + Ian MacKaye + using a laptop makes you feel self conscious enough. My laptop FAIL was the icing. Those guys were nice though.
YOUR NERDIEST EQUIPMENT FETISH: Roland drum sample folders. Which has the best gated reverb snare sound: 707, 505, or 909?
MUSICIAN, LIVING OR DEAD, YOU’D MOST LIKE TO SLEEP WITH IN AN ALTERNATE REALITY: Yeah, that's kinda awkward.
FAVORITE RECORD LABEL: Mute Records up until the mid 80's, with a couple of exceptions in recent years.
MOST INTERESTING OR OVER-THE-TOP ARTICLE OF CLOTHING IN YOUR WARDROBE: Vintage Dior silk tie covered in cartoon dogs.
PIECE OF TECHNOLOGY YOU WILL FOREVER NEED: A watch. I have a bad way of being late.
LYRIC YOU'RE MOST PROUD OF: 'We're off in celebration of hopes from wishing wells.'
BEST PART ABOUT GETTING OUT FROM BEHIND THE DRUM KIT: I'm standing up more, though my posture is still pretty bad. Scoliosis, boo.
FAVORITE MUSICAL NUGGET FROM THE 80s: Matthew Wilder, "Break My Stride"
ONE BRAND YOU MIGHT CONSIDER SELLING A SONG TO: I love Jif peanut butter. I mean, I can't live without it. I could use a lifetime supply. Take me out to lunch Jif, let's talk.
Cale Parks' To Swift Mars is out now on Polyvinyl.
