Minneapolis-based duo Fort Wilson Riot (Amy Hager & Jacob Mullis) return with Predator/Prey, their second and attention grabbing album. During the period in between records the duo has toured extensively with Cloud Cult and developed a loyal and growing fan base that have been celebrating the release of Predator/Prey. The result is an album that fires off creative energy and maintains a certain likeability that Fort Wilson Riot should be known for. Predator/Prey is quite literally the sound of Fort Wilson Riot discovering their voice and demanding your undivided attention.
The band just played two fantastic shows at Oakland’s Mama Buzz Cafe and San Francisco’s The Red Devil Lounge and will hopefully be back soon to display their much-talked about live show.
You can also check out their Daytrotter Session here.
So this week we have both Amy Hager & Jacob Mullis answering the world famous Kuestionnaire as they explain why it’s good to read signs before starting a show.
_________________________________________________________________________
1. Could you state your name and what you do in the band?
AH: My name is Amy Hager and I am one of two songwriters. Live, I play keys, trumpet, guitar, harmonica and sing.
JM: My name’s Jacob Mullis and I do some Vocals, Guitar, Keys & Bass
2. How would you describe your sound?
AH: When I describe our sound I like to say fun, energetic melodic music with electronic drums, guitar and keys sometimes rather dance-y and dark other times moody and other times sunny. Jacob and I both sing and harmonize throughout and have lots of fun while playing.
3. What is your favorite local band?
AH: One of our favorite local Minneapolis bands is Phantom Tails! But that’s a really hard one to answer. Me & My Arrow is another killer band, but there are really so, so many.
4. Any concerts that blew your mind recently?
AH: We played an awesome show in Minneapolis before we left with the great bands Claps, Chelsea Boys and RYAT. We all had a blast and left feeling exhausted from all the dancing!
JM: Ghost Shores, and Little Owl in San Diego, CA. Two Tone Wolf Pack, and The Old Tire Swingers in Denver, CO. Grinderman in Minneapolis.
5. Any non-musical influences you would like to mention?
AH: I’m influenced by many things, some being friends, social norms and taboos, nature, loneliness and death.
JM: I’ve found myself references seemingly random things in my songs. They can be random details of personal experiences, lines from movies or books that get stuck in my head. Usually when I write I don’t think about one thing, I kinda just let my mind wander and try to just pick up on interesting things that pop into my head.
6. If your music was to be the theme of a film/TV show, what would it be?
AH: Just the other day I was thinking that it would be fun to make a movie that was stylistically like late 80’s Say Anything or any other John Cusack film inspired by lyrics from our songs.
JM: We tend to make songs that are kind of like multiple short songs strung together, and I’m a huge fan of many of the new serialized TV shows that have been coming out. In particular I like shows that follow in the tradition of Twin Peaks. Dark, and spooky, but also super quirky and funny. It’d be fun to make music for a show like that.
7. What musician/artist would you like to collaborate with for a day?
AH: At one point in my life, I would have always said David Byrne, but now I think I would have to say The Knife (Karin Dreijer Andersson). I would be absolutely intimidated but so tickled pink.
JM: George Lewis Jr. a.k.a. Twin Shadow
8. What is the album you listen to on a cold rainy day?
AH: I would probably listen to Twin Shadow’s Forget.
JM: Probably the new James Blake album.
9. List four songs you would listen to on a roadtrip?
AM: Heartbeat – The Knife
Stranded – The Walkmen
Silvia – Marissa Nadler
Love out of Lust – Lykke Li
JM: That’s kinda hard cause I like to use long driving time to listen to full albums but here are some ideas. “At My Heels” Twin Shadow, “White Winter Hymnal” Fleet Foxes, “Heroes & Villains” Beach Boys, “Ghost” Neutral Milk Hotel
10. Where do you see yourselves in 7 years?
AH: Good Question…..Playing Music!
JM: Still writing, recording and playing shows but maybe with a tad more stability.
11. What is the last book you read?
AH: The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss
JM: The Wise Man’s Fear by Patrick Rothfuss. It’s the follow up book to The Name of the Wind in a killer new Fantasy series. What can I say. We’re nerds.
12. Is image a factor in music or is it a waste of time?
AH: Image doesn’t really matter if you are an amazing musician. Now that the internet is so readily available, image seems to be more important. I personally really like to get ready for a show… it puts me in the mood.
JM: I think it’s impossible to not have an “image”. If you try really hard to not have an image, that effort will inevitably become your image. I think with any profession where your putting yourself out there in a public way people will always assign some sort of image to you whether you want them to or not. Some of the greatest musicians like Tom Waits, and Bob Dylan were brilliant at creating images for themselves that have come to define them just as much as their music does. For us though we just try to do our thing and let our “image” be defined by how we operate as a band. And I think that’s probably how it is for most bands that don’t have a manager or PR person that’s trying super hard to control every detail of their image.
13. Any embarrassing moments on stage you would like to share?
AH: I can’t really remember specifically, but I know for sure that I have forgotten the words to songs and had to ask Jacob. I had to start the song a few times until I could finally get it! It was not worth crying over though….
JM: Our last time out on the East Coast we brought a fog machine and some really basic lights and we thought it was gonna be soooo cool. Our first show in NY we started our set and switched on the fog machine and the sound guy immediately ran up to the stage and frantically told us to shut it off or else it would trigger their sprinkler system and ruin all the equipment. We switched it off and nothing happened, but then we noticed that there were huge signs on the sides of the stage that said “ABSOLUTELY NO FOG MACHINES”. Suffice it to say we felt rather stupid.
14. Any favorite tour locations?
AH: We have had great times in Denver, CO; Harrisonburg, VA; Greensboro, NC; Cincinnati, OH; Columbus, OH; NY…..really anywhere that we have made friends along the way or were able to visit friends or family!!!!
15. Lastly, what is your present state of mind?
AH: Right now I am relaxed and calm. I feel extremely lucky and blessed to have had this opportunity to travel and play our music! Thanks for asking!!!!
JM: Ditto! Life is good.
_________________________________________________________________________
City of Music: Fort Wilson Riot from MPLS.TV on Vimeo.
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Fort Wilson Riot – Homies from Predator/Prey (2010)
Audio clip: Adobe Flash Player (version 9 or above) is required to play this audio clip. Download the latest version here. You also need to have JavaScript enabled in your browser.
Phantom Tails – All Good Things from Sounds of the Hunchback Whale (2010)