Q:
Which has been the best venue that you have so far played at and
would you choose to play there regularly if given the chance?
A:
We played at The Great American Music Hall in February of this
year. It was definitely the most beautiful venue I've ever performed
at and would love to play there again soon.
Q:
Do you feel that bands from the 2000-2010 era - such as Madelia,
Paradise Boys, Veil Veil Vanish, Little Yellow Perfect, Sputterdoll,
etc have shaped the current scene locally, or perhaps looking back
further to the Beatnik and Hippie eras have bands such as Grateful
Dead made an influence that carries over into today?
A:
To be completely honest, I didn't move to the Bay Area until
2009 so I'm not familiar with any of those bands. Sorry!
I
don't think that the beatnik and hippie influence is still felt much
on the local band scene though it is what many people know SF for.
There are so many genres and flavors represented in the Bay Area
music scene that the bands that have shaped it are large and varied.
Q:
What differences do you see arising in the local music scene over the
years since you became a band?
A:
There is a lot of organization that is happening in the local
scene right now. Weekly "Balanced Breakfast" music industry
meet-ups in SF (on Thursdays) and Oakland (on Fridays, which I host)
have gotten a lot of motivated musicians in the same room
together.
The role that the tech sector has had in San
Francisco is quite a contentious issue as well. On the one hand,
there are many music start-ups being birthed in the Bay Area, which
leads to much innovation but many musicians and artists have become
priced out of being able to live in the Bay Area, which is a problem
for the future of the arts around here.
For
more on the tech concerns for music in the Bay Area:
http://www.sfweekly.com/sanfrancisco/exit-music-musicians-are-leaving-san-francisco-can-the-citys-legendary-scene-survive/Content?oid=2948791
For
more on Balanced Breakfast:
Oakland:
https://www.facebook.com/events/241406836043649/
SF:
https://www.facebook.com/events/276930039125888/
Q: How
did you choose the title 'Mr Kind' for your band?
A: We
changed our name from gig to gig for a few months. When it came time
for our first EP, we went through the band list and Mr. Kind was the
name that best resonated with us. It fits well with the make-up and
personality of the band, a bunch of nerdy, self-effacing, far from
rock star (except for Jon Devoto, a former rock star from his days in
the Matches) nice guys and we've grown into it more as time has
passed.
Q:
What is your band's latest plan/news?
A:
We've just released our third EP, Wide Awake | Open Hands. We like to
always be working on new music so we're currently writing and
rehearsing for our fourth EP, which we will begin recording in
October.
Q:
Finally, apart from yourselves, can you name two or three local bands
that you would recommend making a purchase from or attending their
show?
A:
Split Screens, Whiskerman, and Bells Atlas are sure to knock your
socks off.
