Interview: Tom Cruise Control

Are you ready for some tongue in cheek, care free diy pop? Tom Cruise Control has got you covered, this current 3 piece from Minneapolis, MN are gearing up for a road trip to Chicago to play one night only at the Subterranean as part of Bandwidth. I took the opportunity to ask Matt of TCC a few questions before they descend onto Chicago.

How long have you guys been together?
Justin and I--for about a year. TCC has been in existence since 2000 in many forms, but always under the name TCC. It's more of a collective than anything. Basically four guys at a time playing an evolution of six years of songs. (It doesn't stop. hard to define. also, it's not like we haven't sought stability the ENTIRE TIME.)

Where did it all begin?
We first started playing music in a drug lord's basement. It smelled great. We had a violinist who doubled on harmonica. We had a rhodes organ player. Matt played a child sized mexican Fender.

or you can believe the Alternate Version: The new form happened when Justin brought his giant body to Minneapolis from Kankakee, Illanoize! He brought with him a strong customer service sensibility that we had been lacking. Plus, he sings with me. And we get along.

How do you approach the songwriting process?
We both write a lot of music. We both sing around the house at all times. We write songs without instruments frequently. We dance our special dance first thing in the morning. Everything is a song. Even Justin's flu.

Do you have any major influences on your work?
Guided By Voices, Built To Spill, floor fans, Pedro The Lion, Pixies/Frank Black, Superbowl Shuffle (seriously though, LOCAL MINNEAPOLIS SCENE BACK TO '79!)

You've recently posted a new track on your myspace page, "Dont know why your pants are still on", featuring Chicago favorites Baby Teeth, what's the story behind it?
Peter Swalley (our old guitarist and drummer), myself (Justin) and Matt co-wrote a lot of this one. It was only a partially recorded song. We happened to meet Baby Teeth when they played the Turf Club in St. Paul. We took a shine to them and offered them a place to stay. Once they got over how creepy and crazy we are, they accepted. Then, what happened was, like, next, um....well, really though,....man, you had to be there......We played them the song in our home recording studio. Immediately Abe dug it and said, and I quote, "We're recording vocals on that tonite!" So we did it. Abe sang the whole thing improv in two impressive takes. Jim laid down sweet backing vocals that would make The Eagles cry. The title comes from gibberish that I tend to make when I sing without written lyrics. The whole thing was done within five hours of meeting them. They stayed for a couple days and we really had a fine time on the town. They met the Stinson's mom (Replacements dudes). She spilled coffee on Abe and Pete. We probably should have holed up in the stewjo and cut a whole wreckit!

What can an audience expect from your live show?
We got a sneaky feeling that this particular show is gonna start really low key and drunkenly ramp up to ape shit. We also may have some guests step in and free us up for some mic technique.

Who are you listening to these days?
Channels, Story of The Sea, Duplomacy, The Replacements, Cursive, Phil Collins, anything from the 80's.

Lightning ROUND!

Nicole Kidman or Katie Holmes?
Katie Holmes as a group, but one on one-Nicole Kidman.

Democrat or Republican?
Republicans set the bar pretty high, but Democrats dance better, so-Democrat.

Chevy or Ford?
Ford. Specifically Sterling flat bed trucks (which are manufactured by...Ford! Our favorite truck for hauling lumber.)

Thanks for you time guys. You do not want to miss Tom Cruise Control's set on Friday, November 17th @ the SubT, it will be one to remember!

Download:Tom Cruise Control (featuring Baby Teeth) - "Dunnowhyyrpantsrstillon!" - (MP3)