Eric Frederic of Wallpaper sits down in this week’s Hot Seat and answers our burning questions.
1. Tell us about your craziest touring experience.
We don’t have too many crazy touring experiences. People kind of assume that we are the most debaucherous couple of bros to hit the road since Page & Plant, but we’re a lot more like Hall & Oates behind the scenes. Maybe just a pair of Oateses. Without mustaches.
2. What type of college class would you’d most want to take and why?
Already took it. The History of Funk, a class taught at UC Berkeley by Ricky Vincent from KPFA local revolution radio. I thought this one class I took called “Astrobiology” was going to be the class of classes. Astrobiology = aliens. But it was lame. I was expecting District 9 type stuff and it was about whether or not water is on some moon of Jupiter. F’ that.
3. What city in America is the most fun to visit and why?
Philadelphia is fantastic. It reminds us of Oakland. People are so nice, the food is great, and the shows get wild.
4. What’s some of the best advice you were ever given?
To tone it down. Haven’t taken it yet, though.
5. What’s in heavy rotation in your MP3/CD player right now?
Jack Penate - Everything is New. Can’t replace the “n” with an “enya” on this keyboard, sorry. Not to say that I’m listening to Enya Pure Moods Enya or anything. The new Pearl Jam is actually great. Some obscure funk McNeal & Niles and the regular dosage of Fela Kuti, Too $hort, D’Angelo, George Clinton, DoMakeSayThink.
6. The last good book you read or TV show you’re addicted to.
The Office UK is the best thing to happen in television in my lifetime, thus far. That and Law & Order: SVU. Can’t mess with that.
7. What’s the first concert you ever saw - how was it?
Raffi, I was 4. I just remembered that they had a part where they all had glow in the dark gloves and the stage went black. This is like 1986. Didn’t Kanye just do that?
8. What are three items you can’t live without on tour?
Emergen-C, water, sleep. I guess sleep isn’t necessarily an item, but I can’t live without it. Can I add “fans” to the list? Without people coming to the shows, we’d probably axe ourselves in the desert. Touring can get pretty bummertown if the shows are all empty. And it can get pretty Awesometown when the dance floors are packed and people are pumped.
9. Who are your major musical influences?
George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, Fela Kuti & Tony Williams & the like, and S.F. Bay Area rap from Digital Underground to Too $hort to E-40 the list goes on and on. Even the new groups like Trunk Boiz.
10. Any random messages or tips you’d like to give to mtvU watchers?
Don’t assume that when you finish school you’ll be happy. Or that when you finish grad school you’ll be happy. Just be happy now and don’t take any old dude or old woman too seriously. Unless you’re learnin some realness from them. And watch out for Ricky Reed, Wallpaper’s singer. He’s been around the way. Not to be trusted.
