Psymon Spine is New York Disco For Punks

Images by Pond Creative

Despite my appearance and the wrinkle in my forehead that has dug itself into my flesh by years and years of default-scowl, I enjoy going out; I enjoy dancing.

Psymon Spine is one of New York City’s most danceable bands. They fucking move. No wonder, then, we’ve booked them to open the Monster Children SXSW showcase presented by Sonny’s Porch. When looking for a band to commence our night of nights, we needed a heavy hitter with enough energy and an unmatched commitment to the craft, and Psymon Spine were at the top of that list. Their ability to combine aspects of punk with the compositional formality of yacht while wearing the glitter and glamour of disco and electro is masterful and, for an audience member, irresistible.

In excitement for their set in Austin this Wednesday, we spoke via the miracle of the internet to Noah Prebish, Peter Spears, and Michael Rudinski about their SXSW insane asylum, Outlander, and committing to the bit. Their answers have been composited with their permission apart from certain sections which require differentiation. 

You were just recording, huh?

We were making new songs in New Hampshire last week. We just got back and are slowly adapting to our real lives. 

When do you guys get to Texas? 

I think we get in on the 13th?

You arrive on show day?

Yeah, we’re going to already be on tour, so we’re just driving from Houston. We’ll be there, don’t worry.

So what, you’re not going to hang out? I booked you because you’re fun to be around, now I gotta hang out with these fuckin’ Australians?

Ah well that one night, we’ll have fun. Wait, no, we’re there until Friday, so we’ll hang don’t worry.

Have you been to SXSW before?

Yeah, we did like ten shows in five days.

So it was just terrible?

It sounded awful on paper but it was actually so sick. It was like bootcamp. We were all on an adrenaline rush just pounding them out. Now we’re old and cranky so we’re only doing three or so.

Everyone I talk to is like, ‘oh yeah, we play six shows in two days,’ and it sounds like a nightmare. How do you manage to stay sane?

We don’t. Coffee? Everyone’s doing it so because it feels like the norm, it’s not so bad. You and all the other bands are all wrapped up in it together. I also think that the adrenaline kicks in and then when we get home we feel the hit. We all get sick and are laid out, but when you’re in it it feels very exciting and hardcore. 

Is it like, you’re kind of crazy and you get put in this insane asylum and everyone’s as crazy as you so you’re like, ‘oh, my crazy is sort of normal this is just how it is,’ but then you get back from this insane asylum and you have PTSD?

I mean… that’s a pretty dark interpretation… but yeah sure. I like where your head’s at. Everyone’s the same level insane, so it’s kind of comforting, I guess. Playing two shows in one day in one city is still less work than working like a normal nine to five job. We go from a New York winter to hanging out in the sun between shows. At the end of the day, it’s pretty pleasant. 

Do you guys have any tips or recommendations for people who are going to be attending for the first time?

Oh, I have no idea what that’s like, I’d like to talk to them and learn what it’s like. I’ve never met someone who has attended. The thing that struck me was the amount of electric rental scooters down there and just seeing a lot of carnage late at night, so if you’re going to get one of those, I guess just be careful. Bring a helmet. 

When’s the last time you played a show?

November? It’s been quite a while. We had our first band practice a couple of nights ago and were like, ‘wow, it’s been a long time.’ But we are going to sound amazing, don’t even worry about it.

How’d that show go?

It was great. It was at Alphaville right after we wrapped up a tour. A bunch of our friends came through to the venue and playing in New York is super fun. The crowd is mostly our friends, and that helps us to not take ourselves too seriously. If we are playing in front of a crowd of strangers in the midwest, I can get into this crazy rock star persona, but when there are people there that I see at the cafe every morning, I can’t pretend to be larger than life, which is good.

I have seen you wear armor and face glitter on stage, what do you try to bring to your live presence through those aspects?

Well the armor was just Mike, but I don’t think he does that anymore. The armor weighs like eleven pounds, and when you first put it on it’s really nice, but when you start sweating it gets really really hot. Wearing slightly silly clothes or dressing more flamboyant than you would in real life definitely helps to get out of our heads a little bit, but we don’t have policies on that. If something comes up and it's funny to us, we just do it.

[Mike]: The problem is if we all have different costumes, we look a little like the village people. You have a guy who’s a knight, a guy who’s a road worker-

[Noah]: Village People who couldn’t decide on a century.

[Peter}: What’s that TV show with the time traveler that’s really sexual?

Doctor Who?

[Peter]: No, it’s a time traveler who goes to medieval times. I thought you guys were going to know what I was talking about immediately. 

This is a TV show?

[Peter]: Yeah, is it Outlander? Is that what Outlander is?

[Mike]: Sounds like some PBS shit. 

Hyper-sexual time traveler sounds like PBS shit?

[Noah]: Am I having a stroke? Nothing you guys have said in the last minute has made any sense to me.

Let’s get back on track. 

[Peter]: Outlander, I was right! 

[Noah]: What?

[Peter]: Our live show is Outlander-inspired.

[Mike]: What is happening?

[Noah]: You’ve made us all confused and horny, Peter. You’ve completely derailed this interview.

[Mike]: Like you always do.

So what do you look for in a good performance? 

I think people having a good time is important. People committing to the bit but not taking themselves too seriously. 

The bit?

Yeah, having the knowledge that inherently being in a band is kind of a silly thing to do. But you should take it seriously enough because people came to see you, it’s stupid to act like you don’t care about it because obviously we do care. You have to take the music seriously but not yourself, and when you see a band it’s pretty clear what they are about. 

Are there exceptions to the rule?

Maybe Prince. Yeah, Prince. I think that with us, we’re not virtuosic musicians. We are good at what we do and take it seriously, but it’s more about compositions, and because of that, it becomes less about showcasing oursevle- what was that sound?

[Mike]: I’m in a burger place.

He’s ketchuping his fries and shit while you’re giving this very sincere answer?

[Mike]: Guys I’m sorry, this is my lunch break. I’m hard at work while you’re comfortable at home. 

[Noah]: Some of us are freelancers, Michael. 

[Mike]: Yeah, and some of us are union, Noah. I’m blue collar. 

[Peter]: I’m making a pro-union song today, so I’m also doing something good for your cause.

[Mike]: Thank you.

What cause? He’s not in a union? 

[Noah]: No, he is.

[Mike]: I’m in a union as an art fabricator.

And you were saying earlier you might be fired for this tour?

[Noah]: People don’t like it when you join unions.

[Mike]: People don’t like it when you tour. I had to use all of my vacation days to do this tour.

Have you thought about unionizing within your band?

[Peter]: I would bust that shit instantly.

[Mike]: Peter’s a scab.

[Peter]: Nah alright, all we do is lose money so there’s no benefit to us unionizing.

[Noah]: Just to be clear, that is exactly what a boss would say to bust a union; aw, sorry, guys, we can’t afford it.

Alright, final question: anything you’d like to communicate to your audience before seeing you?

Not really. Hmm. I would say hydrate. Oh, have you seen that movie Heavy Weights? There’s that scene where they’re at a dance and no one’s dancing and the counselors are like this is so awkward, we should just start dancing. I would ask that everyone be the counselor. Be the person who isn’t afraid to move. The shows are way more fun when the crowd is having fun and dancing around, and we play better because we are having fun, and it cycles back and forth. Perpetual motion.