March 10th, 2009
Fill In The Blanks: Mi Ami
San Francisco trio Mi Ami — born out of the ashes of the experimental D.C. punk band Black Eyes — comes to Johnny Brenda’s tomorrow night along with local faves Pissed Jeans. Mi Ami offers a sort of noise-punk/No Wave that’s sometimes flailing and abrasive, and other times heady and atmospheric, sometimes finding a righteous groove with tribal-style percussion. We caught up with singer-guitarist Daniel Martin-McCormick today to play “Fill in the Blanks”:
The last time I was in Philadelphia I: Played a show and two of the other bands’ moms were there and they had a contest to see which mom was drunker.
My favorite thing about Philadelphia is: That fucking South Street and the pizza there, that’s the shit. That’s like the shitty party street. That’s my favorite part of Philly.
Our show is not a success unless: It’s loud.
People who have never seen us live before can expect: That it will be loud.
The one thing that must be provided for me backstage is: A functioning toilet.
The strangest thing someone has shouted at me while I was performing was: After a song this kid said, “That was like having an orgasm” and it was really uncomfortable. I was like, “Oh, okay, congratulations.”
The best thing about being in a band is: Playing music.
The worst thing about being in a band is: Having to play music when there’s no one at the show.
My most treasured possession is: My guitar.
The best advice I ever got about making music was: “Get a shitty job.” I went to school for classical music and everybody there was talking all ths theory shit, and this woman came in to talk and she was like, “The best thing you can do is get a shitty job and deal with it, and then you’ll play better.” I’ve got three of them– I’m a sound man, and I work at a gardening store doing data entry, and sometimes I fill in at a video store. I like all of them in some respects, but they’re jobs. It’s not like you go to work there and use your intellect.
The one goal I have for this band is: To make the show tonight.
The band I most hate being compared to is: Blood Brothers. I hate that shit.
The band I really don’t mind being compared to is: Band of Gypsies.
I first realized I was musically inclined when: I read [Henry] Rollins’ Get in the Van and he talked about having a cup of piss thrown on him in England and how much it sucked, but then I was like, that still sounds like a sweet life.
The oddest thing a fan has ever asked me is: One time somebody asked permission to use a screwdriver to play their guitar because they had seen me do it and they didn’t want me to think they were copying me. I said it was okay.
The dumbest thing a journalist has ever asked me is: What are your influences?
Ten years from now I hope to be: Alive.
Mi Ami plays Johnny Brenda’s on Wednesday, March 11th at 9pm. Tickets are $10.
