Everyone has that band in their life that makes them want to dance! Motion City Soundtrack is that band in my life. My first discovery of this band was their song ‘The Future Freaks Me Out’ a few years back. I was hooked from that moment on. I believe that it is impossible to be around this band and NOT be happy, especially at a live show. I mean, WOW! They put on such a fun show including handstands on tops on keyboards and Justin’s fun hair do. How do you not feel good?
I am so happy to be sharing this interview with you!!! So sit back, read and be happy!
Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you….”2o Questions” with Justin Pierre!
1. When did you first know that you had fallen in love with music?
It was probably in grade school. My earliest memories of seeking out music were around that age, listening to KDWB and WLOL during the day for the latest hits to record onto tape via my boombox and listening to Dr. Demento on Sunday nights for the absurdity of it all.
2. Top 5 favorite albums?
Always changing, but 5 solid ones in my opinion are:
Clouds Taste Metallic by The Flaming Lips
Alien Lanes by Guided By Voices
For Your Own Special Sweetheart by Jawbox
The Great Destroyer by Low
Indoor Living by Superchunk
3. When did you attend your first concert and who was it? Do you remember the way it made you feel?
12 or 13 I think. It was Guns N Roses with Soundgarden opening. It was pretty mind-blowing despite the fact that they showed up 4 hours late and I got in trouble for being out until 3 am on a school night.
4. Who would you consider your biggest musical influence (hero)?
Probably Tom Waits in terms of lyric writing. I love the way he uses words. I am not nearly as clever or interesting, but I am constantly and consistently amazed at the quality of his work.
5. Motion City Soundtrack never ceases to make me want to dance. And I am NOT a dancer. ha! If you had to choose a favorite MCS song, which would you choose and why? What is your favorite lyric from that song?
I dig Attractive Today a lot because it is concise. It tells a story quickly and gets out of the way.
I just want to FEEL attractive today.
6. If you could choose to be in any other band, other than Motion City Soundtrack (past or present), which band would you choose and why?
The Carpenters only because then I could listen to Karen’s amazing voice night after night. Nowadays, my two favorites are The Joy Formidable & Los Campesinos!
7. What band has been your favorite to tour with over the years? Any bands you hope to tour with in the future?
Loved opening for Blink 182, The Weakerthans, and The All-American Rejects. Really there are a lot of bands we’ve played with that were both amazing musically and great people. Never in my wildest dreams did I think we’d play shows with Sunny Day Real Estate. I would love to play shows with so many bands as well. The aforementioned Los Campesinos!, and The Joy Formidable among them.
8. So far in your music career, what would you consider you most favorite memory?
Probably playing the main stage at First Avenue in Minneapolis the first time. It was where I went to see shows as a kid. Everyone has that place wherever they grew up. That happens to be mine. Still get nervous every time I step on that stage.
9. If you had never ever picked up an instrument, or decided to sing, what do you believe you would of done with your life?
Ideally I’d be making movies, but that’s a lot harder to do than anyone imagines. Especially writing a decent script, not a great one, just a DECENT one. Been trying off and on to do that for nearly 2 decades.
10. What awesomeness is next for Motion City Soundtrack?
WARPED TOUR! Then finishing up writing album #6 and recording it!
11. If you were the headlining topic of a tabloid magazine, what would you like it to say about you?
He is as boring as he looks.
12. I know that many bands play pranks while out on the road. Do you have an epic Motion City Soundtrack prank story?
Nope. We’re too lazy to come up with elaborate pranks. Usually at the end of one of our tours we take everyone on the tour out to dinner. That’s our style.
13. What would you consider the best “fan story” since starting MCS?
I constantly get insanely personal messages from fans who say our music has helped them from committing suicide or helped them with the loss of their family members or any number of hardships. The people who write those messages will never know how much their words mean to me as I never intended to help anyone. I just wrote form the heart and somehow things I had to say struck a chord with people. So those are my favorite stories.
14. If you had the chance to live WITHIN a movie (costume & storyline), which movie would you choose? Why?
The City Of Lost Children. The French are just so far out.
15. If there was a movie based on your life, who would you choose to play the part as you? What genre of movie would it be?
I always though Jason Schwartzman would be a shoe in for me, but in the last few years everyone tells me I remind them of Johnny Galecki in The Big Bang Theory. I don’t see it, but I’ve always liked his work, especially in Don Roos films. Genre would be some sort of walk and talk type thing/Woody Allen/Ozu/Jamusch.
16. If you were able to acquire a super power, which power would you choose and what would you do with that power?
I would want to be able to traverse great distances in a very brief period of time so that I could see bands all over the world or visit Japan on the spur of the moment without having to buy a plane ticket.
17. Your hair pretty dang fun! What is the secret behind that rad hair-do?
I wash infrequently and horde product that is no longer available to the public.
18. What is one trend in music and/or fashion that you would like to see disappear?
I don’t know enough about trends to answer this question. I’m still living in the ’90’s.
19. If you could pick a song to be the soundtrack to your life at this moment, which song would you choose? And why?
At this moment I would choose: Plastic Cup by Low. My life has nothing to do with this song, but it is a great song and for the last few years I have been celebrating the ridiculousness of life and the absurdity of it all. I feel this song celebrates that fact as well.
20. What makes you come alive?
A good idea.
Thank you so much Justin for taking time from your busy tour life to do this interview. You are indeed one rad individual!
Everyone else, be sure to check out Motion City Soundtrack on this year’s Vans Warped Tour! If ya meet Justin, give him a high five for me, for being the epic guy he is!
Also, be sure and visit www.motioncitysoundtrack.com!
XOXO, Christie Gee
