I recently got a request to write about a band called Nice Legs, three expat Americans based in Seoul, Seoul Korea. Instead of asking the boring boilerplate questions about influences, genre and all that mush, these questions, traded by e-mail one at a time, perhaps reflect what’s really going through the mind of a music journalist when asked to write about a band he or she has never heard of. Here’s how it went.
Taipei Times: So I spent two minutes watching part of one of your YouTube videos and, between messaging random people on Facebook, Line and Gmail chat, I skimmed your bio. From that, I can say you seem to be three white people, two male, one female, and living in Asia. Apparently you believe that cut-off skinny jeans are a fashion statement. So, um, why would anyone care about your band? I’m still trying to figure that part out.
Mark Lentz (Nice Legs bassist): Let’s just say it’s not about the skinny jeans. Nice Legs is about the way you bare your calves. And yeah, we are mostly white or whatever. The thing is, Asia has brought us together and we are infinitely grateful for that. We have this silly, amazing trio that wouldn’t have happened otherwise. Sometimes you need to be in other strange surroundings to get things moving. Burn some jet fuel, you know what I mean? We’ve had a great time playing a load of shows throughout South Korea and in Tokyo, and we’re coming to destroy Taipei with hugs and kisses. It’s really a big family and we can’t wait to meet all the random nephews that we haven’t met at last year’s New Year’s Party.
Photo courtesy of Douglas Vatour
TT: Hmm, that last sentence you wrote totally made no sense. Maybe at this point I should tell you that I’m mainly writing this because your friend asked me to through a Facebook message, which read, “hey dude, a band with three of my friends in it is coming to Taipei.” So there was a certain amount of embarrassment in refusing. It would be much easier to write about a band with a Wikipedia page, but the only choice for this weekend is Mr. Big (at Taipei International Convention Center tomorrow night), and I’m not really into pumping up Western pop stars milking their geriatric years in Asia. Anyway, your friend, the one who “suggested” I write about you, is a fairly personable guy, so perhaps he can bring 10 or 20 friends to your gig. A couple other people will go by accident, or because they have nothing better to do. So then, what opportunities for “fun” will these 20 or so people have while listening to your music, and why are they better off going to see Nice Legs than Mr. Big?
ML: I mean, you can’t really beat Mr. Big. They are the Citizen Kane of boring. I’m not sure that makes sense either. Speaking of Wikipedia pages, you wouldn’t mind writing ours would you? It shouldn’t take too long and all that clever wit of yours might have some real use. Hey, speaking of Nice Legs. Yeah, our shows are going to be great. Sometimes we are cute and other times we are really crazy. I will be so bold as to say we are the Battlestar Galactica of pop music. That also doesn’t make sense. By the way, the thought of someone “milking their geriatric” sounds really funny.
TT: Thanks for that generous offer to write your Wikipedia page. If I was to write it — and of course I won’t — I could reference this article and the whole thing would be really meta. Are you guys part of Generation Y? I’m starting to sense that you might be an art-rock band. Oh wait, your bio says dream-pop. What the hell is dream-pop? By the way, I need some hi-res photos.
Photo courtesy of Douglas Vatour
ML: I know that your deadline was yesterday and boy howdy did we miss it. My wife had to go through some emergency surgeries and email just wasn’t on my priority list. Sorry about that. My wife Mary will be fine though so at least that is good. Also we are still going to Taipei this weekend for tour. If you want to get in by all means, I can get you on the guest list to one of the shows!
TT: Thanks for the offer of guest list and glad your wife is well. But there are about 100 words left under our word-count cap, so this would be a good place to cut and paste some more info from your official bio. I’m going to go make coffee.
ML: I guess though we are just three gender non-specific dudes making fuzzy pop music. We do it for ourselves mostly but it just so happens that other people like it... sometimes. We’ve been called a lot of things, from “sounds boring, and that’s enough,” to my personal favorite, “pretty loud, we’ll kill the party.” Oh, and it is improv, so it isn’t always good! You are coming to the show right? I sold you on it by saying it isn’t always good. Yeah, I knew that would work.
■ Nice Legs play tonight at 9pm with Freckles (雀斑) and Japan’s Qu at Revolver, 1-2 Roosevelt Rd Sec 1, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路一段1-2號), NT$300. Tomorrow from 2pm as part of the 10-band showcase Volume 22: Chapter 3 at The Wall, B1, 200 Roosevelt Rd Sec 4, Taipei City (台北市羅斯福路四段200號B1) NT$1,000; and Sunday 9pm at Vicious Circle, 39, Lane 177, Dunhua S Rd Sec 1 (台北市敦化南路一段177巷39號), free.
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