20 Questions with…Our Brother The Native

Fat Cat have done it again. Seemingly finding an endless stream of great bands from the indie-pop of Frightened Rabbit to their latest act, Our Brother The Native, who inhabit some weird and wonderful middle ground between the gentle atmospherics of Mum and the thrash harshness of Russian Circles. We caught up with the tree protaganists who seemed to revel in our 20 Questions.

1. Describe your sound in 3 words.
(Chaz Knapp) – Josh, John Michael, Chaz.
(John-Michael Foss) – Eerie, loud. washy.
(Josh bertram) – Dense, internal, mistakes.
2. What was the first record you ever bought? And where did you buy it?
(Chaz Knapp) – Beethovens Ninth.
(John-Michael Foss) – “Disraeli Gears” by Cream at an outdoor flea market in up North Michigan.
(Josh Bertram) – John Lennon, Plastic Ono Band ‘Imagine’ 45, a record store in Chicago.
3. What’s the best cure for a hangover?
Chaz Knapp) – OBTN.
(John-Michael Foss) – Don’t drink enough to have a hangover.
(Josh Bertram) – Orange juice, a banana, green tea, hot shower, and lots of sleep.
4. What’s on your rider?
Chaz Knapp) – A friend.
(John-Michael Foss) – A sandwich platter with large bread so I dont have to keep folding it.
(Josh Bertram) – We never have had a rider, we need a booking agency first lol, but I would ask for Red Stripe.
5. How do you get ready for a live show?
(Chaz Knapp) – If I try to get ready for a show, I only get more nervous.
(John-Michael Foss) – Make myself feel like I’m melting.
(Josh Bertram) – Visualize everyone naked.
6. What’s your favourite song to play live?
(Chaz Knapp) – Untitled.
(John-Michael Foss) – Trees part 2.
(Josh Bertram) – Trees part 1.
7. What’s your guilty pleasure?
(Chaz Knapp) – Aaron Carter.
(John-Michael Foss) – Sleeping late?
(Josh Bertram) – Any song by Slim Thug, mainly ‘Like as Boss’.
8. Who would win in a fight, a stoat or a goat and why?
(Chaz Knapp) – Josh… He has facial hair like a goat. Goat.
(John-Michael Foss) – I guess a goat.
(Josh Bertram) – The goat, they have wonderful facial hair.
9. What was the last album you bought?
(Chaz Knapp) – “Live at Massey Hall” by Neil Young.
(John-Michael Foss) – “The Real Donovan” by Donovan.
(Josh Bertram) – Our friend’s band, 1876 – “Presents The Blessing” www.myspace.com/1876music.
10. If you could rid the world of one song – what would it be?
(Chaz Knapp) – John Michael Foss… “You are my lady, you are my baby.”
(John-Michael Foss) – Most songs made this year or last. Some are great.
(Josh Bertram) – The ‘Macarina’ or any Ricky Martin song.
11. Who would play you in a film based upon your life?
(Chaz Knapp) – Julia Roberts.
(John-Michael Foss) – Anthony Michael Hall circa The Breakfast Club.
(Josh Bertram) – Chuck Norris.
12. Dead or alive. What 5 acts would you have play with you at a festival?
(Chaz Knapp) – Aaron Carter, N.W.A, Billy Joel, Jackson 5, Young Favorites.
(John-Michael Foss) – In all seriousness; James Brown, Big Brother and the Holding Company, Johnny Cash, Talking Heads, Minor Threat.
(Josh Bertram) – Barry White, Charles Manson, “Thriller era” Michael Jackson, Backstreet Boys, Tupac.
13. If push comes to shove, what is your all-time favourite album?
(Chaz Knapp) – Radiohead OK Computer.
(John-Michael Foss) – Highway 61 Revisited by Bob Dylan
(Josh Bertram) – Xiu Xiu, Knife Play.
14. What’s your most memorable on the road story?
(Chaz Knapp) – Crystal Meth.
(John-Michael Foss) – HANDS DOWN DAYTON OHIO!
(Josh Bertram) – When Chaz made his porno tryout in Connecticut. YouTube it!
15. If your life flashed before your eyes, what would be the highlights?
(Chaz Knapp) – Josh, John Michael, Carlos and Crystal Meth.
(John-Michael Foss) – Wonderful beautiful things.
(Josh Bertram) – Definitly making music with these guys and all the shows and opportunities we have had.
16. What’s the best piece of advice someone has ever given you and did you take notice?
(Chaz Knapp) – My mother is always right.
(John-Michael Foss) – My Dad said, “You should take piano lessons.” And I did.
(Josh Bertram) – Any advice my Father has given me has done wonders.
17. If you had to leave a body part to science, what would it be?
(Chaz Knapp) – Pinky nail.
(John-Michael Foss) – Gallbladder.
(Josh Bertram) – Liver.
18. What’s the best book you’ve read and film you’ve seen in the last 6 months?
(Chaz Knapp) – Anthem by Ayn Rand and Fritz the Cat.
(John-Michael Foss) – “Tarantula” by Bob Dylan and Bordello of Blood.
(Josh Bertram) – Tristessa By Jack Kerouac
19. What three things could you not live without?
(Chaz Knapp) – John, Michael, Foss.
(John-Michael Foss) – Records, good friends, rugs.
(Josh Bertram) – Music, good women, and silence.
20. Tell us a fact about yourself we probably don’t already know
(Chaz Knapp) – I have a bodacious bod.
(John-Michael Foss) – I’m overweight.
(Josh Bertram) – I am obsessive compulsive and an intense clean freak.