On July 8th 2011 eMusic did a live Twitter Q&A with the band, where the fans got to ask questions through eMusic. The question was submitted beforehand by tweets to eMusic with the “#eMusicMMJ” hashtag. The transcript can also be found here.
Keywords: It Beats 4 U, Off the Record, Patrick Hallahan,
From MMJ fan @bwshoaf: Favorite albums so far this year?
Floating Action Desert Etiquette, Washed Out Within and Without, Krallice Diotima, Centro-Matic Candidate Waltz & self-titled albums from Bon Iver, Yuck & Kvelertak
Fan @erikweber asks: Do you ever plan on doing an acoustic tour?
Maybe a campfire acoustic tour where the band wakes from their sleeping bags, roasts marshmallows for the crowd all the while accompanied by a symphony of trained crickets, hoo-ing owls & snoring beagles. Bring yer own log seat ‘n blanket.
From @meeler_time: What was the writing process behind “It Beats 4 U”? Did the guitar or drum part come first?
Jim brought the guitar batter in first to Patrick and me who cooked up the drum ‘n bass together Carl ‘n Bo then tended the oven, eagerly waiting to add the frosting and tasty fruits. Is it time for cake?
User @AKAdevondra wants to know: what are your favorite places to visit in the US?
Snoqualmie Falls, Shake Shack in Madison Sq Park, Oregon coast, Atlanta Botanical Garden, all 24,264 Subway locations in the US. Also an awkward 20 min trip up & down the St. Louis Arch in the innards of a washing machine w/a family I’ve never met before.
Fan @theycallmebum: How are setlists devised? Have the T5 shows impacted current setlists? Will you please play more from At Dawn?
Yeppers on them T5 shows. Some of those oldies were played for the first time & we fell back in love with a lot of ‘em, This year we’ve consciously been mixing things up by slipping those tunes into the set lists. Including a bunch from At Dawn ;)
From @drock4048: Is there any connection with the theme song to Hawaii 5-0 and “Off the Record”?
The main riffs are played on the electric geetar and both were covered by Sammy Davis Jr.
From @Jack_Sparks: Having played fests of all sizes this summer do you approach a ‘Roo with 80k different than a smaller one like Mt. Jam?
We’ll tailor the set to match the feel of the fests & crowd & time of day. Soft ‘n sweet or dance party or brutality bonus But wherever we be we strive to provide you with the same quality live experience you’ve come to expect. Our guarantee since ’98.
From MMJ fan @jenniferlsutton: What are the backward lyrics in off the record?
It’s the recipe for supreme happiness & everlasting bliss as presented to you, the listener, in a backwards mumbled manner. Can’t reveal our secret recipe, but two key ingredients are red ripe strawberries & Lion-O from the Thundercats
From @CMdawn: How is it decided who plays which lead, intro etc btw Jim and Carl/Is it time for Tom to unleash a wicked bass solo?
Multi-tasking onstage is dangerous! If Jim gotsta sing Carl handles da intro. Solos b decided by intense day long games of HORSE. Also, there’s never an appropriate time for a wicked bass solo. The exception being Metallica’s “(Anesthesia) Pulling Teeth”
From @Bert348: How does MMJ feel about being called one of greatest LIVE rock bands in the history of music?
We never have and never will cover the songs of legendary alt rock band LIVE. Ok, ONE time we played “Lightning Crashes”. But it was at my cousin’s bday party. It’s his favoritest song. And he made us all wear bald caps. And cry while we ate the cake.
MMJ Fan @Ben_Heine asks: You guys want to have dinner at my parent’s house when you’re in Tuscaloosa? Moms a good cook
Oh oh oh! That’s awfully kind of you. What’s on the menu?! FYI: We will require space for two RV sized hovercraft. We’ll send along our rider soon, which includes a bucket of circus peanuts (shelled!) & a tub of King Cobra
From @ALifeOnShuffle: What was your favorite part about playing/experiencing Wakarusa?
Midnite ride on the giant ferris wheel, watching Mega Man dance above the crowd during the set. Also, the octopus was very scary.
Fan @johnnYYacMMJfan: Describe the role of the Omnichord, from songwriting and demos, to recording and performance. When did you discover the Omnichord?
It is the Ouija board of musical instruments, allowing us to tap into the collective conscious past, present and the to-be. To harness the power cosmic and release its life-sustaining, positive energy in a series of joyful beeps and bloops .We found it buried in a tin box, adorned with jewels from an ancient BeDazzler, deep in the Catskill mountains. We fought trolls.
From @dmg541: How has your relationship w Erykah Badu evolved since your cover of “Tyrone?” Any chance for a collaboration track?
Twas a time when we adored her from afar. And now we adore her from afar but sometimes are blessed to share the stage w/her. We’d LOVE to collaborate on a tune somewhere down the road!
From @RunningOZ: Recent works by MMJ & other bands run 40-45 minutes I believe that’s the perfect amount of listening time, what say you?
I’m sorry there was this funny video on YouTube of a cat crying after being told his princess was in another castle Did you ask me something? Ohhhh, 40-45 min records. Yeah I just download the singles
Fan @thebonemline: what does it feel like for each of you during the solo of “One Big Holiday” when you play it live?
I get the sensation I’m in the Swiss Alps skiing, just me and a giant pink teddy bear, coasting down the mountain eating gumdrops.
Fan @marcoa_64: what inspired you to write something as gorgeous and soulful as the last verse of “Steam Engine”?
It was 2002 in Shelbyville, KY. After a long day of rehearsal we went to visit our pal, Riny, at the local dog pound They had just picked up the cutest lil’ litter of puppies from an old tobacco barn. And there was this one, with an adorable Superman curl on top his head. He looked up at us with his big sorrowful eyes. And barked “the fact that my hearts beating.. is all the proof you need”. And we just had to take him back to the studio. His name was Mahgeetah.
MMJ fan @mclunch asks: Patrick, who are your biggest influences on the drums?
Art Blakey, John Bonham, Steve Gadd, Bruce Morrow…the list goes on and on.
Fan @flewintheair: Do Jim J.’s magical powers come from his beard? If so, I am not shaving tomorrow to give it a try.
I will answer the first question as Jm J. Bullock. Being Jm J. Bullock, I have no beard, but still have plenty of magical powers. I do, however, know plenty of dudes with beards who also have magical powers. Go figure.
Lastly, MMJ fan @spacejockey101 wants to know: Jim, if you had to take one album on a desert island, which one?
Would take the album Desert Etiquette by the band Floating Action
