Fresno Famous

How did pidgeon meet?

Micah: Over a bag of stale bread.

Jonathan: We did't really meet. We is therfore I am.

Val: We were all friends or friends of friends. Mikey was our biggest fan for a long time before he joined up. He might still be actually.......

Troy: I met Micah through Eric, we jamed at my grandmothers house, and then met John to form UNB

Where and when was your first gig?

Micah: Personally? Mission Records, i think. As a band, maybe...Bindlestiffs? Noise pop?

Jonathan: ?

Val: Pinoisepop @ Bindlestiff's circa mid 2001.

What's this SPIN magazine story about? Did it change anything for you guys?

Micah: It's about how we're not special or unique in anyway except for one song that was totally intended as a pixies tribute.

Jonathan: It said's we are twee? are you tweeyYY?

Val: I wouldn't call it a story. It was more like a sentence.

Who do you think is your biggest fan?

Micah: Val.

Jonathan: That guy in the army

Val: That guy in the army = David Madison. His pidgeon devotion is astounding and he's a shining example of a good person.

Troy: Brian

What other groups or musicians most influenced your sound?

Micah: Apparently we sound just like Blond Redhead even though none of us actually actively listen to them. I liked the first record and the record with Vern from Unwound on it. Then they got too pretentious and boring even for me (and I'm really prestentios and boring). They make me want to listen to Sonic Youth. So I guess, to answer your question, Hickey, Sonic Youth, Pixies, Rudimentary Peni, Nirvana, Nirvana, Nirvana, A Minor Forest, Madness, The Cure(s), Nirvana, Bela Bartok.

Jonathan: Nirvana

Val: Our influences are so diverse it's insane!! Just the other day, troy was saying we needed to steer Pidgeon towards dance music. He loves dance music. I like really lame singalong music for the most part, but also appreciate Deftones and am currently obsessed with a song called "Dine in the Crossfire" by Rudiments. Mikey has to listen to Radio Disney in the car because that's all he receives. Jonathan likes metal. You already know about micah.

Where did you record "From Gutter with Love"?

Micah: Up some stairs from a gutter in Oakland.

Jonathan: House o faith oaktown...

Val: ...with the legendary Bart Thurber.

How do you like [record label] Absolutely Kosher?

Micah: I like him. He's cuddly and he's not afraid to kiss me on the cheek or slap me on the ass occasionally. You need that in a label. I'm not sure he really understands advertizing.

Jonathan: Hate it.

Val: Cory is so freakin jolly and pleasant; we really didn't have much to worry about when we signed the contract. I would totally trust that guy with my guinea pigs.

Troy: Cory has opened up plenty o' doors for us.

Who's your favorite labelmate?

Micah: Live? The Dead Science. All must see them. Recorded? Rob Crow. Greatest Art Popper Ever, don't tell him I said so. Honerable Mention? Wrens. Charles is very nice.

Jonathan: Slayer

Val: Rob Crow, Pinback to be specific. I had a serious musical crush on that guy - like a crush based solely on musical output. I also really like the Wrens and The Dead Science.

Troy: Rob Crow

How was playing CMJ?

Micah: Good, I drank free beers but tipped everytime so that when I ran out of drink tickets the bartender just kept on giving me free beers. Freaking rad. And they wrote about us in the New York Times. And Rob Crow gave me a vitamin C tablet thingy. And it was good. Oh, and the Wrens broke the celing.

Jonathan: I met rob crow.

Val: As did I. CMJ was OK. If it weren't for the NY Times article, it would've been a lovely waste of over $2,000.

Troy: Great! Got to meet Rob Crow

What was the best place you ate at in NY?

Micah: The food in New York was fucking terrible. Everything was retarded expensive and tasted like shit. Worst Japanese food ever. I know i'm spoiled cuz i live in SF where even the cheap places have a certain standard of excellence to live up to, but come on. New York's a big city. Val bought a fifteen dollar french noodle dish that tasted like bad SF chow mein. Best food in New York was a tiny little pizza place near our hotel that made mean chicken parmesan sandwhiches. And Togo's, which is terrible but it beat third place out by a mile.

Jonathan: New York has lots of pizza.

Val: Hot Hero Pizza on E.49th b/t Lexington and 3rd (same as Troy's)

Troy: The pizza place under the hotel

What is you favorite place to eat in SF?

Micah: That is an impossible question to answer. I like food.

Jonathan: Fav place to eat is that Ocean Taco place.

Val: La Mediterranee, but in the Bay Area, my ultimate favorite is: La Taqueria de Amigos in San Mateo.

Troy: The Chinese/Vietnamese place on 4th and Geary.

Pidgeon will be performing this Friday in Fresno at Jon Jon's. For more information about the band check out www.pidgeonsf.com.