Random
Questions
with Tom Ackerman of The Kite Eating Tree
By Lenny Nero
Formed
in October of 2002 in the Los Angeles suburb of Silverlake,
The Kite-Eating Tree has seen their share of name
and lineup changes - all of them for the best. When
all was said and done, members of Sunday's Best, Liars
Inc, and The Get Set rounded out the post-punk outfit
- the brainchild of singer/guitarist Mike Hunter.
Now that indie label Cowboy Versus Sailor/Suburban
Home has released the band's much delayed, much anticipated
debut CD Method: Fail, Repeat...the band is poised
to break (he he). During a recent stop in Las Vegas,
guitar player Tom Ackerman was attacked with this
round of Smash’s Random Questions.
1. You, George W. Bush and Fred
Durst are stranded on a desert island together. You
guys are out of food, so it's time to make a sacrifice.
Seeing as you're the only one with any real talent,
it has been decided that you will live. Who do you
pick to kill and eat and why?
Well back in the day, the fat Fred Durst would be
the obvious choice. Nowadays it's a tough call. I
suspect both would be like eating lamb: very greasy...
2. Since you're from California, how do you feel about
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger?
It's truly embarrassing. However, I did just receive
a $400 rebate on my car registration right before
tour.
3. You used to play with indie-pop band Sunday's Best.
Do you have any clothes that you would consider your
Sunday's Best? And if so, what are they, and when
is the appropriate time to wear them?
I'm the ultimate Californian in that everything I
own is "casual." I have a couple pair of
dress shoes, vintage pants, and some shirts and ties,
because I was going to be an English teacher for a
while. I wear the stuff mostly to weddings...
4. What's the story behind the
name The Kite-Eating Tree?
Back before Hot Snakes and Drive Like Jehu, there
was a band called Pitchfork. They had a song called
"Burn Pigs, Burn" and the kite-eating tree
was a phrase from the song. People have pointed out
that it’s a Charlie Brown reference as well.
That's the story. Seems to be working because everybody
asks about the name...
5. Top 5 Albums of all time?
My influences for this band:
Pitchfork - Eucalyptus, Fugazi - Repeater, Quicksand
- Slip, Helmet - Strap It On, Jesus Lizard - Goat
6. Number one band, living or dead
that you'd kill to tour with?
Fugazi. It would be the greatest honor ever...
7. Method: Fail, Repeat... is the
title of your latest album. What exactly is Failing
and Repeating a method for? Madness perhaps?
I think title was Mike’s way of describing the
process it took for these songs to see the light of
day. This is his second band and some of the songs
are kind of old…he's been through several band
names and band members. The CD's final release has
been pretty cathartic for him.
8. Would you rather be considered
an emo band, and indie rock band, or a college rock
band?
We are an independent rock band. I would have said
emo or post-hardcore ten years ago, but those labels
now come with a pretty lame set of baggage.
9. Favorite Husker Du album?
The first one I bought was Warehouse: Songs and Stories
but my favorite came to be Flip Your Wig.
9 1/2. Better songwriter: Bob Mould
or Grant Hart?
Bob Mould by far.
10. People who get band logos tattooed
on their bodies: cool or creepy, and why?
You're asking a guy who has a tattoo of the Steely
Dan logo from Can't Buy A Thrill. I think it depends
on the band. The more random the better.
11. Better "kid who is a secret
agent" movie: Agent Cody Banks or Spy Kids?
War Games
12. Simpsons or Futurama?
Family Guy
13. Track 8 on your CD is
called "Hollywood Hates You." Who exactly
does Hollywood hate?
The discerning customer. The person who appreciates
subtlety. A person who thinks for themselves.
