Staring out from behind glass eyes and stale fur, mounted zebra and wildebeest heads hang eerily over the members of Economy Team as they pose uncomfortably in the creepy basement of a taxidermist. In what seems like the makings of a low-budget horror movie, the band members poke around the hundreds of preserved critters, finding hyenas, lemurs, and baboons to be photographed alongside. In the perfect place for their first band photo shoot, they each put an accordion on their lap and frown prettily.
"He [the taxidermist] completely opened up my mind on weirdoes," says guitarist and vocalist Ed Holnberg, who came up with the idea to visit the animal purgatory. "How does that guy meet women? 'Hi, I stuff animals, what do you do?'"
Darin Back
Idiosyncratic indie band Ecomomy Team, live from the taxidermists' office
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ECONOMY TEAM
Kiss and Fondle
self-released
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The other two members, bassist Ted Johnson and drummer Dylan Goudrt, both agree that it was one of the strangest things they've ever experienced—but after meeting these guys, that's somewhat hard to believe. Sitting in Holnberg's living room amongst a collection of Mexican wrestling masks and posters peeling off the walls, we discussed the band's oddities as they ate tropical-flavored Dots and smoked an endless supply of cigarettes.
Art high school buddies, the three guys have been playing together in various forms for six years, at one point under the name "the Moms." Their current gig, Economy Team, has been their focus for two years and they're finally releasing their full-length debut, Kiss and Fondle. Ask them what kind of music they play, and the answer is a little hazy.
"Emo math rock," says Johnson with a smirk as Holnberg begs me not to write it.
"I'd say we're an energy-technical-rock three-piece," Holnberg says.
"Donkey flavor," Goudrt chimes in.
"Or wolf rock," Holnberg adds, which he clarifies as "butt rock you can actually listen to."
Perhaps definition-inept, Economy Team have a sound that's a stellar combination of ravenous guitar with thoroughly thought-out bass lines and complementary percussion. After a listen of any length it's hard to believe only three sets of hands are able to make such a full sound. A tight-knit threesome, they leave no black holes and are continually keeping the listener's attention with embedded, jagged hooks.
Audible influences from '80s rock stream through the sometimes-sinister guitar riffs and Holnberg's flexible vocals, but as for influences, the band give due credit to dragons, lightning bolts, and space ships.
With a handful of perfectionist tendencies, the group members say they don't mind taking their time during the writing process (one song took six months to finish). Musicians since they were preschoolers, they took years of formal lessons that have influenced them to think on the technical side.
"We're really technical in our writing and that's why I think a lot of other musicians like our music. But we have fans ranging from old white men to young girls—we haven't found a specific fan group," Holnberg says, his wild blond hair tangled in strange forms on his head.
After the three have finished writing their parts, Holnberg ties up the song with his vocals, always keeping them slightly ambiguous and sketchy. Words poke out occasionally, but his lyrics aren't meant for sloppy sing-alongs. Holnberg prefers his lyrics to be a little mysterious; he tells stories with slurs and gruff whines.
"We don't even know what he's saying," Goudrt says, slouching back in the owl-decorated recliner, puffing on his cigarette, hiding behind his aviators. "Actually, I don't even know our song names."
Incorporating robots, monsters, and dinosaurs, Holnberg's lyrics are anything but serious and real. One song is a horror story about a man who kidnaps women and taxidermies them. The major melodies distract the listener from the severity, mocking with a false sense of security.
"I hate singing social metaphors and shit like that," he says. "On first listen you may like the song for how it sounds and then when you know what it's about, it puts you off slightly."
Like most young musicians, all of the guys would eventually like to leave their service-industry jobs behind and have self-sustaining musical careers. With a couple of established groupies to date, Economy Team is still looking for some roadies. Any interested parties have some tough requirements to fill.
"We're looking for the combination of a groupie and a roadie. A 'groudie,'" Johnson explains.
"Basically they have to be dirty, slutty, and move our equipment," Holnberg says.
Any interested parties should hit up their MySpace.
ECONOMY TEAM play a CD-release show with Military Special, Me and My Arrow, and Real Talk Radio on FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, at the UPTOWN BAR; 612.823.4719
