Birdstuff Chats To NATN
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"Super-computing technology has taken over the individual bits of the former Man Or Astroman? amalgamation. Now we are just a program running itself."
After a successful experiment in cloning this fall, an experiment that resulted in three versions of the band that could tour simultaneously, the real Astromen are back on the road with three new members... sort of.
"We really only have one new member. That is the EEVIAC Unit," Birdstuff said.
The other new additions to the band, Trace Reading and Blazar the Probe Handler, have always been with the band, according to Birdstuff. It's just that they have, until recently, been out of phase with our reality.
In keeping with the laws of the conservation of matter, however, adding Blazar and Trace Reading has caused the Astromen Dexter X and Star Crunch to phase out of our temporal plane.
"Trace and Blazar seamlessly fit into MOAM? You will not notice a difference, as they are merely mindless slaves to the EEVIAC Unit anyway," Birdstuff said.
In the tradition of Charles Babbage's Difference Engine, Megavac and WHOPPER from War Games, EEVIAC is a quantum leap forward in technology. An unrelenting engine of rock-and-roll, EEVIAC is actually three 9-foot monolithic units that control every action of the Astromen on stage and make their considerable presence known on the new album, EEVIAC: Operational Index And Reference Guide, Including Other Modern Computational Devices.
EEVIAC marks a new chapter for the band that long-time fans will notice right away. The first, and perhaps most shocking, is that there will be no more snack cakes thrown into the crowd by the band at live shows.
"There are two rules in super-computing," Birdstuff said. "Rule one: Never distrust a computer, and rule two: Never get chocolate in the mainframe."
According to Birdstuff, EEVIAC, like any new Astroman, has had to get used to life on the road.
"Often times, at the end of the show, EEVIAC experiences a complete computer-psychological-inner-connection-system breakdown."
Despite this, EEVIAC has persevered.
"EEVIAC is a raw sexual beast," Birdstuff said, "that is more than capable of cross-platforming your ass."
With its wild processing solos, artful modem hookups and a cold metallic exterior, EEVIAC has been known to attract many groupies after a show.
"EEVIAC never hooks up with anything smaller than a Power Mac," Birdstuff said of his new cerebral controller. "Although, once there was a very malfunctioned LC2, and EEVIAC has been known to get primal with a K-Pro."
Of course, all of this contrasts greatly with MOAM?'s own complete lack of human sexuality. As the clone project proved, MOAM? is actually a group of asexual aliens from outer space that have no ability to reproduce naturally.
"We are a very anatomically incorrect band. We are the Ken dolls of indie rock. The only thing raw about us is the carrots we keep in our pants to simulate your earth human sexual appendage," Birdstuff said.
On many levels EEVIAC represents a new phase for MOAM?. With two videos for this album, plans to start releasing songs in MP3 format from their web site and a remix album (on which it will collaborate with former Devo member Mark Mothersbaugh) due out later this year, the band is definitely moving forward.
MOAM? is always working hard to push the boundaries of Earth's limited technologies. Peering into the dark recesses of the galaxy, there is no telling where the band will move next. No obscure corner of science is safe, and no question can go unasked.
"With everything in the universe there is a secret message," Birdstuff said, "and that message is 'There is a secret message in everything.'"
As it pushes forward on the long road of rock-and-roll, MOAM? feel that it is at the top of its game, producing an album that pushed Earth rock-and-roll to the limit.
"We feel that as long as MOAM? is hungry and there's nothing on the plate, we are just going to have to keep on going out and getting it for ourselves," Birdstuff said. "After all, we have to fight against that which we don't like, fight for that which we do like and fight the good fight."
MIKE STIEL |