Mean Motor Scooter: One On Interview

One on One Interview with  Rebekah Elizabeth, organist for Mean Motor Scooter.

By Daniel Locke

Mean Motor Scooter is a kinda fuzzy, kinda surfy garage-rock band from Fort Worth, Texas. Founded in 2015 by singer and guitar player Sammy Kidd, drummer Jeffrey Friedman (both formerly of Endless Sky) and bassist Joe Tacke (formerly of Spookeasy), the band hit the ground running.

The trio played 31 shows in 2015 throughout Texas, including shows at the Dallas Music District Festival, with bands like Leopold and His Fiction and Aaron Behrens. Mean Motor Scooter released its self-titled EP in August of 2015, which was put out on a limited edition cassette by Dreamy Life Records. In 2016, the band continued the momentum, playing 48 shows, including three unofficial showcases for SXSW and Oaktopia, the Fort Worth Weekly Music Awards Festival, Fort Worth Rock Assembly V and legendary Dallas venue, Trees. In April, Mean Motor Scooter released the singles, “Naked Brunch” and “Such a Seducer,” which received a lot of positive local press and were mentioned in some Best of 2016 lists.

That same year, the Fort Worth Weekly awarded Mean Motor Scooter “Rock Band of the Year.” Mean Motor Scooter began recording their first full-length album, Hindu Flying Machine at Cloudland Recording Studio in Fort Worth, October 2016. During that time they we asked to record songs for both the Dreamy Life Records’ Group Therapy Vol. 4 compilation and the Fort Worth Weekly’s Frequencies Vol. 8, the Fort Worth Weekly Music Awards’ compilation. The group recorded “Mechanical Man” for Group Therapy Vol. 4 and “Surfing Pizza” for Frequencies Vol. 8. Both were released in 2017.

Mean Motor Scooter

Before finishing the recording of Hindu Flying Machine the trio decided it was time to bring in another member. Rebekah Elizabeth (I Happy Am) was added on the combo organ. Mean Motor Scooter played their 100th live show in July of 2017, at the newly opened Main at South Side. In June the band was awarded “E.P. of the Year,” “Band of the Year” and “Artist of the Year” by Fort Worth Weekly. Hindu Flying Machine will be released in October 2017 by Dirty Water Records USA and the band will be touring in November with The Darts and Escobar.

Band Members

Sammy Kidd – guitar/vox
Joe Tacke – bass
Rebekah Elizabeth – keys
Jeffrey Chase Friedman– drums

 

Unrated: How did you find each other? Tell me about the development of the band?
Rebekah Elizabeth: Sammy Kidd and Jeffrey Chase Friedman had been in a mostly acoustic rock band called Endless Sky. They ended up on a Handrawn Records compilation with Spookeasy, a band Joe Tacke was in at the time. Jeff and Joe became friends after that, and when Endless Sky decided to switch gears and play more loud Rock and Roll, they brought Joe in to play the bass. After a few years as a three piece, they decided to add a keyboard player. Joe and Jeff were both playing in my other band I Happy Am, and recommended me to Sammy as the fourth member. The rest is history.

How did you pick your name?
They picked the name from the movie “From Dusk Til Dawn.”

Tell me about your backgrounds?
I took piano lessons as a kid but never really considered myself a musician until recently. I always was more into cartooning and wrote a lot of poetry and plays. I started playing a little guitar when I felt like it would be cool to put my poetry to music, which ended up with me doing a lot more with music than anything else.

How do you describe your music?
I’d say surfy garage and psych rock with a lot of B movie influences. We’re all big film buffs. I think that’s what kind of distinguishes it from a lot of other rock bands, the lyrical content doesn’t stay surface level. Sammy puts a lot of stories and characters into the songs. Each time you listen to it, there’s something new you haven’t heard before.

What type of music did you listen to growing up?
I mainly grew up around classical music and musicals (which I still love). Rock operas were the first rock music I heard, and then I accidentally found the Beatles in Jr high when I was writing a puppet play which snowballed into discovering a lot of classic rock. I tried to be a sponge and play catch up on all the music from the 20th century and am still kind of working on that.

Who influences you and why?
Really any artist, (like Van Gogh for example), who works really hard without worrying too much about what others think. It’s much better to march to your own drum and do what fits for you instead of trying to cram yourself into a mold.

I see you play a long list of instruments and which do you prefer to play? In writing and on stage?
Well singing is my strength. I usually find the melodies that way first and then hum them into a recording and find out what the notes are later. It’s easy to pick them out on a linear instrument like the keys. But since I’m a singer that’s probably why the Theremin is my favorite instrument. All ear. It’s so unique and has a sassy little mind of its own. A little classy and a little weird.

What is the song “I am happy?” It is very cute.
Thank you! I think you’re thinking of “I Happy Am”, which is the name of my other band. We play indie rock music, kind of more avant-garde experimental. Mean Motor Scooter and I Happy Am have overlapping members, kind of a “sister band” situation.

Do you create the band poster?
We all pitch in- all of us have art and design experience and have each taken turns making gig flyers. Graphic design is my day job, which I’ve been able to utilize a lot for band-related collateral.

You have won a lot of awards.

Awards

“Rock” award, Fort Worth Weekly, 2016

“Artist of the Year” award, Fort Worth Weekly, 2017

“Band” award, Fort Worth Weekly, 2017

“EP of the Year” award, Fort Worth Weekly, 2017

Can you tell me how you won so many honors?
We work hard! Mean Motor Scooter has played 48 shows this year and are constantly trying to better ourselves and put out more material. There isn’t a day we aren’t doing something for the band and I guess it shows. We also have a very supportive home town with a flourishing music scene, and we couldn’t do it without everyone’s support.

You are from Fort Worth, TX. What is your favorite club there to play?
Lola’s Saloon has been my favorite for a while now. It feels nostalgic since it was one of the first bars I went to and have had a lot of good memories there. It’s loud and dark and I’ve consumed a lot of whiskey within those walls.

Your Facebook page says your music is garage rock/psych/post punk. What kind of feel does that combination of music, give you?
Excited! We’re loud and wake everyone up.

How did you get signed to the label?
The guys made a connection with the Darts earlier this year when they played a show together before I joined the band. Everyone hit it off really well and it seemed like our sound was a natural fit for the Dirty Water label.

Let’s talk about your new LP, Hindu Flying Machine, which came out October 13, 2017. How is it doing?
We’ve received a lot of positive reviews. It seems like we’ve been picking up a lot of fans in France especially.

Are you releasing any singles from it?
The 4th track, Sea Serpent, was dropped as a single first before we released the album as a whole. We have a few other surprises in the works for that song.

What made and model of instruments do you and your bandmates play?
I play a Whippany Pinto combo organ.
Jeff plays a 1958 Slingerland.
Sammy plays a Fender Mustang through a Fender Deville
Joe plays a Fender P Bass through a ‘79 Bassman 135

Any feeling about next year is the last year of the Van Warped tour?
I don’t really have any feelings about it, I’ve never been. It would have been cool to play it I guess.

What music fests would you like to play in?
Fortress Fest here in Fort Worth would be rad to play. I attended it this year and had a great time. Austin City Limits would be fun. Looks like we’ll be hitting up SX this year which I’m really looking forward to.

Tell us about traveling on the road?
I miss it already and it’s only been a month since our tour. I’ve always loved road trips and as long as we can pit stop back home for a bit, I’d be down to keep going. It feels like an adventure and we always have a lot of stories to tell afterword.

Are you thinking about doing the US for a tour?
Looks like a West Coast tour is already in the works. I want to go everywhere.

How would you explain your live performance?
Sweaty. We try to have a lot of energy. Honestly it’s hard not to have a lot of energy- the songs Sammy’s been writing will get you moving. I break my organ almost every show.

Any sponsors yet?
Not yet! That would be cool.

You would be prefect for Tiny Desk Concert?
Would we? That would be interesting, I’d be down to give that a try.

Who have you opened up for?
Leopold and his Fiction, Aaron Behrens and the Midnight Stroll, The Darts, Archie Powell and The Exports, Piñata Protest,

If someone was listening to you for the first time, what 3 videos or songs would you tell them to look/listen to and why?
Down Like a Dog, Such a Seducer, and Sea Serpent would be the three I’d recommend. One off each album to hear the variety and progress.

How do you see your band in the next 5 years?
I honestly don’t know what the next 5 years will hold- hopefully a lot more travel and a couple more albums and some great music videos. I’m curious to see how the sound will evolve.

Any guilty pleasures your fans would be surprise you listen to?
I listen to Frank Sinatra quite a bit. I swoon for swing.

What is on your phone for music now?
Besides the oldies, I’ve been digging the psych band Temples and a new glam rock band called UNI.

Have you ever done a NYE show?
I haven’t yet! I usually end up at a house party.

Anything in closing you would like to say?
I’m having the time of my life in Mean Motor Scooter. I’m thrilled they asked me to join the band. Excited for the next chapter.

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