Buzz Interview with Brian St. Pere

One of the most successful acts to emerge from the Champaign-Urbana music scene, Hum is still humming at full tilt, and they're returning Friday to give us a taste of the sound that helped place us on the musical map. Buzz spoke with Bryan St. Pere.

Lineup:
Jeff Dimpsey: Bass
Tim Lash: Guitar
Bryan St. Pere: Drums
Matt Talbott: Guitar

Fillet Show (around 1992, "Out of print...thank God")
Electra 2000 (1993)
You'd Prefer An Astronaut (1995)
Downward Is Heavenward (1998)

Buzz: How would you describe the Hum sound to someone who hasn't heard your music?

BSP: We're excessively loud. Some might say a bit too loud. Influences: My Bloody Valentine, The Clash, Goldeneye on Nintendo 64, Rush, Slint, The Simpsons, Failure, Tool, Dinosaur Jr.

Buzz: What are your impressions of the Champaign-Urbana music scene?

BSP: We've been playing in town for the last 8 years (yes, we're old-except Tim, he's not) and we've always had a terrific time at local clubs: The Blind Pig (R.I.P.), Mabels, Channing Murray, etc... The "scene" has always seemed very supportive and positive for local bands. Some really good music has been created here. Lately, it doesn't seem as though as many people are going out to see live music as they used to, but remember, I'm an old timer. When I was a kid, music fans would walk 40 miles through a hail storm.

Buzz: How you write your songs/what they are about?

BSP: Our songs usually start with guitar ideas. We fit bass and (most importantly) drums to these guitar parts, and then we try to fit these sections together in a way that doesn't sound ridiculous. It isn't as easy as it sounds, considering we have a hard time agreeing on what kind of pizza to order. Agreeing on what does/doesn't sound good is sometimes next to impossible. Lyrics come last, and the subject matter is pretty varied. I don't write 'em, but I think they're mostly about mushy stuff.

Buzz: What are some of your future hopes?

BSP: Make one more record.

Buzz: Most embarrassing/worst experience at a gig?

BSP: We played shirtless in Kalamazoo last February. If you know what we look like, you would understand why this experience qualifies as most embarrassing.

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