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On The Beat with Michelle Bacon
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Michelle Bacon is super rad. Seriously. I’m not just saying that because she’s my editor-in-chief. I’m saying it because it’s the truth and if you know her, then you know I’m not lying. This week I had the distinct pleasure of asking her a few questions, and I think she may have smiled…although, we’ll never know for sure because I interviewed her over e-mail. The Deli: It appears that some have made a sport of capturing a photo of your elusive smile… Michelle Bacon: There's a Facebook group called "I saw Michelle Bacon smile and no one believes me," started by a certain drummer who I won't call out, but I'll give you a hint: his name rhymes with Journey Moogan. Don't believe him. Ever since I was a kid, people would tell me I didn't smile enough. It turned me into a bitter and angree drummer, and then I got to hear later that I make the angriest drummer faces. So, in other words, no, I do not smile. Any so-called "proof" to the contrary is Photoshop. That is, unless I'm with my awesome 98-year-old grandma or a handful of other very special people. The Deli: Well, thanks for setting the record straight. Tell us, how are things since the release of Deco Auto's EP and what’s next for the band? Michelle: We played a bunch to support the EP release, which was a huge success. Thanks to Pat Tomek for recording us and for everyone who has been supporting us! Since then, we've taken a little break to enjoy our summers and I've been focused on other projects. We've got a couple shows coming up though, and we hope to hit the road when our schedules allow. We definitely want to go in the studio again, and have thrown around the idea of releasing a split 7-inch with a certain local band that will remain unnamed for now. I won't even tell you what their name rhymes with. The Deli: So, how did the drums find you? Michelle: Like any self-respecting Asian child, I played piano from when I was 4 until I was 12. Then I pretty much did nothing musical again until picking up the guitar in college. In maybe 2004, I decided that drums would be fun to try out (and hide behind so I wouldn't have to talk to anybody), so I bought a cheap crappy Pulse kit (it was awful). I got in my first band [on drums] in 2006, and ever since then it's become my passion, and my primary instrument. The Deli: Deco Auto and Drew Black & Dirty Electric are very different bands. Is your drumming approach in each of them also different? Michelle: Absolutely. In Deco, I try to keep a pretty tight, cohesive beat with no frills. Since we do the power pop trio thing, I stay within the structure of the song, but try to make my beats impactful and intense, Ringo style. With Dirty Electric, it's a totally different ballgame. Our sound is much heavier and much sexier, so it allows me to experiment a lot more with different styles. [Bassist] Terra Peal is doing these massive, sensual Queens of the Stone Age-type runs that really challenge me to lock in to her groove to drive a song home. Additionally, I hit harder, which makes me feel much older the day after a gig. The Deli: Obligatory question: favorite drummers? Michelle: Besides Phil Collins (laugh if you wish) and Stewart Copeland, one of the most melodic drummers ever, most of my favorites are your standard rock/jazz drummers that everyone loves. I was thinking recently about my favorite drummers in town though. There are several, but I love to watch the ones who play with a lot of passion and, of course, precision. Among them I think of Eric Melin (The Dead Girls), that Journey Moogan guy (see first question), Nan Turner (Schwervon!), Stephanie Williams (every band that I'm not in), Solomon Radke (Radkey), Amy Farrand, Lennon Bone (Ha Ha Tonka), Go-Go Ray... I could go on all day. The Deli: You also play bass with Dolls on Fire? Why are you and so many drummers also bass players? What's going on? Michelle: My theory is that we're all really greedy. I should note that I share drumming and bass duties with Mark Johnson in Dolls on Fire, so I like to think I'm extra greedy. As I mentioned earlier, I played guitar in the past and though I might be wrong, I always thought I had a good sense of rhythm. So since I already had the guitar foundation and somewhat know where to place rhythms in a song, I figured I'd try my hand at it. I'm probably mediocre... but I do have an awesome bass stance, which is really all that matters. The Deli: You're plenty busy making music and yet you somehow have the time and energy to be one of the most fervent supporters of the KC scene. Why are you so passionate about this scene? Michelle: There is just so much rich musical talent in and around this city. What's more, I feel like a lot of the musicians support each another. There's some genuinely great people in town that I'm really blessed to have gotten to know as friends and collaborators. When I was asked by Midwest Music Foundation to start The Deli, I was thrilled that I'd get the chance to promote as many local artists as I could as well as find out about other talent I didn't know was out here. Though it's a small contribution, I really want to do my part in continuing to make Kansas City more of an inclusive and significant musical community. Bands should be supporting each other, not competing with one another. Also, I want more people to know about what's going on in their town. It might sound cliché, but certain songs can seep right into your soul or make you shiver with how amazing they are. And you know what? There are local bands that move me like that. So, if you really love music, why not see what's going on in your backyard? Shell out under 10 bucks and go to a gig. If you like the band, buy their record. Wear their t-shirt. Tell your friends about them. Shake their hands and let them know you appreciate what they're doing. A little goes a long way. You wanna have your face melted? Then go out and see Michelle rock out with Drew Black and Dirty Electric this Saturday, August 18 at Davey’s with The Electric Lungs and Schwervon! And then catch her again, Saturday, September 1 with Deco Auto at Club 906, sharing the bill with The 1%, Molly Picture Club and The Hillary Watts Riot. Michelle will be the one not smiling. -Sergio Moreno
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