Girl at the Rock Shows

It was love at first listen when I heard “Unlimited” from Crab. The song was lush and beautiful with every beat feeling like a whole new world or journey to explore. It captivated me and, even after a couple of listens to the track, I felt like I could not figure this band out. I couldn’t get a read on the backgrounds of the members through the music and didn’t really feel like I knew how to accurately describe this song or this band so, when given the opportunity to ask them some questions, I jumped on it.

Pick between It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia, The Office, or Parks & Rec

David: Always Sunny

Now that you’ve picked, please assign each band member as a character from said show

Paul: David is Mac..

Captain: Paul is Dennis

Chuck: Chris is Frank, Cap is Charlie

Chris: Chuck is Dee by default, or Rickety Cricket

If you could have dinner with any musician, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

David: Beethoven so you wouldn’t have to talk much

Captain: Either Captain Beefhart or Levon Helm. I just wanna ask Beefheart crazy ass question, they both seem like cool guys

Paul: Buckethead, but he probably wouldn’t talk much so probably Jimi Hendrix.

Have you ever been able to finish a Rubik’s Cube?

Paul: Resounding no from everyone, that’s why we’re in a band

What’s the worst concert you’ve ever been to and why?

Chris: When I was 13 I went to a “metal festival” at the Nassau Colleseum in Long Island. My dad took me and the second we got to the parking lot, it became immediatly clear this is not the kind of show you go with your immigrant father to. The announcer got on stage and said “Whats up fuckers” and my dad immediatley told me we’re leaving. I didn’t get to see a single band.

Everyone says that every crowd is their favorite but, what city has the best audience and why is it Minneapolis?

Chris: We can’t decide so our top 3 are Philadelphia, DC, and Boston. All three places have incredible music communities and everybody is so nice, we’ve had some of our most memorable shows at each of these places.  Haven’t played in Minneapolis but it’s definitley a given that that’s the best crowd and city on EARTH

What’s your go-to purchase at a gas station (outside of gas) when on a road trip?

Chuck: Cigarettes

Paul: Water, Jerky, Peanut M&Ms

Captain: Strawberry Shortcake Good humor Bar

How would you describe your music to your grandparents (or parents if you prefer)?

David: Loud

Paul: A river of electic deep sea fish

Chuck: Eclectic, yet returns to a groud base

If you could compare yourself to a species of crab, what species would it be and why?

Paul: Hermit Crab because I stay in the house

David: Those little red crab that lives in the galapagos. They’re invasive and they fuck shit up, like us

Chuck: I’d be a chessapeak blue crab because were in the chessapeake bay right now writing

music

Captain: Horseshoe Crab because I am immortal

Chris: Fiddler Crab because I’m heavy handed. It’s like a crab with a sword

Favorite lyrics of all time?

Paul: Everytime I have a birthday I’m thinking God love me- B.O.R by Lil B

Chris: If you moved to LA we could all go, we could live in a little bungelow. I could still keep my job in Washington and set world records on the phone. -5ft7 by Tonnstartsbahndt

Chuck: Were on a road to nowhere come on inside. Taking that ride to nowhere we’ll take that ride. Road to Nowhere Talking Heads

David: My rhymes are so potent that in this small segment I made all of the ladies in the area all pregnant- Rhymenocerous vs Hiphoppopatamus by Flight of the Concords

Captain: You wont hear my song on the radio, new sounds all the rage. But you can always find me in a smokey bar with bad sound and a dim lit stage-Life ain’t fair and the world is mean by Sturgill Simpson 

If you were to rob a bank, what would be the song playing in the getaway car as you escape?  

Captain: Ride the Skies by Lightning Bolt

What’s the best concert you’ve ever been to?

Cap/Chris: Godspeed You! Black Emperor at the Knockdown Center

What’s your favorite thing to do outside?

Chuck: Go birding with David

David: Go birding with Chuck

What’s your favorite method of listening to music?

Captain: Streaming as loud as possible

Paul: The car with the windows down

What’s one thing I should know before listening to “Unlimited”?

Chris: This song marks the beginning of a stylistic shift on our end, moving into more lush and textured instrumentals as well as things like guest vocalists (shoutout Kasey). Pushing ourselves creatively to make something we genuinely deem as beautiful. We spent almost a year fine tuning this track, and we’re excited to share it with the world

Who would you say your biggest influence(s) was when writing this song?

Paul: I was sitting my old apartment on Halsey Street, and I just turned all my pedals on and wrote the riff that wound up becoming the main riff. I wasn’t thinking of any band or person in mind.

David: I was listening to alot of Dire Straits when Paul showed us the riff. The drum part is ripped off of Dire Straits’ Sultans of Swing

Chuck: The bass part was inspired by Suburbs by Arcade Fire

If this song were to be covered by an old school composer (i.e. Beethoven, Mozart, etc.), who would you hope it was?

Chuck: Brahms, he’s a moody guy

Paul: Richard Strauss, I love his dense string arrangements

Where were you when you wrote “Unlimited”?

Paul: I was sitting my old apartment on Halsey Street, and then I went to Chris’ apartment and we laid out the structure and made it a “song”

There’s an undeniable sense of texture throughout this song– what fabric would you associate with “Unlimited”?

Paul: An old blue and white thick wool blanket.

Captain: A large pendleton Wool blanket

Right now, this is a standalone single, can we expect some more music soon?

Chris: Yes, very soon!

Is there anything else you want to tell the world?

Crab: Magic is Real

I agree– Magic is real and Crab is magic meaning Crab is real. Okay, that’s a stretch there. I’ll be honest, I wasn’t expecting to have as much fun with this little interview as I did. Don’t get me wrong, I could tell from “Unlimited” that this band was full of lovely individuals but I had it in my mind that these guys were serious musicians and wouldn’t want to entertain my quirky questions. I was so wrong and doing this with the band definitely shone a new light on Crab.

As they mentioned, although “Unlimited” is a standalone single, we can be expecting some new music very soon so make sure to throw this band a follow on their socials and keep your eyes (and ears) peeled!

Crab on Instagram

Shameless Self Promotion:

Join My Patreon Here!

Buy Me a Coffee (Seriously!)

Check out my playlist HERE!