(Part of The Weekly Check In series)
“Left to right: Todd Patrick, Josie Keefe, Dylan Edrich, BJ Rubin. I should also mention that that particular photo was taken next to our broken down van which we abandoned near the Mexican border.”
I think this is one of my favorite check in’s in awhile. Benjamin Rubin does some pretty amazing things like, being a producer at The Daily Show, putting out records, running an amazing music blog (that is unlike any other) and more. He knows more about music than I ever could and I love learning about it through him. He mentions how we met in the last question, so I’ll leave it to him. Make sure to follow his music recommends, they are spot on.
BTW: We’re not related but we share the same last name, both love all the same stuff, have glasses, and wear beards.
Rubin: What are you currently working on or just finished that you’re excited about?
BJ: I just celebrated the one year anniversary of my blog, Pukekos. It primarily focuses on rare and out of print music, old and recent, both by bands you’ve heard of and bands you haven’t. There is too much amazing art in the world that is being kept in private collections and I am doing my best to get it out into the world where it belongs.
To that end I have also started a record label called Dick Move. Every release will be in an edition of 100 and they will all be handmade. The first record (Screming Lov b/w We Go Wanderin’ by Knyfe Hyts) comes out on 4/20 and features a silk-screened cover with hand-written center labels. I want to make each record an event, so this one will only be available for sale to the public at the record release show (also on 4/20) at the Monster Island Basement in Brooklyn. I will be writing each person’s name on the sleeve as they purchase the record to further personalize it. For those of you who can’t make it the music and artwork will be made available for free on Pukekos for 100 hours (still on 4/20), in keeping with the limited theme of the label.
I am also lucky enough to have a pretty cool job as a producer on The Daily Show.
Rubin: Where have you traveled so far this month?
BJ: Recently traveled down to Austin for SXSW (specifically the shows thrown at Ms. Beas by Todd P.) The show there on Saturday night in particular was unbelievable — I found myself standing on stage watching No Age play to about 2000 people — almost all of which were completely losing their minds. The night before I found myself hallucinating (from lack of sleep) whilst watching Vivian Girls play to hundreds of people at 230am on a pedestrian bridge somewhere in Austin. Then I took a psychedelic vision quest to Mexico with Todd and our friends Josie and Dylan, but I think I will save that tale for another day. I will say though that Monterrey is beautiful in the spring, and if you are ever there you should absolutely go see a show at El Garage, one of the most beautiful clubs I have ever seen.
I also went to Belize in December, which I would absolutely recommend to anybody anywhere. We swam with sharks, climbed a Mayan temple, and relaxed on the beach. If that isn’t your bag you should probably go somewhere else.
Rubin: What’s your favorite music right now?
BJ: Where do I even start? There is so much good music going on these days, and I hope that all of you out there are taking as much advantage of it as I am. So far in 2009 I have been to 41 shows (out of only 107 days elapsed so far, not bad), although there are some bands I’ve seen a number of times (These Are Powers: 6, Wavves: 5, Woods: 5, Blank Dogs: 5, Crystal Stilts: 4).
Aside from those (mostly) Brooklyn based bands, there are a lot of great bands from all over the world right now. I have found myself most often listening to Teengirl Fantasy (Oberlin, OH), Haunted Fucking (London, England), Surf City (Auckland, New Zealand), Beaches (Melbourne, Australia), Gowns (Oakland, CA), Ganglians (Sacramento, CA), The Mayfair Set (Brooklyn, NY & Los Angeles, CA), Zola Jesus (Madison, WI), etc. I would describe them each at length but you could always just listen to the music yourself. Why bother with a secondary source when you have access to the primary?
There are some interesting people running some cool record labels right now too, my favorites being Woodsist, Upset The Rhythm, Not Not Fun, Captured Tracks, and Sacred Bones.
I always order direct from the bands and labels, and recommend that you do too!
Rubin: Best food you’ve had in your neighborhood lately or while you were traveling?
BJ: Am normally a vegetarian, but I eat meat when I travel as I have found that to be one of the best ways to learn about a culture. We were taken by Mexican hipsters to an amazing late night taco stand where we ate a meal that I will remember for the rest of my life. I had some sort of crazy tacos and am probably better off not knowing exactly what was in them as they were delicious.
Rubin: Anything else you want to mention?
BJ: Matt and I first met over brunch in Los Angeles last year at Auntie Em’s. We clicked instantly due to sharing a love for records and the same last name. We’ve managed to keep in touch despite the brief meeting and the long distance which I think says something about the kind of guy he is.
