MacLean gathers some of indie rock’s best for a show soundtrack:
“Some great bands have graciously lent permission to use their music while we tell the story of Gen and Hugo. I’m lucky and happy I can incorporate music from some old friends in my show. Take a trip down memory lane and listen to some garage rock, indie rock, and electroclash from the nineties and early aughts in This Will Be Our Year!”
First up
The Von Bondies
The Von Bondies were a garage rock quartet from Detroit led by frontman Jason Stollsteimer. They had a big hit with their single C’mon C’mon which was then used as the theme song to Denis Leary’s TV show Rescue Me.
@lilstollsteimer and @aliontheair met either backstage at his show or at her TV studio, taping an interview. Either way, they hit it off and made a pact that one day they’d swap jobs and Jason would do stand up comedy and Ali would be an indie rock idol.
Art Brut
Art Brut is an indie rock band from London led by Eddie Argos, a self-professed ex-goth obsessed with Jonathan Richman.
The band had many hits such as Emily Kane, Formed A Band, and My Little Brother. Their 2008 album was produced by another TWBOY music friend, Frank Black.
Eddie and Ali met on the Sunset Strip when she interviewed him for Music+ TV. They then caroused in clubs, spanning from Echo Park to Camden Lock.
The Mooney Suzuki
This dynamic and popular garage rock band, named for the members of Can, have toured with The Strokes, The Hives, The White Stripes, and Kings Of Leon.
Front man @sammyjamesjunior is a Grammy winning producer and composer who penned the theme song to the film @SchoolofRock starring @jackblack, as well as songs for Tropic Thunder and dozens of other projects. He also collaborated with @cyndilauper on the Tony winning musical @kinkybootsbway.
Ali and Sammy met backstage at Lollapalooza…or maybe at Mercury Lounge for @tiswas_nyc…things are fuzzy okay? But no matter they both still share their love for rock, film, and theater.
Les Savy Fav
Les Savy Fav founded in 1995, is considered one of the godfather bands of indie rock n roll. Bassist and Co-founder Syd Butler started the @frenchkissrecords label with the goal in mind to release their own records, but went on to work with acts such as Passion Pit, @theholdsteady and, @localnatives.
Syd and Ali were introduced through her old Mr. Show boss @davidcrossofficial. Syd then went on to produce Ali’s web series Law Of The Land, a spoof on Homeland, for his French Kiss Records TV. Syd still works in comedy and music as part of the house band for Late Night with Seth Meyers.
The Pattern
The Pattern was an American punk garage rock band, based in Oakland, California, fronted by Christopher Appelgren. Shepard Fairey directed their first video, and during their reign they appeared with the @the.donnas, @thehives, @xthebandofficial, @thestrokes, @themooneysuzuki, and @yeahyeahyeahs.
Christoper and Ali met in Austin in the 90s when he was attending SxSW for Lookout Records and she was shooting a film. They remained friends and would catch up with each other at music festivals and dive bars, discussing music, and their favorite author, Edith Wharton.
Frank Black
Closing out the list with a titan – Frank Black! aka Black Francis, aka Charles Thompson, the frontman for the seminal band The Pixies. And a working class hero for indie rockers.
David Bowie described The Pixies as a “psychotic Beatles” and credits Thompson with changing the format of harder rock.
Charles and Ali met when she was a teen at a Rhode Island Pixies show when he checked on her after she got knocked around in the mosh pit. Cut to 20 years later they performed comedy sketches together at the nightclub/performance venue Largo.
These days they mostly chat about chickens and carrot cake.
Ali MacLean 