Gravitation Towards Noise

photo of Bzybodies from MySpace

If anything, recent sounds in local punk and rock music have run kicking and screaming (literally) from anything too tidy or precious. Punk was never generally considered ‘tidy’ before, but certain qualities have popped up to add a niceness to a tougher, messy-on-purpose genre (harmonizing vocals, prominent melodic bass lines, precise drumming, etc.). One of the main contenders to go against this with a prominently noisy, spazzed and spaced out sound with an extra dose of weird on top has been local seven-piece “acid-damaged punk” (so says The Shepherd Express) group Bzybodies.

The band has already played with many locals of the same mind-set (Death Dream, Drugs Dragons, Cry Coyote, etc.) since their inception. This weekend, the Bzybodies get ready to add more to that list, playing a show with the raucous IfIHadAHiFi on Sunday, April 25th at the Y-Not III. Bzybodies guitarist Nathan Riddle gives Milwaukee an introduction to a band that considers lights and effects on the same level of importance as guitar or drums.

Who’s in the band and how long have you been playing together?

The band consists of Jah Papa, Jolly, Heavy Kevy, and Fried Eggs (who did happened to be in Pigs On Ice), Nae Nae, and Joe Joe (who happens to be in Cartilage Party), and Bow Tie (who happened to be in All Creatures). We’ve been together for about nine months now.

Hahaha, No. Not even in the same league. Different entity entirely. Yellow. Different.

Do you have the same person working your stage lights from Pigs On Ice?

Same guy. He’s around. Seriously.

Are the lights pretty much another instrument? They seem pretty essential to what you do.

Totally. We find it almost easier to play with the lights.

Seeing Bzybodies is watching organized chaos. How do you all stay calm, yet manage to freak out enough to get that noisy and disheveled, but still strong sound?

Not getting hammered drunk usually helps. It’s like riding a bike pretty much; you just ride it out. It’s a calming state to be in…we’re just doing what we do.

Are your practices just as high-energy? Who in the band is best at keeping things consistent?

Lots of coffee. Bzybodies keeps Bzybodies in line. Really.

You’ve got one song up on your web site — where’s the rest? Are you waiting until you get your stuff commited to vinyl or CD?

We’ve written a lot of material over the lifespan of this band. We generally take our time letting the songs grow, hence lack of recordings. However, we are finishing up our full length, to be released on tape at Freaks Come Out Fest, May 21st. Vinyl would be nice.

Any details about your show at Y-Not III?

Really excited to play with the Conformists and Passe Montage.

Bzybodies play Y-Not III (1854 E. Kenilworth) on Sunday, April 25th at 9 p.m. Also playing: IfIHadAHiFi, Conformists (St. Louis) and Passe Montagne (ITL). 21+