What is your least favorite article of clothing, and why?
Rachel Staggs: Pantyhose. They are super uncomfortable.
What's so funny about peace, love and understanding?
Rachel Staggs: There is no peace, love or understanding -- wait, that's not funny.
What three essential accessories would be in your dream tour van/vehicle?
Rachel Staggs: A comfy bed, a bathroom (including toilet paper) and a fridge stocked with Vegan delights.
Which is more frightening: a venue full of people who don't like your
music, or a room full of two-year-olds? Why?
Rachel Staggs: A room full of two-year-olds would probably be more frightening. They wouldn't remember to bring earplugs.
Name three activities that would be more interesting/entertaining/enjoyable
with the addition of monkeys.
Rachel Staggs: 1. a root canal; 2. scrubbing the bathtub; 3. shopping at the mall.
What was the last thing you watched on television? How did you like it?
Rachel Staggs: I watched a film on Bravo called Raise the Red Lantern (in Mandarin with English subtitles) directed by Zhang Yimou. It is beautifully filmed and follows the story of an educated concubine who is married against her will. I liked the film, but was disgusted by the awful truth.
Describe your dream vacation.
Rachel Staggs: I'd like to travel all over Europe, but especially to Prague, Belgium, Amsterdam, Rome, London, Manchester and Barcelona. I'd like to end up on a beach near Barcelona after exhausting myself with art museums, live music, architecture, wine, coffee and weed.
Does everyone need to own a computer? Why or why not?
Rachel Staggs: I don't think everyone needs to own a computer, but it has certainly been a great addition to my life. I've made contacts for touring, planned trips, compiled research, created radio stations, built web sites and more. If anything, I probably spend too much time on the computer.
Who should be the leader of the free world?
Rachel Staggs: A liberal woman.
You have an eight-hour trip to your next gig. You're not driving, and you're not sleepy. You have the option of reading a book, listening to an album, watching a movie or playing a video game. Which do you choose? And what is the book/album/movie/game in question?
Rachel Staggs: Well, I couldn't read a book because I would get carsick. We don't have a TV or VCR in the van for movies or video games, so I guess my choice is made. Music. I wouldn't listen to the same CD for eight hours, but I'd probably listen to a mix of the Swirlies, Stereolab, Lali Puna, Rollerskate Skinny, Boards of Canada, Flying Saucer Attack, Black Tambourine, The Clean, Ladytron, Ecstasy of Saint Theresa and Slowdive.
What was the best live rock show you ever saw?
Rachel Staggs: That's a tough question. I seem to get extra excited when I have the opportunity to see Sonic Youth. When I attend one of their live shows, my energy level changes completely. My favorite show seen outside the comfort of my hometown occurred in 1998 at Brownies in New York City. Lotus Crown opened (with Jimi Shields -- Kevin's brother) followed by Bardo Pond and Mogwai.
You're in an elevator with Mariah Carey, Marilyn Manson and George W.
Bush. The elevator becomes trapped between floors. What happens next?
Rachel Staggs: George says something stupid, Mariah's hair goes flat, then after Marilyn Manson licks George's cheek, he burns a whole through the wall with his breath and we climb to our freedom.
You've been given the opportunity to play -- all expenses paid -- in a
foreign country that bands don't normally get to visit. You get to pick the country. Where do you go?
Rachel Staggs: Turkey.
Your favorite broken-up band is going to reunite for one show only at the venue of your choice (yes, we know this is implausible. Who cares?). Who's the band, and what's the venue?
Rachel Staggs: The Velvet Underground in my backyard.
Is the Internet destroying the English language?
Rachel Staggs: No.
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Experimental Aircraft released their self-titled debut on Devil in the Woods last year. They're working on the follow-up, hopefully due in early 2002. Our always effusive Irving Bellemead described them thus: "They're strange and mysterious. You're not sure what they're for, or where they're going, or how they work, or why. But you're glad that they exist, and once you get them into your head you don't want to let them out."
-- George Zahora
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