Band of the Day: The Prids

The Prids were recently on the road in the UK and hopefully some of you caught them plying their trade on stages up and down the country. Here, Mistina and David tell us a little more about themselves and their bandmates…

Simple things first – where are you guys from?

Mistina La Fave (bass): Portland Oregon.

How did you meet?

ML: David and I met in my hometown, Saint Joseph, Missouri when I was 17 and he was 20. He was from California, traveling around and ended up in Missouri and started a band there. I went to one of their shows.

How long have you been playing as a band?

ML: The two of us started playing together in 1995.

Before you get sick of being asked… where does the band name come from?

ML: Pretty was a nickname he had for me. That somehow mutated in cuteness from Pretty to Priddy to Prid.

What are your influences?

David Frederickson (guitar): Manchester bands from the 80s made a big impression on me. Hearing bands like The Smiths for the first time changed my life.

ML: We were struck by bands like My Bloody Valentine, the Smiths, Wire when we started. Also American bands like Built to Spill and Unrest. I think our heaviest influences were English bands though.

Describe your music. What makes you unique?

DF: Both Mistina and I taught our selves how to play and sing and because of that I think we do things differently than players who are steeped in music theory. If that isn’t enough our multi-instrumentalist Tim takes out his Rickenbacker and plays it with a bow.

Do you have any particular lyrical themes?

DF: I’m usually ruminating on loneliness and despair, the things that make life painful. But I don’t think it resonates as depressing, it think it has a sense of acceptance and strength.

What’s your live show like? How many shows have you played?

ML: We’re pretty energetic, and have a lot of on-stage banter. Mostly me teasing David really. We recently tried to figure this out. Probably about 500 shows over the years. We used to tour a lot so 25 shows a year since 98 sounds about right. Some years less, some years more.

What’s the wildest thing you’ve seen or done at a live show?

DL: Mistina got on stage with Morrissey in 1997! We have a photo. Our own shows are quite exciting but we don’t bite the heads off of anything (being vegans!)

ML: 97; I was young and agile then.

What kit do you use / guitars do you play / etc.?

ML: I have an Ampeg SVT and Fender Aerodyne bass

DF: I play a Fender Strat through a 70s Fender Super Reverb

What, if anything, are you plugging/promoting at the moment?

ML: Our latest album, called Do I Look Like I’m In Love? Also gender equality, world peace and Fuck Trump!

What are your plans for 2018, into 2019?

ML: We’re writing the new album when we return home. And we plan to come back to the UK this winter to play shows.

If you were second on a three-band bill, which band would you love to be supporting and which band would you choose to open for you? A chance to plug someone you’ve toured with, or a mate’s band we’ve not heard of before!

ML: I’d love to be in the perfect shoegaze sandwich, supporting Slowdive and having our labelmates Vibrissae open! I have good friends in both bands.

DF: Fun question, I would love to someday support indie legends Guided By Voices and I’d have our other labelmates Murderbait open, they’re a dark psych band.

ML: David and I have a label collective called This-a-Way Records, everyone should check out the bands on it!

From previous Band of the Day Muscular Child: Dave Grohl, Mick Jagger, Prince – Who would you kiss, who would you marry and who would you kill?

ML: easy, marry Prince, kiss Mick… sorry Dave.

DF: I feel the same about Dave as Mistina but I’m gonna marry Mick and kiss Prince. Of course Prince could also have my “extra time” every now then.

From another BotD, Vanity: If you could go back in time and tell your younger self one thing, what would it be?

ML: Almost everything ends in tears.

DF: It’s gonna hurt, but you’re gonna be alright.

And from Charly&Faust: What’s your underwear colour?

ML: black! Always.

DF: baby blue

The Prids: official | facebook | twitter | instagram

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