I showed up at the Echo last night- not entirely sure of what to expect, but ready to hear some good music.  LA Font did NOT disappoint when they graced the stage at ten sharp.  Think Nirvana meets the Fratellis with a little Rumspringa similarity.  Suffice it to say, they rocked, and I saw why the turn out was so great first hand.

After taking a couple minutes to decompress post-performance, I walked upstairs with Greg Katz (LA Font bassist extraordinaire) ready to grill him about a couple of things.  What I got instead of a one on one Q&A sesh were three additional band mates, one mother, and a whole lot of chaos.

LN:  So how did you guys all meet?

GK:  Craigslist.

LN:  Oh, the wonderful world wide web- bringing people together!

LN:  Main musical influences?

(Jon Perry enters the green room)

JP:  What’s going on?

GK:  We’re just giving an interview- Jon, you should be in on this!

LN:  Take a seat!

 

GK:  You know- Jon and Danny were the chance meeting story.

LN:  I think I need to hear this.

JP:  Danny lived above me, in the same apartment building, and we heard each other playing music through the wall basically.

LN:  So you lured him out of his apartment and into yours?

JP:  Well- it was a SMALL apartment building- like there were only four apartments.  So, I had been upstairs, and he was subletting and just moved in below me.  So I guess he heard me like screwing around.  When I met him he was like literally standing in his doorway with his guitar on!

LN:  That’s sweet- he was going to serenade you.  That’s a great first date.

JP:  Yeah!  So it was pretty easy after that to get drunk and then walk down to his place and then come to my apartment and record at all hours of the morning!

GK:  Harlow was the next to join.

JP:  Harlow was the first and best drummer we met on Craigslist.  We put like ONE Craigslist ad out- we met Harlow, Harlow was awesome, end of story.  We had about FOUR days to practice before our first show.  You know- I didn’t even know that I was signing up for a band!  Danny and I had been recording stuff, and I was just playing with Danny because I lived in the building and I liked him- so we were just jamming one night and he said so….can you play a show in a few days?  That was it.  So basically, he tricked me into this band- but, I’m happy of course!

 

LN:  Where did you guys come up with “LA Font”?!

JP:  That’s ALL Danny.

(NOTE TO READER- DANNY IS STILL MISSING IN ACTION AT THIS POINT)

GK:  When I asked Danny what the name was- he looked at me, sternly, and said “Think about it.  Just think about it.”

LN:  I’ll marinate on that until Danny can enlighten me himself then!

 

LN:  I hear a lot of grunge in your music, a little of the Fratellis- what would you say your main musical influences are?

GK:  A lot of the 90’s- I mean obviously we all grew up in the 90s- so that was the music we learned to play guitar to.  Danny loves a lot of Pavement- he also likes Blind Melon- A LOT.

JP:  He does?!

GK:  He’s not just a Blind Melon lover- he’s a Blind Melon evangelist.

JP:  He’s never talked to me about it once!

LN:  Well, now you have something for your next conversation.

JP:  Yeah- he’s just keeping all the Blind Melon to himself.

 

LN:  Okay- closing remarks?

JP:  I don’t have any closing remarks- but you should really talk to Danny!

(SIXTH SENSE SUDDENLY KICKS IN AND DANNY WALKS INTO ROOM, FASHIONABLY LATE AND ACCESORIZED WITH HIS MOTHER)

LN:  Okay!  I have, a serious question for you.  And, word to your mother by the way.

DB:  I think you should definitely interview her after you interview me.

LN:  I might have to.

DB:  I’d like to start by saying- I think mothers are TOTALLY under appreciated.  I mean- they birth all of us, and yet, we hide them in corners.

JP:  She’s in a corner.

DB:  She’s in a corner right now!

LN:  You make a valid point- you realize mother’s day is not for like another several months though, right?

DB:  Everyday, is mother’s day.

LN:  So when did you start working with Hallmark?

DB:  In L.A. Font- we respect our mothers, everyday.

JP:  When we practice, we all take a break and call our mothers.

LN:  I seriously hope all mothers are reading this right now.

 

LN:  Moving right along- I need to know about this name L.A. Font.  Spill.

DB:  I just got to L.A. from Missoula, Montana- and I was taking a lot of long walks around the city.

LN:  Not the beach, ladies.

DB:  Exactly- more like Eagle Rock, just to get acquainted.  So I came across the Los Angeles department of water- what is it- the DWP?  And it had its name written on the side of it- and I really liked the typeface- and I go, oh- that must be the L.A. Font!  So we played around with that- and then MANY months later, like several, we noticed that it kind of stood for elephant- the animal- which was an additional bonus because we could make an icon out of it.

LN:  Two birds, one stone, sweet.  So this is really profitable for you.

DB:  Yeah.  We’re all about just rakin’ in the cash.

 

LN:  So, I know the 90s were a big influence for you- what are some of your main influential bands?

DB:  Blind Melon.

LN:  You called that one Greg.

 

LN:  Pre-show vices or rituals?  Aside from appreciating your mother.

DB:  Sheer panic.  Just like wave after wave of sheer panic.

 

LN:  So do you do the majority of the songwriting, does everyone contribute- what’s the story?

DB:  As far as songs?  I guess?  But these guys- I really appreciate EVERY SINGLE note y’all play.

LN:  Aww.  Okay but seriously did you want me to contact hallmark after the interview?

DB:  DO IT.  Like I said- we’re trying to make tons of money.

 

LN:  Closing remarks to friends, fans, and your mother?

DB:  Hey.  Whatever it is you’re doing in life- just keep doing it.  We’ll get through this together.

 

You can check out the latest and greatest with LA Font by cyberstalking them at www.myspace.com/thelafont.  I seriously hope these guys get a residency STAT- I’ll need another LA Font fix soon.  If someone you know, or yourself, is interested in having a Danny Hallmark moment at any upcoming holidays, please express interest to the band directly.  Happy early mother’s day to any and all underappreciated moms out there.