Getting to Know... Maldroid
As the winners of Live 105's Local Band competition, Maldroid will be opening for Modest Mouse, Jimmy Eat World, Angels & Airwaves, Spoon, and Paramore tomorrow night at the "Not So Silent Night" bash at the Bill Graham Civic Auditorium. Maldroid's sound is a mix between The Beatles and The Hives. They first became popular when their video, "He Said, She Said," won "The Youtube Underground" competition - Youtube's first ever music video competition. They dress in school-boy uniforms that include a specially made Maldroid crest and they've even given their band members unique nicknames like: Jerry "Prince J" Last (keyboards), Johnny "Genius" Murphy (guitar/vocals) and Sean "The Talented Mr." Shippley (bass). This seems like a tribute to the Swedish band, The Hives, who recently performed in school-boy uniforms here in the Bay Area. We will give credit for the brown and gold color combination (at least it's not a copy of The Hive's black and white). But we wonder, is all this a coincidence?
We briefly introduced you to Maldroid earlier this week but this time we wanted to do a full introduction before the big day. Tickets are still available - you can get them here.
Full given name: Ryan Divine
Hometown: Oakland, Ca
Favorite venue to play in: Mezzanine. Hands down.
Favorite place to go in SF: SFMOMA, Cafe Greco for some cannoli, and the presidential suite at the Sir Francis Drake.
Take the jump to find out more...
Favorite restaurant in SF: Ooh.. tough one. so many. I'm gonna go with Steps of Rome this week.
Favorite music venue in SF: Mezzanine, once again.
MAC or PC? MAC all the way!
Favorite post-show meal in SF: Chicken Super Burritto at Taqueria Cancun and in the OAK: Catfish po' boy and a Shakin' Jesse, Rudy's Can't Fail Cafe
Pre-show rituals: Two sugar-free Redbulls and a baby bottle of Jim Beam.
Worst onstage mishap: We had an onstage brawl with a sound guy in Sacramento - full on fisticuffs.
Special skills: I'm a decent painter and an accomplished animator.
Last book you read: 1776
Favorite magazine: NME
Must-see TV show: Heroes, 24, Rock of Love. I'm a sucker for stupid.
Last good movie you saw: Control
Favorite place you have lived: Oakland. (Though Sweden is pretty high up there.)
First concert ever saw: I grew up in Santa Cruz... not a lot came through there. Slow Gherkin, The Mr. T Experience and Reel Big Fish @ Palookaville, Santa Cruz (that place doesn't even exist anymore).
If you could go back in time and catch any concert, what would it be? Monterey Pop Festival. Not for Jimmy. Not for Janice. For The Who (though the others are great additions).
Current band/musician (besides yourself) you have been recommending to your friends:
Kate Nash, The (new) Hives, Of Montreal, and ALWAYS The Beatles.
Most played song on your iPod: Good Morning (Anthology Version) - The Beatles
Best vacation spot: I'm quite fond of Old Town, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico
Worst job you ever had: Starbucks. Kill me.