Robots for Hire continues its monthly Audio/Visual series with a showing of Empire Records and performances by The Colourist, My Satellite, and May McDonough & Company. This is the third installment of the series that plays cult classics on the big screen at the Regency South Coast theater and also features performances by local bands.
In anticipation of the show tonight, we spoke to the Colourist and May McDonough & Company via email to get their thoughts on Empire Records. It's a quirky film that chronicles a day in the life at an independent record store while exploring the challenges of adolescence, the record industry and corporate America.
Interview after the jump!
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Which character from the movie do you most identify with and why?
Kollin Johannsen (The Colourist): I identify the most with Joe Reaves because he looks like Scott Stapp from Creed. I look like Scott Stapp, or at least try my best.
May McDonough & Company: We all have a little of that smarmy Lucas charm.
Who was your least favorite character and why?
MM&C: Renee Zellwegger's character reminds us a little too much of our own relative bitch in high school.
KJ: Gina because it's Renee Zellweger.
What do you think has made this movie the cult classic it is today?
MM&C: Mildly obscure music and misfits with a mission. Any movie that makes being an outcast feel cool is destined for cult popularity.
KJ: I can tell you why this movie is not more of a cult classic–Renee Zellweger.
It has a pretty bitchen soundtrack. Which songs are your favorites, and do
you plan on covering any at the show?
you plan on covering any at the show?
KJ: I like “A Girl Like You” by Edwyn Collins. I feel like the song is for a girl like me. I don't think we are covering any of those songs at the show. I'm not sure about everyone else in the band, but I don't really know how to play my instruments very well yet. (I have all of the tab written on the tops of my shoes for our songs.) I would have to take the new songs to my guitar teacher first. It just would take too much time.
MM&C: It's not technically on the official soundtrack, but “If You Want Blood (You Got It)” by AC/DC had a large spot in the movie. If you can do the twist to it, it's good with us!
What do you think of Gina and Berko's band who play on the roof at the
end? Do
end? Do
you think Renee Zellweger is really singing?
MM&C: That song is almost just a caricature of '90s music. It's just an overly simplified and exaggerated formula for the pseudo-indie rock that was popular those days. I'd say it's a wash. Didn't she sing in Chicago?
KJ: I'm keen on any band that plays on a roof. I despise anything coming from Renee Zellweger. So it's a toss-up for me. I really hope Renee Zellweger is not singing. Actually, I think they should have put a disclaimer at the beginning of the movie to warn audiences of her.
Have you ever wanted to work in a record store? Is Empire Records like what
you imagine working at a record store would be?
you imagine working at a record store would be?
MM&C: Who hasn't? Although working in a record shop is a lot more cramped and uneventful, endless musical debates and warring over the stereo is pretty damn accurate.
KJ: I hope Empire Records is what working at a record store would be like. I would only want to work at a record store that had a lot of shoplifters with big jackets who I could chase. It would also be cool to have a boss who looked like Scott Stapp.
If you were Lucas, would you have gambled the money to save the shop?
KJ: That's actually why I'm not fond of Renee Zellweger; she was the dealer for a blackjack game at a Me, Myself and Irene collectors'-edition Blu-ray release party in 2009 when I lost $27. So, no, I personally wouldn't gamble any money away.
MM&C: “In the immortal words of the Doors, the time to hesitate is through.”
Which musician nowadays is today's Sexy Rexy?
KJ: Probably Justin Wagner (The Colourist).
MM&C: Beiber fever. Sexy Rexy gone pedophilia.
Robots for Hire Presents: Audio/Visual featuring the Colourist, My Satellite, and May McDonough & Company with Empire Records at Regency South Coast Plaza theater, 1561 W. Sunflower, Santa Ana. 7 p.m. $8. All ages.
When not running the OCWeekly.com and OC Weekly’s social media sites, Taylor “Hellcat” Hamby can be found partying like it’s 1899.