The Morning Benders on Mornings and Who They're Excited to See at Outside Lands

By

Morning Benders make such delightful indie pop: may the Berkeley band always live in a land of lollipop licks, sweet-as-honey harmonies, and dulcet hooks, all in full, gorgeous flower on the outfit’s 2008 album, Talking Through Tin Cans. I checked in with lead Bender Chris Chu via e-mail on the occasion of the combo’s upcoming Outside Lands date.

Q: What's been going on with Morning Benders?

Chris Chu: We are busy making a new album. It's called Big Echo. We also just went overseas to do some shows in London and a few festivals in Europe. That was amazing.



Q: By the way, how have mornings been treating you (and would you say the band consists of "morning people")?

CC: I'm definitely a morning person. Ideally I'd like to go to bed and wake up with the sun, but that's a little unrealistic considering my roommates' and girlfriend's schedule. But I like to wake up at 8 a.m. and get the day started right, fo’ sho.

Q: You're working on the new record with Chris Taylor of Grizzly Bear -- how's that going?

CC: Amazing. Not only has it been a really great collaboration, but Chris is one of the coolest dudes around. I am so proud of this album, and I can't wait for people to hear it.

Q: Can you promise that the new disc will have as much perfect pop on it as the debut album?

CC: Yes! Perfect (for what it is) pop.

Q: What do you have planned for the Outside Lands set?

CC: We gonna hit you with the new jams and the oldies but goodies. KEARTH meets KISS FM.

Q: It’s an early afternoon show at Outside Lands -- how do you like those? And how do you get people worked up and in a Morning Benders frame of mind at that early hour?

CC: We've played a couple other festivals at that time slot, and it actually turns out being a lot of fun. You can't expect it to be going off like a packed club at midnight, but it has a certain laid-back charm that i find really enjoyable.

Q: Are you looking forward to seeing any other bands or artists at Outside Lands?

CC: I really want to see Deerhunter. I'm also trying to catch the Dodos and Raphael Saadiq. Oh, and Os Mutantes!

Q: You've been playing a lot of fests. How do they compare to smaller, more intimate shows?

CC: Apples and oranges. I love it all!!

Q: What's next?

CC: Big Echo in 2010 -- and then the end of the Mayan calendar in 2012.

The Morning Benders play Sunday, Aug. 30, 1:30-2:10 p.m., at Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival’s Panhandle Solar Stage, Golden Gate Park, S.F. For more information, go to www.sfoutsidelands.com.

Related Articles
Now Playing at SF Symphony
View this profile on Instagram

7x7 (@7x7bayarea) • Instagram photos and videos

Neighborhoods
From Our Partners