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Jun
25

BOTW Vol 02: Electric Guest

In the 1997 movie ‘Donnie Brasco,’ Al Pacino’s character ‘Lefty’ Ruggiero goes to the head of the Bonanno crime family and vouches for Donnie Brasco, played by Johnny Depp. Like the mafia, vouching for someone in music carries a lot of weight, and opens a lot of doors. So when I read that Danger Mouse produced ‘Mondo,’ the debut release from Electric Guest, I took for granted it would be an album worth bringing into my own family of music.

Let’s ignore the fact that Donnie Brasco ends up betraying the Bonanno family in the end, and remember that all analogies breakdown at some point. Instead, let’s focus on five time Grammy nominated producer Danger Mouse working with a band that only came on the scene a little over a year ago. Like so many other great stories, Electric Guest is an overnight sensation, about 8 years in the making.

Danger Mouse and Asa Taccone began exchanging music back in 2004. From the beginning, Taccone showed promise. After years of exchanging notes, pushing each other to broaden their musical horizons, and influencing one another’s music, Taccone met drummer Matthew “Cornbread” Compton. Together the duo began working on demos, which would become their first record. With the help of Danger Mouse, Electric Guest would create one of the most unique, and original electro-dance records to come out in recent years.

Asa and Matthew, along with their touring keyboardist and bass player, brothers Todd and Tory Dahlhoff, are currently touring Europe, and will be back state side in mid July. In the midst of their overseas adventure, Asa and Matthew were kind enough to answer a few questions for us.

8 Questions with Electric Guest

BEACON: First concert you attended?
Matthew: Van Halen
ASA: The Pharcyde

BEACON: All time favorite album?
Matthew: Can’t decide
ASA: Too hard of a question

BEACON: Favorite musician?
Matthew: Serge Gainsbourg
ASA: Any member of The Rock-Afire Explosion

BEACON: Favorite restaurant?
Matthew: Auntie Em’s in Eagle Rock, CA for brunch
ASA: Pie Queen in Oakland, CA

BEACON: All time favorite movie?
Matthew: All the President’s Men
ASA: I just saw this movie ‘Mother’ that was pretty great

BEACON: Vinyl or MP3?
Matthew: Both
ASA: Both, but I’m into LaserDisc

BEACON: Dylan or The Beatles?
Matthew: Beatles
ASA: Beatles

BEACON: Most bizarre location that you have written a song?
ASA: Napkin at a Burger King

The Sounds of Electric Guest

Posted By On Jun 25, 2012