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Recently I had the pleasure of chatting to Bär McKinnon. The interview covers everything from where Kitty Puppy got its title, to Umlaut’s origins and Bär’s thoughts on a Mr Bungle reunion and their unreleased music; along with some great insights into the Bungle dynamic.

If you’re yet to hear the Umlaut album, you’re about to be converted. Atlas Face, Kitty Puppy and Work Truck all feature in this comprehensive interview. A word of warning, there is 29 minutes of audio here, so settle in and get comfy!

The interview is available for download here (megaupload: RAW WAV: 164.12 MB) (mp3 version on rapidshare here)

A shorter version was aired on my radio show but this is the full interview, so enjoy – another Stubbadub exclusive!

Exclusive to stubbadub! A short Q&A with Bar McKinnon:

What music had you been listening to while putting together Umlaut?

I was listening to Jennifer Gentle, Animal Collective, Dillinger Escape plan, The Blood Brothers, Cocteau Twins, Aphex Twin, Deerhoof, and Fleet Foxes

Are you ever suprised by the people who show up to your gigs? What kinds of people do you think Umlaut would appeal to?

No, not really surprised. They’re usually kinda nerdy types, (kinda like myself..!)but i am surprised when females are in attendance (..should i admit this..??!?)I think Umlaut should appeal to anybody with hungry ears, an open mind and a love of melody.

Your ideal gig would consist of which band mates? (dead or alive)

My ideal gig would be a goddamn Bungle reunion! 

Do you ever miss Mr Bungle? What were the dynamics of a band of musical geniuses?

Obviously i miss that band because it was the single most visionary, talented group of musicians i’ve ever been lucky enough to play with..

The dynamic was pretty simple. Everbody wrote tunes and brought them to the table. Ideas were thrown around freely, suggestions, improvements made with no ego interference..
Then there were also roles specific to our instruments. Patton was usually the alpha male but Trey could hold his own and throw his weight around as well too. So there was a bit of head-butting but the best interests of the music were always served.

I guess i have my doubts about as to whether it would ever happen or not. This might just be self-preservation so i don’t waste time hoping for the impossible. And no, i haven’t brought it up when last speaking with those guys recently. Everybody just seems to have too many other things going on at the moment to be bothered. But i wouldn’t necessarily rule it out either. (It’s too easy to be a naysayer).

Thanks heaps to Gerry for her work putting this interview together and of course thanks to Bar for taking the time to answer the questions.

Guys go grab a copy of Umlaut’s new ST Debut. It has hit the aussie streets as of Feb 14 and is a must have!

Stay tuned to stubbadub, I might be able to get my hands on a copy to give away in the coming week.

“Bar McKinnon, former sax player from San Francisco’s seminal Mr. Bungle, is primed and ready to bring his specific brand of cartoonish, pop inspired tunes to the world with his new Melbourne-based outfit: Umlaut. Playing like a film score, Umlaut is a mix of Burt Bacharach infused pop set in a cartoon-like world. The offbeat tunes fuse saxophone, flute and keyboards with more traditional rock guitars, an appealing mix that is quirky, energetic and beautiful.”

Umlaut Myspace

A couple of pics of Bär in the studio working on the new Umläut album due out later this year.

This interview appeared recently in melbourne streetpress.

Can you please give us your name, name of your band, and instrument you play? Bär McKinnon. My band’s name is Umläut. I play saxophone, flute and keyboards.

What do you think is your band’s greatest strength? The way my hair competes too much with my face.

What was your worst gig ever and why? Florence, Italy. Mr Bungle’s Disco Volante tour. Mid-way through Desert Search for Techno Allah the power cut out and we all ran off stage, while Danny, (Bungle’s drummer) kept on playing. It was pretty painful. We went to the bar and ended up handing out our entire rider to the people in the front…overall it was a cool gig just a bit…uncomfortable.

If you could time travel back to any gig in history which would it be and why? Van Halen at the US festival ’83.

What movie do you think your music would best accompany and why? Something by Woody Allen….? An Elvis film set in Hawaii? Why, you ask? Why not.

What are your plans for the immediate future? And the rest of the year? Cleaning out the roof gutters. And putting out an album in September.

What is your favourite song lyric and why? I love Faxed Head’s Bring the Dead Boy Peace- “I didn’t know the dead boy But I placed a bouquet of spirulina on his grave”.

LCD Sound System have a great track called North American Scum, “I hate the feeling when you’re looking at me that way, cuz we’re North Americans, but if we act all shy, it’ll make it ok.” Being an ex-pat, I feel pretty self conscious living here sometimes, I can relate.

Flight of the Conchords- “You’re so beautiful, like a tree.”

Favourite “pick me up for a big night” drink? High grade Peruvian cocaine.

Favourite hangover cure? High grade Peruvian cocaine.

More on Bar and Umlaut: www.myspace.com/umlautbarmckinnon

Melb-erican multi-instrumentalist and ex-Bungle saxophonist Bär McKinnon is currently putting together his band Umläut‘s debut release with a special guest vocalist to appear on one track. Mike Patton is currently laying down vocals on the track Atlas Face (also known as “Australia Day”). There is still no known release date for the album as yet but it looks like it will appear sometime in the second half of 2008.

Rumour has it that there may be the possibility of an Oz East Coast mini tour later in the year, which would be great considering Bär has rarely ventured far from his home base of Melbourne since his tour of oz a few years back (not counting the SC3 tour

For more info on Umläut and Bär check out their myspace.