Written by: Alex Green
The sunny environs of Toluca Lake couldn’t be more opposite to the dark and brooding skies of Manchester, London or Liverpool.
In fact, Toluca Lake might very well be their exact opposite.
But the fact is, the Cook brothers of Toluca Lake (Matthew, Mark and Michael) gravitate to the dark and fiery intensity of post-punk music of 1980’s England and their debut self-titled EP could very well have been recorded during that same time period.
The brothers Cook–barely in their early twenties and boasting almost disorienting model good looks–have demonstrated on their debut a singular musical vision that sounds respectfully torn from the playbooks of The Smiths and Echo and the Bunnymen.
From the prowling new wave stomp of “Wolfdance” to the impossibly catchy and percussive “Land of Gathering,” the band is cohesive and intuitive. Their verses have a serpentine allure and their choruses come in catchy, invigorating bursts. Meanwhile, “Straw Hat” has a dark and primal pounce; “Ballroom Bones” is an aching beauty and “Nightlight” is stinging and unforgettable.
On the eve of their upcoming tour with Glasvegas, the Cook boys sat down for our pesky Scouting Report questionnaire…
FULL NAME: The Ceremonies
HOMETOWN: Los Angeles
WEBSITE: theceremonies.com
RECORD LABEL: Atom Factory Music / Capitol Records
DESCRIBE YOUR SOUND IN ONE SENTENCE: Nostalgia in the costume of a melody.
PROUDEST PROFESSIONAL MOMENT: Finally releasing our first EP.
THE SONG YOU WISH YOU’D WRITTEN: “The Killing Moon”- Echo and the Bunnymen
FIVE MUSICIANS YOU ADMIRE: David Byrne, Robert Smith, David Bowie, Tim Buckley, Jonny Greenwood
ALBUM YOU CAN’T STOP LISTENING TO: The Idler Wheel… by Fiona Apple
DESCRIBE YOURSELF AS A KID: Matthew- creative/thinker…Mark- reserved/methodical… Michael- daydreamer/adventurous
THREE THINGS THAT KEEP YOU UP AT NIGHT: Reading, Nightlights (teehee), monsters in the closet
LAST BOOK YOU READ: Matthew – Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep by Phillip K. Dick, Mark – Walden by H.D. Thoreau, Michael – Choke by Chuck Palahniuk
FAVORITE MUPPET: The Cookie Monster because we are empathetic people and he has a severe addiction and needs help.
CATS OR DOGS? Unfortunately we’re all allergic to cats, but we’d have to say dogs.
THINGS WE’D FIND IN THE TRUNK OF YOUR CAR: Music equipment and tons of empty water bottles.
HARDEST PART ABOUT YOUR JOB: Maintaining a healthy and nutritious diet and sleep schedule on the road.
FIRST THING YOU DO WHEN YOU GET TO A NEW CITY: Take in the new surroundings, find the best restaurant… sprint to the nearest bathroom.
WHAT WORD DO YOU OVERUSE IN CONVERSATION?: Infinitesimal…we think it’s funny to use casually in place of “small.”
WHAT WILL THE TITLE OF YOUR AUTOBIOGRAPHY BE?: Where There Becomes Here.
FAVORITE LATE NIGHT TV SHOW: Conan O’Brien
DRINK OF CHOICE: Green apple POPwater
BEST ALBUM TO PLAY AFTER A BREAK-UP AND YOU’RE HOLDING A BOTTLE OF VODKA AND SOMETHING SHARP: Woah there compadre, back away from the ledge.. and put some clothes on while you’re at it.. it would have to be Age of Adz by Sufjan Stevens.
INDULGENCE YOU REFUSE TO GIVE UP: Ranch dressing… It’s like our heroin.
SOMEONE SAYS, “Don’t tell anyone I told you this.” DO YOU? NEVER, but ALWAYS… Walt Whitman said it best, “Do I contradict myself? Very well, then I contradict myself. I am large (I contain multitudes).”
WORDS TO LIVE BY:
Imagination is the real and eternal world of which this vegetable universe is but a faint shadow. –William Blake
“The Child is father of the Man; And I could wish my days to be. Bound each to each by natural piety.’ -William Wordsworth
