In the short time they've been playing live Eagle*Seagull has been making quite a name for themselves. Despite an early name change and a recent lineup addition, the band has been gaining fans and getting better with each appearance. I chatted with Eli Mardock to find out about the band.

SCS: How and when did Eagle*Seagull form as a band?

Eli: We formed in roughly May of 2004. It's not a very interesting story. Luther, Mike O., and I had been playing together for a while. I met J.J. somewhere along the way and the four of us decided to start playing around with some songs. We didn't have a drummer for a few months, but then I met Britt while working at Yia Yia's. And that's basically how we got started. We recently added another guitarist, Austin Styles, who also plays in Click.

SCS: If someone asked you “what does your band sound like?” how would you answer?

Eli: I don't know what i'd say. Luther says some songs sound like a jet taking off. That may be true.

SCS: How would you describe an Eagle*Seagull show? – What can someone who hasn’t seen you live expect?

Eli: I don't really know. We've been trying to make some changes to our live sound recently, getting things tighter, rearranging, etc. Jake Gillespie I think once said a really nice thing at one of our shows. "Every song makes me want to have sex." So, I suppose people should expect to get horny.

SCS: Thanks for the warning, I'll be sure not to stand in front of Jake at your shows. So what types of music and which musicians/groups influenced the band members?

Eli: Leonard Cohen has been a huge influence, particularly to the mood of the songs. Obviously the Beatles, Pavement, Sonic Youth, the Pixies. And thousands more.

SCS: What are your goals for this band? touring or just playing around town?

Eli: We're actually in the process of setting up a small tour for this fall. I don't know all the details yet. I think we'll be playing in Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Iowa.

SCS: What experience did you have in bands before E*S got together?

Eli: Luther, Mike O., and I played together in a country-ish band called Bo Bison that played only two shows and kind of just fell apart. J.J. used to play in a band with Darren Keen of The Show is the Rainbow, but I can't remember what it was called or anything. Britt did some kind of jazz something or other called Thelonius Funk. How embarrassing is that? Austin, like i said, is in Click.

SCS: Why did you change fairly quickly from the name The Goodlooks?

Eli: Well, I never really liked that name too much to begin with. It's generic. And then there was this band from Austin, TX. also called The Good Looks that sent us an email or something about them not being pleased with us for using their name and so on. Someone, I think Mike O., had gone to their website and it said something like," The Good Looks are one of the most up-and-coming bands in Austin, TX's prestigious music scene... see them live this Saturday on the patio at RUBY TUESDAY'S." I don't know. We thought that was funny. Anyway, we changed it for the better.

SCS: How do you think you've grown, musically and creatively, since the band first started?

Eli: When we first started playing together I was playing mostly acoustic guitar, so the arrangements were a lot different back then. The band had more of a typical singer/songwriter-ish feel. I definitely think we've all improved since then. The songs are much more interesting musically now than they were before. They're also a lot more fun to play.

SCS: Is there a single songwriter in the band? / Do you come to the band with finished songs, or do you work songs out together??

Eli: I tend to write most of the songs at home on my piano or guitar and then bring them to practice. Sometimes I'll work with Mike, J.J., and Luther individually and we'll come up with something. Austin has started writing songs as well. But, so far I've written most of the progressions, melodies, lyrics, etc. The arrangement of the songs we tend do as a band. It's usually better when people come up with their own parts. Otherwise I get accused of being domineering.

SCS: Do you have a favorite song of yours to play live?

Eli: My favorite is a new one called IT'S SO SEXY. It's ridiculous. I know Britt really likes to drum to PHOTOGRAPH. That's probably the one that's most fun to play. I don't know about the other guys.

SCS:When and where was your first local show, and how did it go?

Eli: Our first show was at Duggan's on Oct. 17th of last year with The Golden Age and Thunderstandable. The sound guy was wasted so we all sounded like ass.

SCS: What was your most memorable live performance and what made it that?

Eli: Probably at the C-Haus in Beloit, WI. I'd never passed out twice in the same night before.

SCS: What do you like and dislike about the music scene in Lincoln?

Eli: I don't know, it's not something I give a lot of thought to. I mean there are a lot of really nice, talented people involved in Lincoln music, and we're fortunate to have them. There are also people that suck. In general, though, people give each other a lot of encouragement/support. It's great.

SCS: Who are some local bands or musicians that you admire or feel should be recognized?

Eli: I don't get out as much as I should so there's so many bands/musicians that I've been meaning to see but just haven't. I think Rob Hawkins and his band The Golden Age are pretty talented. Usually I don't really get into adult contemporary type stuff, but they really put the rock in lite rock. Also, I think the guys in Her Flyaway Manner and Thunderstandable are amazingly good at what they do. I don't know, there are a lot of bands I like in Lincoln.

SCS: Who’s your favorite local band to play with?

Eli: Probably the Golden Age. They make us sound much better than we are.

SCS: You’re working on your album with Ian Aeillo right now, aren’t you? When do you expect it to be done?

Eli: Yes, we've been working with Ian since last November, first on the Skeleton EP, and since then on our current project. I'm hoping it'll be finished, completely, by August 1st. That's the date we've set for ourselves at least.

SCS: Why did you choose Ian to produce your album?

Eli: Ian actually approached us about recording after one of our shows. I'd heard a few things he'd done previously and was confident he'd do a great job. What I like about recording with Ian is that he's a little obsessive about the quality of work he does. Things can sometimes be a little slow going but I think it's important, especially in recording, to take the time to make sure everthing's right. He's very talented, very much a perfectionist.

SCS: Are there any local producers/engineers you'd like to work with who you think could help to develop your sound even more?

Eli:I don't know. There are lot of people I don't personally know that I'm sure would do a good job. J.J. in our own band does a really nice job of recording. I'd also like to work with Brendan McGinn sometime. And I hope to do more projects with Ian.

SCS: What was the first album/CD you bought?

Eli: This is sad, but I bought the Star Wars soundtrack on CD. My first CD. Star Wars. I listened to it all the time.

SCS: That IS sad! What about the most recent?

Eli: Blonde Redhead - Misery Is A Butterfly

SCS: Whose music are you listening to right now? -- What other bands would you recommend people check out?

Eli: Locally, I've been listening to Marianas new EP "Summering" in the car a lot. Otherwise, it's been a lot of Pinback, Death From Above 1979, Midlake, Fruit Bats, Blonde Redhead. Blonde Redhead is probably my favorite right now.

SCS: List off your top five albums of all time.

Eli: There's no way I can do that. I'd keep changing it. But my all time favorite album is definately Leonard Cohen's Songs of Love and Hate.

SCS: What’s the best gig you've ever seen, local or otherwise?

Eli: Flaming Fire put on an amazing show at Duggan's a year or two ago. They also have an illustrated bible on their website which I highly recommend people check out. Otherwise, I'd say some the best shows I've been to were Wilco, Guided by Voices, all at Sokol.

SCS: My band at the time, Suzy Dreamer & Her Nightmares played that show, as did The Lepers, that was an awesome show. I was just telling someone about the Illustrated Bible the other day. Who do you think is the most underrated artist in the music industry?

Eli: I have no idea. I can't decide if there are too many or not enough.

SCS: What can we look forward to in the next year from the band?

Eli:Like I said earlier, there's the new LP and a small tour. Other than that I really don't know. We're kind of taking things as they come.

SCS: Anything else you want to share with our readers?

Eli: I'd like to thank some people who've really helped the band out this past year. Thanks to Jake Gillespie, Denny Schmickel, and Janelle Arthur for some great posters. Thanks to Justin Kohmetscher and Jake Gillespie for designing our t-shirts and again to Denny for designing our website. Also, thanks to everyone who comes out to the shows. That's it.






- Tery Daly