Approximately 2 years ago I first delved into the world of MP3 blogs when I discovered this very blog I'm writing for now, and Tom's post about All Girl Summer Fun Band was the very first post I read. Subsequently I fell very much in love with the band, and lately a thought struck me, why not follow up on the band since I am now in position to do exactly what inspired me these couple of years back. Hopefully this will be a post that will get the rest of you interested if you're not already.

Additionally I've devised what I hope will be an ongoing tradition, namely that the band challenges another band, any band, for the next interview. This might in the long run get me into a predicament of sorts, but we'll see what happens.

How, when and why did the band form?

Kim: We formed in 1998 here in Portland, Oregon.
Kathy: I moved to Portland in 98, met Kim right away and we became fast friends. She was friends with Ari and Jen too, but none of us knew each other. One day, Kim and I were at a show, and she told me I was in a new band with her, Jen and Ari. She thought it would be fun for the four of us to play music. I said, cool. Kim is a good matchmaker. We've all become such good friends.
Kim: I am pretty sure I asked everyone first, I can’t imagine I just told them they were in a band. Although I was pretty excited about the idea, so perhaps I did just tell them.

Who came up with the name of the band?

Kim: It was just how I presented the idea of the band to everyone. The band I was playing in had currently ended and I was looking to start up an all girl band that would just play during that summer. I was leaving in the fall to go to school in St. Petersburg, Russia so I thought the band would just last for the summer. I asked Jen, Kathy, and Ari if they wanted to be in an “all girl summer fun band”. They all liked how that sounded, so we used it as the band name.

What were you guys doing before starting the band, and do you have some side-projects we should be aware of?

Jen: I was in The Softies, and before that a different duo called Pretty Face. We never released any music though. I don't have any music side projects going currently.
Kathy: I had been playing in bands since I was 16 in California. I moved to Maine for 9 months with my band, Haelah. Then we moved to Portland and started playing shows right away. Haelah became Urban Legends, which became Hutch and Kathy, which became The Thermals, which I still play in now. So, I've been playing in two bands for a long time. I also have solo songs under the name, Butterfly Transformation Service, but nothing has ever been officially released.
Kim: In high school I was in a band called The Young Astronauts. Before AGSFB I was playing in a band called Cherry Ice Cream Smile. In addition to AGSFB, I am currently recording a solo album and I’m hoping to put it out sometime in the near future.

Can you name some influences?

Jen: The Ramones, 60's girl groups, The Fastbacks, Dolly Mixture, Girls at Our Best, and various heavy metal bands.
Kathy: The Ramones, 60's girl groups, The Strokes, Led Zeppelin, Flaming Lips, Dinosaur Jr, Nirvana, Hot Snakes., 60's & 70's soul.
Kim: Beatles, Pixies, Tiger Trap, Jonathan Richman, Softies, The Breeders, Elliott Smith, Blonde Redhead.

Can we expect a third album sometime soon? Will it be different from previous ones?

Kim: We are recording the new album right now. We’re hoping to finish it up soon but we have no deadlines. So for us, the most important thing is getting the songs to sound exactly how we want them to sound. I think this album will sound different than other albums, I think we have grown as a band and as song-writers.
Jen: I feel it's very different just because it has been so long since our last record, and we have all grown individually - but it's hard to imagine how it will be heard objectively. It's going to rock!
Kathy: I'm excited for the new album. It won't necessarily have a theme, but we want the songs, the artwork, the booklet to all tie in together. We have a master plan! And I'm excited to see it all done.

What are your own favorite AGSFB songs, and why?

Kim: I always love playing Becky, Video Game Heart, and Will I See You.
Jen: The most fun song to play is Tour Heart Throb. It's fast and I get to yell my vocals.
Kathy: I also love playing Video Game Heart and Tour Heart Throb. They're rockin! I also like our old cover of "Look of Love" by Lesley Gore.

What are your favorite songs apart from your own?

Kim: My current favorites are Sigur Ros’ “Staralfur”, Q and Not U’s “Soft Pyramids”, and Dinosaur Jr’s “Muck”.
Jen: Currently I can't get enough of "Photograph" by Weezer.
Kathy: I can't get enough of "101" by Albert Hammond Jr, all of the new Deerhoof album, "Friend Opportunity", and "Only Love Can Break Your Heart" by Neil Young.

All Girl Summer Fun Band challenges a band named Blubird, also from Portland, Oregon, for the next interview. So stay tuned!

All Girl Summer Fun Band - Video Game Heart
All Girl Summer Fun Band - Jason Lee
All Girl Summer Fun Band - Later Operator
All Girl Summer Fun Band - Girl #3
Bonus track, not available on their website:
All Girl Summer Fun Band - Cut Your Hair

All Girl Summer Fun Band home page

And here's the video that hooked me, Car Trouble. Notice the way the guitar cleverly mimics a car with an ignition system trouble.