Local musical act Modern Drugs has had a busy summer playing places like Rose Bowl Tavern and Friday Night Live, and they are putting a cherry on top by playing The Space in downtown Champaign this Saturday, joined by Curb Service (who have a great new EP out) and the young punkers, Squirrel Movement. Ryan Groff, lead singer/guitarist for Modern Drugs, took some time to humor us by answering our silly questions.
Smile Politely: The Space often makes special dishes for the bands that play there. What should Doug and Ian make for Modern Drugs?
Ryan Groff: Those guys do such magical things that it’s hard to envision what they would even come up with. But, in general, our band seems to share a love for chicken strips(or as we call them, “chick’m straps”) and fries. So if somehow they could conjure up a gourmet, creatively infused, feel-good version of a burger with chicken strips nestling the patty, with a pile of duck fat or truffle salt fries carefully piled to perfection on top, that would be a great thing people would happily consume I’m sure. Somewhat modern, definitely a drug.
SP: In a parallel universe where instruments don’t exist, what everyday objects would Modern Drugs use to create their signature sound?
Groff: The intricate and consuming power pop we make might best be created in this sci-fi “other world” scenario using pieces of infrastructure readily available all around us. I could see my bandmates & me utilizing lamp posts, railings, parking cones, and other grabbable, hittable items to create our pumping beats and interlocking chord rhythms, with the parking cones serving as perfect megaphones to blast our glorious four-part harmonies. I think that sounds about right.
SP: Which 80s synth-pop icon would you want to babysit your pet (assuming you have one), and why?
Groff: This is an easy one. I would 100% let Devo of the 80s or Devo of today watch our dog and two cats. Whatever excuse I could find to get to meet them, have them in our house, and ask them tons of questions about being Devo, I’d take it! They’ve done so many wonderful, musical things that have snuck into many happy moments in my life and for sure have laced through a lot of Modern Drugs songs over these four years we’ve been making music together. Devo the Dogsitters!
Modern Drugs with Curb Service and Squirrel Movement
The Space
1 E Main St
Champaign
Sa Aug 24th, 9 p.m.
$10 cover