LAist Interview: Annuals' Adam Baker (and his mom, and Zach Galifianakis)

Tonight the Annuals are headlining the Troubadour. Although this North Carolina-based indie/folk/pop six-piece outfit has played some high-profile shows (at Coachella last year, and they've already appeared on Conan twice) they've never headlined a gig here in LA. However, they've been through here a couple times before as a supporting act, most recently in November when they played The Fonda with Minus The Bear. LAist was there and had a chance to get in a few questions with 22 year old lead singer Adam Baker, as well as a couple of the Annuals' biggest fans: Baker's mother (who flew in from North Carolina) and celebrity alt-comic Zach Galifianakis...

LAist: You've mentioned in past interviews that the music of Mike Patton (Faith No More, Mr. Bungle) is a major influence on everyone in the band. Besides Mike Patton, can you name some other influences?

Adam Baker: It's weird because, growing up, my mom listened to beach music, like the Beach Boys, and my dad listened to folk and country, and a lot of soul and motown kinda stuff. So I got the beach from her, and the motown and the country from him. So, Brian Wilson and the Beach Boys, Hank Williams Sr., Johnny Cash, Radiohead, Bjork, Secret Chiefs 3... there's just so many...

I see you guys are hanging out here with comedian Zach Galifianakis. How did you guys become friends? Is it because you're all from North Carolina?

It probably is a North Carolina thing. He somehow heard of us, and had us open for one of his comedy shows in New York. It was fun. And then we hung out with him on New Year's Eve at this really weird party. It was us, and about 10 of his friends, and, I can't even tell you what went on. But Zach is a really cool guy, and I hope we get to be in one of his sketches on TV sometime. We're not funny people, but we'd like to be.

I know he often incorporates music into his stand-up acts, and performs his comedy at music festivals like Coachella and Bonnaroo...

He's a great piano player. He should have been in a band. He's much more of a music fan than he is a comedy fan, it's strange. But I guess that comes with the territory. If you work in something, you end up not being as attached to it.

So, the new album (Such Fun) is finished and out now, so what's on the horizon for you guys? I know you have an upcoming tour where you'll be the headliners...

Yeah, we're going to be headlining, and bringing with us some of the bands that are part of our record label, Terpsikhore Records. Our bass player, Mike Robinson, is the Vice President of Terpsikhore, and I'm like the in-house producer. We're bringing with us a band from Tempe, AZ called What Laura Says, and... they're the next Beatles, I promise you. It's kind of a bummer taking them out with us, actually, because they upstage us every time we play with them. We first played with them a couple years ago, at this tiny place in Arizona that had all these sound problems, and somehow they were able to sound amazing, and just blew us out of the water. Also coming with us is a really great songwriter named Jessica Lea Mayfield, who has sort of an alt-country feel.

Tell us a little about the artwork on the cover of your new album, Such Fun. Isn't it a painting by the legendary Bob Ross, who had a show called The Joy Of Painting?

Between us and our management, we somehow came up with this idea of using this style of art, I guess they call it "cottage porn." You know, the paintings you see in hotel rooms and stuff. Some people call it "cheesy," but I'll just say, it's "expected" art. But still, you have to realize the people who make this kind of artwork were very passionate about it, and a lot of them learned to paint from watching Bob Ross. And when we contacted Bob Ross' estate, and found out that they were interested in keeping his memory alive by letting us use his art, we jumped all over it. Because he still is an important influence. I remember as a kid, falling asleep while watching his show on PBS. And they way that he made his shit, is a lost art. And the way that he worked was not at all... you know, elitist. He would make these "happy little trees" and not try to pretend that it took all this talent. Anybody could do it, and anybody can experience the joy of making art. It ties back in to what we do... I can make music, and its so much fun and such an honor to do, but it's not that heavy, you know... it's art and it's made to make people happier. But still, the paintings and the music, the final product is still a deep and meaningful thing... it's this weird sort of gray area that we wanted to show in some way.

One of my personal heroes is Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips, and I know you got to play with them over in Europe. What was that like?

Wayne Coyne is one of the greatest people I've ever met. You have no idea how hard he works. Have you ever seen him set up for a show? The guy is running around backstage setting up everything. I certainly don't have the energy to do what he does.

So you guys are from Raleigh, NC. How did you all meet? Were you all students at NC State or something?

No we all grew up there, in the suburbs surrounding Raleigh. We all sort of got together because there aren't many dedicated musicians in Raleigh, so we all sort of found each other when we were really young. Me, Kenny and Mike started playing in my mom's basement when we were like, 12 or 13, in middle school. The music wasn't good, but it was happening at least. And at the same time, the other half of the band, Nick and Zach were playing together, doing Deftones covers and stuff, and we all just sort of found each other and started playing together. When me Mike and Kenny started, we were called Sedona. I was the drummer, and Kenny wrote the songs. After a while, I learned to play other instruments, and then in high school I started learning a lot about audio production. So when I learned how to do it myself, I started accidentally putting songs together, and it sounded good to me, so I'd burn CDs and give them to people.

Your band seems to have a lot of experience under your belt, considering how young you guys still are.

Yeah, I'm only 22, and we're all around the same age. I think it's a good thing that we're all still young. What's the cut-off date for musicians these days, like 35? When they just have to stop because they haven't gotten anywhere? I mean, there honestly isn't a cut-off date, but at some point you have to think, well, do I want to settle down and have a family? We still have a lot of time left to pursue music, so it's a good thing.

You guys have played a lot of music festivals. How is playing a festival different from playing a club gig?

The plus side of festivals is the overall experience. Each festival has it's own sort of special thing going on. But I think we sound like shit at every festival. There's no soundcheck, and if you don't have a sound guy it's absolutely impossible. I mean, festivals are always fun, for sure, but I like playing small clubs. But I think that's because it's what we're used to. I like small rooms where everyone is definitely there to see the show, and not just passing by, but festivals are good for showing yourself to a lot of people who may have never heard your music before. And at festivals you can definitely party a lot more, which is always fun.

(To Adam Baker's mom) So did you fly all the way from North Carolina to LA just for this show?

Adam Baker's Mom: Well, my other son lives here in Los Angeles. So when this tour got announced, I looked at this date and said 'There it is. That's the one I'm going to.' This is a rare chance for the boys and I to be together. They played in Pomona and LA, and they're close together, so I came out for both of those shows.

So, Adam says this whole thing started in your basement.

Yes, it was Kenny, Mike, and Adam. They were 11, 12 and 13. Ten tears ago. We had a three story house with a basement. And we would all run for that front door, because it was like 'Oh my god, it's that head-bangin' music again!' So, for them to go from there, to this... I'm just so proud of them.

Were you always supportive of them playing music, even when you thought it was just noise?

Yes. I'm a teacher by trade. I know you can't take every child and fit them into the same mold. I have two opposite boys. They're both in the arts, but they're totally different. You can't take an individual and make them like everybody else, like the public schools tend to. They were in Montessori school, because the curriculum was more individualized. So when he came to me with this music thing, I asked, 'Is this what you want to do?' and he said 'I think so.' So I said, 'well then you need to do it, and see where it goes.' And I'm very proud.

(To Zach Galifianakis) So how did you become friends with these guys?

Zach Galifianakis: I was in a record store, and I saw their CD. And the sticker on the CD said something about Broken Social Scene and North Carolina all in the same sentence. Well I'm a huge fan of Broken Social Scene, and I'm from North Carolina, so I listened to the CD and then bought it right away. I loved the album. And I tracked them down, and they graciously opened for me at one of my shows.

Annuals bass player Mike Robinson: And then we wrecked his house on New Year's Eve last year.

Yes, they came to my house for New Years.

Cool. Hey, by the way, I saw your buddy Patton Oswalt recently.

Oh really? Where was he? Let me guess.... you were in a comic book store?

No, I was....

He was at a cape store?

No...

You were at a Dungeons and Dragons convention?

No, it was an election night party.

Oh.

I know you're somewhat of a musician yourself, and sometimes play piano during your comedy routines. Have you ever been in a band?

I don't know how to read music, so no. I'm not a musician, I just fake that I know how to play the piano. On occasion, I can turn it on and it may seem like I can really play, but I can't.

I know that you sometimes will go out and find a street musician and bring him on stage with you during your set. Why?

I think it's just interesting to have someone up on stage with you that you just found that day, and they don't know what's going on, and you don't really know how to work with them. I used to play at Largo a lot, and the front door opens right to the street, and I'd sometimes just pull people right from the street and just bring them on stage and interview them or whatever. Because I prefer to make things up while I'm onstage rather than do the same thing over and over.

The Annuals can be seen performing tonight at The Troubadour, with Jessica Lea Mayfield and What Laura Says. Doors open at 8:00pm. Tickets are $12/adv, $14 day of show.