2004 05 MAY RAG - RAG Magazine

SUGARCULTInterview: Juliett RoweI’m really going to go outon a limb here and say that I think thatSugarcult’s latest effort, Palm Trees and Power Lines (out thispast April on Artemis) is probably one of the better releases tocome out this year. The Santa Barbara, California based quartetfinally stopped touring long enough to record a new album, andthe result is, well, a damn good album.Forming in1998 through an ad in the back of Rag Magazine–justkidding–Sugarcult quickly built a fan base throughoutSanta Barbara and Southern California withtheir charismatic blend of power pop rock riddledwith sing along choruses and catchy hooks. Theband (Marko 72 on guitars, Airin on bass andvocals, and new drummer Kenny Livingston,)self recorded two demos, and set about a relentlessdrive for playing shows. It wasn’t longbefore the band hooked up with indie recordlabel Ultimatum Music and Start Static was released.As the band was hopping from tour totour, opening for the likes of Pennywise, TheAtaris (who guitarist Marko 72 used to playbass for), and MxPx, they ended up on WarpedTour, and a two week run turned into doingthe whole tour. And they ended up doing thetour the next year too. Start Static ended upselling 300,000 copies stateside and 500,00worldwide.Singer/songwriter and guitarist TimPagnotta talks with us on Sugarcult’s (whotook their name from a group of lesbiansthat lived next door to Tim that called themselvesThe Sugarcult–and I didn’t makethat up, although I wish that I had), tourbus a few hours before their recent headliningstint at the Factory. Tim movedaround a lot as a kid (something like fourhigh schools, three elementary schools,and two jr. high), and music andsongwriting became his passion, aswell as the one thing that was stable.Candid about his passion forsongwriting and recording, and his recentbout with tinnitus, Tim is a verymellow and laid back kind of guy.Sugarcult will be on this year’s WarpedTour as well.Rag: So the new album is finally out.Tim: Everyone was worrying how many copies it wouldsell, and I was just happy to be playing music because I have26 • JULY 2004 • RAG MAGAZINEbeen dealing with this problem with my ears ringingall the time. ...Every night I was just thinking to myself,‘I’m really thankful that I’m able to get up everynight and play music.’ I’ve been dealing with tinnitus,which is an ear condition where your ears constantlyring.Rag: When did you come off the road for Start Staticand begin writing your new album?Tim: Last year we toured with the Ataris, and when we cameback home for that we started writing and working on songs thatwould be Palm Trees and Power Lines. It came together reallyfast; I’d say it was about five weeks of writing. I wrote the recordin my bedroom–I have a home recording studio, so that waspretty cool.Rag: Are you able to write on the road?Tim: Not really, no. Songwriting is a weird thing. It used to cometo me...I’ve gone through phases where I’ve written songs for