Last Spring, Shanghai indie-rock band Boys Climbing Ropes, was scheduled to play a show in Chongqing.  For one reason or another the show was cancelled, but not before we asked band members Jordan Small and Morgan Short a few questions.

CQSCENE:  First of all, I have to ask, does your name have anything to do with erect penises and/or Wayne's World?

Jordan Small:  That's the beauty of all three (erect penises, waynes world, boysclimbing ropes), they are up to anyone's interpretation.

Morgan Short:   Ah, it's going to be one of these interviews... we're going to get into a fuckin joust here.  Alright, alright.  Let's get crazy.  Let's get witty.


CQ:  You're clearly annoyed by the interview format, what about it bothers you?    

MS:  Oh no. Not annoyed.  Elated. It's rare that we get an "erect penis" question right off the bat.  Too bad little punk isn't around to throw in her two cents. 

CQ:  One of the most popular songs from the album is Whale Song.  Was it in any way inspired by Star Trek IV?

JS:  It has been far too long since I watched that brilliant film for it to have had any impact on the content of that song. It's actually about the death of a loved one. It is kind of a depressing celebration of a song.

CQ:  With the exception of some African cultures death and celebration usually don't go hand in hand, what is it about death/the passing of a loved one does this song celebrate?

JS:  It is not a celebration of death itself but more about the coming together of those alive.  The sharing in an inexpressibly human time of reflection and psychological turmoil.  It is something that is built out of loss.  I suppose it can be reckless, chaotic connections that people make when reaching out for something impossible to get back.  The music expresses a lightness, while the lyrics are a little darker and disconnected. 

MS: All the other songs are inspired by Star Track IV and to a lesser extent, Star Track Voyager, and in the most minor way Data's struggle to comprehend 'what it means to be human.'  Also a bit of Warf trying to negotiate a life between two cultures.   
There's also a lot of 'with great power, comes great responsibility' and 'be yourself' and 'fuck George Bush'.

CQ:  and how do you negotiate a life between two cultures?  

MS:  Well, I don't know if Security Chief Warf ever managed to do it.  He always seemed torn between two worlds.  It was his cross to bear.

CQ:  Has living in China/Shanghai had an influence on your music?  In what way?

JS: We are defined by our surroundings and the controlled accessibilty to its nouns and verbs. Shanghai has played a major role in building our sound. This city is restless, to the point of anxiety. These songs are like buildings stirring under the weight of pollution.

CQ: Your music however doesn't sound restless or anxious, so where/how does that anxiety come into play?

JS: Hmmm. Guess that's just our personalities...

MS: Musically I think we draw on influences the same way everyone else does in this late, late period in modern life: you try to steal the best shit you grew up with and then you steal the best shit of what everyone else around you is doing.  Everyone around us happens to be in Shanghai and in China in general, so we steal from them.  
But we're only a band because we live in Shanghai (we met here), and we've lived here for 1,000,000 years, so the city and the malaise of the city is a frequent inspiration for all our chart toppers, perceptive and insightful that they are.      

CQ:  Can you give me an example of some of the shit you've stolen?  

MS:  The whole, guitar, bass, drummer, singer thing -- that was someone else's idea.  We just moved right into it.  Passed it off as our own.  I think some of our songs have choruses as well, which is not really a concept we came up with ourselves.
 
CQ:  As this is your first Chongqing show, is there anything in particular about the city you're looking forward to?

JS:  Its sheer population density

MS:  Actually, we're looking forward to this Nuts Club, which we've heard a lot about.  We heard it's fucking nuts.  We've been to Wuhan a few times and we understand there is a bit of a Wuhan connection there with the people who run it.  Maybe I'm wrong about that.  But we're looking forward to getting blitzed in a new city, which is the core aesthetics of the band.  We're looking forward to making new friends in Chongqing and selling them shitty merch to fuel our larger designs on wealth and fame.  Maybe we'll fit in a temple or two.

CQ:  Finaly, what can an unacquainted audience expect from the show?  

MS:  Hmm.  I would say, it's a lot of sweat and people jumping around, it's pretty loud, lots of bangs and explosions, and there is a lot of opportunity to think about life and the world and your fellow man.  In the end, we all overcome evil and live to fight on another day.

BCR plays Nuts Club Saturday 12/4,  20:30. 
30 RMB