Michael Cera Palin is currently out on tour with Weatherday and Oolong. We caught up with the Atlanta-based emo band prior to their show on June 20, at New Brookland Tavern.
Why don’t we start by introducing yourselves and telling us a little bit about your music?
Jon Williams: I am Jon Williams, I play bass in the band. We started this band when we were all around 18 or 19, and just wanted to have fun and make something cool, and we just kind of stuck with it!
Elliott Brabant: I’m Elliott, I play guitar and sing in MCP. I definitely feel like by listening to our music you can tell that we have grown in the process of making it, and that you can see a progression, which is cool.
Jon Buncic: I’m Jon, and I’m the drummer for MCP. What the band means to me, personally, is friendship. Just being able to communicate with fans, and being on tour, it’s everything I want from a band.
JW: It’s been so awesome to be able to meet everybody, everyone’s been super nice- I mean we’re only three days in but it’s been great.
What’s the first album that each of you remember loving as a kid?
E: Earliest, when I was five, I loved the soundtrack of the musical Annie. Honestly, I still think some parts of those tracks impact how I still do vocal melodies. Like, I’ve gone back to at least a couple songs there and it’s been a really gripping use of melody for me.
JW: For me, it was Straight Outta Lynwood from Weird Al. I remember when I was younger, it took me a while to actually like music. I guess I just wasn’t around it as much, but Weird Al introduced me to a whole world of music.
JB: For me, probably “The Reason” by Hoobastank. That was the first music I ever learned drums to, and it’s the reason I’m me.
E: I feel like this combination describes our sound perfectly.
So, what’s an album you’ve been loving recently?
JW: I’ve been obsessed with the new Black Country, New Road album. I feel like ever since I’ve heard that album, I’ve been better at the whole music writing process. It’s insane the things that people have been making, with all of these ideas, because I always love music, but that’s an album that’s really inspired me.
JB: My most recent favorite that’s really gripped me is “Montgomery Ricky” By Ricky Montgomery. It hits hard.
E: I would say the last album that I got obsessed with was probably this band I found from Georgia called “The Angelic Process”, and they have this album called “Weighing Souls with Sand”, and it’s one of the most massive sounding things I’ve ever heard, and it manages to make music feel large and encompassing in a really exciting way.
Tell us a little bit about the newer projects and music you’ve been working on recently.
JW: The most recent thing we did was the split with Weatherday, Oolong, and Newgrounds Death Rugby, who we’re touring with. It was really fun, and we adore all of their work, and it’s a dream to be able to work with them. Like four bands, just hanging out.
E: We sort of spent the entire pandemic just writing music. But at the time we recorded Edema Ruh, it was our newest thing, and felt like it could really stand on its own. I would say sound wise it’s a bit “sludgier”, where it goes around with the topic of our track, which is mostly considering the indoctrination of fascist ideologies and how it’s affecting our generation, and how grim it is to see people talk about “shitposting” while they’re discussing things like eugenics. As for the recording of the track, we went to a studio in Georgia and (Jon) Buncic took over production as usual.
JB: Yeah, at a certain point we decided against outsourcing the mixing process. It took a while, but we got it out and it sounds great!
JW: Personally, outside of MCP, I’ve been working on a project called “Mourning Person”, and I feel like its more of a fun passion project, we have a song with yodeling, and some ridiculous music, and it’s something fun for me that keeps the creative juices flowing.
JB: I got to record drums for their stuff too and it’s far out!
E: And I make ambient music on the side.
What is a local band from your hometown that you love and would recommend?
JB: The band Seder comes to mind immediately!
E: Yes, and the Callas Dallboys are also doing a great job at representing our hometown Atlanta scene. Also, Memory Screen is good. I like to see ATL hardcore taking a new form, even with familiar faces. Also, Tooth Cemetery and Slow Burning daydream are great bands.
JW: I recommend Doctor Deathray, super fun project from my buddy and it’s super camp-y music. As you can tell, I never really grew out of my Weird Al phase.
MEMBERS OF BAND:
Elliott Brabant (they/them) “E”
Jon Buncic (he/him) “JB”
Jon Williams (he/him) “JW”
