In Defense of the Band |
I had just turned 20 when MUNA had our first “rehearsal” in the living room of the dorm where Jo Maskin and I lived together on 27th Street, in the West Adams neighborhood of Los Angeles.
It was the spring of 2013. Jo and Naomi McPherson were playing out of mini amps. I had a MIDI keyboard plugged into my computer speakers. There was a kaleidoscope-style tapestry tacked on the wall and a pack of Marlboro 27’s on the coffee table.
As the story goes, we jammed together that day and ended up with a song that would be the first on our More Perfect EP. Jo will tell you she didn’t know the three of us were starting a band that day. I kind of did.
Naomi and I were in love, and I think in some way, starting the band was me contending with my jealousy of their talent as a musician. I was less threatened by them if I was part of their project.
The same goes for Jo. We were in the same music program at USC, and from day one, I recognized that Jo was one of those undeniable stars. Everyone was magnetized to her. And she was so beautiful.
They both were. The bastards.
Over time, my jealousy came to light.
Years later, we went to see a therapist in Mid-Wilshire as a band. I expressed in a moment of frustration that I was bringing a lot to the table—that I knew I was writing good songs. The implication: I was carrying the band.
The therapist looked at me tenderly and asked if I was truly upset with Naomi and Jo, or if I was actually arguing with an insecure voice in my head which insisted I didn’t have anything to offer them. She may have had a point, but I wouldn’t tell her that.
“I don’t like that therapist,” I quipped as the three of us rode the elevator down together.
Luckily, Jo and Naomi also took issue with our therapist’s point of view. Maybe we felt no one could understand us like we did each other.
This commitment........