My Fantasy Band: Connor Hanwick, The Drums
Vocals - Stephen Pastel
You don't necessarily need to be a good singer, just one who has got something worth singing about, be it stylistically, lyrically, or melodically. The vocalist would need to be someone who understands controlled disorder. Deadpan but melodic. The Pastels sounded like Stephen wrote great melodies but then was too bored to sing them dead on. I've always appreciated his delivery and his songwriting.
Saxophone - John Lurie
The sax is perhaps the greatest and most versatile instrument in rock and roll. In his band, the Lounge Lizards, Lurie made saxophone punk. He was subtle and played shows with his band doing loungy jazz music in small punk clubs – with the volume so loud that everyone would leave. That's what punk is – not recycled ideas about being tough, dirty or strung out.
Guitar - Lee Ranaldo and Bret Lunsford
Guitar is tricky. It's easy to get carried away if you're good. Lee Ranaldo was in Sonic Youth, but before that he played with Glenn Branca in his guitar orchestra. His sound design and attention to the sounds seemed more important than the actual parts. He's sloppy but controlled and doesn't get self-indulgent. Bret Lunsford played guitar in D+ and Beat Happening. He could play chords and leads that were on the brink of crumbling apart but you never lost the song.
Drums - Moe Tucker
She drummed for the Velvet Underground. Drummers should be sort of nondescript, they should stick to the basics and never be showy. There's no more unattractive trait in a drummer then one who is overplaying. Moe embodies the perfect drummer.
The Drums' new single, "Let's Go Surfing", is out on Monday
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