Note: You can find this Q&A in this week’s 72 Hours. While it was compiled by Lauren LaRocca, the below exchange is a result of The Furr interviewing The Furr.
Hailing from Morgantown, West Virginia, The Furr describes itself as a psych-rock/noise pop/garage fuzz/art rock/punk band. They’ll play their first Frederick show Friday night with Old Indian at Cafe Nola. In this revealing interview, they take a break from their world tour to both pose and answer questions for us. (Thanks, guys!) The interview has been edited for space and clarity.
Please state your name, purpose, and how this began furr you.
ELI: Eli Pollard. Vocals, guitar, theremin, glockenspiel, love, persistence. My pal Francisco came to town and we started a vinyl radio show. Then we recorded Daniel Johnston covers for the radio show. My boy Cy was hangin’ around playin’ bass, and we had been working on conceptual bands since he was in second grade, so we asked him to start playing with us. My pal Lizzi came back to town from california and I asked her to play drums with us. She said yes.
JARROD: Jarrod Lee Ott. Bass Korg.
LIZ: Liz Pavlovic; drums, microkorg, some singing. Eli asked if I wanted to play music with him and some friends so I said sure!
FRANCISCO: Francisco Amaya, guitarist, noisemaker and songwriter. Started the Furr with some friends as a fun good time that grew legs and carried on with joy and much fuzz, pop and feedback.
Biggest influence outside of music?
ELI: The invisible. The visible.
JARROD: Trying to be a good person.
LIZ: Visual art, food, animals.
FRANCISCO: Drawing/painting, nature, books and movies.
One of your favorite bands you’ve played with.
ELI: Whoever is playing at the next one (Haggard Wülf at the Giant Squid show tomorrow).
JARROD: Shivering Timbers.
LIZ: Future Islands.
FRANCISCO: Future Islands.
If you were a donkey, what kind of ice cream would you like to eat? What would you wear while doing it?
ELI: Almond gelato. Furr.
JARROD: Butter Pecan. Nothing.
LIZ: Graham cracker swirl. Sunglasses.
FRANCISCO: The extra sugary kind. A yoke and a plow.
How many UFOs have you seen?
ELI: Four that I’m aware of.
JARROD: Three.
LIZ: None, but I’ve been around some ghosts.
FRANCISCO: I saw five of them flying in formation in the sky over Bolivia. Mostly, though, I’ve seen homemade ones.
What’s coming up furr The Furr?
ELI: Final leg of the world tour … being featured in art art show in Europe … The Furr film.
JARROD: Good things.
LIZ: A split tape, a tape on Fluere Tapes, more shows, new songs.
FRANCISCO: Perhaps some songs about multi-dimensional travel.
How are you holding up during this current world tour?
ELI: Currently tired but hopeful.
JARROD: I could use more sleep.
LIZ: Taking it one show at a time.
FRANCISCO: It’s a cakewalk. The Furr is prone to hyperbole.
How tall do you think the tallest Yeti is?
ELI: 9’10”.
JARROD: 11 feet.
LIZ: 12 feet at least.
FRANCISCO: Dzu-Teh can be 8 feet tall, but the more common Mih-Teh is about 6 feet. I have a good book about Yeti.
