Record Shopping and talking 'Playing Favorites' with Sheer Mag

Interview by Parisa Eshrati

We caught up with Philadelphia-based power pop rockers Sheer Mag during their Playing Favorites tour to go record shopping during their stop in Tucson, AZ at Wooden Tooth Records. In this interview, the band talks about their record selections - from '70s UK folk music to hardcore punk to instrumental field recordings and beyond! We also talked a bit about their latest album, favorite Mortal Kombat characters, seedy conversations in dive bar bathrooms, and more. 

Tina Halladay
​lead vocalist
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​Prince - Dirty Mind 

"I think this is my favorite Prince record. I love doing “When You Were Mine” at karaoke. This is his funniest fashion statement era when he was wearing speedos and had Dr. Fink in medical gear playing synths. What a freak. I love this record. It’s the one of his discography that I listen to all the way through the most."

Tyler Childers - Rustin in the Rain 

"Here’s one that kind of goes hand in hand with the previous pick, ‘cause he’s another Appalachian guy. I saw Tyler Childers in Philly and it was awesome. I got drunk and cried. It was cool as hell. Everyone in the crowd was cosplaying as cowboys with giant oversized cowboy hats and straw in their mouths. I was like, 'Did you guys bring this from home? This is insane.' Anyway, I really love him and think his voice is incredible. I dream about singing with him."

Various Artists - Instrumental Music Of The Southern Appalachians

"I thought this one would be a good fit for the collection as it may have informed Tyler Childer’s sound."

Suzi Quatro - Quatro 

"I also picked out this Suzi Quatro Record Store Day vinyl because she’s a fucking badass. I feel like she’s the original lady rocker. Maybe that’s not correct, but I love her and the influence she had on a lot of artists, like the Runaways. She has a cool ass kind of country influence too, I don’t know if the song “The Honky Tonk Downstairs” is on here, but that’s a great one."

Etta James - At Last!

"I already own this record, but I had to throw this in here to show her some love. Etta James is a big influence on my singing. She’s just so cool. It made me so mad when they had Beyonce play her in that movie because she’s too hot. It’s fucking annoying. Not everyone has to be super hot all the time, so that was irritating."

ZZ Top - Greatest Hits

"I love “Got Me Under Pressure”. All these songs are fucking awesome. ZZ Top rules!"

Loretta Lynn - Greatest Hits 

"I’ve definitely been channeling some Loretta Lynn lately. She’s got a ton of great tracks, but I especially love “Don’t Come Home a Drinkin’”. There’s a song on our new album, “Don’t Come Looking”, where we were having trouble nailing down the vocals, so I just had to focus on my country influence and the legendary ladies of the genre. I definitely had Loretta in my heart when we were recording."

Dwight Yoakam - Greatest Hits

"I love Dwight Yoakam so damn much. And I picked this cassette cause it’s still sealed and got that old blue tape from the ‘90s on it. Pretty cool."

Jackson Browne - Running on Empty

"This one used to be one of our classic van records. I feel like most bands are running on empty, so sometimes this record just hits when you’re on the road for sure."

John Williams - Hook (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack)

"There’s no way I’m walking out of here without this."
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Matt Palmer
guitarist
​

​The Lemonheads - It’s a Shame About Ray 

​"After like, 20 years of only knowing the “Mrs. Robinson” cover, I finally got into The Lemonheads and think they’re awesome. I love “My Drug Buddy”, it’s like a ‘90s version of Steely Dan’s “Dirty Work” or something…it’s got that organ intro and the guitar feels like an homage to them. You can tell Evan Dando has such vast taste in music through all the songs he covers."

João Gilberto - The Warm World of João Gilberto 

"I also picked out this album by the great bossa nova guitar player. I don’t know this particular album, but they’re all great. I like to listen to this kind of stuff when I read or nap. Art Garfunkel covered one of his songs, “Waters of March”, and I used to think, “Damn, Garfunkel is really good at writing songs, I can’t believe Paul Simon never let him write anything!” but then I found out it was a Gilberto cover [laughs]."

Total Abuse - Mutt 

"Total Abuse is a noisy, hardcore punk band from Boston that makes pretty evil, violent sounding music. Their lyrics are really dark, the music is super intense and heavy. They are awesome."

Camera Obscura - My Maudlin Career 

"Scottish group Camera Obscura is one of my favorite indie rock twee bands. I love them so much.  They’re putting out a new record this year that I’m really looking forward to. They took a long hiatus since their last album because their keyboard player passed away in 2015. This record is so great, especially the songs “The Sweetest Thing” and “French Navy”. They sort of remind me of Motown-version of Belle and Sebastian.  This was also one of the only records downloaded on my phone when we toured in Europe, so I listened to this a million times."

The Doors - L.A. Woman 

"I’m predicting a big comeback for these guys in 2024! I think we’re finally ready for the type of masculinity that Jim Morrison embodies [laughs], plus “L.A. Woman” is a really fun song to walk around to. I like when it goes “Just got into town about an hour ago”, that’s a solid line when you’re on tour."

T&E: Do you think they’ll get a good biopic treatment this year?

Matt: "Well, they did get that one biopic in the ‘90s with Val Kilmer, and I actually hated The Doors for a while because my friend hooked up with my crush when we were all hanging out and trying to watch that movie. So yeah, I hated The Doors but I came around to liking them, and if I can come around after an experience like that - anybody can! Also it’s so weird that he’s buried in Paris. Why is he there?! It’s so random."

Tina: *eyeroll* God I fucking hate The Doors. Jim Morrison fucking sucks. 

Matt: "Well, I will say, it was a bad call to have no bass. I’ve never seen a band and thought, “Wow, I wish there wasn’t a bassist.” 

Government Warning - No Way Out (7”) 

"Finally, here’s a classic - the first 7” that really got me into hardcore when I first heard it back in 2007. We even played in the van today!"​

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​Evan Campbell
drummer
​

​King Crimson - Starless & Bible Black 

"I really like ‘70s prog, so I picked out this King Crimson record. It’s a live album, but I thought it’s pretty interesting how the drummer Bill Bruford chose not to play this show but they still give him credits in the liner notes."

Gong - Flying Teapot

"This is a great prog supergroup. I’ve been kind of punishing everyone in the van by playing this stuff. I like other music too but I’ve just been in the prog mode lately. I think the other guys are open to this music ‘cause they all like ‘70s rock, and there’s some crossover there. But since I just joined the band a few months ago, I’m weary of pushing the limits and playing this stuff in the van too much…[laughs]."
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Hart Seely 
bassist
​

Martine Tucker - Broken Hearted Dragonflies (Insect Electronica From Southeast Asia)

"I don’t know, is this like insect field recordings? That’s what I’m hoping for. If so, this is right up my alley. This is something I can put on and zone out to, read or book or something. I like ambient field recordings and crap like that."

T&E: That album is all field recordings, but it’s definitely way more noisy and harsh and honestly, a very punishing listen.  

Hart: "Okay, cool. Even better." 
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​Kyle Seely
guitarist
​

Ace - An Ace Album

"I really like this band, they’re like an early ‘70s British rock/blues group. They did that song “How Long (Has This Been Going On)” that’s on this record, but there are some other good ones on here too like “Sniffin’ About”. They’re cool."

Grin - All Out

"This is another band I love but I don’t have this album. This was Nils Lofgren’s band before he joined the E Street Band. This is the kind of thing I see in the bargain bins all the time, but it’s really good music. That’s my kind of jam, anyway. I’m kind of a $5 and under record buyer. That’s the Sheer Mag influence."
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The Incredible String Band - U

"What to say about these guys…I like a lot of traditional English and Scottish folk string music. That’s vibe music for me."

Roy Wood - Boulders
Roy Wood - Mustard

"I got these two records from Roy Wood because I haven’t seen these anywhere. He was in The Move with Jeff Lynn before he went on to make ELO. I like Wood’s stuff because it has that musical A.D.D. thing where he has all these different genres competing and does a little bit of everything. He’s crazy, but I like it. This album [Mustard] has a song called “Any Old Time Will Do'' that's one of my favorites, it sounds like a lost old TV sitcom theme. His solo wasn’t as successful as ELO obviously, but they were kinda cut by the same cloth. This is music for school nerds that wanna ROCK!"

Exile - Mixed Emotions

"I like this band ‘cause they’re a sort of weird cross between Southern rock and disco. I think they’re from the Cincinnati or Kentucky area. They do that song “Kiss You All Over”, which was their big ‘80s hit. I think I know someone whose dad was in that band…I gotta fact check that. But anyway, I like that song so I’ll check out the rest. Another solid $2 bargain bin find."

Player - Danger Zone

"These guys did that song “Baby Come Back” that was in a bunch of ads and stuff, but people don’t realize they’re a really tight rock band. They had that one soft rock one hit wonder, but their records are sick. I like the song “Love in the Danger Zone” on this album."

Jerry Doucette - Mama Let Him Play

"A friend of mine just sent me the lead single from this album recently and it rocks! I think he’s considered CanCon, like ‘70s hard rock from Canada, which is one of my favorite lil subgenres of classic rock. The Canadians really had it down."

Jim & Ingrid Croce - S/T

"This one I’m really excited about. I didn’t know that Jim Croce did an album with his wife, Ingrid, in the late ‘60s. I love Jim Croce, but apparently not enough to know this album happened. Worth checking it out, at the very least!"

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T&E: Let’s start by going around and giving an introduction, plus mentioning your go to Mortal Kombat character.

Matt: Sub-Zero

Tina: - Nah, I’M always Sub-Zero

Hart: - Sub-Zero

Evan: - Kung Lao.

Kyle: - Sub-Zero.

T&E: Okay but who is actually the best at playing Sub-Zero?

Everyone at once: Me!! 

Matt: We should talk about this Hook soundtrack that Tina bought.

T&E: Solid idea. What’s everyone’s favorite thing about the movie Hook?

Matt: Well, I just like when everyone pretends to eat the imaginary food

Tina: That’s everyone's favorite part, it’s so good. I also like when the little girl sings that song, that’s on this soundtrack. That song really hits me pretty deep. And I like when that one kid mocks that other kid and calls him fat and then he goes, “...Not so fat to me!”

Kyle: Nice. What a slam dunk. 


T&E: So you guys have previously noted the track, “Eat It and Beat It”, off your new album Playing Favorites, being almost like a diss track. If you could pick a fight with any artist for publicity, who would it be and why is the answer Josh Todd of Buckcherry?

Matt: I mean, we do not like that band The National.

Kyle: The most boring music ever made.

Matt: The singer said how he writes songs while drinking wine in bed, and I think that really comes through. It's very lethargic and boring.

Tina: [laughs] Agreed. Also speaking of Josh Todd, you can tell I’m having a really good night if I put on the 12 minute version of “Crazy Bitch” from Crue Fest.

Matt: I’d definitely like to think that Josh Todd would be a peer of ours, not a rival. 

Tina: Kyle’s lady bought us that Cameo we posted. Also, I remember some dude randomly messaged us on Instagram and said he loves our music and he’s friends with Josh Todd, so he’ll tell him to check us out. I was like, “Fuck yeah, let’s go on tour with Buckcherry!” Nah I dunno, that would probably suck…but it could be awesome.


T&E: You’re only a few weeks into the Playing Favorites tour but please describe the sights, sounds and smells of your tour bus so far. 

Matt: We have a piece of grass from Baton Rouge that’s been sitting in the van. It’s like a lawn clipping that sits in a bowl of water by the van door. Honestly it doesn’t smell that bad, but it’s become the bane of everyone’s existence. 

Kyle: We've been trying to keep it alive so we’ve been watering it and giving it some fresh air. It’s like bringing a dog with us on tour… but instead of a dog, it’s a patch of grass. It’s our little family project.

Matt: It’s a little piece of home to keep us grounded. There’s nothing like playing a sold out show and then coming back to your van to like…

Tina: …touch a piece of grass, y know?

T&E: So it’s almost like a meditation stone of sorts.

Matt: Yeah, right. It’s about the size of a 7”. 

Tina: I keep thinking that I'm going to step on it coming out of the van and hit my head and that will just end this all. 

Matt: You’re just saying that so you have an excuse to throw it away!

Tina: You think I want to slam my head into the tour van?! 

Matt: You would if that means you got to throw it away!!

Tina:  I’ll throw it away RIGHT NOW!

Matt: Alright, this is getting too heated. Next question! 


Songs like “All Lined Up” both lyrically and visually in the music video give off that sort of staying up all night at a sleazy pool bar and getting up to no good feel. Being veterans of such establishments, what’s the best bathroom graffiti you’ve ever seen?

Tina: Hard to say, I haven't seen that much ‘cause I'm usually pretty drunk when I'm hanging out at those spots and I forget about them by the next day. 

Matt: We were at a really seedy bar last night in Mesa. Their bar mascot was a drunk frog, it was pretty cool. Everyone there hated us guys but they all loved Tina. 

Tina: Yeah they had pool tables and everything. I became the queen of the bar by hanging out in the bathroom and talking to the women in there.

Matt: She was literally resolving disputes and mediating conflict. 

Tina: I didn’t have time to look at the graffiti because I was too busy encouraging women in the bathroom to live their lives to the fullest. First, there were two girls fighting and insulting each other and one of them came up to me and asked, “Would you tell her that she’s the worst?!” I was like, “No way man, she’s a 10/10!” And then some other girl came in and was all pissed off ‘cause her boyfriend wouldn’t buy her any more booze, so I encouraged her to buy her own drinks and get drunk and have a good time. 


T&E: Sick. Amazing things happen in dive bar bathrooms. Anything else you’d all like to mention?

Hart: Yes, I have a short speech I’d like to read…
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Just kidding. All I’d like to say is that the day of reckoning will come soon. Stay tuned!!

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​Playing Favorites is out now on Third Man Records.

​www.sheer-mag.com
https://sheermag.bandcamp.com
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