Meho Plaza Interview: Know Your LA Bands

BeatCrave is proud to bring you band, Meho Plaza, as part of our Know Your LA Bands series. This three piece band is possibly the most quintessential LA band I have come across yet, and by using the term “quintessential,” I definitely don’t mean the “typical.” At first listen, the distorted bass and screeching guitars under the heavy drums may mistakenly group them into only noise rock bands of LA. However, as soon as you listen to your second Meho Plaza song, you begin to realize that this band is nothing like the others.

Meho Plaza could easily be as big of a name as HEALTH or No Age. Intsead, Mike Thrasher (vox/guitar), Jennifer Hwang (keys), and James Connelly (drums) have been keeping their profile low with only two-self released EPs and one full length album. Not only are their song titles clever, (I Sold My Organs, Let’s Play Police, We’ll Drink The Blood) but under all those chaotic layers of lo-fi quality is refreshing songwriting. Combining electro with punk will always win me over, but when you insert insanely catchy pop melodies in there, I become deliriously giddy. Anti-melody and synthesizers on the surface may be too tricky for some,  but that’s the best thing about this band. They make juxtaposition sound easy, AND naturally good. So, in this case, quintessential only takes on the meaning of “original, pure, and concentrated form” – kind of like the first time you ever heard Sonic Youth.

They’re getting ready to release a brand new 4-song EP with Dead Wizard, and have a show at The Airliner coming up this month. I really recommend attending. I’ll be there! Until then, check our exclusive interview with Mike Thrasher out below!

Where in LA are you all currently residing?

Jennifer and I both live in Hollywood. James is in Chinatown.

Where did the name Meho Plaza come from?

It’s the name of an underground Sumo wrestling league.

Was it a surprise when you found out that Pitchfork had put “The Beach” on their 2006 mixtape of the very best of their favorite new tracks?

Very surprised. One day i got an email from the editor… thought it was a prank.

Was there an immediate increase in your fan base after that?

Kind of. But the best thing was that a label found out about us through that thing and we were able to release a full length album.

A lot of people really took notice of your use of the Moog for a while. Was that instrument something you originally had in mind for the sound of Meho Plaza or did it just happen that way?

Actually Jenn plays a Casio. It was just something I had laying around.

Is there any new instrument of equipment you’re particularly fond of at the moment?

Autoharp / Accordian

If you had your choice among all the LA venues, where would you have a residency?

We like playing parties and stuff like that the most. For instance, these guys in Not the Gov built a skate ramp in their backyard a few weeks ago and had bands play. It was pretty awesome.

Are you for or against music piracy and why?

People will always share music for free and otherwise… always have. Having said that, I think people should support the artists they enjoy by buying their music and merchandise. It’s worth something.

What’s coming up next for Meho Plaza?

We are about to release a 4 song EP with a label called Dead Wizard. We’re going in the studio to mix it in a week or so. Also, we’re doing a 7 inch with Matt from KXLU. Also,  local shows.

Quick-Fire Round:
What did you do for the 4th of July?

Went to Franklin Canyon and walked around.

Are you a coffee, tea, or soda person?

Coffee and tea. Smoothie too.

If I suddenly demanded you to start singing one of Meho Plaza’s songs, which one do you think would pop out of your mouth?

Maybe “I Sold My Organs.”

What’s one song you can’t stand?

“Right Now” by Van Halen

Tell us one thing about yourself we probably don’t already know.

I drive a VW.

Photography courtesy of fivethousand and Maria Duran