Pat McNally
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#5 Interview with Pat McNally aka Thunderbunny Blue of the Thundergods. Pat sings and plays
guitar in this fine local band; he also moonlights as Lonesome Pat
and as a Haole Brother. Catch a show sometime by any of the groups-
they're guaranteed to please. Oh, and when you see Pat, mention Mr.
Petty.
1. How did the Thundergods form?
-I had owned a guitar for a few years prior to the start of our band, but had
never learned to play it. I bought it, tried to figure out some of my
favorite songs and realized that it was a lot more difficult than it looks.
I ended up feeling kind of intimidated, and the guitar basically gathered
dust for quite a while. It wasn't until shortly before the band formed that I was actually able to
play a whole song all the way through. It didn't occur to me that a
few chords might be enough to get a band started, which is
funny, considering all the punk rock I had listened too. So, I kind of gave
up on being a musician. The idea for the band finally just sort of sprung up one night when I was
hanging around with Jimmy, listening to "Supercharger Goes Way Out". I loved
the dogshit out of that record, and was really surprised to find that I
could play all the songs, with no problem. So, "If they can do it...",
etc... I said "Hey Jimmy, we should start a band.", he said "O.K.", and
that was it. I originally wanted Jimmy to be lead vocalist, but he wouldn't do it. He
ended up taking on the bass, even though he had never played an instrument.
I think he's gotten pretty good at it. He would have made a great front man,
though... It's strange, but now that he's started The Greasy Chickens he
doesn't mind singing. Selfish. Selfish-Clap Jimmy. So, I got stuck singing and still wish someone else would do it. Actually,
at the outset, I didn't mind it, because a half-assed voice couldn't do much
harm, in light of our 1/25th-assed "playing". It's gotten to be a real
handicap now, however (at least in my opinion). As we moved along, the songs
kind of grew beyond my ability to
sing them. My guitar playing has at least gotten onto the same playing
field, which is a relief. For a VERY long time, I couldn't even make it
through my own songs. Anyhow, we practiced once or twice and I booked us a gig at Friends &
Players, much to the horror of our would-be drummer (Kris from Muler), who
immediately quit. I guess he didn't think we would take the joke that far,
and certainly not that fast. We got another drummer and spent a year or two
playing strictly at Friends & Players, because nobody else would have us. If
it weren't for the kindness of the manager,
Caz, we never would have gotten off the ground. So it's all his fault,
really.
2. You and Jimmy are the only two original members of the Thundergods. Do
you feel that there's an instinctive quality (music and performance-wise)
that has formed between the two of you over the years?
-Jimmy and I have been pals for about a century, and we've definitely been on
the same wave-length about almost everything, right from the start. I
consider him my stinky Italian doppelganger. Well, almost. He's got greater
charisma and a lot more records and can make enchiladas. I've got him beat
on mental problems, though. No contest. I think we have the same view on performance, which pretty much boils down
to "Let's play Rock Star". Musically, it depends. We love the same
performers and records, for the most part. As far as the T-Gods' music, I
think we agree on where we want to go, but the fact that we're such
technical 'tards keeps us from communicating in the way that
a couple of real musicians might. We don't know what key we're in, or any of
the notes on the fretboard, and so forth. So it's kind of like "Hey, put
your finger on that dot there, and play it like 'dum-dum-da-dum-dum'..."
Dunce-talk decoding duties have always fallen
upon our more astute band members. Lord Bless 'em.
3. To what do you credit the longevity of the Thundergods?
-Nobody wants to listen to me bitch and moan about not having a band. It's
easier on their nerves if we just stay together.
4. In his interview with me Rob said in regards to your writing, "Pat
McNally is completely insane, like Brian Wilson insane, not Syd Barrett
insane. He has all the parts all worked out for every Thundergods song".
Do you feel that the comment / comparison is accurate?
-Entirely accurate. I am the new Brian Wilson.
Seriously, I usually do work out the songs in their entirety before I show
them to the TGODS, but the process is more obsessive than inspired. I sort
of listen to them in my head over and over, and tack stuff on as I go along.
Once I know how I want everything to go, I try to figure out how to play it.
If that works, I bring it to practice.
5. What motivated you to become involved in the side projects of Lonesome
Pat and the Haole Brothers?
-Lonesome Pat came about because I love Gene Autry and the Sons Of The
Pioneers and all those old "cowboy" singers. They were SO cool, and the
songs that came out of that genre were amazing, too. I'm aware that if I
can't sing punk rock, I REALLY shouldn't attempt this stuff, but I love it
so much... I figure you can't drown any worse in 100 feet of water than in
ten, so screw it, I'm Gene Autry. People seem to like Lonesome as a funny novelty act, which is cool, but the
funniest part, the part that they don't get, is that I'm not really kidding.
I guess it's better that they don't get it, huh? My involvement in the Haole Bros. stems from a love for schmaltzy old Tin
Pan Alley songs and American "standards" in general. I bought a ukulele
figuring that I'd do some crooning like Fred Astaire or like Dick Powell in
those old Busby Berkeley numbers. Then I started
talking to Duke about a project, because he has a couple of ukuleles, too.
He's more into Hawaiian crooners like Alfred Apaca, so it shifted over to an
Island theme. We suck, really bad.
6. Speaking of the Haole Brothers, one local critic seems to be fairly
smitten (he devoted 1/2 an article to it) by the cd "Far Far From
Hawaii", claiming that it's "not the worst local cd I've heard... it
might be one of the funniest". What's your reaction to his commentary?
-I take issue with that. It's by far the worst local cd, ever. It is funny,
though. Another one of those gargantuan misfires that people enjoy as
comedy, never recognizing the passion that inspired the effort (again,
that's really for the best). Like the clown Pagliacci,
we must laugh along on the outside, whilst crying within. The price of
genius.
7. When did you first become interested in performing?
-I used to like to recite commercials when I was little. I also got the parts
of Jesus and St. Peter the Apostle in a couple of 2nd-3rd grade plays. I
enjoyed that. I think I peaked back then.
8. Is there any sort of philosophy or tradition that you incorporate into
your endeavors?
-"Hey, everybody! Look at me!"
9. What band / artist / album turned you on to music?
-My dad played Frankie Laine's version of "Ghost Riders In The Sky" for me
when I was very young. I was scared to death, but I made him play it for me
every day. He must have hated that song after a while. That's the first song
that gave me that shivery adrenaline rush. Know what I mean? Today I
recognize it as possibly the worst version of "Ghost
Riders" ever recorded, but I can't help loving Frankie Laine, anyway.
10. Who or what has been the biggest influence on the path that you've
taken with your music?
-I usually take a cue from whatever kind of music I happen to be listening to
at a given time. Sometimes it all mashes together. I don't know. On a more
personal level, I've always been very inspired by the Quitters. I can't get
enough of them. I want the TGODS to be as good as them. Soon, I'll kill them
and drink their blood. The Quitters, not the TGODS.
11. If you could switch places with any one musician, living or dead,
who would it be and why?
-I don't think I'd switch places with anyone, really, but I never stop
wishing for a time machine, so I could go back and see all the greats in
concert.
12. What album do you feel defined Rock and Roll to the American society?
-What's the name of Creed's latest?
13. Do you have any advice for someone aspiring to be in a band someday?
-You'll never make it. Leave it to the pros, like me.
14. So, have you listened to any Tom Petty lately?
-Yes! First album. "She was...an American girl"
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