Written by: Jo Ann L.B. Duggins
Photos by: Findorion Photography (top photo unknown)

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You know what I love about this little band, Pora! Pora!? I tell you what, they might not be at the level yet but I feel they will be there quite shortly. The other thing I love about this band is that they gave me probably my most entertaining interview. I like subjects that can put that kind of effort in getting to know who they are. In this interview you will see that their answers are to the questions as their music is to the listener. My favorite track from these guys is "Black Water" and I think that Pora! Pora! just has a lot of fun playing. And by golly I like that kind of spunk!

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What do you guys feel you are bringing to the musical climate?

JF: Sunny Days, but not like global warming sunny.
AS: Multiple orgasms.
PE: Let's try and keep these answers semi-coherent, guys.

What do you feel are your challenges as a band?

JF: Time and money are always problems.
JF: The fact that Joe Simpson is not our dad.
AS: Who's Joe Simpson?
JF: Ashlee and Jessica Simpson's dad/manager. Or Steve Buscemi, for that matter.
PE: Good answer.
JF: Really, everything's a challenge. Music is a weird business.
PE: It's an everyday struggle.
AS: You should quote Biggie Smalls when you say "Everyday Struggle."
PE: I can quote Biggie in every one of these questions if you want.

Where does the material for your songs come from?

AS: Mel's basement!
JF: R. Kelly. Someday I want to write a rock opera based on the life of R. Kelly.
PE: David Byrne gave Trapped in the Closet some serious praise. It's high art.
JF: The second installment lost some of its magic.
PE: But still. I can't wait to find out about this package.
MH: Uhh, what happened to the questions? Don't let R. Kelly get the best of us.
JF: Our material is strictly based upon suggestions we get from prank callers. Let's give them Mel's number.
MH: Nice. I like it. My number is…

Why have you all chosen the genre of music you play? Who influences you most?

JF: I saw Purple Rain over the summer at McCarren Pool, and that was very inspiring to me in a number of ways. We all have extremely different ideas about what we like, and whatever comes out in our songs is the result of pained compromise. We don't try to fit in to any one particular genre; we are just a product of our influences - everyone from The Kinks to Gang of Four to Operation Ivy to Blondie.
PE: Nice.
PE: No one's judging you for your smart answer, Jo.

Pora! Pora! is an interesting name for a band...care to elaborate?

MH: No, next question.
JF: It's the title of a chapter from Mikhail Bulgakov's "Master and Margarita" - 20th century satire about how the Devil decides to pay a visit to an atheistic Soviet Union. It deals with "the interplay of good and evil, innocence and guilt, courage and cowardice, exploring such issues as the responsibility towards truth when authority would deny it, and the freedom of the spirit in an unfree world. Love and sensuality are also dominant themes in the novel." That's from the Wikipedia entry. It's actually referenced quite a bit in the music world (which I didn't find out until after the band naming). Mick Jagger wrote "Sympathy for the Devil" based on the book. Literally "Pora! Pora!" means "Time to go! Time to go!" in Ukrainian.
PE: The book is really worth a read, by the way.
JF: One of the main characters is a talking cat.

Where do you see yourself in five years?

JF: Is this a job interview?
AS: Recording an underwater album inside of Dethklok's metal submarine.
JF: That sounds accurate.

Describe a Pora! Pora! fan.
We've attached three pictures of fans. These are our ideal fans. (See left)


What do you do to prepare for a show? How much do you all practice?

JF: Practice shmactice. We like to prepare with freestyle rap. It's therapeutic.
PE: Abe's style is really stream-of consciousness.
JF: Like James Joyce.
PE: Except entertaining.
JF: Also, we like to send our mascot Benji into the crowd.
PE: He also sings us and the other musicians to sleep after the show.
JF: Yes, it's very sweet.

Where do you guys generally play? Do you tour or any plans to do so?

JF: We play parties and clubs around NY. We are waiting for that special "other band" to go on tour with us.
JF: We want to play everywhere. Especially your house. Or maybe your mom's House.
AS: And definitely Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles...I heard the parties are wild there.
JF: Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles would be my dream show.
PE: What's Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles?
JF: It's in LA, and it's an institution!
PE: You eat the chicken and waffles together?
JF: Yes.
PE: I don't get it though. Chicken and waffles are totally different. Why do they serve them together?
JF: They're like peanut butter and jelly. You don't understand. Maybe after our next recording session we will go get some chicken and waffles to celebrate.
PE: Whatev.

Favorite amusement park ride?

JF: The Tunnel of Love. I've never been on one, but I like the idea.
AS: Big Bertha's Love Shack.
JF: And the subway. The F train might as well be an amusement park ride.
AS: The F doesn't go through any hood or rough neighborhoods, really.
JF: Have you seen the really old blind man that sings "Do you think I'm sexy?" He makes the "F" stand for FUN
PE: No. I saw a Japanese guy singing "Every time You Go Away," by Paul Young. He slowed it down and made it really mournful.
JF: aww…
PE: People were making fun, but it was really beautiful.


Well then....there you have it...Pora! Pora! If you would like to know more about them feel free to visit their MySpace.

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