Her Flyaway Manner

Thrasher Magazine, June, 2003

IT'S NOT OFTEN that bands formed in high school last long enough to tour outside of their neighboring states. Her Flyaway Manner formed in Lincoln, Nebraska in 1996. Within several years they were making little weekend trips throughout the Midwest. Soon they found themselves traveling east, and now they're finishing up their first tour that reaches both coasts. Lead git Brendan McGinn speaks... --Joe Hammeke

Which is better, a good record or touring?

Towing, if you can pull off several good tours and make some good friends. Reputation is greater than some successful recording. If no one knows about you and you have no rep, no one is gonna pick up your great recording.

Major label--would you do it?

The circumstances would have to be just right. With Caulfield we record whatever we want, same with the artwork--we have creative control. We would have to maintain all of that. Just the idea of continuing to support an independent-based record label, I really enjoy that. Just trying to maintain something that I have been a part of since the beginning. Plus, we are one of the longest running Caulfield bands. All the other ones fail to the Caulfield curse--put out one record and break up.

What about MP3s and internet music?

It's cool; it helps the independent labels. I don't mind. It's good for you to do it yourself Punk rock people to record music, put it up on the internet, and have people access it--it results in more about the music and less about the making money and the consumer end of it. But, it can be kind of frustrating that someone didn't buy your CD and they downloaded it.

What's your favorite city to play in?

I'd say Athens, Georgia November of 2000 we played in a garage. The people gave the doorman money for a keg and there was a pitcher that said "For the band," and it had one dollar in it. This tour the big surprise was in Billings. Montana. We played at a bar that had nickel poker machines. We stayed at some girl's mom's house. She made us eggs, coffee cake, and peaches and cream.

Would you rather play a bar or an all ages show?

All ages.

How about a bar or a party?

A party, for sure. I'd definitely prefer that to playing at some bar, where people might just be sitting at a table having a drink

Ever plan to move out of Lincoln?

I read a book once that said "The devil you know is better than the devil you don't know." So with that in mind, for me to know where the guy who fixes my amplifier in Lincoln is or where the best Thai food there might be, even though it might not be the best, or just to know your hometown like the back of your hand, is better than moving somewhere new and hanging out with the same four people. It's easy to travel out of Nebraska. It's centrally located and cheap to live there. It's our home base and each year we're there a little less. One year it was a week, then two weeks, and now it's a 40-day tour.

What are some of the bands you're listening to now?

Signal to Trust out of St. Paul. Minnesota. Haymarket Riot and Radio Flyer, both from Chicago. Those are some current bands. Jawbox and Burning Airlines are a huge influence on our sound, and it's nice that no one has picked up on that in reviews of our music. Fugazi, of course. Some Lincoln bands, such as Sideshow and Opium Taylor were influential when I was growing up.

[Although not necessary, many bands interviewed in this publication have a skateboarding tie. I found this to be one of the most entertaining connections. --Joe]

Firehose and Minutemen, growing up next to Rich Flowerday's backyard ramp. I remember several Midwest Melee contests in the mid-'80s. Christian Hosoi slammed and separated his shoulder and my dad drove the van to Saint Elizabeth's Hospital. Gator tried to do my sister. Lance Mountain had an allergy attack due to the neighbor mowing the lawn. All the Skate Rock coming from the boom box back then had to have an influence on me.

Boz Hicks : Drums. Brendan McGinn: Guitar and vocals, Adorn 2000: Bass, Kevin Chasek: guitar and backing vocals