Saturday, December 11 brings Ghost Of Pop 6 to Gallery 5 (200 W. Marshall St). This year’s edition will feature performances by Young Adult Fiction, Orioles, Rocktopussy, The Trillions, Fuzzy Baby, Prabir/Goldrush, and David Shultz and the Skyline, all for only $5. This show is a perfect opportunity to familiarize yourself with all the great things happening in the Richmond independent pop music scene, or to check out the latest work of some old favorites. As the day of the show draws closer, we’ll be running a series of interviews with the artists who will be performing at this year’s Ghost Of Pop.
Just when you feel like you’ve seen it all, along comes a group like Fuzzy Baby. They reinvent themselves musically on every tune. In doing so, they leave a contagious anticipatory feeling in the air during their live sets. You can never be quite sure what the next song may entail. Perhaps Molly Berg will take on yet another horn part while interchanging stringed instruments, or Giustino Ricco will entertain with a wonderful sense of fervor and gusto. Elements of vaudeville as well as traces of Berg and Ricco’s rich musical backgrounds help construct the sonic tapestry known as Fuzzy Baby. I was able to catch up with Berg and Ricco via email to discuss the inception of the group, who would win in a variety of brawls and their definition of pop.
Saturday, December 11 brings Ghost Of Pop 6 to Gallery 5 (200 W. Marshall St). This year’s edition will feature performances by Young Adult Fiction, Orioles, Rocktopussy, The Trillions, Fuzzy Baby, Prabir/Goldrush, and David Shultz and the Skyline, all for only $5. This show is a perfect opportunity to familiarize yourself with all the great things happening in the Richmond independent pop music scene, or to check out the latest work of some old favorites. As the day of the show draws closer, we’ll be running a series of interviews with the artists who will be performing at this year’s Ghost Of Pop.
Just when you feel like you’ve seen it all, along comes a group like Fuzzy Baby. They reinvent themselves musically on every tune. In doing so, they leave a contagious anticipatory feeling in the air during their live sets. You can never be quite sure what the next song may entail. Perhaps Molly Berg will take on yet another horn part while interchanging stringed instruments, or Giustino Ricco will entertain with a wonderful sense of fervor and gusto. Elements of vaudeville as well as traces of Berg and Ricco’s rich musical backgrounds help construct the sonic tapestry known as Fuzzy Baby. I was able to catch up with Berg and Ricco via email to discuss the inception of the group, who would win in a variety of brawls and their definition of pop.
RVA: When did Fuzzy Baby begin? What inspired the project?
FUZZY BABY: Fuzzy Baby began a few years back with Molly and Giustino writing songs for each other in an effort to invent the world’s first edible candy coated cheese balls.
RVA: What are your backgrounds in music as far as instrumentation and education is concerned?
FUZZY BABY: Our musical backgrounds aren’t all that different. Molly played clarinet in her high school band, as well as writing experimental musicals with her brother Jesse. She has performed with Hotel X… and more recently was in the band Trilobita with Josh Quarles and Erin Householder. She also occasionally provides soundscapes for Stephen Vitiello’s various experimental projects. She is fluent in the language of love as well as tuba, conga, guitar, bass, wine glasses….
Giustino began banging on drums and heads as a young lad and at the age of nineteen (1992) was awarded the post of lead timbalero and comedic sidekick with salsa band Bio Ritmo. In a feeble attempt to save what little bit of hearing he has left he recently picked up an acoustic guitar… and proceeded to smash it to pieces.
RVA: How have your experiences playing in other musical endeavors assisted in shaping the sound of Fuzzy Baby? Is it easy to focus your musical energies towards Fuzzy Baby while being involved in so many projects currently?
FUZZY BABY: We know when to play and when to shut up. Giustino has developed a PTSD associated with loud drumming, screaming monkeys and other assorted carnival sounds. Molly is currently adding another 17 instruments to her musical arsenal in her attempts to make her family proud. In an effort to keep the Fuzzy Baby happy we are both in the process of quitting all other musical projects as well as any other means of making a living.
RVA: Fuzzy Baby touches on several genres (sometimes even in a single track). What inspired this approach to songwriting? I can only imagine it keeps things fresh and interesting for you two as well as your audiences.
FUZZY BABY: Sometimes Giustino will start working on an idea, walk away, eat and drink something and then return only to find that he’s forgotten what the original inspiration was. He begins the entire process again; often several hundred times. This method tends to lead to an interesting mashing up of genres. Molly keeps things fresh by laying her hands on any of the instruments she finds around the house. Giustino keeps things fresh by laying his hands on Molly.
RVA: Being a part of the Ghost of Pop festival, what is your definition of “pop” music and how do you feel Fuzzy Baby fits into that spectrum?
FUZZY BABY: Until relatively recently what we consider pop music often was the most “popular” music on the airwaves and much of it wasn’t that bad. Ironically, most of what we would consider good pop music today is not popular at all. From Sinatra to the Beatles to Michael Jackson, each age has it’s pop music. It wasn’t until now however that it all sucked.
Giustino’s first imaginary band name as a young Mod revivalist was The PopiCons. The band never made it out of his warped mind but it was intended to be “poppy” in the style of early Who, The Beatles, The Jam, etc.
RVA: What are your plans for the rest of 2010 and the year to come?
FUZZY BABY: We are planning to stay as close to our space heaters as possible. Molly is having one installed in her tuba. Other than that we’re hoping for the big bucks and sweet musical inspiration. In that order.
RVA: Who would win in a thumb-war match? Or a chicken liver eating match? If you were pitted against the Diamond Center and were joined by Bio Ritmo, who would prevail?
FUZZY BABY: Giustino would probably win the thumb war match if Molly hadn’t super glued his thumbs to his index fingers to prevent him from eating all the chicken livers. Bio Ritmo generally abstains from any sporting activities (unless you count Scotch consumption) therefore we would have to give it to those Bad Asses from Austin.
RVA: I love the story behind “Bread, Butter and Champagne.” Perhaps you could retell it? How does an epic number such as “Bread, Butter And Champagne” show us what the future of Fuzzy Baby is? How do you top something like that tune?
FUZZY BABY: “Bread, Butter and Champagne” was originally going to be the title of our first album. We got the idea from a quote on an old Chet Baker poster that is in our living room. We related to those three words and how we live our lives. We’re struggling artists like most, but we are unwilling to sacrifice certain things that may seem out of our monetary reach. So this is how we interpret the title: two people who have great taste in champagne, but can’t afford it unless they are willing to spend less on other things that most people would consider necessities. Yes our priorities are slightly askew. In our case it would be linguini, olive oil and a nice Bordeaux.
WHAT: Ghost Of Pop 6: All Richmond Music Fest!
WHERE: Gallery 5 200 W Marshall St
WHEN: Saturday, December 11, 8PM
ADMISSION: $5
