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Music Mule speaks to Telekinesis, the one man Seattle band that is Michael Benjamin Lerner. Telkinesis’ debut self-titled album, recorded on analogue tape by Chris Walla of Death Cab For Cutie, is out this week on Morr Music and is a masterful display of breezy, good time indie rock that will lighten up the darkest of days. When playing live Telekinesis becomes a four-piece with Michael taking on vocal and drum duties. The new Phil Collins? Not exactly but we’d like to see him in a Cadbury’s style Gorilla suit.

What is your favourite song to play live?

I think currently, a song called ‘Calling All Doctors’ is my favourite to play live. It’s completely different live, then on the record. The version on the record was recorded on a piano very quickly, but the version with the band is much more guitar driven, and also has a four on the floor type feel. It’s exciting to play it now since it’s so completely different.

What is your first memory of playing live?

My first memory was in elementary school. We had these things called Sock Hops, where you would dress up with slicked back hair and dance to 50’s pop songs. Well, I went up with the house band and played drums to Louie Louie with the band. I was so nervous! That was my first memory of performing live.

What is the best gig you’ve played?

Man! That’s a tough one. I think a recent highlight was our show in New York City at the Mercury Lounge a few weeks ago. New York is always a bit daunting to play. It’s so huge, parking the van is a nightmare, and it’s always scary to think if anyone will actually attend. But the show was awesome, and for our last song (Coast Of Carolina) Matthew Caws from Nada Surf came up and sang. That was a mega highlight for me. Nada Surf is one of my favourite bands, and Matthew is one of my favourite songwriters. It was a really surreal experience.

What’s the best band or artist you’ve shared a stage with?

We had the privilege of sharing the stage with Stephen Malkmus a couple months back in our hometown of Seattle, Washington. It was amazing! Pavement is one of the most important bands in my life, and being able to play before Stephen Malkmus was pretty ridiculous. He also turned out to be a sweetheart, and we talked for a while before the show. He also tore it up on stage. It was mega inspiring!

Do you have any strange rituals you go through when playing?

Well, I bought these gumby and pokey figurines that fit on my bass drum tuners, and I think they are like good luck charms. I feel like I need them on there to play a good show. It’s strange!

What’s the best gig you’ve seen?

I saw Radiohead play outside of Seattle in this place called the gorge, and it was life changing. That band is completely unstoppable. It was one of those shows where everything was perfect. The sound, the lighting, the location, the weather, and the time in my life. I can’t remember anything topping that show.

Have you any had any bizarre heckles, things thrown at you or the like?

Yeah, I used to have this little raccoon figurine on the bass drum that my parents bought me. We were playing in Washington DC, and I was playing a song and looked over and noticed a no fur sticker on it. I wasn’t aware of the possibility of it being real fur, so when I said that I thought it was synthetic, I was rebutted by a woman in the audience who was pretty upset about it being real fur. Well, real fur or not, I threw it in the trash a couple days later. Didn’t want to cause any anxiety for anyone again!

You get to curate a festival stage. You’re playing on it and you get to pick five others, four living and one dead, who would they be?

For the four living, I’d choose Pavement, Pearl Jam, Wilco, and Spoon. For the not living, I would choose Elliott Smith. I never got to see him live, and it would be incredible to do so.

Is there something on your iPod that would shock me?

Possibly! I am an indie hipster kid, yes, but I also love hip hop. I’ve got some Clipse on there, some Spank Rock, Black Star, some Snoop Dogg.

What have you been listening to lately?

As of right now, I’d say that Pavement’s “Blue Hawaiian” is my most played song. It’s absolutely brilliant! It’s on the Brighten the Corners record.

In olden times people weren’t thought to be geniuses, they ‘had geniuses’, it was a spirit that attached itself to you. What would your genius be?

Daguerre, for the invention of photography.

mp3: Telekinesis – Coast Of Carolina

buy: Telekinesis – Telekinesis morr music / iTunes