I was sitting calmly with the members of the Lakeland band Mouse Fire after a show
at Ybor City’s New World Brewery when a gentleman approached our table. For the
record we shall refer to him as none other than “Exhibit A of Crack Headedness.”
From his name alone you can say he was a crack head, and no I don’t have any
proof of said crack head being a crack head, then again I don’t need any proof of a
drunk being a drunk I just know. Needless to say, when someone approaches you
while in middle of a conversation, interrupts the conversation, then proceeds to
attempt to sell you a ragged copy of a Wrestle Mania 8 DVD that reeks of pizza
grease and “fromunda” cheese for two dollars, I think it is safe to say he’s a crack
head.
In the process of 90 seconds the five of us went from drunken rambles to complete
hysteria. “Are you guys in a band?” Exhibit A asks. It takes a moment for everyone
at the table to understand what fuck he said. Before we can answer he leads into
what one can assume to be his attempt on singing, but no one can be sure. As all of
us look at one another for a moment, he hands Aaron Venrick the Wrestle Mania
DVD. “Thanks man. Is this for me?” The naïve drummer asks. Exhibit A nods his
head, soon followed by him blurting out “Two Dollas!” In attempt to save face,
Venrick says “Thanks man! But I don’t have two dollars.” “I’ll let you suck my dick
for a dollar!” Justin, bassist for Mouse Fire exclaims jokingly. However, before any
of us realize what is going on, Exhibit’s A is in Justin’s crotch. He forcefully pushes
him off. In two shakes of a lamb’s tail Exhibit A is gumming Shane Schuch, Mouse
Fire’s guitarist’s arm. Since he has no teeth he gums that forearm like it was his
Momma’s titty. Schuch pushes Exhibit A off of him and sprints to the bathroom to
scrub his arm with a wire brush I assume. The lanky bartender finally arrives outside
on the patio where we are sitting and throws out Exhibit A. To think, all of this time I
thought St. Petersburg had the craziest crack heads. I have been sadly mistaken.
Ybor City’s crack heads are highly underrated. That, or they’re just migrating north
for the winter.
If you live in or around Lakeland, Florida there is no denying the fact that the
Lakeland music scene sucks! “Every good Samaritan in Polk County went into the
Army or the Navy, so we’re fucked! There’s no one to come out to shows.” Bruce
comments. In Lakeland or Winter Haven you have three venues, one which is a
room the size of a handicapped public restroom, the other one only plays cover
bands now, and well the last one is OK. But the kids would rather talk shit on the
computer about other bands than go out and support local music. There’s no
mystery to why Lakeland and Winter Haven bands rather play in Tampa or St.
Petersburg than play in their backyard.
Mouse Fire started out like many bands do with two friends jamming together.
Bruce (Lead Vocals and Guitar) and Schuch (Guitar & Keyboards) met at the ripe
age of 16 and began jamming on the side when they weren’t skateboarding. Bruce
was in a band called Sagoh and Schuch was in band called Delivery Boy, both
which were based out of Polk County. Fast forward about 8 years now. The boys
at Ybor City’s New World Brewery when a gentleman approached our table. For the
record we shall refer to him as none other than “Exhibit A of Crack Headedness.”
From his name alone you can say he was a crack head, and no I don’t have any
proof of said crack head being a crack head, then again I don’t need any proof of a
drunk being a drunk I just know. Needless to say, when someone approaches you
while in middle of a conversation, interrupts the conversation, then proceeds to
attempt to sell you a ragged copy of a Wrestle Mania 8 DVD that reeks of pizza
grease and “fromunda” cheese for two dollars, I think it is safe to say he’s a crack
head.
In the process of 90 seconds the five of us went from drunken rambles to complete
hysteria. “Are you guys in a band?” Exhibit A asks. It takes a moment for everyone
at the table to understand what fuck he said. Before we can answer he leads into
what one can assume to be his attempt on singing, but no one can be sure. As all of
us look at one another for a moment, he hands Aaron Venrick the Wrestle Mania
DVD. “Thanks man. Is this for me?” The naïve drummer asks. Exhibit A nods his
head, soon followed by him blurting out “Two Dollas!” In attempt to save face,
Venrick says “Thanks man! But I don’t have two dollars.” “I’ll let you suck my dick
for a dollar!” Justin, bassist for Mouse Fire exclaims jokingly. However, before any
of us realize what is going on, Exhibit’s A is in Justin’s crotch. He forcefully pushes
him off. In two shakes of a lamb’s tail Exhibit A is gumming Shane Schuch, Mouse
Fire’s guitarist’s arm. Since he has no teeth he gums that forearm like it was his
Momma’s titty. Schuch pushes Exhibit A off of him and sprints to the bathroom to
scrub his arm with a wire brush I assume. The lanky bartender finally arrives outside
on the patio where we are sitting and throws out Exhibit A. To think, all of this time I
thought St. Petersburg had the craziest crack heads. I have been sadly mistaken.
Ybor City’s crack heads are highly underrated. That, or they’re just migrating north
for the winter.
If you live in or around Lakeland, Florida there is no denying the fact that the
Lakeland music scene sucks! “Every good Samaritan in Polk County went into the
Army or the Navy, so we’re fucked! There’s no one to come out to shows.” Bruce
comments. In Lakeland or Winter Haven you have three venues, one which is a
room the size of a handicapped public restroom, the other one only plays cover
bands now, and well the last one is OK. But the kids would rather talk shit on the
computer about other bands than go out and support local music. There’s no
mystery to why Lakeland and Winter Haven bands rather play in Tampa or St.
Petersburg than play in their backyard.
Mouse Fire started out like many bands do with two friends jamming together.
Bruce (Lead Vocals and Guitar) and Schuch (Guitar & Keyboards) met at the ripe
age of 16 and began jamming on the side when they weren’t skateboarding. Bruce
was in a band called Sagoh and Schuch was in band called Delivery Boy, both
which were based out of Polk County. Fast forward about 8 years now. The boys
are in a band called Mouse Fire and are signed to Lujo Records based out of
Washington DC. Bruce accredits the only reason that they are on the DC
based label is due to their Polk County roots. “The only reason we got
introduced to them is because they signed a band called The Dark Romantics
from Lakeland and we‘re good friends with them.” Schuch explains. At first
Mouse Fire turned down the label Bruce tells me. But he chuckles about it in a
way that you are unsure if he‘s telling the truth or not. “We decided to go with
Lujo because they gave us the opportunity to put out one record, we’re are
still free agents. So there isn’t really any legally bound contract. It’s a really
good situation for Lujo and a really good situation for us, and we’re going to
take advantage of it.” Bruce explains.
Mouse Fire could possibly be the greatest band that you haven’t heard. They
exist in the indie rock genre without whoring it out to it’s complete limits like
some mainstream acts, enter Interpol. With their full length debut Wooden
Teeth out on the washing DC label Lujo Records (pronounced Lou-Ho). With
a sound comparable to Spoon, Maritime and Dismemberment Plan, on Wooden
Teeth the vocals come out smooth and they sound just as smooth live, a feat
that many bands, little guys or big headliners can pull off. If you haven’t seen
Mouse Fire recently it’s recommended that you do. No, it’s demanded that
you. Take a second and take advantage of watching this band evolve before
your very eyes. It’s best that you check them out while you can before the
ticket prices are $30 a pop, not to mention a line around the block. And if you
opt to buy them a beer I’m sure they’ll oblige to shoot the shit a bit, especially
if you’re going to Meme’s Alaskan Tacos at 3AM.
Washington DC. Bruce accredits the only reason that they are on the DC
based label is due to their Polk County roots. “The only reason we got
introduced to them is because they signed a band called The Dark Romantics
from Lakeland and we‘re good friends with them.” Schuch explains. At first
Mouse Fire turned down the label Bruce tells me. But he chuckles about it in a
way that you are unsure if he‘s telling the truth or not. “We decided to go with
Lujo because they gave us the opportunity to put out one record, we’re are
still free agents. So there isn’t really any legally bound contract. It’s a really
good situation for Lujo and a really good situation for us, and we’re going to
take advantage of it.” Bruce explains.
Mouse Fire could possibly be the greatest band that you haven’t heard. They
exist in the indie rock genre without whoring it out to it’s complete limits like
some mainstream acts, enter Interpol. With their full length debut Wooden
Teeth out on the washing DC label Lujo Records (pronounced Lou-Ho). With
a sound comparable to Spoon, Maritime and Dismemberment Plan, on Wooden
Teeth the vocals come out smooth and they sound just as smooth live, a feat
that many bands, little guys or big headliners can pull off. If you haven’t seen
Mouse Fire recently it’s recommended that you do. No, it’s demanded that
you. Take a second and take advantage of watching this band evolve before
your very eyes. It’s best that you check them out while you can before the
ticket prices are $30 a pop, not to mention a line around the block. And if you
opt to buy them a beer I’m sure they’ll oblige to shoot the shit a bit, especially
if you’re going to Meme’s Alaskan Tacos at 3AM.
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