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interview :: tripod interview
Tripod Interview
Scud from Tripod gives an in depth interview about exactly how much these boys actually love their video games.
You should recognize Tripod from Skithouse, on which they perform the 'ending songs' which are probably the funniest thing about that show, or from numerous TV appearances. They are probably the most talented musical comedians in Australia.
We went and saw Tripod perform a few months ago at the Brisbane Powerhouse here and were blown away by some of the best music/comedy we've ever seen live.
I recent had a doomed attempt to explain in words the genius of their song 'Make You Happy Tonight' to a colleague. 'Make You Happy Tonight' is the story of a man aiming at getting himself a little loving; except that his girlfriend keeps getting in the way of the Xbox. My failure to explain this work of art led to the purchase of the Middleborough Rd album, and a re-aquaintance with just how funny these guys are. Easily the best money I've spent this year at any place that didn't give me a discreet brown paper bag to carry my puchases in.
We decided to contact them with a few questions, and got a good response back from Scod.
1. One of our team saw you guys perform nearly 10 years ago; How long have you been working together?
Yon and I first busked "Barabara Ann" outside the Hoyts cinema on Bourke Street, Melbourne, in about 1994. It wasn't such a fancy joint back then. We would then go spend our profits on fast food. Gatesy joined in about 97 or 8. So, y'know, a fair while.
We watched footage today for the DVD we're about to put out. I have "impending hair island" syndrome. You know, where you get an island of hair on your forehead. Good times, good times.
2. Tripod are amazing musicians. Do you think being comedian musicians is harder than just 'playing it straight', and have you considered or succeeded at making any more serious music as a group?
Thanks man. Look to be honest i reckon maybe we've got the best of both worlds a bit - we get to play music and get payed like comedians. It is annoying always having to put jokes in our songs though - sometimes i envy people who can just "write a song" without having to worry about the wukka wukka. But maybe its a grass is always greener thing. I'm not sure how it would be if we tried to write serious music together. We'd have to talk about our feelings and that. We've discussed doing a serious album entirely by email correspondence.
3. You guys are self-confessed nerds, and judging by 'Make You Happy Tonight' also genuine gamers (we can spot a fake). How long have you been into gaming?
My first serious gaming addiction was "Way of the Exploding Fist" on the C64. Go the leg sweep. When I got a PC, in about '86 or so, it was all about "Pool of Radiance", the first (i think) Dungeons and Dragons based PC RPG. I was in Nerd heaven. I used to put a huge glass of iced water on the external floppy drive just to cool it down, so i could play longer between crashes. Short term plan, i know. Plus it wasn't even my drive.
4. Do you have a console preference at present, and what next generation console is at the top of your shopping list?
Yeah we're an Xbox family over at mine. Jeez, next gen, i'm a bit of a swinging voter at the moment. I want to be loyal to the Xbox, with which i've had a lot of good times, but the only launch title that even grabs me a little bit is Elder Scrolls (Still an RPG junkie. oh yes). Everything else just seems a bit... kind of American, and derivative. Meanwhile on the Sony you get access to all the kooky Japanese freakouts like that one where you roll a ball of lint around and end up sticking mansions and that to it. i heart Kalama- something.
Fact is, i reckon the Japs make better games. More left of centre. Electroplankton, anyone? So unless the 360 can start getting some tops wierd stuff on it and dispense with all the "hey check this out! Driving and/or Shooting! Neat, huh! And look, it's slightly more realistic than last time!" boringness, i'm afraid my dollaroonies will be heading Asiaward. We'll see, though.
5. Do you guys play online (Xbox Live, World of Warcraft, Battlefield 2, etc) and do you ever reveal your secret identity while online?
Last serious online experience i had was Ultima Online on the PC in about 98, and i really did let my whole entire life pour into the abyss for a couple of months there. I love the idea of Live etc, and the online possibilities (Play every level of Soul Calibur 2 vs the Computer, think you're a legend and then get your ass kicked by a human who's never touched it before, and you start to see the ramifications) but seriously, it would be suicide for me to go online. I'd be lost. Lead us Not Into Temptation, Microsoft. I like having a wife.
6. When we saw you at the Brisbane Powerhouse, we noticed the intro was the Halo theme. Does this backup the frequent and persistent rumours that you guys were given complete creative control of the Halo 3 soundtrack? =)
I wish. Probably a lot of work though. And you'd have to deal with a lot of Americans. Like, not being racist or anything.
Hey, did anyone see the bonus disk that came with the Halo Two steel box? Gee, nerds doing corporate team building exercises. Glad I pre ordered that.
7. Have Tripod considered adding a new member, and if so would you rename yourselves perhaps 'Table'?
If so, yes. No offense, but i've been saying that for years and no-one thought it was funny. Then we did a tour with Justin Heazelwood, TripleJ's Bedroom Philosopher, and he said it, and it killed. Hey, I'm not bitter. Some jokes are before their time.
8. Do you have games systems with you when you tour? Do portables make an appearance?
Yeah. An Xbox in a roadcase with a NEC projector and a Denon sound system. When we set up a show we almost need a separate crew for the hotel room. Seriously. Keeps us off the streets. As for portables, yeah, i've got a GBA SP that i love. Playing Zelda-minish cap at the moment. So elegant.
9. What are each of your favourite game genres or games?
I like... hmm. On consoles (i don't play PCs any more... part of my twelve step program) i'm really open to anything, so long as it's... kind of ... tactile i spose is the word. Rhythmic. For example i was pretty into swinging round New York in Spidey 2. Can't wait for Ultimate Spidey.
Having said that, i also really love turn based strategy so... theory aborted.
Also anything with swords. I Yam what i Yam.
10. Do you guys play multiplayer games together? What do you play, and who tends to win?
Oath we do. Most rehearsals start with a few rounds of Slayer for warm up and end with some King of the Hill. We're talking Halo Two here. 3-way King of the Hill gets pretty political, i can tell you. Good for working out the frustrations of the day. And building some new ones. The leaderboard changes pretty regularly.
The one thing i find almost irrestistable about the prospect of online play is the possibility of Tripod as a team pitting our skills against the rest of the world. That appeals. Maybe one day... Keep an eye out people. Names to look for : The Butcher of Blood Gulch (that's me. Strategic, a genius at weapon selection, like Jango Fett), Simon Conduit (Yon - head shot king. you're dead before you can even fight) and Goldenboy (Gatesy. An all rounder - invincible when he's in the zone).
We went and saw Tripod perform a few months ago at the Brisbane Powerhouse here and were blown away by some of the best music/comedy we've ever seen live.
I recent had a doomed attempt to explain in words the genius of their song 'Make You Happy Tonight' to a colleague. 'Make You Happy Tonight' is the story of a man aiming at getting himself a little loving; except that his girlfriend keeps getting in the way of the Xbox. My failure to explain this work of art led to the purchase of the Middleborough Rd album, and a re-aquaintance with just how funny these guys are. Easily the best money I've spent this year at any place that didn't give me a discreet brown paper bag to carry my puchases in.
We decided to contact them with a few questions, and got a good response back from Scod.
1. One of our team saw you guys perform nearly 10 years ago; How long have you been working together?Yon and I first busked "Barabara Ann" outside the Hoyts cinema on Bourke Street, Melbourne, in about 1994. It wasn't such a fancy joint back then. We would then go spend our profits on fast food. Gatesy joined in about 97 or 8. So, y'know, a fair while.
We watched footage today for the DVD we're about to put out. I have "impending hair island" syndrome. You know, where you get an island of hair on your forehead. Good times, good times.
2. Tripod are amazing musicians. Do you think being comedian musicians is harder than just 'playing it straight', and have you considered or succeeded at making any more serious music as a group?
Thanks man. Look to be honest i reckon maybe we've got the best of both worlds a bit - we get to play music and get payed like comedians. It is annoying always having to put jokes in our songs though - sometimes i envy people who can just "write a song" without having to worry about the wukka wukka. But maybe its a grass is always greener thing. I'm not sure how it would be if we tried to write serious music together. We'd have to talk about our feelings and that. We've discussed doing a serious album entirely by email correspondence.
3. You guys are self-confessed nerds, and judging by 'Make You Happy Tonight' also genuine gamers (we can spot a fake). How long have you been into gaming?
My first serious gaming addiction was "Way of the Exploding Fist" on the C64. Go the leg sweep. When I got a PC, in about '86 or so, it was all about "Pool of Radiance", the first (i think) Dungeons and Dragons based PC RPG. I was in Nerd heaven. I used to put a huge glass of iced water on the external floppy drive just to cool it down, so i could play longer between crashes. Short term plan, i know. Plus it wasn't even my drive.
4. Do you have a console preference at present, and what next generation console is at the top of your shopping list?
Yeah we're an Xbox family over at mine. Jeez, next gen, i'm a bit of a swinging voter at the moment. I want to be loyal to the Xbox, with which i've had a lot of good times, but the only launch title that even grabs me a little bit is Elder Scrolls (Still an RPG junkie. oh yes). Everything else just seems a bit... kind of American, and derivative. Meanwhile on the Sony you get access to all the kooky Japanese freakouts like that one where you roll a ball of lint around and end up sticking mansions and that to it. i heart Kalama- something.
Fact is, i reckon the Japs make better games. More left of centre. Electroplankton, anyone? So unless the 360 can start getting some tops wierd stuff on it and dispense with all the "hey check this out! Driving and/or Shooting! Neat, huh! And look, it's slightly more realistic than last time!" boringness, i'm afraid my dollaroonies will be heading Asiaward. We'll see, though.
5. Do you guys play online (Xbox Live, World of Warcraft, Battlefield 2, etc) and do you ever reveal your secret identity while online?
Last serious online experience i had was Ultima Online on the PC in about 98, and i really did let my whole entire life pour into the abyss for a couple of months there. I love the idea of Live etc, and the online possibilities (Play every level of Soul Calibur 2 vs the Computer, think you're a legend and then get your ass kicked by a human who's never touched it before, and you start to see the ramifications) but seriously, it would be suicide for me to go online. I'd be lost. Lead us Not Into Temptation, Microsoft. I like having a wife.
6. When we saw you at the Brisbane Powerhouse, we noticed the intro was the Halo theme. Does this backup the frequent and persistent rumours that you guys were given complete creative control of the Halo 3 soundtrack? =)
I wish. Probably a lot of work though. And you'd have to deal with a lot of Americans. Like, not being racist or anything.
Hey, did anyone see the bonus disk that came with the Halo Two steel box? Gee, nerds doing corporate team building exercises. Glad I pre ordered that.
7. Have Tripod considered adding a new member, and if so would you rename yourselves perhaps 'Table'?
If so, yes. No offense, but i've been saying that for years and no-one thought it was funny. Then we did a tour with Justin Heazelwood, TripleJ's Bedroom Philosopher, and he said it, and it killed. Hey, I'm not bitter. Some jokes are before their time.
8. Do you have games systems with you when you tour? Do portables make an appearance?
Yeah. An Xbox in a roadcase with a NEC projector and a Denon sound system. When we set up a show we almost need a separate crew for the hotel room. Seriously. Keeps us off the streets. As for portables, yeah, i've got a GBA SP that i love. Playing Zelda-minish cap at the moment. So elegant.
9. What are each of your favourite game genres or games?
I like... hmm. On consoles (i don't play PCs any more... part of my twelve step program) i'm really open to anything, so long as it's... kind of ... tactile i spose is the word. Rhythmic. For example i was pretty into swinging round New York in Spidey 2. Can't wait for Ultimate Spidey.
Having said that, i also really love turn based strategy so... theory aborted.
Also anything with swords. I Yam what i Yam.
10. Do you guys play multiplayer games together? What do you play, and who tends to win?Oath we do. Most rehearsals start with a few rounds of Slayer for warm up and end with some King of the Hill. We're talking Halo Two here. 3-way King of the Hill gets pretty political, i can tell you. Good for working out the frustrations of the day. And building some new ones. The leaderboard changes pretty regularly.
The one thing i find almost irrestistable about the prospect of online play is the possibility of Tripod as a team pitting our skills against the rest of the world. That appeals. Maybe one day... Keep an eye out people. Names to look for : The Butcher of Blood Gulch (that's me. Strategic, a genius at weapon selection, like Jango Fett), Simon Conduit (Yon - head shot king. you're dead before you can even fight) and Goldenboy (Gatesy. An all rounder - invincible when he's in the zone).