WIUX’s Adam Jennison and Madeline Dowling were able to snag Beth Cosentino and Bob Bruno of Best Coast for a quick interview after their short, but sweet headlining set at this year’s Culture Shock. We asked them about everything from their new album to their thoughts on some of the world’s biggest pop stars.

WIUX: Before starting Best Coast, (to Bob) you use to do sludge metal?

Bob: I still do that stuff too (see: Goliath Bird Eater)

WIUX: and (to Beth) you were in a noise band, how did this transition into becoming a girl-group/60’s pop inspired band occur?

Beth: Personally, when I was in a droney, noisy band (Pocahanuted), I was still listening to pop music and just because I did that band, didn’t necessarily mean that I even listened to that kind of music and pop music is predominantly what I have written and listened to in my life, so when I wanted to do a new band I just thought I’m just gonna stick with what I know and Bob is the same way he looks like a metal dude but he’s into pop music.

WIUX: Yeah I think there’s definitely a soft side when it comes to pop music for everyone. You’ve done Beach Boys and Lesley Gore covers, so what are your major influences?

Beth: Just a lot of stuff from that era, the beach, California, the aesthetic of the 50’s and 60’s. I’m really inspired by the innocence that was portrayed in that time, even though there was fucked up shit going on in the world, like when it comes to music and movies, as far as beach kinda stuff went it was all very positive and happy, and that inspires me.

(Tape cut out briefly here – took mental notes and jotted down the gist of the lost piece of interview)

WIUX: When it comes to the gender issues at play in those girl pop hits, what are your thoughts?

Beth: Even though lyrically some of the songs are pretty messed up, the music is still upbeat and that is what I drew upon.

WIUX: So you’re not trying to channel ‘He Hit Me’

Beth: Oh no I would never write a song about a boy hitting me, that’s fucked up.

WIUX: What’s the appeal with Lesley Gore? Did you know she was a Satanist?

Beth: Well I knew she came out of the closet, but I didn’t hear about her being a Satanist, that’s pretty awesome.

WIUX: I’ve seen images of pentagrams transfixed over her album covers (example), it’s pretty neat.

Beth: haha oh man we gotta use that some time

WIUX: Ok, I’ve got a non-music related question: What was the best birthday party you ever had as a kid?

Beth: Hmm I can’t come up with anything…

Best Coast lead singer, Beth Cosentino, on stage at Culture Shock 2010

Bob: I got one. I had a bunch of friends over at my house and ended up getting really drunk…

WIUX: This was as a kid?

Bob: oh no for my 21st birthday, but I passed out along the side of my house and ended up covered in mud and dirt and no one could figure out where I was. I eventually I got up and stumbled into my bed and all my friends ended up coming by to say happy birthday and congratulate me.

Beth: I was at that party, it’s like you were in the hospital and everyone was paying their respects. Anyways I came up with one, Bob and my boyfriend at the time went to see Borat and we had to sit in the very front row because we were late, so… we’re not normally late people! Just to tell you, haha.

WIUX: Right! What happened with that? (They arrived half-an-hour late in coming from their show last night in Chicago)

Beth: We didn’t know about the time change, so when we came… you know our sound check was a little later, and we were coming from Chicago, so we thought oh we’ll be fine and then on the drive we realized there was a time change and we all freaked out and were very stressed, but we made it and we got to at least play…

WIUX: And you guys put on a great set

Beth: Yeah I’m glad people stayed! When we pulled up I was like oh this is cool

WIUX: Well it sort of digressed into a dance party…

Beth: When we pulled up I heard the dance beats; I was like whoa I hope people are fist-pumping in there

WIUX: We saw a few half-naked dudes in there, running to get our dollars out. It was a nice segue into your set

Beth: hahaha cool, cool

WIUX: So you guys are working on a new record and I know it’s a bunch of new material, there’s no older singles you are putting on it?

Beth: Well the record is finished and everything on it is new, but to us there are a few songs that Bob and I recorded together and then we chose to re-record them professionally, in the studio for the record, but for the most part everything on the record is stuff that nobody has heard, unless you’ve seen us live like in California when we very first started. There’s one song on the record that we played a few times.


WIUX: That “I Wish He Was My Boyfriend” (video above) song? Is that a new one?

Beth: yeah that’s a new one, that’s on the record. I mean when we do our full set, we play mostly new songs, but we wanted to play shit that people knew since we couldn’t play for very long.

WIUX: When I first heard “When I’m With You” (video at top of post), I thought “I hate sleeping alone” was “I hate cinnamon rolls”, I just gotta say that’s my preferred lyric no offense…

Beth: no that’s a better lyric, I should change it.

WIUX: We switch up lyrics all the time

Beth: We do that too, in the band we make jokes about what the lyrics should be. We have a Christmas version of “Something in the way” called “Something in the sleigh” and we also changed “Make You Mine” to “Bake You Pies”

WIUX: We’re all the same! Kindred Spirits. I was looking at some of the videos you post on your blogspot and I love that old school Beyonce video (link). So you’re a huge Beyonce fan then?

Beth: I do love Beyonce yeah, she’s pretty good.

WIUX: And Lady Gaga?

Beth: I don’t like Lady Gaga, I think she sucks. I think she’s fake. I do not believe any of it.

Allie (the drummer) cuts in: I do not agree with her!

Beth: Allie really likes Lady Gaga, (to Bob) you don’t really care about her, right?

Bob: I enjoy some of her songs.

Beth: Every time it comes on the radio when we’re driving, I’m like oh-ah-ah-ah and somebody really quickly turns it although it kills allie to have to change it cuz she loves her

WIUX: I think she just has a board of directors, who plans out everything she does

Beth: Yeah! That’s how I feel about it too and that’s why I don’t like it. I can appreciate that she has really catchy songs, but I don’t wanna listen to them.

WIUX: So we’re not gonna see any rarities of Lady Gaga popping up on your blog anytime soon?

Beth: no, no and if it does happen, someone can punch me.

WIUX: Haha we’ll take note. So where are you guys heading from here? You’re finishing up the tour, but what else is in store for 2010?

Beth: We’re going to Europe in two weeks for a month and then we are doing the Pitchfork festival and some other shows in Canada. We’ve got some stuff planned, but as time goes on more stuff will get scheduled. It’s all kind of being lined up right now.

WIUX: Well feel free to come back to Bloomington anytime.

Beth: We will, we will, we’ll make it up to you guys.

Bob: We’ll be more prepared

Beth: We’ll come for like 5 days, we’ll play 5 shows.

WIUX: All day.

Beth: yes! an all day show, all day long

WIUX: Then you’ll have to end up doing Lady Gaga covers?

Beth: nnnnnn – I’ll come up with something else. Beyonce covers!

WIUX: Thank you guys so much for coming out to Bloomington and playing Culture Shock

Beth: You’re welcome and thank you guys for having us. We’ll be sure to make it back.

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