Mini-Interview: The Green and Yellow TV

In their time as mainstays of LA’s independent music scene, The Green and Yellow TV have no doubt sent many a writer into paroxysms of joy honing their ability to reference rare Kinks and Beach Boys tracks and readying such exasperating lines as “snap, crackle ... power pop!”

A more reserved Pitchfork reviewer once wrote that they “make pop music that deserves to stand out among the relentless din of the commonplace” and apparently they have, having scored repeated plays on the late John Peel’s legendary BBC1 radio show.

In the last year, the band has gone through a few changes, both losing a member and seeing the release of recent album, Sinister Barrier.

We recently emailed with The Green and Yellow TV’s Mike Regilio to find out more about what’s gone before, what’s going on now, and what’s next for one of our favorite local indie pop acts.

How did The Green and Yellow TV first come together?

Two bands in Boston broke up and became one band in Silver Lake.

Are your earlier two albums still in print? How can people track them down?

They're both available through Itunes and most other download sites.

What were your initial influences? Are they the same now?

When we started out we were greatly moved by the music of The Beach Boys, The Zombies, The Beatles, and The Who. We were crazy about the pop sounds of bygone eras. Then The Flaming Lips released THE SOFT BULLETIN and our minds were blown right open.

Since that time each band member has had his own personal musical explorations. Pink Floyd, Led Zeppelin, Nirvana, REM, Nick Drake, and The Police are some of the ones we agree on.

The first time I heard the band was early last year when you were filling in for Irving at Spaceland at a (great) show with The Silversun Pickups and Earlimart. You'd mentioned that you hadn't played any shows for awhile that night. What was the reason for the time off?

We were in the process of changing almost everthing about the band. Until that point we had been a four-piece with our lead singer (Todd) on rhythm guitar and Steve MacDonald on bass.

Steve left to tour with Beck and we didn't want to look for, audition and bond with new musician. So we decided to become a three piece. Todd picked up the bass and we learned to do more with less. And, like most change, it was a good thing. We made our finest record to date.

I remember you playing a lot of material off your recently released album that night. Was that the first time you'd played those songs out?

Not only was it the debut of that material it was our debut as a three-piece rock ensemble.

You just finished up a residency at Spaceland. Any plans to tour in support of the new album?

The response to the record will dictate our next moves.

What are you listening to these days?

Django Reinhardt’s Paris 39, Simon and Garfunkel’s Collected Works, Syd Barrett’s The Madcap Laughs, John Lennon’s Imagine, Quasi’s Hot Shit, Irving’s Death in the Garden, Blood on the Flowers, and The Pity Party’s Demos.

That's it. Thanks for your time, Mike.

Thanks, Joe.

Tracks from The Green and Yellow TV's Sinister Barrier can be heard online on both their myspace page and official website.