New Yale indies rock the dork genre

The press release for bass/drums duo "The Boys of Now" describes their music as "texturally stripped-down, structurally obtuse heartfelt songs," while at the same time noting the pretentiousness of this description. Although semi-comical, this says a good deal about the band's non-conformity to the commercial rock formula. The Herald sat down with vocalist/drummer Sara Marcus to talk about the band's music, its upcoming show at the Women's Center with the Trumbull City Heartbreakers, and Sara's experiences with the Yale music scene as an undergrad.

Yale Herald: Where did you get your name, "Boys of Now?"

Sara Marcus: It's the name of a boy's clothing store in Japan. Ginger spent a year in Japan. And she thought it would be a good name for a band.

Concert

The Boys of Now With the Trumbull City Heartbreakers Fri., Feb. 18, 8 p.m. Yale Women's Center

YH: How would you describe your sound?

SM: We actually just coined a genre name yesterday: "Smart-core." Sort of a joke, because we're dorks and because our songs have too many sections and our words are about thinking too obsessively about issues and relationships, and because we have classical music training and don't feel like we fit into ordinary rock genres.

YH: Why only two band members, and no guitar?

SM: Neither of us plays guitar, and we could have learned, but we're into the sparseness that comes from not having an instrument that plays chords. Also, we're hooked into each other telepathically, and it was hard to bring a third person into that dynamic.

YH: What is your principal fan base?

SM: We never would have expected this when we started out playing, but it's really the ladies who like us the best. Girls our age, a little younger, and a little older. But all kinds of people like us. Punkers, hippies, we've got something for everyone.

YH: What is your affiliation with Yale?

SM: I was here for a year and a half from 1995-96. I took Music 210 and 211. I was in Morse. Yale wasn't really right for me.

COURTESY OF THE BOYS OF NOW Alterna-rock? Post-rock? How about book-rock?

YH: When you were a student here, what was your experience and what were your impressions of the Yale music scene?

SM: I did a lot of setting up shows. It was hard to get people out, especially for unknown bands. I don't really think of Yale as a place where alternative art forms thrive, and indie rock is no exception. It was hard to find both audiences and bandmates. All of the notable indie musicians that have come out of Yale have been solo musicians, and I think that's very telling.

YH: What was your impression of New Haven back then?

SM: I love New Haven. I've come back again and again. If the band ever ends I'll probably settle there. No joke.

YH: Where do you two go from here? Any plans for the near future?

SM: This tour has really whetted our appetite for touring. We really want to tour around and see other places. I'm also taking jazz lessons. We're very interested in becoming more proficient in avant-garde and improvised music.

YH: Anything else you'd like to add?

SM: New Haven at last report had no all-ages rock venue. Philly was the same way until very recently, until a group of Penn and local kids got together and did something about it. As a result, a club called 40/40 is opening next month just off the Penn campus. It's going to be so amazing for the scene in Philly. If there are any kids at Yale interested in creating such a venue, they should know that it's possible. 21-and-over shows are bogus. The kids are what rock is all about.

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