Merrill Garbus of tUnE-YArDs
What's on your rider?Ginger for tea, fruit and veggies.
What would be on your fantasy rider?Kombucha, a personal masseuse, steamed kale and butternut squash.
What's your pre-gig ritual/ routine?Warm up by making weird vocal noises in the dressing room.
What's the best gig you've been to?Lots have been great. Playing with the Dirty Projectors in Dublin, actually, was a highlight. I always love when there's energy coming from the crowd, and the Irish certainly bring that when they come to shows!
And the worst?Even the worst gigs are sort of good in their own way. We played at an art opening the other day and there were about nine people watching and they wouldn't clap after songs. But shows like that bring your ego back down to a normal place.
What are your favourite and least favourite venues?I love the Bowery Ballroom in New York. Least would be school gyms.
Who is the most famous person to have shown up at one of your gigs?David Byrne. But he was there to perform, so it's not like he showed up to see us, that happened by accident. Also, Björk was at a gig to see Beirut but it was good to tell the kids back home that "Björk was even there!"
Most embarrassing on-stage moment?Hole in pants in the groin area, stage very high.
What's your crowd-pleasing number?Maybe Jumping Jack, because people can sing along because the chorus is juvenile.
What's the most you've ever paid for a gig ticket?$30, maybe? But for Ravi Shankar, totally worth it.
Groupies. Would you?Would I what? (Blink, blink.)
Have you a special stage wardrobe?Animal prints.
What's the worst thing ever thrown at you?An extremely large pair of ladies underwear.
If you could be in any other band, which one?Beyoncé's.
Who's invited to your aftershow party?No parties! What do you think I am, a rock star?
What's your best tour story?Writing a song as I drove to a gig and then opening with it.
- In conversation with Tony Clayton-Lea. tUnE-YArDs play Whelan's, Dublin tonight.
