We had a chance to catch up with our recent poll winner and Featured Artist(s) of Month It’s a King Thing’s Brian Meitz. We were happy to learn that he discovered a new favorite track from one of his poll running mates and that he made us a mixtape which is the first from all the artists that we have interviewed. Feel free to cop it for your own collection.
The Deli: How did It’s a King Thing start?
Brian Meitz: It’s a King Thing started when I was in college a few years ago. I wrote a bunch of songs and then recorded them with Dave Downham at the Gradwell House. After the first record was recorded, I formed a band with Steve, Mike and our friend Evan. Evan moved to Chicago [to] play music and to pig out on elephant ears and Johnny and Jay joined shortly thereafter. We’ve had this lineup for a couple of years or so.
TD:Where did the band name come from?
BM: It was written on a sticker I found at a video store I was working at. It had a king with a mustache and a lion in a robe. I found it while putting away copies of White Chicks.
TD:What are your biggest musical influences?
BM:The standard answer I give on this is the Lemonheads, Weezer before they started doing whatever it is they’re doing these last few years, Weston, The Figgs, Ben Kweller. Here’s a list of 10 songs I don’t think I’ll get sick of. I made you a .zip (http://www.dinerstate.net/deli.zip ) cause I want you to hear how hard they rule.
Evan Dando – “Frying Pan”; Mary Lou Lord – “I Figured You Out”; Weston – “Retarded”; Brooke – “9 Lives”; Bugs Eat Books – “San Marosa”; Alphaville – “Forever Young”; Broken Social Scene – “Anthems For a Seventeen Year Old Girl”; Donovan – “Catch The Wind”; Pavement – “Spit On a Stranger”; Sloan – “Marquee and the Moon”
TD:What artists (local, national and/or international) are you currently listening to?
BM: Locally, I like the new Juston Stens and Get Real Gang EP. The new Goodnight Lights album, The Atomic Square, In Grenada, Makeout Party are all awesome. Ages and By Surprise from Jersey have albums coming out soon that I’m pumped for. I just heard The Quelle Source a couple months ago. They rule. Gypsy Death and You, a band we were in the poll with, have this song called “Smile” that’s pretty awesome. Of course, Dr. Dog.
TD: What’s the first concert that you ever attended and first album that you ever bought?
TD: What’s the first concert that you ever attended and first album that you ever bought?
BM: Van Halen at the Spectrum during the Balance tour. My uncle took my brother and I when we were in 6th and 8th grade. I was fat and wore a Kermit the Frog shirt where he was posing on a bench like Forrest Gump.
TD: What do you love about Philly?
BM: Charlie Manuel.
TD: What do you hate about Philly?
BM: Parking.
TD: What are your plans for 2010?
BM: 2010’s been fun. Our album (which is available for free at http://ww.itsakingthing.com) got a bunch more downloads than I thought it would. We’re gonna play a show at Lake Kandle, a Halloween show at The Auction House in Audubon, NJ, and we’re gonna do a Kickstarter project to press Buffalo on vinyl. We have a bunch of cool bundles planned. Some of which include a double date with my parents, open mic comedy. Baby sitting.
TD: What was your most memorable live show?
TD: What was your most memorable live show?
BM: I have fond memories of all of our shows except one in Allentown when we first started playing. Fat dude, asshole, biker bouncers and $3 waters. No fun.
TD: What’s your favorite thing to get at the deli?
TD: What’s your favorite thing to get at the deli?
BM: Turkey, mayo, tomato, American cheese on white bread with root beer.
(Photo by Nick Kessler)
– The Deli Staff