Lindsey Markel Writes About True Things

The startling thing about The Jips is that they’re kids. Alright? Let me just say it up front. They are teenagers. They’re in high school. Think about what you were up to in high school. Personally, I was making feminist zines and getting pretty heavy into Buddy Holly and online flirting, so I was awesome, but even from way up on my pedestal I could see that most people in high school are not awesome. Yet. Yet, is what I’m saying.

But here come The Jips out of nowhere. Out of Farmer City, at that, a place with a name like a parody. They’re in high school. They’re making rock and roll music. And they’re doing it really, really well. They aren’t waiting around to shed their skin and be awesome eventually. They’re too busy being it, like, now.

Their sound is vintage rock and roll, for the most part, tinged with a strong punk sensibility that may be more DIY lo-fi than actual Johnny Rotten. In performance, they cover Jefferson Airplane’s “White Rabbit,” wherein bassist Alex turns from a cute, shyish girl sidekick into a regular Grace Slick in cheap shades, facing off with the microphone.

And it’s in performance that The Jips really break through. In recording, they’re still young—for the most part, through headphones, the songs sound like nascent rock and roll, likely recorded with the microphone that came with somebody’s parents’ Compaq. In performance, however, they stalk and flaunt during songs, chanting about wanting a GTO like they’re Black Flag, and then whispering and giggling to each other between, like kids. In their original “Bobby,” lead guitarist and singer Boston sneers, “You don’t need a boy, you need a man” and I’m suddenly on a porch swing in the deep South, fanning my face and wheezing “Well, I never!” I mean, this kid has braces, and not even the adult kind. He’s telling me that I need a man. Who the fuck has this kind of swagger at sixteen?  And why am I believing everything The Jips tell me?

I’m Boston and I’ll be doing the talking.  I play guitar and sing.  Tyler’s on drums- I met him in kindergarten.  We’ve been good friends since then.  Alex is my cousin, so I’ve pretty much known her forever now.  She plays bass and sings a little, too.  I have been writing music with the help of Garageband since about the time I got my guitar (in junior high) or a little before and I asked Tyler to play drums with me for our talent show.  We played some Cheap Trick, White Stripes, Ramones, you know, good stuff like that.  After some additions/subtractions to the band lineup, we are currently a power trio with the addition of Alex last year.

What’s the local music scene like in Farmer City, if it exists?

It’s this weird hardcore/screamo thing.  We don’t really get it.  But I mean a lot of people are into it, and I guess if that’s what turns you on, then cool- I just wish somebody would discover some Lou Reed or something.

It seems like you guys are influenced by classic rock music in a lot of ways—there’s the Jefferson Airplane covers, but even the more recent influences that are obvious (White Stripes for instance) have a vintage rock & roll sound to them. What’s appealing about that sound or style (or both) to you?

I think there are two reasons why we cover/write those types of songs.  Especially in reference to the White Stripes (and us)- it’s the rawness they have.  It’s like “We don’t need to sound good to sound GOOD” you know?  I think the Replacements are another band that really embraced that concept.  They were just pure rock and roll.  The other reason is that I’m just not talented enough to pull off writing songs that are a whole lot more complex.

I mean SERIOUSLY now, are you the coolest fucking kids at your school or what? Do people carry your books to class for you?

I think people like us.  We’re pretty likeable people.  But when it comes to the band/me, it’s more like “Cool dude, you play guitar!  Play some Metallica!!!!!” than “Wow I really like your sound!”  I’m sure you can imagine the response I’d prefer.  But I don’t complain!

How many times have you guys heard “I got gypped/jipped” jokes? If you have never heard one, feel free to use it as your own, although I think some people (mainly gypsies) find it offensive.

Actually Alex used to say “I got gypped!” all the time and I thought it was hilarious.  I had no idea what it meant and I just thought it was a nonsense word, like something she maybe read in a Lewis Caroll poem.  The name really comes in handy at our live shows, for instance:  Someone in the audience doesn’t like our show or is getting bored or whatever and decides to be real smart.  They say “What a jip!” I just lean into the mic and say “Well what did you expect?!”

I’d be willing to bet you listened to a lot of music growing up. Am I right? What do you remember?

The first thing I can remember listening to was the Beach Boys.  Brian Wilson’s harmonic goodness just made me smile.  I think “Good Vibrations” is one of the greatest songs of all time.  But the first thing that got me REALLY paying attention to music was the song “Little Acorns” by the White Stripes.  You know, the one with the corny voiceover about overcoming sadness at the beginning.  That song just built and built and when Jack White unleashes, I mean you’d better just stand back.

Do you have longterm goals for The Jips or are y’all taking the summer as it comes?

Personally, I’d like to see myself doing this a lot more.  But I don’t know about the other guys.  I’m just taking it easy for a little while.

AND FINALLY, when can people see you play next and what can they expect?

We’ll be playing at Pygmalion Music Festival this September.  We’ll also be playing at the regional battle of the bands sometime in August.  What to expect….hmmm.  Well, if you come to one of our shows, I think it’d be pretty hard not to smile.  We’re pretty good at making people smile.

You can follow along with Boston, Alex and Tyler’s journey at their MySpace page, where future show dates and songs will be posted. I suggest you get on board now, so you can get in on the smiles and say—with authenticity, the way The Jips would want—that you knew them when.