Austin Sound

Ever since first stumbling across the Model UN at this year’s SXSW, we’ve been continually impressed by the young quartet. They unload a powerfully packed jangle that at times cuts with a harder edge, melodically shifting through pop that recalls bands like Page France or Bishop Allen, with touches of locals like Voxtrot. After two excellent EPs, the Model UN will finally be delivering their debut LP, Go To Sea, at some point next year, and you can get a taste of it with the song “White Teeth” for download below. Better yet, catch them this Saturday, November 29 at the Beauty Bar with the Authors and King Louis.

Profile: Model UN

Year Formed:

2006

Members/Instruments played:

Sean Neesley (bass and tambourine), Jeff Givens (Guitar and tambourine), Alex Tanton (drums and percussion), Warren Mills (guitar and voice)

Former Bands/Side Projects:

The original incarnation of the band started by Warren and Sean was (unfortunately) named Marvel The King; Sean also plays bass for the Laughing and formerly with Brothers O’Hair; Jeff has been in several Austin bands, such as Purchase New York and Laslow; Alex used to be in a band called the Jonny Who.

Albums:

Rocket Science EP, 2007

Tiger Physics EP, 2008.

Go to Sea, Coming in to 2009.

Influences:

Warren: “At the Drive-In, the Jackson 5 (i.e., we really like melodramatic guitar rock, but also danceable rhythms and hooks.)”

Sean: “Fleetwood Mac, James Jamerson, Paul McCartney.”

Jeff: “Guitar noodling in major keys with 2nds and minor 3rds, Vocal harmonies, the 90s, Vanilla Fudge, At the Drive-In, The Smashing Pumpkins 1989-2000.”

Alex: “Foo Fighters, Belvedere, At the Drive in, Buddy Rich, No motiv, Strung Out, H20, The Arcade Fire, Stevie Wonder.”

Strangest comment or comparison ever made about your music:

For a while, Jeff’s mother was under the impression that her son played guitar for a “Hindi” rock band.

Favorite local bands:

Spoon, Okkervil River, This Will Destroy You, …Trail of Dead, the Murdocks, Brazos, Shrapnel

Favorite local venue:

The Parish, Mohawk, Flamingo Cantina

Upcoming shows scheduled:

November 29 @ Beauty Bar, w/ the Authors

November 30 @ KVRX Local Live on FM 97.1

Shows over the next month that you’re excited to see:

Warren: “Deerhunter @ Emo’s.”

Sean: “Tapes n Tapes in Jan @ The Parish.”

Jeff: “Broken Social Scene @ Bass”

Alex: “Scott Weiland.”

Some of your favorite albums from the past year:

Warren: “Wolf Parade, At Mount Zoomer.”

Sean: “Fleet Foxes, Fleet Foxes.”

Jeff: “Bon Iver, For Emma, Forever Ago.”

Alex: “Strung Out, Blackhawks Over Los Angeles.”

Ideal band (past or present) to open for on a national tour:

Warren: “Pavement.”

Jeff: “Fugazi.”

Alex: “Kings of Leon.”

So what country would each member of the band represent in the UN?

Warren: “I’d be Iran, because the uranium I’ve been trying to enrich is totally intended for a nuclear power program and not for the construction of Weapons of Mass Destruction, and what made you think that, anyway?”

Sean: “Somalia: cause I’m like 75% pirate.”

Jeff: “I’d be France because that’s what I actually was in the Model UN when I was in it in high school. Some of us are doomed by our pasts.”

Alex: “Congo, because of that part in the movie Congo where that dude ran down the stairs all bloody, falls down, and then a gorilla throws his brain at the rest of the crew… that was awesome. Although, I don’t know how one’s body can function without the electrical impulses that are sent from the brain to the extremities.”

How is Tiger Physics different from Human Physics?

Warren: “We don’t actually know. What do we look like, Tiger Physicists?”

Jeff: “Human Physics taste slightly better.”

Alex: “Tigers don’t use physics; it’s ironic”

Song Introduction:

Warren: “This song is called ‘White Teeth,’ from our upcoming album, Go to Sea. This song has an excellent carnival organ breakdown and plenty of ‘oooh, oh oh’s’ at the end.”

Jeff: “Little known fact: Warren hated the melody to the organ breakdown initially, saying it sounded ‘A lot like an Oasis song.’”

Sound Off:

Warren: “Metaphorically speaking, I think we can all agree that, if the world of modern indie rock was a giant coloring book, Model UN would be a huge, Forest Green crayon of intelligent song-writing and structural innovation.”

Jeff: “The joke is actually on all of you. My mom was right: We actually are Hindi Rock.”

Mp3 from Go To Sea:
White Teeth

Website:
Myspace