If you’re clued into the LA music scene, you’re no stranger to Moving Units. Call ’em what you want—dance rock, post-hardcore, pop—they’ve survived all the ebbs and flows of Hollywood’s fickle tastemaking machine. They’ve also got a fresh new EP out, titled Tension War, that features four new songs (and two remixes) that are unmistakably LA in their cadence and character. Good stuff for sure. Now they’re here in the desert melting faces under the hot Indio sun. So what was it like opening up Coachella’s Main Stage on Day One? We caught up with Blake Miller, Johan Bogeli and Chris Hathwell after their set to find out.
What was it like have that first slot on the Main Stage on Day One?
Johan Bogeli: We weren’t sure how it would be, but there were people out there. A lot more than I expected, so that was very reassuring and made it a lot more fun.
This isn’t your first time playing Coachella.
Johan Bogeli: Second time. 2004 was our first time.
Blake Miller: We played in one of the tents right before the Pixies came on. So our tent was full, and then right when the Pixies went on, the back half emptied out. We were like, “Well, the Pixies haven’t played in like, what, 15 years? It’s hard to blame everybody. I’d want to be there too!
Now that your set it done, who do you want to see?
Blake Miller: Well, Chris is a huge music nerd so he’s all about Erykah Badu and Wire and Suede. We’re all music nerds, but some of us look forward to seeing acts like that—legacy acts. Then I’m more trying to see bands like Tame Impala and Crystal Castles. We all bond together on our love of music, but we have very individual tastes and preferences.
Johan Bogeli: I want to see the Pains Of Being Pure At Heart, but I will not be able to.
Why not?
Johan Bogeli: Because they’re playing right now.
Whoops.
Johan Bogeli: It’s okay.
Is it just me, or is the LA scene expanding at an exponential rate these days? There’s always been good music, but it feels like the growth has been rampant over the last five or six years. You guys have been in the mix for a minute. What’s your take?
Blake Miller: Yeah, it’s sort of like the big bang happened in LA.
Do you dig on what’s happening now?
Blake Miller: It’s kinda hard because we’re such busy guys. We’re always writing or rehearsing or recording, so we’re not the punk rock kids who are 19 and at every show, but we still feel connected because those are our roots. When we were 19, we were at every show and all of our friends were at every show, so it’s nice to see everything go from the underground to front page news. Bands who used to play to crowds at underground spaces like The Smell are suddenly on Pitchfork, or bands who were playing house parties for fun suddenly have the whole world’s attention. Like you said, six or seven years ago, people were looking to Europe or New York or Australia for cutting edge trends or innovative ideas. I feel like now the pendulum has swung back and there’s a really solid base in LA of really imaginative talent.
How does that make you feel?
Blake Miller: I kinda feel like Father Christmas or something. (Laughs)
Johan Bogeli: I know we’re inspired some kids.
Blake Miller: Our publicist back in the day, who was working for Vice, told me that when Bloc Party came over to the States for the first time, the first band they asked her about was Moving Units. “Are they cool? What are they like?” The singer from Cut Copy came up to me at a bar in LA and was like, “We were at your show in Melbourne and we decided to start a band after we saw you play.” I was like, wow, that’s kinda cool. It was nice to get that genuine recognition.
Okay, pop quiz time. How many bands with the color black in the name can you list in 10 seconds?
Chris Hathwell: Black Sabbath, Black Lips, Black Keys, Black Flag, Ladysmith Black Mambazo, God Speed You Black Emperor.
Times up! Not bad, not bad.
Words by Rich Thomas. Photos by Dustin Downing.
