Imperial Teen has been around for longer than you think; roughly 15 years to be exact. Wielding its own distinct brand of pop/rock, the quartet has since crafted a solid niche for itself on the indie scene, particularly thanks to the experience of seasoned pros Will Schwartz, Roddy Bottum, Jone Stebbins and Lynn Truell. Known for its complex lyrics and catchy hooks, Imperial Teen has made a solid mark in the music world during its run, especially with new album Feel The Sound (Merge). We decided to test that experience by inviting the band to guest edit magnetmagazine.com all week. Read our brand new Q&A with Schwartz.
Bottum: When I was five, a young Indian guide, my dad and I explored the stream that ran through Griffith Park to learn about nature and the ecological chain. Later, when I was 13, my friends and I would ride our bikes up to Griffith Park to smoke pot, and we once found a dead body in the pond. We were stoned. Later still, as a teenager, I’d go up to the park to check out the infamous man-on-man action that went on in the bushes of the park. These days I go to The Trails in Griffith Park. It’s an outdoor cafe hangout right across the road from where we found the dead body. It’s owned by Mickey Petralia, friend of Imperial Teen; he helped produce some of What Is Not To Love, and it’s the loveliest place to eat in all of Los Angeles. It’s kid-and-animal friendly, and the sandwiches and pastries are delicious. My favorite story of The Trails I love to tell: I was coming back from the bathroom up the hill from The Trails and a pretty hippie mom with a bunch of kids hanging all over her was walking up, clearly on their way to the bathroom. I held out the key to the bathroom that the people of The Trails give you. “You need a key,” I said to the mom. She looked at me nonplussed and bored. “For behind the dumpster?” she said and went on.
Video after the jump.
