People tend to throw out a lot of adjectives when describing the music of Man Man.  Be as descriptive as you'd like, but the bottom line is that this band is uber-creative and puts on an unfuckingbelievable live show.  If you have not yet heard their music, prepare to have your have your mind blown and your mustache grown.


Chief Magazine:  Can you introduce yourself for everyone?

Honus Honus:  Hi, I’m Honus Honus from Man Man, and I’m not responsible for any of the Man Man graffiti that’s all over Brooklyn.

[Laughs] Yeah?  I had the lovely view of some of it from the bedroom window of my old apartment.  So, can you tell us how Man Man came about?  How did you guys meet?

My first lineup of the band was different and people had to go their separate ways.  So, then I found talented musicians who wanted to pick up and run with me.  It’s been three years and I still have the same crew.  The band started almost eight years ago.

How did you and the current guys all find each other?  Were you childhood friends or something?

No, no.  I mean, they had all been around since about 2001 in various forms but the lineup we have now has been around for three years.  I was lucky enough to find talented people who wanted to jump onboard and help me out.  I couldn’t do it without any of them.  

You guys rep Philly and New York.  Where do you like to play and be at the most?

[Laughs]  Well, we’re a Philly band.  One of the guys lives in New York.  Critter Crat, our trumpet and guitar player, lives in Brooklyn.  I lived in Fort Greene for about a month.

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Oh, ok.

As far as the pseudonyms go, were those a collaborative effort?  Or, did each of you make up with your own names?  How did that work?

Pow Pow had his that he brought from his other band, Need New Body, in those days.  I called Russell “Cougar” but for the new record, he renamed himself Critter Crat.  Chang Wang I bestowed upon Billy, but now he’s kinda going by The Goat because he’ll eat anything with mayonnaise on it.  Sergei Sogay… I gave him that one and he was game enough to run with it.

That’s my personal favorite.

Yeah, it’s great because it’s very masculine.  [Laughs]  He’s secure enough in his masculinity to go with a name like Sergei Sogay.

And how about yours, Honus Honus?

The idea when the band started is that pseudonyms are pretty stupid, you know?  I was kind of making fun of the idea of pseudonyms.  We were gonna change them every album.  But, since there was a mass exodus between the first and second album, I figured that I’d be the one item of continuity.  So I kept the name Honus Honus.  I took one for the team.  [Laughs]  Now I’m stuck with this awful name.  That will be my cross to bear on the behalf of Man Man.

So, when you’re on the street, do people yell Honus Honus at you?  Or do most call you Ryan?

Honestly, I go by either one.  Or Asshole… [Laughs]

[Laughs]  Hey you!

Hey you, Asshole!  [Laughs]