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Get Back Loretta

Transfer

Website: MySpace.com/TransferBand and www.TransferBand.com

Band Name: Transfer
Website: MySpace.com/TransferBand  or TransferBand.com
Members:    Jason Cardenas – guitar, vocals
                     Mike Cooper – drums
                     Shaun Cornell – bass, keyboards
                     Matt Molarius – vocals, guitar

Who's answering the questions:  Jason
Label: Obscure Magpie Music
Most Recognized Song:  Workin' on it, man.
Favorite happy hour: The Tractor Room (half off all bourbon, whiskey, and scotch - need I say more…)
Favorite hang-out: Cherry Bomb.  Stiff drinks, great jukebox, no bullshit.
Best place for live music in San Diego:  Casbah, of course.
Something only a local would know about San Diego:  Everyone wants to move to the beaches right off the bat, but after you've lived here awhile you'll realize there are a lot of douchebags at the beach.   I try to avoid douchebags by sticking more inland: Golden Hill, North Park, University Heights…plus, that's where all the good food joints are; the hidden gems, if you will.

How would you describe your sound without referencing to other band names?
Like a finger, pointing toward the moon - don't concentrate on the finger, or you will miss all that heavenly glory.

Who are your influences?
Too many to list. Any music made honestly and with soul.

How'd you come up with your name, Transfer?
Before we had a name, it was actually a song title from our first EP. Because we couldn't agree on anything else (and Thyne Eyes Will Bleed was taken) we decided the name Transfer was actually fitting for where we were musically – kind of a transitional period.

What do you write about in your songs and who typically writes the lyrics?
Our songs seem to always fall into heavier topics…usually unintentional. Broken hearts, social injustice, religion…our government is always a pretty rich source of material. I definitely wouldn't say we're political by any means, we just write about the things that affect us on a larger scale.
Matt writes the bulk of the lyrics, and I'll chime some in from time to time. I'll usually throw in the occasional "ooh yeah" or "a-a-a-alright". Feels good, man.   

Where are you hoping to be in five years?
Playing the cocktail lounge of John Travolta's Intergalactic SpaceJet, as we transport humans to colonize Mars in the year 2013. Ah, the future.

Favorite place to perform:
In town, the Casbah is always a fun show – plus the after parties are always out of control. Out of town, The Great American in S.F. is a great place to play – they really treat the bands well.

How's the San Diego Music Scene?
Pretty spectacular.  Most people I talk to from out of town will generally downplay their music scene, but I always have nothing but kind words to say about the scene in SD.   Especially right now, it seems like a musical hot-bed…a lot of really, really talented bands.

What's the best memory as a group?
This past SXSW Festival in Austin, TX was a pretty amazing time. We rented a ranch house for the week, and had the Get Back Loretta boys and our friends from L.A., The Sea of Cortez, stay with us. During the festival we got to spend time with a lot of friends and bands from SD and the West Coast. Whenever you came across another band from San Diego, it was nothing but love. The whole experience seemed really heartfelt and honest; plus a cat peed on Cooper's bed.

Best concert to date that you guys have played at?
Hmm…this is a tricky one because you try to think of the biggest shows you've played, but in actuality my favorite shows have always been the smaller clubs, where people stand right in front of you and go totally ape-shit. The shows where you're crammed onto a small stage, and the club is crowded and hot, and you have the perfect buzz and are having a blast playing onstage because you just don't care. Those are the best shows.  With larger shows, there's usually more pressure and everyone is uptight.

What is touring like?
Get in a van with three of your friends. Then get out eight hours later, grab a bite to eat, drink some beers and play some songs for various people. Ask around for a place to stay, ultimately someone's floor. Wake up, gather your stuff as fast as possible, then go sit in your van for another eight hours.
While in the van, converse about your bowel movements then change your diet accordingly. Also, discuss the set list for the next show.
Repeat.

Any great stories from being on the road?
We'd have to change the names to protect the innocent.

What are your groupies like?
Ask Cooper.

Is there any local up and coming bands that we should check out?
Apes of Wrath, The Silent Comedy, The Sea of Cortez, The Fathers, King of The Goddamn Indians, Sex with Teachers.

Do you have any future tour plans scheduled?
We'll probably hit the road in September, up the West Coast. We're hoping to put together some dates on the East Coast this fall, maybe get back to England.

Shout-outs?