Megafaun’s Brad Cook Talks Pie, NBA Lockout and Tonight’s Show with Bowerbirds

November, 11, 2011 , by Jedidiah

Tonight, Megafaun will play a show with their long time friends Bowerbirds at Haw River Ballroom. We spoke with Megafaun's Brad Cook a few weeks ago before his Granular Synthesis set opening for The Field at Kings Barcade. Here's the rest of that interview.

New Raleigh: Where are you now?

Brad Cook: I'm in Durham, in my kitchen making a sweet potato pie with a gingersnap crust.

NR: Damn, that sounds awesome. Sounds like a perfect Fall dessert.

BC: Yeah, I just go engaged to my long time girlfriend, Stella, today so we are just hanging around and cooking today before we have dinner tonight with Ashley Christensen (owner of Poole's Diner, Beasley's Honey and Chicken, Chuck's and Fox Liquor Bar).

NR: Congrats! That sounds like the perfect celebration.

BC: Thanks buddy. The weather here today is gorgeous, so it all feels just right.

NR: We know how much of a Lakers fan and NBA fan you are in general. How does the NBA lockout feel? Are you kinda pissed off?

BC: Yeah, I kinda am. Mainly, as most of my friends know, because it was Fall tradition for me. We tour most of the year and I like to be home in November for the start of the season. This year it feels a bit different without that tradition. But just this week, I had a redeeming experience. My buddy Derek Anderson brought me along for a photo shoot with the #1 Draft Pick in the 2011 NBA Draft Kyrie Irving. So, I got a bit of my basketball fix by watching Irving shoot around. It was pretty rad.

NR: Sounds like it.

NR: You guys just got back from a long tour stretch, including a fantastic show at Cat's Cradle and some European dates. How was this trip around the globe?

BC: Yeah, Cradle was a great show. It's always great to play here at home. That show was the middle point between our tour of Europe and the West Coast.

NR: Yeah, I heard you guys played in some fabulous centuries old church in Europe. How was that?

BC: Dude! That was such an amazing experience. The church was in Middelburg in the Netherlands. We have this rad booking agent, who also books The War on Drugs and he had a wild idea to book a show at the church. There were only 100 people and it was the first show ever in the church. The weather was perfect, a 58 degrees Fall evening. We played an unamplified set in a church built in 1182 AD. It was quite unbelievable. They are now they are lining up shows at the church.

NR: Wow. Sounds phenomenal and a perfect setting for your music.

NR: We saw your nephew at the Cradle show with big headphones on. How does it feel to be an uncle?

BC: Man, that was so cool. It was his first show. It feels so good to see every day see the nephew every day while we are here at home. Today, we just hung out with the family, watched some Boardwalk Empire and took a walk on the Eno. Being home in the Fall is nice.

photo from Haw River Ballroom

NR: So you guys are playing with your buddies Bowerbirds at Hall River Ballroom (photo above) on November 11th (tonight!) When’s the last time you played with those guys?

BC: Wow, man, it's been forever. The last time was the Arts Center show in 2009. We haven’t seen them since then, so the Saxapahaw show is kinda like a family reunion. It's a fun way to center things.

NR: You released their first album on your old record label Burlytime (with Grayson Currin). What’s it like to see them continue to play and gather support?

BC: It's so fabulous to see what those guys are doing now. Their new stuff sounds so awesome. I'm so excited about their new album. It's going to be amazing.

NR: Thanks a lot Brad, it was great to chat with you. Good luck with the pie and congrats again on the engagement.

BC: Thanks buddy. I'm pretty excited about both.

Megafaun plays with Bowerbirds tonight at 8pm at the Hall River Ballroom (one of the most beautiful new venues in the area) in Saxapahaw, NC. More info here.

Megafaun w/ Bowerbirds

Fri, November 11, 2011
Doors: 7:00 pm / Show: 8:00 pm (event ends at 11:30 pm)
Haw River Ballroom
Saxapahaw, NC
$12.00 - $15.00