Talking with Tim Pagnotta and Marko DeSantis – Sugarcult's singer and guitarist, respectively – there are certain points you need to cover.
The main one, of course, is the impending release of the band's third album, “Lights Out.” Another important point is the band's influences.
But there is something else that needs to be addressed, something less obvious. You need to ask Tim Pagnotta why he recently had a series of incorrect math equations tattooed on his arm.
“I was going through a period (while making this) record where I wanted everything to be perfect,” the singer said. “Music is the thing that comes the most natural to me. Math represents something that was difficult.
“And there was a connection between the two. It got to a point where music was starting to become very mathlike, which was a really odd feeling for me. So at the time, I just kind of freaked out and got a tattoo of a bunch of wrong math equations on my arm.
“It's a reminder not to look at things (as being) so black and white in terms of art.”
Pagnotta added that he has come to embrace the imperfections in Sugarcult's work.
“Lights Out” – which arrives Tuesday, when Sugarcult plays San Diego's House of Blues – is being hailed as the band's breakthrough. Band members themselves use phrases like “our turning point” and “a new beginning” when discussing the album.
DATEBOOK
Sugarcult, with Spill Canvas, Halifax, Maxeen and So They Say
7 p.m. Tuesday;
House of Blues, 1055 Fifth Ave., downtown;
$14-$16;
(619) 220-TIXS or www.hob.com
|
Talking about Sugarcult's third albums with DeSantis, the conversation drifts to The Clash, who with “London Calling” made one of the best third albums in rock history.
“I look at 'London Calling' and get inspired by that,” said DeSantis. “That band never made the same album twice. It always kept evolving, and that's the kind of band I hope we are.” While “Lights Out” is certainly not “London Calling,” it does find Sugarcult stretching, especially on moodier tracks like “The Investigation.” And it's nice to see a band that acknowledges its influences and sees itself on a continuum of pop music history.
Sugarcult released its debut, “Start Static,” in 2001. At the time, the band was one of the many pop-punk bands that seemed to spring up at that time. Since then, Sugarcult has toured relentlessly – both as headliners and supporting other acts – and gained a lot of fans in the process.
In fact, the time it spent recording “Lights Out” was one of the few periods in the past five years that the band has been off the road.
Pagnotta said he actually began writing songs for the new album in San Diego, which is where he grew up and where his parents live.
“We had been touring with Green Day in Japan,” he said. “When a band comes back from tour(ing), you kind of all go separate ways. And this time, all my stuff was in a storage facility up in L.A.
“So I just went to my parents' house and I set up a bunch of recording equipment in their garage. That's where I actually started the writing. I love San Diego.”
DeSantis agreed.
“It's one of (the) best places to play in California,” he said. “We're glad (the House of Blues show) didn't end up being in some random town we've never been before. It's gonna be a good one.”
As for Pagnotta's influences, he reels off a series of names that virtually make up MTV's class of 1983.
“I've always been a pop guy,” he said. “My parents were really into Culture Club. They were into Men at Work, Michael Jackson, Pat Benatar. But my dad's all-time favorite band – that's probably been burned into the hard drive of my brain – (is) Huey Lewis and the News.”
He paused, then added a bit sheepishly, “I've never said that before publicly.”
Dave Steinfeld is a New York City writer.
