“The LadybirRdS of Regional Community Theater”
An Interview with
LADYBIRDS
(Teeter Sperber of
LadybiRdS)
(June. 2007)
Interview by Todd E. Jones
toddejones@yahoo.com
Regional community theater is known for the independent
productions and extreme emotional melodrama. Using the witty aspects of these
feelings, LadybiRdS is a musical group that possesses these qualities with a
tongue in cheek wit. LadybiRdS is a kooky, bubbly electronic pop duo consisting
of Teeter Sperber on vocals and Tyler Pursel on music. Both members were in the
now defunct group, Ley Royal Scam. Pursel is also in the somewhat well known
hip-hop group Gym Class Heroes (on Fueled By Ramen Records). Together as LadybiRdS,
Sperber and Pursel create adorable pop tracks. Their music has a child-like
sound, which could propel them into writing songs for children’s shows or
movies. Underneath the quirky and cutesy sound, Sperber’s lyrics deal with
heartbreak, loss, love, and change. Released on Creep Records, “Regional
Community Theater” is the debut album by LadybiRdS. The LP is a collection
of 12 interesting, catchy, and fun synth-pop songs. The group enlisted several
guest vocalists for their debut album too. Max Bemis of Say Anything (J
Records) appears on the title track and “Maxim And The Headphone Life”. Matt
Pryor of The Get Up Kids sings on “Cooper, Thanks For The Birds”. Justin
Johnson of The Danger O’s appears on the magnificently poignant “Shark Party”.
Neil Sabatino of Fairmont appears on “Lady Of Travel And Leisure”. On an extremely humid day in June 2007, I
had a lovely conversation with Teeter Sperber that spanned the country. As I
was in New Jersey, she was in Oregon teaching snowboarding to pre-pubescent boys. Like true regional community theater, the
music of LadybiRdS has the independent energy and quirky love of homespun fun.
Although local theater can sometimes be ridiculously dull and cheap, LadybiRdS
has brought something wonderful new and poignant to entertainment.
TODD E. JONES: “What goes on?”
TEETER SPERBER: “Hello Todd E. Jones! How are you? This is
Teeter Sperber, full time spaz. I am hiding out from all the kids! I work at a
summer snowboarding program in Mt Hood, Oregon. I am responsible for making
sure 12 wily 9 year old boys make it onto the mountain this morning in one
piece.”
TODD E. JONES: “Tell us about the debut LadybiRdS album, ‘Regional
Community Theater’, which was just released on Creep Records.”
TEETER SPERBER: “Well, 'Regional Community Theater' is
super poppy. Tyler and I made up a new genre name called Indie Electro-Duff!
It’s like a more street version of Hillary Duff or something. We made it in a
punk house basement in suburban PA. It took a month and it was super fun.”
TODD E. JONES: “Favorite song on the ‘Regional Community
Theater’?”
TEETER SPERBER: “The title track, ‘Regional Community Theater’ is my
absolute fav, because I love, love, love the way Max sings the word ‘best’.
Also, the melody that Ty wrote for the chorus, kind of makes me want to cry, in
the best possible way. That song is extra-personal because it's about Ty and my
former fake-not-fake mall emo band, Ley Royal Scam. Also, how we sort of
imploded because we started off as a joke. We were forced to become ‘real’ and
just couldn't get along. I really dig how in the beginning, I go, ‘Haha, I
had no idea!’ in my scratchy chipmunk-style voice. While recording, I came
into the song at the wrong bar and they caught me messing up on tape.”
TODD E. JONES: “How did you get involved with Max Bemis of Say
Anything for the songs ‘Regional Community Theater’ and ‘Maxim And The
Headphone Life’?”
TEETER SPERBER: “Well, interestingly enough, before the release of Say
Anything's record, ‘Is A Real Boy’, myself and my best friend were hired
to write voice-over sketches between every song for the record. It was a sort
of a Max Against The World type theme with Stephen Trask of Hedwig the Angry
Inch. We worked together on it for a long while. Max was super young and
spazzy. At the time, I remember he would make lots of nervous facial ticks,
kind of adorable style. Unfortunately, the project ended up not working out
because our lawyers kept butting heads over ultimate ownership of the work. But
Max and I remained really good friends, in spite of it all because he's rad and
I'm obsessed with his Mom. When Ty and I decided to make a record, Max was the
first person I asked. He was instantly down.”
TODD E. JONES: “One of my favorite songs on the album is ‘Shark
Party’. What was the inspiration behind this track? What is it about?”
TEETER SPERBER: “Oof! Subject matter on this one is a pretty clichéd brand
of, par for the course style: ‘I miss that special person’s guts so bad so
if I just join romantic forces with someone else, they'll totally be easier to
forget’. Or not. Does that make any sense?”
TODD E. JONES: “How did you meet Tyler Pursel and eventually form
Ladybirds?”
TEETER SPERBER: “Ty and I met through Ley Royal Scam. We we're instant buds.
His guitar parts used to make me want to tear my hair out because they were so
good. He's the best guitarist I have ever known. I had a super bad crush on him
for like 5 minutes too. When LRS would play live, I'd often drink Alize and try
to make out with him on stage, but he'd never let me. The straight-up denial
cut like a knife, but I was able to get over it and forge ahead! Shortly after
Ley Royal Scam threw in the towel, Ty joined Gym Class Heroes and started
touring the world. I moved into a small cottage on the Oregon Coast and made a
solemn vow to break up with music. I had planned on not listening to anything
other than Lucinda Williams again and was for sure never ever, ever, ever going
to make my own music, as I was definitely still dealing with severe heartache
from LRS falling apart. Even though that band was totally micro, on the grand
scale of things, it was super important to me. Todd, check it! The tunes are
amazing! http://www.leyroyalscam.com!
Also, maybe you've noticed that the L, the R, and the S in LadybiRdS are often
capitalized? That's why I chose the name. Ley Royal Scam por vida! Long story
even longer, he called me last October and asked me to make an electro-pop
record with him. I'm pretty sure I said ‘No’ at first. And then, I said
‘Yes’. Then, I went to Sayulita, Mexico for a month and a half and came
up with the band name. Bam! In January, we took all month to record the album
and it was only then that LadybiRdS formally existed.”
TODD E. JONES: “You also have Patt Pryor of The Get Up Kids,
Justin Johnson of The Danger O's, and Neil Sabatino of Fairmont on your album
too. How and why did you get all of these guests on the album? Which was your
favorite collaboration?”
TEETER SPERBER: “Well, initially, in my mind, I had wanted to call the
record ‘And In Come The Boys’. I was hoping to collaborate with a cool
new dude on every song, most likely because I am terrified of singing and it
seemed easier to hide behind someone else’s voice. But, Ty really wanted us to
have our own identity as a band as well. So, we decided to stop at 4 guest
vocalists. 5 if you count the kid chorus. I chose Matt of Get Up Kids because
they we're one of the most influential bands of my musical upbringing. I used
to follow them all over the globe, super fan style, to watch them bring the
rock. I love his gravelly voice more than anything. I just admire him a whole
bunch. Neil from Fairmont had invited me to sing on their record, ‘Wait and
Hope’, a few months previous. So, I thought it would be super cool to
return the kindness. Justin from the Danger O's was a given because they are
also on Creep Records and Ty really enjoys creating a family vibe with the
bands that are a part of the label. Plus, dude totally sounds like Sting when
he sings, so why not!”
TODD E. JONES: “Which was your favorite collaboration from the
album?”
TEETER SPERBER: “I'd have to say the one with Max. It was primarily because
when we were done recording, we ate lots of garbagey snacks from the gas station
mini-mart and drank cold frosty ones. We watched ‘DeGrassi: The Next
Generation’ and all talked about how we'd kill to be on the soundtrack to
that show. The he played me almost every song off of "Is A Real Boy..."
acoustic, as well as ‘Since You've Been Gone’ by Kelly Clarkson. Then, we fell
asleep. Best night ever!”
TODD E. JONES: “What is the creative process like? Does Tyler make
the music first or do you start out with a set theme or lyrics?”
TEETER SPERBER: “Ty created all the instrumentation while he was on tour
with Gym Class Heroes and I was traveling through Mexico. I didn't get to hear
any of the finished tracks until I arrived at the studio to work
pre-production. I was responsible for all or most of the lyrical content, so I
came in with those ready and then Ty chose which words were going to go with
which song. We worked together for a week straight, posted up in a sunny
bedroom with nothing but a keyboard before we recorded, working out melodies
and vocal patterns and such. It was more collaborative and calm than anything
I'd ever done. We had tons of fun and laughed a lot.”
TODD
E. JONES: “Musically, what else have you been working on?”
TEETER
SPERBER: “The main thing I've been doing is practicing frantically
for two cover songs I want LadybiRdS to do. I want to do ‘Black’ by Okkervil
River, the best band of our generation and ‘Only You’ by Yaz. Practicing
entails not only singing each song multiple times a day, but also calling,
texting and e-mail harassing Ty, begging him to make time for us to do this.
Gym Class is super busy so we'll see!”
TODD E. JONES: “How did you get involved with Creep Records?”
TEETER SPERBER: “Creep Records is the only reason LadybiRdS
even exists! Arik, head honcho over there, was the one who encouraged Ty to
make a record and agreed to record us for free before he had even heard one
track. They've never put out anything as indie or cheesy as us before, so it
should be interesting!”
TODD E. JONES: “Word association. When I say a name, you say the first
word that pops into your head. So, if I say, ‘The Velvet Underground’,
you may say ‘Lou Reed’, ‘Heroin’, or ‘Andy Warhol’.
Okay?”
TEETER SPERBER: “Some or most will be more than one word, is
that Okay?”
TODD E. JONES: “Blondie.”
TEETER SPERBER: “Stone cold fox.”
TODD E. JONES: “Felt.”
TEETER SPERBER: “Barely audible mumbling.”
TODD E. JONES: “The Dandy Warhols.”
TEETER SPERBER: “Alcoholics.”
TODD E. JONES: “Pixies.”
TEETER SPERBER: “Where is my mind?”
TODD E. JONES: “Momus.”
TEETER SPERBER: “God Of satire and mockery!”
TODD E. JONES: “Severed Heads.”
TEETER SPERBER: “Noisy synthesizer arrangements.”
TODD E. JONES: “Roxy Music.”
TEETER SPERBER: “English art rock.”
TODD E. JONES: “Kahimi Karie.”
TEETER SPERBER: “Whispery pop!”
TODD E. JONES: “Jarvis Cocker.”
TEETER SPERBER: “Pickled eggs and sherbet.”
TODD E. JONES: “Cibo Matto.”
TEETER SPERBER: “Japantastic!”
TODD E. JONES: “Close Lobsters.”
TEETER SPERBER: “Scotland #1.”
TODD E. JONES: “Joy Division.”
TEETER SPERBER: “Post punk pioneers.”
TODD E. JONES: “Happy Mondays.”
TEETER SPERBER: “Manchester forevs.”
TODD E. JONES: “Stone Roses.”
TEETER SPERBER: “Ian Brown looks like a monkey.”
TODD E. JONES: “The Fall.”
TEETER SPERBER: “Violent audience reactions.”
TODD E. JONES: “George Bush.”
TEETER SPERBER: “Idiocracy.”
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TODD E. JONES: “Where were you during the September 11th
terrorist attack? How did you deal with it?”
TEETER SPERBER: “On September 11th, I was watching the towers
fall from my rooftop in Brooklyn. I'm one of those people who has a hard time
talking about it.”
TODD E. JONES: “Did you ever get romantically involved with
Ty?
TEETER SPERBER: “Never! When were in Ley Royal Scam my band
mate and songwriting partner Tom told me I was strictly forbidden from trying
to make out with him because he thought it would complicate things. Plus, Ty
totally wasn't interested anyway. So it all worked out for the best. But from
the second he joined LRS I loved his guts so bad cause he was cuter and indier
than all the other boys in the band. So we became insta-besties, Ty and I, and
made everyone else jealous.”
TODD E. JONES: “Are you in a romantic relationship now?”
TEETER SPERBER: “No way! I had a super long one that wrecked
me and I don't think ill ever have one again, sincerely. I'm feverishly
independent and am not psyched on the idea of being in relationship jail again.
Does that sound terrible?”
TODD E. JONES: “What turns you on?”
TEETER SPERBER: “Like, in dudes? Ack! As a general rule? Brown
hair, brown eyes, and rail thin. Skateboarder a plus.”
TODD E. JONES: “What happened with your last relationship?”
TEETER SPERBER: “My last real relationship, or at least, the
last one that was real to me, ended pretty, very, very badly, years ago. I'm
one of those people who can't forget, can't let go, keeps replaying it in their
head, idealizing the memories more than they should probably be idealized but
unable to think any other way. It's something that I've never gotten over. And,
I don't suspect that I ever will. We were young and we each brought out
relatively toxic side of each other, a very toxic side of me, for sure. He was
beautiful, funny, smart, passionate, skinny and had these amazing brown eyes. I
can't imagine that a day will come that I will ever, ever, ever love anyone
more than I loved him. I think about him every single day. It's totally insane
and counterproductive. I often wish that I could go back and do things
differently or I'll sometimes play out scenes in my head where he shows up at
my front door on the Oregon Coast and says, ‘Let's make this work’ and I
say ‘Yes, let's’. Then, it’s super peaceful, warm and amazing for the
rest of our lives. Totally debilitating thought patterns. I can't believe I
just said all of that. I never ever, ever say it out loud. No one knows I feel
this way. Ack!”
TODD E. JONES: “Tell me about how and why you named the band,
LadybiRdS.”
TEETER SPERBER: “Tyler and I used to be in a fake-not-fake
mall emo band called Ley Royal Scam. That time in our lives was amazing and
volatile. Although it ended somewhat abruptly, it was worth every second of
time invested in it for all of the memories made. In perfect tune with my
gratuitous letting go issues, primary targets we aforementioned ex-boyfriend,
indie rock from 1995 to 1998, and the memory of my former band, I think about
Ley Royal Scam every single day. I miss it so much and I'm so glad we did it
even though it was insanely humbling and made me cry more times than I can
count on one hand. Side note, Ty tells me I shouldn't talk about it so much
cause this is a new musical chapter for us, but I can't even for one second
help it! Shhhhh! When Ty and I started LadybiRdS, it seemed fitting, because
Ley Royal Scam was how we met and fell musically and plutonically in love, to
pay homage to the legacy of it through the band name. That's why whenever the
band name is written out, in a perfect world at least; the L, the R, and the S
will always be capitalized. Very recently kids started picking up on the full
circle band to band capitalize connection, which I think is rad. I will always
capitalize it as long as this band exists. I encourage everyone else to do the
same, so I don't spaz out, because I am bananas.”
TODD E. JONES: “What is the meaning behind the title of the album,
'Regional Community Theater'?
TEETER SPERBER: “The title, ‘Regional Community Theater’
is an ode to how dramatic both Tyler and I are. Oh wait, Tyler's not dramatic
at all. He's super mellow. I guess it's an ode to how dramatic I am. Can't even
help it, I was born this way! More specifically, when we were writing the vocal
patterns to this song in the guest bedroom of the Creep House during
pre-production, I sang one of the lines from the chorus, 'How can we be the
best, yet be failing all the time?' with just an impossible amount of
gusto, emphasizing the word 'best' like I was the star of some small
town musical. Ty started hysterically laughing and then once I composed myself
I apologized for getting all ‘Regional Community Theater’ on his ass. He said
instantly that that phrase needed to be the title of our record and I
completely agreed.”
TODD E. JONES: “What is the biggest misconception do you think
that people have about you?
TEETER SPERBER: “I am like ridiculously high energy. I can't
be sure why, but I always, always have been. I'm spunky and somewhat out of
control and my personality is oft described as ‘bubbly’, which is kind of
whatever, but such is life. The most important thing in my life is to be sure
that I'm laughing and being silly and having fun at pretty much all times.
Since this is the bulk of who I am, people think I'm happy and bananas all the
time, you know, cartoon character style. And if I'm not, it kind of cracks a
hole in their universe because they don't recognize the black and white of me.
It's not all grey, all party zone all the time. I get totally stampy sometimes,
like wanting to beat my pillow with a tennis racket. I guess that would be the
biggest thing. Or, that I'm rich because of my company. This couldn't be
farther from the truth, cause all sisters live pretty hand to mouth trying to
make it work.”
TODD E. JONES: “Where did you grow up? What kind of kid were you?”
TEETER SPERBER: “I grew up in suburban New Jersey, Exit 109 on
the Garden State Parkway, as the youngest kid of the coolest family ever. I was
a total spaz and I had wily blonde ponytails and talked like a chipmunk, very
much like I do today. I loved choreographing dramatic dance routines in my
backyard to sweeping Top 40 hits, in anticipation of someday performing them
for whatever boy I loved at the time. I also sent love notes to dudes sprayed
heavily in perfume.”
TODD E. JONES: “What was the last dream you remember?”
TEETER SPERBER: “I just had this awful dream recently that my
sister Amy died in a plane crash on the way to her wedding. I have 3 sisters, 2
are identical twins. I woke up sweating and freaking out. I called my sister
right away and was like. ‘Oh my God! I just had the most terrible dream that
that you died!’ and she was all teets. I'm totally okay, but I did have
this equally terrifying dream that the accessories buyers from Urban Outfitters
were chasing me. It was funny, sort of. At least the Urban Outfitters part was
cause they steal designs from young designers all the time, so we are always
paranoid that they are going to yank one of our styles. This fear totally
manifested itself in Sis Aims dreams. Amazing!”
TODD E. JONES: “What was the last incident of sexism you
experienced?”
TEETER SPERBER: “I can't really remember. I suspect because I
don't let anything or anyone tell me what to do or get in my way.”
TODD E. JONES: “Tell us about the last time a guy or a girl tried
to hit on you.”
TEETER SPERBER: “Swear to the Lord the Jesus the Christ, -
dudes never hit on me…ever, ever. I've often been told that I send out a real
air of indifference in terms of joining any kind of romantic force. Not that
I'm distant or anything, I'm super duper friendly, but I am never really
looking to build a life with anyone - primarily because my ‘picker is broken’,
i.e. ‘picker of dudes’. So, I think the energy I emanate is more like, ‘Oh
My God! You are all my buds! Let’s go play guitar hero!’ As a result, they
never hit on me, either because I'm indifferent and broken, or because I'm
totally gross. Can't be sure which.”
TODD E. JONES: “What was the worst date you ever had?
TEETER SPERBER: “I’ve never been on a date. No lie!”
TODD E. JONES: “Tell me about Ley Royal Scam.”
TEETER SPERBER: “Not a proper album, no. We had 11 awesome
songs. They're all on our website and then we recorded a mall punk version of a
Lucinda Williams song. I worry that it might make her cringe, if she ever heard
it, but never commercially released. Our demo is so funny though, the
packaging. I have to get you one for sure.”
TODD E. JONES: “So Ley Royal Scam is totally over?”
TEETER SPERBER: “Yes, totally over. But, I am still obsessed
with it. I think about it everyday. I
loved those songs, or at least some of them, so much.”
TODD E. JONES: “Did you ever hear of the group Lady & Bird
with Keren Ann? Was there any confusion between your band and the band, Lady
& Bird?”
TEETER SPERBER: “No. No confusion, but people sometimes forget
that were Ladybirds, plural style. She is incredible I've heard her isn't she
also some crazy like fashion icon super babe? I've seen photos of her and she's
total babe alert style.”
TODD E. JONES: “Do you think success and credibility are mutually
exclusive?”
TEETER SPERBER: “No. Case in point, Prince.”
TODD E. JONES: “What have you been listening to in the last couple
of days?”
TEETER SPERBER: “I've been listening to Okkervil River 'Black
Sheep Boy' non-stop and Ratatat 'Classics'. Also, Brett Smiley and
Milk N Cookies.”
TODD E. JONES: “What else do you do besides music?”
TEETER SPERBER: “My bag design company that I have with my
sisters. http://www.31cornlane.com. We
make tote bags and accessories for sassy young girls.”
TODD E. JONES: “Will there be another LadybiRdS album?”
TEETER SPERBER: “I definitely want there to be another
LadybiRdS album. I know Ty does too. He's already started writing new tunes.
It's really just a matter of time, as long as Gym Class Heroes keeps blowing it
out the framework, ‘Cupids Chokehold’ top-of-the-charts, word! Ty will be stuck
squarely in the Gym Class Heroes vortex. And as long as I stay attention
deficit and solo sojourner style, I will continue traveling non-stop so I can
see the world while I'm not attached to anything or anyone. It's Teeter time!”
TODD E. JONES: “What’s next?”
TEETER SPERBER: “Oh My God, in a perfect world, a spot on the ‘Degrassi: The
Next Generation’ soundtrack!" Then, and only then could Ty and I could die
truly happy.”
TODD E. JONES: “Final words?”
TEETER SPERBER: “Okkervil River is the best band of the last
10 years! Also, I love Superchunk and Jawbreaker and Archers of Loaf with all
my heart and I will into perpetuity and beyond. Also, Terry Sperber, my mom, is
a really classy lady.”
THANK
YOU LADYBIRDS ! ! !
Interview by Todd E. Jones
toddejones@yahoo.com
NOTICE: This
interview is property of Todd E. Jones and cannot be duplicated or posted without
written permission.
OFFICIAL WEBSITES:
The official LADYBIRDS website: http://www.suzdawg.com/ladybirds
The official LADYBIRDS MySpace
page: http://www.myspace.com/weareladybirds
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