Exclusive Interview: Marcy Playground, One Time Whore of The Music Industry

By Jeremy Williams

Remember that song “Sex and Candy” from, like, 1997? Of course you do—it was on such heavy rotation that it’s pretty much burned into the hippocampus (watch the video after the jump). Well, get ready—they’re making a comeback (hopefully), this time with a new drummer. Shlomi Lavie is a former resident of Israel and he’s pretty kick-ass with the sticks—he’s also played in bands NaNuchKa and Electro Morocco. He recently sat down with Heeb to talk about Israel, music, and sex and candy (of course).

Sex And Candy (Video) – Marcy Playground

Why the move from Israel to America? Was it for this project?

No, it was an independent decision not related to career or stuff. I started working in Israel in 1999. I was basically the whore of the music industry. Not really the whore, but the escort girl—as I charged nice prices. But I needed to take some time out for myself. Needed to decide if it is what I really wanted to be doing. So I took six months out where I realized that it had to first of all be a hobby, then a job.

How did you end up as Marcy Playground’s drummer?

A friend of mine since I was a child got married to Dylan [Keefe], who is the bassist for Marcy [Playground]. We had been saying for a long time that we should play together at some time, and when I moved to America they needed a drummer.

The band’s already been through two drummers.

It’s a lot more than two drummers—maybe 30 or more if you count the session drummers. But you are right; there were only two official drummers. The group is a big fan of the film [This is] Spinal Tap. And in Spinal Tap, there is the drummer who is constantly disappearing—so I guess they took inspiration from there.

Were you a fan of Marcy Playground before you joined the group?

Before my childhood friend married Dylan, I hadn’t heard of Marcy Playground. They weren’t really [big] in Israel. There were some very authentic American bands like them at the time, but for some reason not them. Maybe the record company decided it was too small a place to bother with. Today there are still weird occasions when someone will come up and say, “Hey, you have to play this song,” and I have never heard the name. I have been studying hard to learn them all. I think I know them now, but don’t test me on that.

Was joining a typically American band a big transition for you?

No, in Israel I was playing a lot in American style bands. Rock ‘n’ roll is where I felt at home.

Now that you know Marcy Playground’s back catalog, how would you say the new album, Leaving Wonderland… in A Fit Of Rage, compares?

The new record is for sure my favorite album. I would say that the new record reveals a new side of Marcy that is kind of rootsy/folky. I’m really into that, although my favorite song on the album, ‘Gin & Money,’ is darker. I like some country, especially Johnny Cash—he’s amazing.

Leaving Wonderland… in A Fit Of Rage is very different from past Marcy Playground albums. There is a real country rock feel to it. Is that because it started life as leader singer John Wozniak’s solo album?

Woz has always done the songwriting for the group, but with this one he knew that something was different. Woz said, ‘If it walks like a duck, talks like a duck, it’s a duck.” It sounded like a Marcy [Playground] record and so became one. The record company decided to use ‘Blackbird’ as the lead single. It is a good introduction, as it sounds more like a Marcy [Playground] song after being away from the scene for so long.

How is the group dynamic working?

I think I’m balancing between them. It doesn’t feel weird. I think the fans like me too. I have stopped paying each and every one of them a quarter to not throw things at me. Most of them know the band better than I. We’ve got lots of loyal fans who teach me about their history.

How are you finding the States?

I love Israel, but I feel these days I’ve got to have my journey in the States. My goal is to live everywhere.

You live in Brooklyn. Was that for religious reasons?

Not really. I guess I’m one of these guys though. I’ve always got my Star of David on. I never take it off. My father got it for his Bar Mitzvah and he gave it to me. I lost it in Rome in a hotel, but two years later my friend went to the same hotel. When he asked about it, they had it there. It’s very special to me.

You see Marcy Playground as a long-term project—what does this mean for other groups that you play with, like NaNuchKa?

Writing songs is always an ambition for me. That’s something I’m doing my whole life. I’m pretty sure I will release some solo stuff. I like to play characters, so it will be under a fake name. What I usually work on is very eclectic. I like to play with different styles.

Finally, it had to be asked. Sex or candy?

It’s both or nothing. If the girl got diabetes—it won’t work.

Leaving Wonderland…in A Fit Of Rage comes out July 7.

What do you think?