The light pours out of Pop Noir

PHOTO by JENNIE WARREN

Pop Noir got prenatal chemistries cured in the purest Mancunian solution—dad Steve graphicked album covers for Joy Division and more adorably Jilted John and then transferred via ordinary respirative function the actual air particles of Manchester primetime into the most fundamental biological processes of twin sons Joe (guitar and etc.) and Luke McGarry (vox and etc.) who could not more perfectly incarnate Brit/Cal pop/rock were they specifically engineered to do so for particular civil defense purposes. Pop Noir used to use a drum machine but now they have a man machine (Enjambre beater Nico) and the meekish post-discoism of years past gets bulldozed under big beats and reverbed guitar. Mark E. Smith would crank and gnash but Tony Wilson would clap and gurn; McGarry brother unit brain—responsible also for much of the art in this paper and in certain other clued papers—answer odd questions with good humor.

How did you get a modeling contract out of a first-round elimination in a guitar shred-off?
We’re always up for a good night out, so, for a laugh, we entered this cool contest sponsored by Paper magazine and Levi’s. Everyone who participated got a free pair of jeans, which was good enough for us! The Levi’s people saw us wearing the jeans, and next thing we knew we were doing a photoshoot with a load of hot models and being plied with free food and drinks. Now apparently they’re planning on using the images on these huge sixty-foot banners at SXSW. We’ve done a bit of modeling for a few other fashion lines—we’re working a lot with Hause of Howe right now. That’s how we get all our stage gear!

How much does guitar-shredding actually figure into Pop Noir?
Shredding doesn’t figure at all, actually, which might explain the first-round elimination! However, we do occasionally wear the Levi’s onstage.

Why is Luke the glum one and Joe the fun one?
It’s like the movies—there’s always a good twin and an evil twin.

What is the best band ever to come from your home city of Manchester?
You mean apart from Freddie and the Dreamers? There’s been loads. Our musical heritage is a great source of pride!

Why did you not say ‘the Fall’?
We might’ve said the Fall, but they pulled out of a show at the Galaxy a few years ago at the last minute, and we were thoroughly disappointed.

Who was the nicest rusty old punk person your dad ever introduced you to?
Donald Johnson from A Certain Ratio, by far. He’s even offered to work with us on some stuff—drumming and remixing! After our showcase at the In The City Festival in Manchester, we were hanging out with Donald and Mani from Stone Roses and Primal Scream, in a bar owned by Leroy, the ex-manager of the Hacienda. Leroy actually broke our dad’s collarbone in a five-a-side soccer game years ago, but they’re still pals. The Manchester underworld—ha ha!

What happened to your dad’s old records?
We’ve still got loads of them. Apparently the Joy Division EP he designed is worth $100 a pop now.When the old man kicks the bucket, we’ll be minted!

What is the most interesting part for you being in Pop Noir besides the music?
It’s all interesting. We love playing live, we love writing, we love messing about in studios, we love creating the art that accompanies it all. And then there’s all the different doors it opens up. Whether it means doing artwork for other bands and promoters, or working with fashion designers and getting some free clothes . . . it’s all good fun. If we weren’t us, we’d quite like to be us. We’ve been going to shows since we were 10 years old, going to see Lo Fidelity Allstars, the Verve, Oasis . . . We were regulars at the Troubadour from about 13 onwards. While everyone else was at Indian Guides or Cub Scouts, we’d be at Clinic or the White Stripes. We’d get our dad to drop us off at some show in Hollywood while he’d go for a beer in the Cat & Fiddle and wait for us. So this is what we’ve always wanted to do—the rest of it is just a bonus. But of all the stuff we do, Pop Noir is the first love.

POP NOIR WITH WE ARE WOLVES AND SPARROW LOVE CREW CALL SICK ON FRIDAY AT QUE SERA | 1923 E SEVENTH ST LONG BEACH 90804 | THURS 9PM | $5 | 21+ | THEQUESERA.COM OR MYSPACE.COM/CALLSICKONFRIDAY

Tags: factory records, joy division, Long Beach, manchester, mcgarry brothers, pop noir, que sera