Q and Not U
by Colt Sansone

Q and Not U are just about what one would demand from a band on Dischord. They’re from DC. They have a political stance. They’ve got their punk roots, too, but their music is probably more strongly influenced from other sources. And you can hear the influences, but the music’s not derivative; it’s decisive. I interviewed Q and Not U’s Chris Richards the day before he left for their European tour. We talked for awhile and got along pretty well, but when I went to transcribe the tape, it sounded as if I were interviewing a tropical storm—just my voice seemingly caught in strong winds and waves. The only thing I remember from the interview is Chris’s claim that he never pronounced Ian MacKaye’s last name wrong. Our press date was approaching. And not one to balk in the face of diversity, as a true punker, Chris’s Interview decided that it must go on. As Chris was unavailable, I interviewed his longtime friend, Ian Whitmore.

Fran: Let me first say that I’m a huge fan of Q and Not U, and it’s a pleasure to speak with you about them. You and Chris [Richards] are roommates, right?
Ian: Yeah, along with a few other people.

What do you think got Q and Not U into music in the first place?
As far as forming [Q and Not U], they all listen to a lot of different types of music and music that’s not usually thought of as being compatible with punk rock. I think they all had ideas of trying to incorporate that stuff into a punk band.

Who would you say are some of their influences?
Well, I think the good thing about them is that their influences (or what they’re listening to) seem to change on a month-to-month basis. Right now—at least what Chris is listening to right now, downstairs—it’s usually a lot of Miami bass stuff, dance music from Rio. And they’ve also been listening to a lot of late-60s, early-70s British folk music, like Fairport Convention, stuff like that. So it’s a strange mix.

Who would you say are some of the first musicians that Chris was into?
His first band—his high school band—sounded a lot like Jawbox. So, I guess, Jawbox.

[Q and Not U is] on tour now, right?
Yeah. They’re in Europe right now.

What do you think their favorite city to play is? Like, where’s the most receptive?
In Europe, or just anywhere?

Anywhere. I don’t know how they’re received in different places. But as far as their enthusiasm, they seem to like the cities that are kind of decadent…or party cities, I guess. So they really like playing Miami or Las Vegas. And I think part of that is just because there’s this image of DC and DC bands being kind of dour. And maybe that just seems like a change of pace to play places like that.

Do you think that’s because these places are different from [DC] or because they want to change the preconceptions that people in those places have of DC bands?
I think it probably works both ways when they’re in a city like that.

What do you think was the impetus behind the song “Wonderful People”.
I can’t speak for what Chris had intended there. But to me, the subtext of it, at least, seemed like it was a celebration of dissent and protest—especially with what’s been going on politically for the last 4 years. Just kind of celebrating a lot of stuff that happens that never gets seen—doesn’t get reported very much in the mainstream media—but it’s something that people have been very passionate about.

If Chris could have dinner with three historical figures, living or dead, who would they be and why?
Hmm. I’ll take some stabs in the dark here…There’s a Japanese author named Natsume Soseki. When they were playing in Japan, he wanted to go see his grave. So, maybe he’d want to talk to Natsume Soseki…As far as past figures…

…Or present.
I’m not certain. He’s still got a crush on that M.I.A girl, and he’s into her music, so he might want to meet her. And for a third person, umm…Caetano Veloso—the Tropicalia guy. He would probably want to meet him […and Will Smith. –ed.].

What would be on the menu?
I guess they would get dinner from Mr. Chen’s, which is the Chinese restaurant down the block from here.

Who do you think Chris would want to give a shout out to at the end of the interview?
I don’t know. He gets a lot of opportunities on stage to give shout outs. I don’t know if he’s all shouted out.


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