We all love a good jangly, noisy indie pop song, and Hospital Ships is here, fresh from Lawrence, Kansas, to offer up a few of theirs. Actually, if you want to hear their music, go to their website. Right here is where we talk about their hometown. We were lucky in that the whole band decided to contribute, so this is some quality advice on where to have a nice casual encounter with a kind acid victim and who’s got the best truffle fries.
What’s your town’s nickname?
Larryville.
What’s your nickname for your town?
Jordan: Starston, USA.
Why do you live there?
Mitch: The thriving casual encounters section on our Craigslist.
Jordan: The cheap beer.
Did you grow up there? If not, what brought you there?
No. Music and/or college brought us all here.
What’s the weirdest thing that has ever happened to you there?
Mitch: This random crazy guy walked up to a girl I was with, put headphones on her ears and said, “Have you heard this before?” and played Dave Matthews for her.
Jordan: The occasional accidental/awkward visit to an orgy/sex house.
What is your favorite local attraction (monument, park, etc.)?
The river trail, the overlook, downtown, the pumpkin patch, all the Civil War sites.
What is your favorite local event or festival?
Spring Into Summer! (A local music festival put on by the Replay Lounge and Jackpot Music Hall.)
What is the best time of year to be there?
The fall!
Who is your favorite local celebrity?
Dennis, a man who dresses in childrens clothes and pushes dolls around in his stroller, Peace Rob, acid casualty who gives everyone the peace sign, Stan Herd and Michael Kruege, two local artists who are not crazy, just really awesome.
Where is the best place to drink and what’s their specialty or happy hour?
The Replay Lounge anytime, or Harbour Lites for Thursday: Giant Beer Night.
Who has the best jukebox (and what’s in it)?
Harbour Lites: local bands and sweet mix tapes made by the employees.
Do you play music there? If so, where is your favorite place to play?
No, the Replay Lounge is our favorite place to play. And house shows!
Does where you live influence your music?
Absolutely. If where you live doesn’t influence your art, you should probably move.
What is your favorite place to see live music and what was your favorite show there?
The Bottleneck: King Khan and the Shrines, Sunny Day Real Estate, The Flaming Lips Boombox Experiment, The Jesus Lizard, The Appleseed Cast.
What is your favorite local band?
Drakkar Sauna and Cowboy Indian Bear.
What is your favorite diner or restaurant and what is their best dish?
Esquina/Burger Stand: Everything. Mainly truffle fries and tacos.
What is your favorite record store and what was your best find there?
Love Garden Sounds. Every record I’ve bought for the last 7 years, basically!
What is your favorite local publication (alternative weekly, zine, website or blog)?
I Heart Local Music!
What is your favorite local shop?
Richard’s Music, best small music store in the country as far as I’m concerned!
If you could live anywhere else, where would that be?
North Lawrence.