The May Fire

San Francisco’s New DIY Punks

By Veronica Young

Photo by Charlie Homo

San Francisco’s The May Fire is an unassuming bunch, considering the amount of raw talent and drive the four of them possess. Led by founding members El Pipe, the hard-hitting and charismatic drummer from Colombia, and Chilean chanteuse and rhythm guitarist Cattarina Tasso, the members of the band are hesitant to refer to themselves as a Latin act, and rightfully so. Citing glam influences like T. Rex and Bowie, English punks like The Clash and more modern-day, progressive stoner rockers like Queens of the Stone Age, The May Fire has a catchy, accessible garage rock sound, complete with crude moments of lyrical genius and raw, energetic beats and rhythms. Layered on top of El Pipe’s incessant drumming, Tasso’s vocals have the melodic songbird quality of a pop singer, but are delivered with an edge and attitude that position her in good company with Alison “VV” Mosshart of The Kills, a grittier Shirley Manson or a smoother Karen O.

A brief history lesson tells us that Tasso and El Pipe began playing together just over four years ago in Los Angeles, releasing The May Fire’s debut album, Right and Wrong, in 2006 after migrating to San Francisco. $2 PBRs and the occasional shot of whiskey tell us how the group has been able to replace its guitarist and complete one short tour, ramp up for a second road adventure and self-produce a trilogy of EPs, all in one year.

“Let me sum it up for you,” says bassist Rob Gwin with a laugh, “Me and Johnny [Beane, guitarist]’s roles are to do what [Tasso and El Pipe] tell us! They’ve got strong opinions on how the music should sound – they’re concrete and definite – and really, we’re so lucky. I’ve been in other bands where there are several voices struggling and it ends up being cacophony and nonsense. We give it up for the higher goal – we make it happen based on their vision.”

Beane’s induction to The May Fire was especially noteworthy and well timed. “Two weeks before we were going on tour, our guitarist dropped out of the band,” explains El Pipe. “We found Johnny through Craigslist. He learned 15 songs in two weeks and came on tour with us – he was thrown in this role and just lived the music nonstop.”

As far as its prolific output over the past 12 months, the band credits MySpace and the age of digital music with “changing the world,” which may be a bold statement but is seemingly true to the independent musician. “We do it all – we’re DIY,” Tasso says. Beane aside, the rest of the band members all have regular day jobs, so in the making of its three EPs (which were recorded in El Pipe’s garage), The May Fire has certainly put in a lot of overtime.

“We really wanted to do a trilogy because it shows how our sound evolves,” says Tasso. “We write material so quickly and I wanted to capture that process. Plus, I get bored playing the same song over and over again.”

Following the release of Plastic Army and La Victoria, The List is the third EP in The May Fire trilogy, released last month just prior to the band’s six-week cross-country tour. Anticipating the impending road trip, El Pipe quips, “We are going to hate each other!” Laughing, Tasso adds, “The first tour was hell. I don’t care what it costs, this time I’m treating myself to a hotel room at least once!” All jokes aside, it’s clear that The May Fire has a special chemistry. Its members’ dedication is equally matched with talent and a dynamic of mutual respect – a triple threat in more ways than one.

www.themayfire.com

Catch The May Fire at their homecoming Performer Presents show on September 4 at the Red Devil Lounge in San Francisco with Monte Negro, Astra Heights and The Dont’s.