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Cars Can Be Blue: Never The Same Town Twice

by Meghan Jones
05/01/2006



The male-female duo that is Cars Can Be Blue is a highly mobile couple, if nothing else. Nate Mitchell and Becky Brooks, who were dating for a year before they started the band, are originally from New Hampshire, but they could easily claim just about anywhere as their home. After all, they like to tour for three months at a time, find somewhere interesting to live for four months, and then tour again once they have enough money to hit the road. Right now, Athens is that interesting place.

It all started a few years ago when Nate was in an 80s cover band and Becky was working in an improv comedy group (which, by the way, they are trying to start up again here in Athens, and looking for contributors – check out Off Night Athens for more information). In 2002, the two decided to band together instead, and things kind of took off from there. They opened for a Mates of State show in Northampton, and also played at the Found Footage Festival, a festival for random videos donated to Goodwill or strange company training videos.

The fact that they participated in that show demonstrates one of the key aspects of their music: it is always closely intertwined with humor. First of all, their name was inspired by an MTV sketch comedy show called "The State" that aired circa 1994. The premise of this particular sketch was that there was a game show with incredibly simple, impossible to get wrong questions. However, all of the contestants were trying as hard as possible to get them wrong because the prize, if you were the winner, was orphaned children. Evidently, "Cars Can Be Blue" comes from one of the lines on the show. Also, the band has played at a Bobby Tisdale standup show that also showcased Eugene Merman, both of Comedy Central fame. Add in hilarious song titles like "Perm Guy," "Dating Batman," and "Do You Want It? (The SEX I Mean)," and you get kitschy, charming songs with lots of fast drumming that you would love to sing along with if you were twelve, but your mom would make you wash your mouth out with soap. But you'll want to sing along with them now, too, and no one will be around to complain about your potty mouth.

As for the rest of their story, Cars Can Be Blue made the move to Athens-towne in the middle of March last year. They had always liked coming to Athens, and they knew there was a decent studio in town through their friendship with Jason NeSmith, formerly of Of Montreal. Once they got here, they played a show at the Caledonia Lounge; Mike Turner, the head of Happy Happy Birthday To Me Records, happened to be there, loved them, and persuaded them to join the label.

The band will only be in Athens until August, when they will be moving out on their turquoise, ecologically friendly bus to go on tour and then off to a new hometown. But wait, what's that? Turquoise bus, you say? Ah, yes, perhaps you have seen it about town and wondered about its owners. Well, it runs completely on free waste oil from restaurants and Cars Can Be Blue has toured cross-country on it. It's way cooler than sliced bread, so be on the lookout for it.

This is their first tour planned by someone other than themselves, and nothing is booked just yet. But places up for consideration for new hometown – in case anyone wants to be Cars Can Be Blue-heads and follow them about the U.S. - are Bloomington, Asheville, Chicago, and New York. Until then, though, they will be playing at the Happy Happy Birthday To Me Records' annual summer PopFest, and Becky's burlesque act, known as Effie's, will be performing for AthFest. Also, much sooner, May 6 to be exact, they're playing a show at the 40 Watt with the St. Louis band Emperor X and Athens locals (and fellow HHBTM label-mates) We Vs. The Shark. See them while they're still "that cool, new local band" before they move away; they don't seem too fond of living in the same place twice.

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