Mark Feehan is a sports fan. “Sports”, a song that appears on this latest album M.F. II, references soccer, LeBron James and the NHL, and as a longtime Miami Dolphins supporter Feehan has held season tickets for 16-years.
During the Dolphins’ 80s and 90s glory days, with Dan Marino at quarterback, Feehan made a name in Florida underground music circles playing in Miami punk band Broken Talent, avant-popsters the Trash Monkeys and later with the mind-blowing Harry Pussy.
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Feehan now lives in Philadelphia where he plays in noise-punks Taiwan Housing Project as well as recording his own solo material. M.F. II, his second solo album, will be released on Richie Records, the amazing Philly label that has released music from Home Blitz, Mordecai, Watery Love and Purling Hiss.
M.F. II offers everything wild from acoustic numbers to odd electronic sounds to a track sung/narrated in German. It provides an interesting glimpse into the peculiar and original approach Feehan has to music.
Take a listen to “Sports” below and read a brief chat we had with Mark.
Noisey: Richie Records says your album is the weirdest thing to come out on the label. I think they also mention “befuddlement and perplexity”.
Mark Feehan: Well, I’d say mission accomplished. Just joking, I never start out to befuddle or perplex. I just do what I’ve always been doing. If that’s the result, though, I’m cool with it.
I like the changes on the album. “Sports” sounds different to “Hans Delight” and “Druid Moon”. Did you approach the writing and recording of this record any differently to your first solo record?
It was about a seven-year turnaround from the first record to the second. On the first I was just learning how to record. I’d just lost my favorite cat, my girlfriend had moved out and I had to quit smoking because I got chronic bronchitis. The second one I was in a much better place. I had more time to figure out what to do. Also, I just get bored from one song to the other. Every song must be different. That’s what I learned in the Trash Monkeys.
What is the German in “Der Erlkonig”?
I learned Goethe’s Der “Erlkönig” from my German teacher Herr Blackmon in 6th grade. As soon as I heard it, I knew I loved German. I’m sure I’ve slaughtered it in this case. Sorry Germany! (I’ve yet to hear from an actual German speaker what they think).
How do you play the songs live?
I don’t do the solo thing so much these days. Nowadays, I’m in a band called Taiwan Housing Project with Kilynn Lunsford of Little Claw. We’ve been doing some stuff, going on 5 years now. Our first LP is coming out on Kill Rock Stars in early 2017. It’s going to blow people’s minds.
How is playing music in Philadelphia different than Miami?
Back in Miami, when I was much younger, we thought our backs were up against the wall. We were fighting against our parents, Reagan, the cops, Richard Shelter . . . you name it. In Philly, all these years later – obviously I’m not a teenager anymore – I’m just really happy to be alive and have somehow miraculously landed in such a great city with such an amazing confluence of awesome bands all kicking ass at once.
Not to get nostalgic but are there things that you miss about Miami venue Churchill’s from the mid to late 80s?
No. Things change. I was just down there a few months ago to see a Dolphins game. That’s what I really miss about Miami. Going to Dolphins’ games. (Season ticket holder for 16 years) Churchill’s is still the same hole it always was. It has the same funky smell. That makes me happy.
Who do you hate more, the Jets or Pats?
The fucking Jets of course. Although, ugh, It’s all really horrible.
‘M.F. II’ is available Jan 27 on Richie Records.
