Blog Friend - Brody of Brit Rock at the Top

August 5th, 2008 - by Eddie

Interview

That dude on the left is Brody McCoy (with Ninya from The Go! Team), live music hero and promoter from Minnesota, who runs British Rock Is Always Top. This means that if you haven’t just crossed the pond or don’t speak in a cockney (or variation of) accent, then he doesn’t want to hear from you.

Brody was good enough to reach out to 52shows (I tried reaching out for a weekend and got tired) and we decided to ask him, one awesome live music site to another, his thoughts, dreams and plans for world domination. This is what he said instead…

When did you start your blog?
Early 2006, a few friends had cool blogs and I was going to a ton of shows. Figure I need a blog.

Who’s the other dude with you?
My buddy Erik, an English major, was writing a bunch of reviews for me, now he was his own blog called
WordsToSell.vox.com My uncle Craig writes a few reviews as well, along with a few other friends.

Why Brit rock?
Most of my favorite bands are British. Coldplay, Arctic Monkeys, Starsailor, Doves
BritRockAtTheTop.com sounded cool and catchy. I originally thought of the name British Rock is Always Top.

Why is Brit Rock better than US rock or alt rock or robot rock?
I listen to everything from classical, oldies, singer songwriters, the best artists come from the UK,
Beatles, Zepplin, The Who, Pink Floyd, Stones, to the more recent Radiohead, Oasis, Arctic Monkeys
I’m never looking to argue that UK music is better than everthing else, good music comes from all over the world.
My two favorite live shows were both French bands Tahiti 80 and Phoenix.

Who are you listening to now?
Noah and the Whale, The Envy Corps, Fleet Foxes, Dirty Pretty Things

Since you’ve worked on the site, your favorite concert experience since?
Dancing on the stage with the band Birdmonster, Bowling with Robbers on High Street after their show

What was your first concert experience?
Brian Wilson, Counting Crows, I probably saw some other lame shows when I was younger.

The last time you fell down?
Tripping on some stairs at show, maybe once in NYC after a few to many drinks

Get your iPod (or other MP3 player), hit shuffle and tell me the first three songs that pop up and what your immediate reaction is. Go.
Badly Drawn Boy-Silent Sigh
Blur - Coffee and TV
Laura Marling-Cross Your Fingers

I need to listen to my IPod more, great tunes

Do you get albums from PR companies? How much crap are you forced to listen to?
I get cd’s from Filter, Ariel, but I usually request cds from artists for review. If I don’t like it for sure won’t go on my blog, and will probably get thrown in big box of unwanted cds.

Favorite Brit rock bands we should know about:
Kasabian, Razorlight, Athlete, Magic Numbers, The Go Team! are some well known bands
Cajun Dance Party, One Trick Band, and Bombay Bicycle Club are some up and comers..

The $40 concert t-shirt. Thoughts?
Ridiculous, I stopped buying t-shirts a while ago. I do like to support the artists occasionally i will.
Young people buy things, they don’t think about the price.

The opening band: when do you bother?
I listen to the the opener usually and if I like it I’ll be there. I usually don’t need to get to a show early to get a good spot, I do like to be close though.

Most embarassing concert you’ve been to.
New Found Glory this girl from my old work begged me to go.

Jay-Z was just at Glastonbury. What did you think?
Whatever brings crowds I guess, I don’t remember 2 Pac playing Glastonbury though?

Best place to see a show in your town?
Varsity Theater (Dinkytown area by the U of M)

Where do you go for late-night snacks after a show?
Burrito Loco, Perkins, bowl of cereal while blogging usually is fine.

Day job?

I teach tennis full time downtown Minneapolis