Nashville, Tennesee’s Turbo Fruits are a no-nonsense, back to basics garage three-piece whose sound is self-described as “sex in a barn.” If you’ve heard their riff-centric, strutting stoner-punk jams like “Volcano” or “Murder” you know that there’s a reason why the NME gave their sophomore LP Echo Kid 8/10 (you can download three songs from that album for free here). Fronted by ex-Be Your Own Pet member Jonas Stein, along with Dave McCowen and Matt Hearn, Turbo Fruits take stock in the simple things in life – canoes, Go Kart racing, and something called Monkey Fart Sandwiches. We interviewed the boys after a showcase they performed at SXSW at the Spider House. Was there steam rising from the drumkit? Probably.

What do you guys like to do that’s not music related. Do you have any hobbies?

Jonas: Some of our personal hobbies – I think I could speak for all of us—we really like watching porn.

Arty porn?

Jonas: I don’t really like it when people call pornography art, because it’s just porn. We’ll leave it at that. Maybe if they had some paintings on their bodies or something while they’re doing it, then we call it art. Otherwise, just plain porn.

Matt: There’s some Italian porn girl, [Monica] Roccaforte is her name, is pretty artistic.

Jonas: Jesus, dude. You’re not messin’ around.

Dave: Friggin’ connoisseur over here.

Jonas: Just send me to her website, and I’m good. I don’t know any names.

Dave: It depends on the angles. There’s nothing worse than bad angles.

Matt: And bad lighting.

How about when you’re back home in Tennessee, what do you do there?

Jonas: We like to go on the river in the summer, go canoeing—we call it cabrewing in Tennessee— and take a big case of beer and just have a good time for a few hours; smoke your smokes, drink your drinks.

We read on your blog that you guys are in some kind of mustache-growing competition?

Jonas: We were drunk one night, in Florida, in the beginning of our tour back in February. And I hadn’t shaved my peach fuzz in a few days, I don’t think anyone else had shaved yet either and so I kinda brought up the idea of having a – our tour was for two and a half months straight—so I had an idea of having a tour mustache competition. And we just kind of were all like, “OK sure,” and so we started keeping up with it week by week by taking photographs, and I’m losing.

Dave: I’m in second place.

Matt: I think I’m tied for first with Marcos of Surfer Blood.

Jonas: Yea, we’re playing with Surfer Blood; two guys joined in a little down the line. We were on tour with them for two and a half months.

What’s the prize for the winner?

Matt: I think the person who wins the Turbostache competition gets some pride to go home with. That seems good.

We’ve shot with Surfer Blood — so do you want to talk some smack? Is there anything you want to say directly to them?

Jonas: Buffalo. [laughs]

Jonas: You guys are all really attractive.

Dave: Except Brian. You’re a b**ch.

Jonas: Yea, Brian. He needs to work on that stache.

Matt: Yeah, I don’t have an answer for that one. I like those kids.

Jonas: Hearn doesn’t want to hurt the “Turbo Fruits/Surfer Blood” relationship, ‘cause he wants to go on tour with them in the future. [laughs]

Fair enough. What in your opinion is the fiercest creature known to man?

Dave: The fiercest creature known to man is the buffalo.

Matt: That’s true on multiple levels. It means you’re gonna get hammered.

Jonas: I would say the fiercest creature on earth has gotta be the snake. All sizes, very small or very big. Very intimidated by those.

Matt: I’d say, maybe a tarantula. Makes me wanna throw up.

You guys are a really tight three-piece band. True or false: Violent Femmes is one of the greatest three-person bands ever.

Jonas: I’d say true; the Violent Femmes are one of the greatest three-person bands ever. Personally.

Matt: Yea, they’re good.

Dave: False. Turbo Fruits is the greatest three-piece band.

Jonas: Oh, dang. [laughs]

 

What about the worst three-piece?

Jonas: Well, this is a personal one, I don’t know if everyone in the world agrees with me, but I really just don’t like Blink 182’s music at all, personally. I never liked it, ever. So, them. I have a passion of hatred for them.

So, here is a little thing where I’m going to read you some comments that people have left on your Youtube videos, and you have the opportunity to respond to them.

Dave: It doesn’t involve the Great Dane, does it?

What’s the Great Dane?

Dave: Long story.

Is that a screen name on YouTube?

Jonas: No, there’s a video that we just put on the blog last week and Dave got nailed by a Great Dane while he was asleep on the couch. And then we got video of it in 3:30 in the morning, and he was just passed out, drunk, asleep and he woke up with a giant Great Dane humping him. It’s pretty funny.

No, unfortunately, I didn’t see that one.

Dave: Good. 500 other people did. [laughs]

As a comment to your video for “Volcano,” YouTube user whattelse writes, “jonas is a hawwt33333.” Would you like to respond to whattelse?

Dave: The screen name is Matt Hearn.

Jonas: Yea, I think Matt wrote that. Is that correct?

Matt: Definitely.

Here’s another comment from “Volcano.” YouTube user supertmcgee writes, “Is anybody actually listening to this? This is one of the worst songs I’ve ever heard.”

Jonas: It’s funny ‘cause he’s our biggest fan actually. So thank you for that, I appreciate that, supertmcgee.

And ProductionChe writes, “Turbo Fuits: FUN FOR ALL FAMILIES!” He or she also spells your name wrong. Responses?

Jonas: I think it is fun for all families. Just not for our families, I don’t think. [laughs]

 

Do your families not like the music you guys make?

Jonas: My parents say they do, but I don’t really know if they do. How ‘bout you?

Matt: Yea, I think my mom appreciates that I can do this, but I don’t think it’s her deal.

Dave: My parents think I’m going to law school. [laughs]

Watch a clip of Turbo Fruits covering Teenage Kicks in a shower stall

Official Turbo Fruits site, where you can also see who won the Turbostache competition!

Photo Courtesy of Getty Images