Mitchell W. Feldstein - Lungfish Interview
Are you originally from the Baltimore, Maryland area? What was your childhood like growing up? When did you first begin to fall in love with music, more specifically the drums? Was this something that was relevant around your household growing up?
I was born and raised in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and it’s immediate western suburbs. Moved to Baltimore in early 1985. Supportive middle class upbringing no major trauma that I can recall. I always remember music being played in the house on records and on the car radio. Dad was into the music of the day especially Nat King Cole and Frank Sinatra. My mother was a musician in her own right and actually wrote her high school class song. We always had a piano in the house and she would play and sing when time allowed. I imagine my love affair with music started again typically around 10 years of age, or so. I can remember the AM stations as a kid and begging to be able to listen to them in the car. I still remember (and still have them) buying my first 45 RPM records at CANSO’s record store in Philly. I walked down there with my sister and we were so psyched that one of the the 45’s had both The Monkees songs that we wanted, so we were able to buy another one which I am guessing was a Supreme’s record. I tried for a few years to play piano and guitar, but was not able to really get the swing of things. One day while in the car with my mother, I was banging my knee with my hands while listening to the radio. She asked me if I wanted to play. drums and well that was kinda my thing! I would pretty much come home from school and run down to the basement and start banging away. At times I would have my stereo down there and would put on the first Black Sabbath record and try and play along. Although I couldn’t hear the record after I started pounding away. I would like to apologize to my neighbors (The Miller’s) for all the annoying noise! I am guessing I started playing the drums when I was around 14, or 15 years of age on a kit. I would also like to thank my first and only drum teacher Mrs. Watts who taught me the rudiments etc. over a couple of years of lessons. I always thought it was kind of neat that I had 1. a woman drum teacher and 2. her last name was Watts!
What would you do for fun growing up? Who were some of your earliest influences in your more formative years? When and where did you see your first concert and when did you realize you wanted to spend your time pursuing music?
My childhood was fairly typical once I moved to the suburbs. Bike riding in the summer, stickball, street football and basketball all year round indoors, or outdoors depending on the weather. Music became a passion early on and took over in lieu of playing sports. I did follow sports and had the typical sports heroes of the day. My life took a drastic change when I was able to secure tickets to see my first concert in I think 1973. it was to see, ready for this, Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars at he Tower Theater in Upper Darby, PA. To say it was a life changing event would be an understatement. I think it went a long long way in me wanting to do something like that for sure! To be in a rock band! I also have to say that my sister and myself had a lot of musical tastes in command and we developed strong overlapping friends groups that still remain somewhat in tact to this day. I was also very lucky to get a job at the Tower Theater as an usher and quasi security. I worked there from 1976-1980 and saw so many shows. That experience I often call my “real college”. I made some lifelong friends there and learned a lot about music and being in bands etc. I have to give a big shout out to Al Fichera (and a lifelong friend) for hiring me and my sister (Marla Kanevsky) for convincing me to take the gig after my first inclination was not to. She told me I would be nuts not take such an offer. Man am I glad I did!
When and where did you play your very first gig and what was that experience like for you? Did you participate in any groups, or projects prior to joining Lungfish? How did you initially meet Higgs and the guys and what were your first impressions of everyone?
My first public gig was while I was a student at Temple University in a band called Silent Running and we got to open for Kenn Kweder and the Secret Kidds, who were well on their way to being the big band in Philly for a few years after that. I played in a couple of more bands while in Philly, but was never really able to get in with the “cool kids”. I was in a band called the Vent Men and one called UHHH!!!. I think we played a grand total of two gigs. I was also, prior to those bands, in the Provocs who featured Rocco Socco (of the Fabulous Fondas and the Mmbush Bugs Fame) on vocals. Once I moved to Baltimore I was able to make some inroads into playing gigs and meeting some of the more adroit musicians, writers and artists in the “underground scene”. soon after interview answers moving to Baltimore I met Joey Cirri, Dan’s cousin and then bass player in Thee Katatonic. That lead me to meeting asa and dan and we played a bit before they formed lungfish. In fact Dan, Asa and I jammed with a bass player once before Lungfish was a band and the 3 of us thought we might be on to something. The bass player however said the music was too loud so that kind put the kibosh things for a while. Reptile House continued and Asa joined them for a bit before forming Lungfish with Dan, John Christ and a killer drummer Gary Breezee, who also played in Reptile House. I actually saw them play live twice and was blown away by the power and majesty of their music. Of course I was stoked when I was asked to jam with them.
What were those early days in the 90s like as someone that was born around that time for the band? How did the 20 plus year friendship with the great Ian MacKaye come about? You guys released a number of albums throughout the 90s such as “Talking Songs For Walking” “Sound In Time” “Artificial Horizon” “Love Is Love” and so many others incredible works.
Being in a band in the early 90’s was somewhat of a magical happening. The scene was blowing up big time and danger was lurking around every corner (wink wink). Being a bit older and not growing up in Baltimore/Washington area I was not aware of Dischord until I moved to Baltimore. Ian had been a big supporter of Reptile House so there was a history before I became involved. Having Ian as a huge fan and supporter of Lungfish was a stroke of good fortune that in large part allowed us to make records that we wanted to make with no real pressure of selling so many records etc. Knowing Ian personally has been a great reward for me. He is funny, direct and intelligent just one of the most honest folks I have the pleasure of calling a friend.
As much as I’d like to run through every single record, I thought I’d ask more specifically about “Necrophones”, “Love Is Love” and “Rainbows From Atoms”. What was the overall process to these albums and how did you guys approach the material during this time?
Whenever I get asked about specific albums and recording, etc. I kind of hit a wall. For me it was such a heady time, it took all my power to just stay focused on the music and not get too caught up in the worldly trappings of being in a working band that toured and that people seemed to like. I just know we worked hard, took the music and it’s message seriously and never gave anything less than our collective best to get the music out there. The Nathan era was a bit unique in that we mainly practiced and released records with only playing gigs in basically Baltimore, DC, New York and New Jersey.
What have been some highlights and most memorable moments in the band’s incredible history that you cherish the most? Do you have a favorite album and or song? As winter drawls near, what else does the rest of 2023 look like for you? Any projects in the works?
The real highlight in being in a band that is honored with having folks who want to hear their music is the rare chance to have a positive impact on someone’s life. I don’t really have a favorite Lungfish album, or song per-say, but I think I was the one who brought the most “rock and roll” old school attitude here and there. So maybe I like “Shapes in Space”, “My Fool Heart”, “Jonah”, and “You Are The War”, you know that type of tune. Currently I am working on a spoken word w/musical effects project w/Zane Kanvesky who is a member of SLACK as well as a solo recording artist. Tentative title is “Lucky Strike” and presently is being conceived as being released on cassette.
