Interview – BPZMAG of Doc’s Kids

photo from Doc’s Kids Website

By Rebecca Marx

Have you ever craved the sort of music that leaves you feeling light, and amused? Felt a yearning for music that combines good hooks, catchy riffs and intelligent humor? I don’t mean humor like Weird Al Yankovik, more like They Might Be Giants with trombone, and hip hop elements thrown in.

Meet BPZMAG of the Duo: “Doc’s Kids”. Longtime friends BPZMAG and j.bell formed the band nearly two decades ago. In 2014, the duo released “Songs You Sing In The Shower”, a charming, poppy, hip hop influenced CD that got some attention. A little while back, I sat down with BPZMAG to talk music.

Rift: So, what do you call this genre of music that Doc’s Kids performs?

BPZMAG: Acoustic comedy pop.

Rift: Tell me about this genre, I’m not familiar.

BPZMAG: In New York, there’s a comedy music scene. We’re funny about serious stuff, we want to bring joy, love and happiness to all ages, throughout the world. When we write, we poke fun at ourselves, and like to let loose and have fun.

Rift: Minnesota’s answer to the Flight of the Conchords’?

BPZMAG: No, no. We do fresh acoustic pop comedy, unique and well done, complete with DIY videos. It can be difficult to find a gig for that.

Rift: So finding the right gig is an issue because of the genre?

BPZMAG: It is, we want more people to hear, see and like us. It can be confusing and disappointing that it’s hard to build a following. We’ve rarely felt comfortable with venues, a few places get us, but we haven’t found our people yet.

A little background on Doc’s Kids, 2016 will mark the 20^th anniversary of BPZMAG and j.bell’s musical partnership. They are longtime best friends that collaborate, fight and compromise. BPZMAG is up front about his desire to be both the funniest (and the nicest) guy in the room. We used up the joke (during the interview) that he was at least the funniest, or second funniest guy in the room. He was in fact, one of only 2 men present at Sea Change at any given time, not that I noticed. Both j.bell and BPZMAG have very demanding day jobs, j.bell is an attorney and BPZMAG is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. The intense careers create the need for the creative outlet of making music. The two also run a wedding planner business that keeps them quite busy.

Rift: You two are really busy, how do you have the time for all of this?

BPZMAG: I need it. I also have an upcoming solo project that j.bell will produce.

Rift: Tell me more…

BPZMAG: It’s called: The Elephant of Surprise, it’s an electronic solo project. When I write really “out there” stuff, j.bell says: “it might be a good fit for your solo project”.

Rift: Is there an ETA on when we might hear this work?

BPZMAG: No due date…that’s a lot of pressure…(BPZMAG laughs)

Rift: How does being an LMFT influence your musical work?

BPZMAG: I keep it separate. I’ve never had a patient show up at a gig. I’d like to be more involved in something like the Dissonance: Mental Health & Music Event. Bring the worlds of self-care and music together like Caroline Smith, Adam Levy and Astronautalis have done with the Make It OK project. Help to take away the stigma of mental illness.

Rift: I’m really sorry about the big blow that Doc’s Kids had recently.

BPZMAG: That was really hard.

Rift: Can you talk about it?

BPZMAG: Okay, we had a campaign to open for They Might Be Giants at First Avenue, and it didn’t happen. They don’t use an opening act for their “Evening with They Might Be Giants” tour. It was a real dagger to the heart, they’re a huge influence on Doc’s Kids.

Rift: Where do you go from there?

BPZMAG: Our ultimate goal has always been to play the Tenacious D’s Festival Supreme. We’d like to play more shows, and build an audience for our acoustic comedy pop. Just give us a chance, we’re funny, good, and cocky: at least I am. j.bell gave me permission to speak for him as much as I want, and I know he’d agree. We try to be humble and appreciative, we are a great show, and wants folks to experience it. We want to go viral, retire early and buy an island.

Rift: I wish you well on that. I really enjoy Doc’s Kid’s witty lyrics (“Me & Morrissey”), great videos (“If Santa Was a Hipster”), and you guys are musically solid. I want to know where Rift readers can see you live.

BPZMAG: On 6/18 we have a show at Dulono’s Pizza for their “Twin Cities Music Night Series”, it’ll be raucous fun!

Guaranteed fun: Dulono’s Pizza: Twin Cities Music Night 6/18:

Doc’s Kids, I AM TIGER, Ben Cook-Feltz

7/17 Mattie’s On Main with j.bell & the Lazy Susan Band.

Later this summer, catch Doc’s Kids on the Fox 9, they’ll perform the title track “Songs You Sing In The Shower” for the Morning Buzz “Dance Off”.

http://docskidsmusic.com/

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