Do you have a favorite memory of playing Monster Island Basement?
Having played Monster Island on tour and working or attending shows there since living in Brooklyn, I just loved the after-show dance party that always ensued where everyone just got loose. Seemed like everyone who stuck around just wanted to have fun. I prefer that so much more, as a lot of shows can be a packed room at a dead gaze standstill. I've wandered out of there a champ of the night and a also self-inflicted victim of the party.

How about of another band you've seen play there? Anyone in particular stand out?
I was really digging a Woods semi-acoustic set I saw there this past winter.

With Market Hotel and Monster Island now closed, not to mention the recent troubles Silent Barn has faced, there's been some talk about the death of Brooklyn's DIY scene. Do you feel as though it's as vibrant as it once was?
I know there are well-attended DIY basement shows, loft shows, house shows, and that kinda stuff popping up all over Bushwick lately. I think kids know it's a big pot of people in Brooklyn and they can be successful doing shows themselves. It's like field of dreams: set it up, let 'em know, and people will show up.

If not, does that bum you out, or do you chalk it up to the natural progression of any so-called music scene?
Nothing is forever. You can't run under the radar forever; change is inevitable.

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Do you have a favorite memory of playing Monster Island Basement?
We actually played our first show ever at Monster Island. It was us, Real Estate, Girls and Kurt Vile. That was a really fun show.

How about of another band you've seen play there? Anyone in particular stand out?
I've seen a lot of great bands play there. When I first moved to NYC I would go there on random nights just because I didn't know what else to do, and I don't think I ever saw a bad show... or at least I wasn't jaded enough yet to know the difference. It's funny the amount of bands you can see playing their first shows to an half-empty room in a basement and then half a year later headlining Bowery Ballroom.

With Market Hotel and Monster Island now closed, not to mention the recent troubles Silent Barn has faced, there's been some talk about the death of Brooklyn's DIY scene. Do you feel as though it's as vibrant as it once was?
It's really sad in a way. Market Hotel was amazing, and I've seen/played some of my favorite shows ever there. Silent Barn was one of the first places I heard of when I moved to Brooklyn; I used to think, "Oh, man, I hope one day I get a chance to play there!" All of those spaces closing down feels surreal now, but there are still a good amount of DIY spaces in NYC (which I won't mention by name in hopes that they don't also get shut down). There are new places opening up that I'm excited about. The DIY scene is still totally vibrant.

If not, does that bum you out, or do you chalk it up to the natural progression of any so-called music scene?
Twenty, 30 years ago in the East Village, nobody was talking about a thriving DIY scene in Williamsburg or Bushwick. They were all holding onto their precious art spaces near their homes. It all comes and goes, but no matter what, there's always something going on. You can't ever push the art scene out of NYC, it would be like bees dying off: the city just wouldn't function anymore.

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Do you have a favorite memory of playing Monster Island Basement?
Back in May, we had a release show for our 15 Minute Exorcise VHS. It was the first time we ever screened it, and we were amazed by the audience participation. Very gradually, everyone just started moving their bodies in sync with the video. The sound was so loud and blown out, and we were all bathed in each others' sweat, doing calisthenics with each other. It was really surreal. Then Quiet Hooves played and tore the house down, and Pikachu Makoto climbed up the water pipe wearing some sort of belly-dancing outfit and jumped down into the crowd.

How about of another band you've seen play there? Anyone in particular stand out?
I remember seeing Amen Dunes play there and was moved to tears. It was such a beautiful show. Woods were really amazing too. They played acoustic, and it felt so intimate, so magic.

With Market Hotel and Monster Island now closed, not to mention the recent troubles Silent Barn has faced, there's been some talk about the death of Brooklyn's DIY scene. Do you feel as though it's as vibrant as it once was?
I don't really believe in the death of anything. Everything is made up of energy, and energy cannot be created or destroyed. As long as there is energy being put towards the growth of a DIY community in Brooklyn, that energy will carve out spaces for itself with the right conditions. And it already is. After Silent Barn got robbed, a small fortune was raised from donations by a community committed to help rebuild it. If that isn't a testament to the power of DIY, I don't know what is. I also just heard Market Hotel received a sizable grant to remodel itself so that it can legally hold shows. Perceived setback is a galvanizing force. I think in the face of these so-called setbacks, people have been reacting in such positive ways to transform show spaces into something more sustainable.

If not, does that bum you out, or do you chalk it up to the natural progression of any so-called music scene?
I kinda see the DIY scene like mycelium. It's an energetic network, and as long as that network is intact, physical extensions of it will pop up from beneath the soil and manifest themselves when the conditions are right. I think the Brooklyn DIY scene is experiencing a lot of changes right now, but the way people have been responding to these changes seems really positive. A community that can change and grow together is a sign of a sustainable force, and I feel pretty good about that.

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Do you have a favorite memory of playing Monster Island Basement?
We actually played the first show there, before it was called Monster Island Basement. The whole basement was one big, unfinished room. Todd P was still in the process of building two makeshift bathrooms when we got there, and the bands played on top of a pile of sheetrock, later used to build the practice spaces. The bands were Parts & Labor, Big Bear, Aa, 16 Bitch Pileup (canceled) and Dirty Projectors. I've played Monster Island Basement a few times since, but that show wins.

How about of another band you've seen play there? Anyone in particular stand out?
Lots of them, but I will say that the Oneida record release/pancake breakfast at dawn was particularly awesome.

With Market Hotel and Monster Island now closed, not to mention the recent troubles Silent Barn has faced, there's been some talk about the death of Brooklyn's DIY scene. Do you feel as though it's as vibrant as it once was?
I don't see it as being less active than any time in the 12 years I've lived here. A lot of the people involved in the spaces that closed this year are already hard at work on new ones, and there are other DIY venues still doing great things that have been lucky enough to avoid getting shut down.

Do you have a favorite memory of playing Monster Island Basement?
For me, it was when we had our album release show with ITI in July. It was a late show with a bunch of friends' bands like Shark? and Dinosaur Feathers, and I think we ended up playing around 3am. Point being, people were drunk enough to be singing along and whatnot, and people were able to come there after other shows had let out. You can't play that late at a lot of places.

How about of another band you've seen play there? Anyone in particular stand out?
So many bands. Off the top of my head, some of my favorite performances there were YellowFever and Box Elders. It was my first time seeing each of them, and they both sounded great in that space.

With Market Hotel and Monster Island now closed, not to mention the recent troubles Silent Barn has faced, there's been some talk about the death of Brooklyn's DIY scene. Do you feel as though it's as vibrant as it once was?
I mean, it sucks that MIB is closing, but there's still DBA, Shea, 285 Kent, etc. Plus, the people that ran spaces just open new ones, like now there's already The Living Bread. I also feel like this summer there were more house shows than I'm used to seeing; for instance, there were a lot of Silent Barn benefits that people would throw at random places.

If not, does that bum you out, or do you chalk it up to the natural progression of any so-called music scene?
It always sucks when a good place closes, but it's unavoidable with DIY venues. Especially once somebody builds a bunch of condos next door.

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How did you and the rest of Oneida initially get involved with the space?
We've worked with Erik Z, Rachel Nelson [of Secret Project Robot] and Kayrock [Screenprinting] for years. We were getting kicked out of our old space and running around Brooklyn trying to find a place to make into our next studio. It turned out that Todd P's basement club wasn't working out and there was a bunch of space that wasn't being utilized. It finally worked out that we got a chunk of the basement, and with a ton of help from all of the above and a hefty outlay of cash, we got The Ocropolis up and running within four months. It was where I was 100 percent of the time when I wasn't working or sleeping.

Do you have a favorite memory of playing Monster Island Basement?
I'd have to say debuting the Man Forever drum-ensemble pieces down there last year. That was incredible. We didn't really know what things would sound like. Brian Chase tuned six drum kits to different notes, and we just went for it.

How about of another band you've seen there or of a show you booked there?
I've booked a few shows there. I think the Gary Higgins, Notekillers, Moonrises, Man Forever gig from a few months ago was a fun one... It's tough to single the stuff out though. There were shows there a few times a week, every week!

If I have my facts right, you also man Monster Island's recording studio, The Ocropolis. Is there a particular memory that sticks out from a recording session — something that sort of sums up all the hours you spent there?
Shahin Motia and I did a recording project there last winter. We recorded one song each by 22 bands — and all of [them] were incredible. People gave us some amazing compositions and performances. I feel bad singling them out because they were all so good, but Notekillers seemed special to us; Wingdale Community Singers nailed this complicated five-part vocal harmony thing — that just blew my mind. There's a compilation of this stuff coming out on Brah Records, the label I run through Jagjaguwar, soon.
We also recorded Sightings' album City of Straw there. We're really proud of that. Black Dice recorded there, Growing did Pumps there, White Hills recorded a couple albums there... it was a special spot.

5.) As for The Ocropolis, I heard there are plans to move it elsewhere. Any chance of opening another venue too? Well, I guess I should be clear: Oneida did not run the performance space. That was a building community space that was available to anyone who rented the spots in the building. We're moving to Bushwick with Secret Project Robot. It's unclear if the Ocropolis-style recording situation will remain. Our space there is a lot smaller... but we can make anything work and have, so we're all excited to get back to work.

With Market Hotel and Monster Island now closed, not to mention the recent troubles Silent Barn has faced, there's been some talk about the death of Brooklyn's DIY scene. Do you feel as though it's as vibrant as it once was?
Hmmm, in a way I don't feel like I have the authority to talk about the death of a scene. A lot of people complain that things have changed — it's true — but I'm not sure it's a useful way of looking at things. I might be out of touch with the younger Brooklyn bands right now — Oneida started about 15 years ago — [but] the DIY drive feels very much alive to me. The thing is that when Silent Barn had all its troubles, the community coalesced around them very quickly. Clearly there's a scene that cares about them and what they do.

If not, does that bum you out, or do you chalk it up to the natural progression of any so-called music scene?
I mean, I'm still doing my music and there are so many inspirational bands and musicians... they are all here. So I'm not bummed. I'm just excited, per usual.

Do you have a favorite memory of a show you saw at Monster Island?
My endearingly awkward best friend is beyond obsessed with Animal Collective. Black Dice was playing at Monster Island ... and we were sweating our faces off in the dark corner that was the merch booth when she stepped outside to get some air. A few minutes later she came back supremely red in the face squawking that she pat Avey Tare on the head. Her face kept going through some odd mixtures of agitated, embarrassed and exuberant. It was great.

With Market Hotel and Monster Island now closed, not to mention the recent troubles Silent Barn has faced, there's been some talk about the death of Brooklyn's DIY scene. Do you feel as though it's as vibrant as it once was?
I always thought that DIY meant "do it yourself," and there are still tons of people who are "doing it" and doing it hard and daily. Friends are always putting on basement shows and warehouse parties, and Jim Bentley started Party Xpo for the joy of it, making no profit. Music-lovers will always find a way. Maybe the reign of Todd is coming to a close, but the scene is definitely not dying.

Do you have a favorite memory of a show you saw at Monster Island?
Two Monster Island shows stand out for me. One was Tanlines about a year and an half ago. It was a really great lineup — Lemonade, Pictureplane and Brahms also played. By the time Tanlines came on, the place was totally packed and everyone was dancing and sweaty and having an amazing time. My other favorite show was seeing Dustin Wong from the recently broken-up Ponytail play this spring. His live shows are always incredible, but this one was particularly so: The crowd was totally silent, obviously mesmerized by the performance, but still totally engaged.

With Market Hotel and Monster Island now closed, not to mention the recent troubles Silent Barn has faced, there's been some talk about the death of Brooklyn's DIY scene. Do you feel as though it's as vibrant as it once was?
The closing of Market Hotel, and now Monster Island and Silent Barn, is forcing people to come up with new, creative ways to continue booking shows. I think it's led to a greater diversity of people putting on shows in different locations and more people offering up their own apartments and roofs to host [them]. People are starting to use the DIY model to further their own causes. ... Most of the DIY scene feels somewhat apolitical, so it's cool to see people blending activism and music. Overall, I think this is a turning point for the scene, but there are so many creative people here with so much drive to do awesome things, I don't think this scene is in danger of dying.

If not, does that bum you out, or do you chalk it up to the natural progression of any so-called music scene?
Silent Barn getting shut down definitely bummed me out big time, but seeing the amazing, massive success of their Kickstarter campaign and all of the energy and support they've received is super inspiring. It's awesome to see, in a measurable way, all the community you could always sense in that venue and throughout the DIY scene.

With Market Hotel and Monster Island now closed, not to mention the recent troubles Silent Barn has faced, there's been some talk about the death of Brooklyn's DIY scene. Do you feel as though it's as vibrant as it once was?
Obviously, Death by Audio and Shea Stadium are alive and well. Both are rad and supportive places to do shows. Right from the beginning, Death by Audio was super flexible with letting Permanent Wave transform the space with our art, music and baked goods, making our first sound wave (a benefit for the Center Against Domestic Violence) a huge success. When those spaces aren't available, people put on great shows in their own houses, which has been happening for years anyway. While spaces like Silent Barn are getting reborn, I think that other lesser-known spots are getting their chances to shine. Yeah, it sucks that two of the best DIY spaces were taken from us, but what it's really helping us do is find new spaces and meet more people.

With Market Hotel and Monster Island now closed, not to mention the recent troubles Silent Barn has faced, there's been some talk about the death of Brooklyn's DIY scene. Do you feel as though it's as vibrant as it once was?
The death of Monster Island and Silent Barn, while a shame, are a natural part of New York City's (or any city's) evolving art-music scenes. The NYC DIY scene is always dying, and it always comes back, just further and further from Manhattan, wherever artists can afford to live. Until there is nothing but condos in Brooklyn, there will be a new Monster Island, there will be new bands, and hopefully the new venues that emerge will be more inclusive of different types of music and more variety within the scene(s!). Maybe the next DIY buzz-band-bird-feeder won't just book, say, any noise band, or any dream-pop band, or any surf-band, but will book more and more all-ages shows with truly diverse lineups. ... And how about a DIY music venue in a community center in the projects, or an art-rock-noise-punk-post-laptop benefit with Das Racist headlining to raise funds for Head Start? Is that going to happen anytime soon? Is that already happening, and it just hasn't made it into Showpaper? On a positive note, [see] Party Expo, Surreal Estate, Brooklyn Fireproof, Fort Useless, as mostly positive examples. And if Glasslands is still running their after-school art program, props to them for getting it right.

With Market Hotel and Monster Island now closed, not to mention the recent troubles Silent Barn has faced, there's been some talk about the death of Brooklyn's DIY scene. Do you feel as though it's as vibrant as it once was?
Artists need to become more politically aware and involved in local community politics. It is the art and music community's own bidding, or lack thereof, that they are becoming displaced by greed. Artists made Williamsburg cool. The arts community and what they built is why Williamsburg is too expensive now, not only for artists but for the minorities and working class folks who called it home. But artists rarely want to take responsibility for this and empower themselves and fight back. Now they are handing Williamsburg off to be consumed and forgotten in the new Battery Park City skyline.

If civic responsibility and awareness made a comeback, then we'd be getting somewhere. Politicians don't care about artists and musicians because they don't register to vote. Yeah, it's great to have your vote count in your swing state but guess what? You don't live there anymore, and while you pretend to, the city is being stolen from us.