SugarCult is one of the few bands I have seen in concert that are better in person than on their album. On Nov. 7, SugarCult opened for Reel Big Fish at the Crest Theater. This was a concert that offered flair along with great fan interaction.

SugarCult got their name from seven lesbians who lived next door to songwriter and guitar player Tim. The song was written about Debbie, one of the initial lesbian neighbors. Fittingly, SugarCult began their set with a song titled “Debbie Was a Lesbian”.

Guitar player Marko commented on the beauty of the Crest theater but told the crowd that did not mean they had to be polite and to get up and jump around.

During the second song into the set, people sitting near me lit up a marijuana joint and they were never asked to put it out. With so much security at the venue, it amazed me that people were openly smoking pot. The odor dragged my attention away from the stage, but when the band began playing “Pretty Girl” a feeling of “awww” washed over me and I wanted to be in love with lyrics such as “It’s the way he kisses you.”

From the first chord of “Bouncing off the Walls” the crowd was on its feet jumping around. It just got better as they finished their set with a cover of “I Want to be Sedated” by the Ramones. Band members invited the crowd on stage and before you could blink an eye the stage was filled with excited fans bouncing around with SugarCult as if they were at a party. This was a fabulous ending to a wonderfully-played 45 minute set that included seven songs.

Jessica Snyder from Redding drove to Sacramento with her mom to seeSugarCult in concert. Jessica stood out because she was wearing a one-of-a-kind shirt that said “I (heart) Marko.”

“I like SugarCult because they are so in tune with their fans and take the extra time to autograph anything, and their music is so inspiring,” Jessica said.

Reel Big Fish, the headliners of the concert, also put on a great show. The crowd was on their feet from the first song and never sat down the entire time they were on stage. This was a great concert, but I think SugarCult was the true star of the show. With their video now playing on MTV, I think it will only be short time before SugarCult becomes an household name.

I had the opportunity to talk to the band on the night of the concert. The following is the content of that interview:

Q:The band formed in 1998. How did it start? Was someone looking to start aband, did you guys already know each other?

Marko: This band started like a layer cake. Tim had some songs and then hooked up with Ben, who was a drummer. Then they knew Airin. Airin and Ben had class together and they played a concert at their high school. They all moved away after high school, then slowly they all came back to California and the band began to form.

I was in another band when I saw SugarCult play for the first time. I was whoring myself out, playing in so many bands. It is rewarding playing in bands that already have large followings, but I was looking for something to do from the ground up. It is more rewarding if you start something from the bottom up. Tim called and invited me to join SugarCult. Previously I was the bass player, but when I joined SugarCult I became the guitar player.

Q: Does the band get along?

Marko: No, we hate each other… Airin and Marco argue. No, we don’t ? Yes, we do. A band works like a family you all love each other regardless but there are times – when you go through harder times and you go through great times. We have shared some great experiences. We have gone through some gnarly times.

Q: Is it true the band got their name from the lesbians next door?

A: Yes, it is true.

Airin: One of them had a crush on me. We have a song about one of them -“Debbie was a Lesbian.”

Marko: At least until she meet Airin.

Q: Does anyone still talk to the lesbians?

Ben: We just saw some of the girls at the show in San Diego.

Q: Best moment on stage or on the road?

Ben: Should we tell about Austin or Reno ?

Marko: It is hard to think of a moment ? it is such a blur?

Ben: Did good things happen?

Marco: We played a show in Richmond, VA – It was a really small show, it was like a Tuesday night. It was our first time playing Richmond and sometimes you have to turn a lemon into lemonade. We played, “I want to be Sedated” by the Ramones and we invited the crowd onto the stage and the whole club came on the stage. Airin handed his bass off to a player from another band and he was the only one watching from the floor. I think rock ?n? roll is at its best when it is on the brink of disaster.

Q: Do groupies exist?

Marko: They exist, but not like on the movies. They are not the daughter ofGoldie Hawn, that are buxom and blonde and well-dressed. They are usually four feet tall and 450 pounds. They remind me of the character from Saturday Night Live, Pat.

Airin: Not ours. Ours are all supermodels.

Crystal: We are talking in general.

Tim: Groupies for our band are so young, if we invited them backstage we might get arrested!

Q: Everyone wants to date a rock star. So are you guys single or taken?

We do not talk about those things ?

Q: Worst moment on stage?

When more than one of us breaks a string on stage or blows an amp. On thewarped tour this summer it was so hot the electronics that are held together by glue are no match for the heat.

Q: What is your favorite song on the Static Start CD?

Tim: “You’re the One”

Marco: “Pretty Girl.” Songs are like kids you can not love one more than theother, but they all have their own strengths.

Airin: “Daddy’s Little Defect.”

Q: I saw that you filmed your first music video. Was it everything you expected?

Airin: I actually saw it on MTV last night.

Ben: I squealed like a girl when I saw the video.

Marko and Airin: It was really hot, standing under heavy lights. We were like rotisserie chicken. There were people whose job it was to hold fans on us between takes, to try and cool us.

Q: When you were growing up did you want to be in a rock band?

Ben: I knew when I was 7.

Marko: I knew at a really young age that I wanted to be a performer, like an actor. Soon as I picked up an instrument I thought this was really fun.

Airin: My goal was always to be the musical guest and host of Saturday Night Live.

Tim: School kind of decided for me. When I was a kid I played the guitar on the tennis racket in the mirror. I was not good in school. Parents were trying to encourage me by taking music classes, because I was not doing well in school. But then I was terrible in those.

Q: If you could offer one piece of advice to an upcoming band, what would it be?

Ben: Get out while you still can.

Marco: Start a band as soon as you can and play shows as soon as you can. Play shows out of town. That is the best way to get confidence.

Q: Who are your influences?

Marko: We all are all huge music fans and if we went into depth we would probably bore you to tears, if we really went into depth of what. SugarCult is influenced by the late 70s and early 80s bands like Elvis Costello, Blondie, Cheap Trick, The Ramones. We are not a retro band; we are very modern-minded. Ben likes Kiss.

Tim: We like a lot of stuff, Radiohead and sometimes I rock out to Top Country as I drive down the road.

Q: Who writes your lyrics?

A: Tim writes them and anything you do not like the record company wrote.