The James Logan Courier

By Micah Mahinay, Courier Staff Writer

The Evil 105 Subsonic Spookfest took place on October 30 at the Cow Palace. It was the debut of the first Subsonic Electronic music festival created by the one and only Bay Area alternative radio station, Live 105.

The festival featured had various dj’s and bands performing live on had two stages. The Death Dome, also known as the main stage, had performances by The Faint, Basement Jaxx, The Crystal Method, Diplo plus much more. The Deadly Disco Dungeon, the second stage, had dj’s and dj duos such as Dj Omar, Classixx, Paparazzi, Designer Drugs, Le Castle Vania, Steve Aoki, and Flosstradamus.
I arrived to the venue when Classixx was on. The duo were wearing suits and eyeball masks as their costume. Not only did they look cute, but also their dj set was fun and classy looking. Paparazzi’s set intertwined with Diplo’s set at the Death Dome. I got sick of standing at the Deadly Disco stage so I moved with my friend to the main stage so I could see crazy rave kids dance. It sounded like every dj played the track Pon De Floor by Major Lazer that night. I heard it several times.

I was scheduled to interview Michael Vincent Patrick from Designer Drugs at 8pm. That so did not happen, due to the lack of taxi service in San Francisco. Poor dude. Anyways, the night progressed and I was so frustrated because the interview hadn’t happened yet. It was around 11pm when Michael finally met up with me, I felt relieved. I missed Aoki’s set but it was worth it.


And the interview went like this:

Micah: Are you a very easy person to get along with?
MVP: To say the least I’m a very easy person to get along with.
Micah: Why did you pick Designer Drugs as the name? It’s kind of a blunt way to put it.
MVP: It’s a very blunt way to come out, but we didn’t really think of it much... When I was in high school I read an anti drug book and there was a chapter on designer drugs and I thought it sounded pretty cool, so years later when we made the group we decided to use the name, but we probably shouldn’t have… We have some issues with licensing and publishing but… F*** it you know it’s all good. Sorry I probably shouldn’t curse.
Micah: (laughs) No, it’s cool.
MVP: Yeah it’s cool cursing is cool.
Micah: I guess the D.A.R.E. program wouldn’t approve of you guys.
MVP: (laughs) No but they inspired me, that’s the funny thing.
Micah: Do you have any side projects other Designer Drugs?
MVP: Um… I do have some side projects but I can’t mention any side projects yet because it’s still in its infantile state.
Micah: Top secret?
MVP: Yes, very top secret.
Micah: You have a second member right? Where is he? Don’t lie.
MVP: Yeah, (laughs) No. Theo he’s actually in med school right now, so he couldn’t come to the show. I think he had some exams, but he wants to become a doctor. So, yeah, he’s gonna be a doctor, but he didn’t graduate high school, he dropped out of high school so…
Micah: Shout out to Theo
MVP: Yeah you don’t have to go to high school kids. Nah I’m just kidding (laughs)
Micah: Get your GED and s***!
MVP: No, (laughs) he plans on hanging his GED next to his doctor's. (laughs more) No, it’s been this on going joke since middle school.
Micah: I saw you at Blow Up Sf… that s*** was HELLA sweaty. Tell me about it.
(Corrects me)
MVP: Wicked sweaty.
Micah: Yeah, wicked sweaty.
MVP: Yeah it was the hottest sweaty party I ever dj’d at, I had to take my shirt off which I usually don’t do but it was… wicked sweaty. It was hot.
Micah: What inspires you to pick artists like Mariah Carey… and Treasure Fingers.
MVP: um… Well, okay, there’s a gamut of reasons. The Treasure Fingers thing, was like… first of all the song is amazing. Aj from Treasure Fingers, he’s an amazing artist. Mariah Carey, once again, amazing artist. The Mariah Carey thing was for a contest; we didn’t win, but we got her autograph, so it was pretty rad. It was one of those lifetime accomplishments where, like, you know you want to meet Mariah Carey, but we got her autograph.
Micah: Would you considera little Asian girl like me as a friend?
MVP: Um… No I’m not friends with Asian girls sorry. But you,though, I think we can work something out.
Micah: Do you like to sing or rap?
MVP: All of the above. Yeah, usually, if I drink too much coffee or smoke too much weed, I end up rapping a lot in my head. But not much of it gets recorded, unfortunately. It’s pretty good stuff.
Micah: When you’re drunk is that when you rap too?
MVP: No its actually when I drink too much coffee.
Micah: (cut him off) I rap… My name is Noodles.
MVP: Noodles? That’s a good name,though. You should be Noodles! I’ll produce you. I will produce a Noodles record! (grabs the mic from me)
***AWKWARDNESS… we stare at each other and laugh for a minute***
Micah: I can’t take him seriously!
MVP: You shouldn’t. There’s no reason to take me seriously.
Micah: So I forgot to tell you. I guess you’re coming back to San Francisco in December.
MVP: Yeah, I think it’s us and Toxic Avenger or something. Yeah, I love San Francisco, although the taxi situation I’m not so into.
Micah: Taxi drivers need to holla at Michael a.s.a.p.
MVP: Limousine drivers holler at me.
Micah: That wraps up our interview with Michael, got anything else to say? And we out!!!!

It was a really interesting interview, I didn’t expect that much feedback, but he’s a really interesting and sweet guy. They come back to San Francisco in December. Check them out.

Go listen to them.

Watch the interview here: