photo credit: Mark Lapriore

The term “supergroup” gets tossed around a lot these days. So does salad but enough about me! Department Of Teleportation is pretty much a snapshot of the Providence noise rock scene of the past couple of generations of musicians, a cacophonous oral history of sound and fury. I spoke with singer and keyboard player Marc Calhoun about everything that ever existed.

HASSLE:
Who is in the band and what do they play?

MARC:
Scott plays bass, – Sven plays guitar, Marc is on keys/vox and Bobby plays drums.

HASSLE:
How did the band get started and get to this point?

MARC:
Many of us played cards together for years, then we were in Folding Foreign Cars for a couple years, that morphed into DOT about a year or so ago….

HASSLE:
Anyone in other bands? What are some bands you guys have been in before?

MARC:
Well, Scot was in Marjan Crash, Skinned Alive, Fourhorse (with Bobby), Sven was in Betamax, Marc was in Rectumfly. I’m sure everyone recognizes these bands right ?!

HASSLE:
I mostly do! Great name! How did you come up with?

MARC:
When Scott was in Marjan Crash, they toured in an old 3/4 bus and could have easily changed the van lettering to Department of Teleportation. He has been denied this name for almost 20 years, so we thought it was time.

HASSLE:
How much recording has the band done and where? Any like official releases yet or upcoming?

MARC:
We recently recorded a seven song ep (here) at Machines With Magnets, that we are real happy with. Should have some cassettes very soon…and merch, sure. Already writing new songs and planning to record again soon..

HASSLE:
Speaking of which…tell me about the songwriting process in the band.

MARC:
Lately, the bass has been the motivator, (or at least premeditated), but from there it’s basically building. Shout out to Sven, because he has to cover much more ground now, but he’s so scratchy and glorious. Bobby’s always interesting (disclosure: I think he practices), and I just can’t be simple enough.

HASSLE:
What are some primary and secondary influences?

MARC:
All the classics: Jesus Lizard, Six Finger (we are from Providence), early Helmut, Butthole Surfers, Funkadelic, UNSANE, PiL, the Fall, all primary. Secondary is a great question: Scott is the biggest Voivod and CopShootCop fan I know personally, Steve can school ya on most Jamaican music, Bobby and me love AM gold…

HASSLE:
Any video or touring plans?

MARC:
We are in the midst of video planning now. We’ll just do it ourselves with the video phones and whatnot. Touring is not ultra robust at the moment, but we’re always open to the right show.

HASSLE:
I know the band is great because I’ve seen it! How do we convince everyone else?

MARC:
Ain’t that the trick?, I could say the same thing to you ! I guess testimonials like yourself probably help. Perhaps a total Facebook blackout would help humanity? Maybe we’ll have Survivor or the Bachelor on in the background next time we play…..

HASSLE:
Oh my cod! Well, you heard it here, folks, now get off your ass and go trash your apartment while blasting Department Of Teleportation.