There’s something about fluf’s vocalist/guitarist, O, that many people may not know. The guy loves old cartoons, old television shows, old lunch boxes and just about anything and everything else that’s old.
“I don’t want to know anything about the future. I just want to know everything about the past,” he said. “I’m not really influenced by anything ’90s. Living in the past rules so much more than living in the future like going to thrift shops and getting trinkets and records somebody used 30 years ago.”
Take a look at fluf’s latest album cover, “Waikiki,” on MCA’s Way Cool Music; the triangles and pastels just scream “Nick at Night.” Yet, while the look is nostalgic, fluf’s music is anything but.
Formed in ’92 by O, bassist John Higgins and Miles Gillett, fluf has gained a reputation around town for pounding out catchy, guitar-heavy songs. Formed at the height of San Diego’s local music explosion, the band has managed to stay together and succeed by constantly recording albums and playing to a larger variety of audiences. It’s widely known that fluf doesn’t play in too many over-21 venues, and that brings more people to their shows.
“It’s bullshit that people can’t come see a show because they can’t drink,” O said. “Music is something all ages enjoy; didn’t you want to go to shows when you were 14 or 15? I don’t know if it works out best in our favor though, because when we play shows like that, kids just look at us and go, ‘God, this guy’s fat and he’s got long hair and a goat-tee.'”
Even though every fluf fan knows exactly who O is, seeing as he’s a large guy who hides behind a lot of hair, the band has always used decoys in their press photos.
“Some of those pictures are pretty ridiculous,” he said. “That’s kind of the whole idea why we do it, but, hey, they look good; they look better than we do even. We’re not very much into being rock stars. We prefer that people just come see the show rather than concentrating on how we look ’cause we’re not very hip and happening anyway.”
Even though the members of fluf have a sense of humor, its new album plays no jokes. With 13 strong songs, including the poppy “Pushin’ Back Days,” fluf’s sound returns pride to the San Diego music scene. Even though some reviewers have said its sound is too heavy, O said he actually has had some pop influence since he took some inspiration from the masters of guitar pop, Weezer.
But whether critics and fans embrace the album or not, O said he’s not interested in following the latest trends just to keep the band’s popularity.
“We’re just playing the kind of music we like to play,” he said. “We’re not playing electronica. The only band that does that any good is Weezer.”
Along with admiring Weezer, O also did a cover of PJ Harvey’s “Sheila Na Gig” in the past, which she possibly may have heard. But even though he said she’s one of his favorite people, he doesn’t think he’d ever want to meet her.
“It’s probably better off if I never meet her,” he said. “When you meet people that you like, you end up hating them. With lots of people, it just seems best to know them through their songs.”
However, for kids afraid to meet the frontman for one of the city’s most prolific bands, they need not worry. O said he’s not interested in being a rock star; he just wants to keep singing and writing songs for the band while maintaining his other jobs at Foundation and Transworld.
“I’m just a fat guy looking for a slice of pizza,” he said. “I’m happy with a cola slurpee from 7-11. I don’t need any of that other stuff.”
fluf will play a free show today at 5 p.m. at Tower Records near the Sports Arena. For even more action, check out the band at Saturday’s Extreme Games Convention in the Del Mar Fairgrounds.
