Music

Silent Night

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Trent Tomlinson, "Drunker Than Me": This PSA-as-country-song might hit the sauced single ladies where it hurts — right in the booze-marinated liver. Especially this part: "I can't be with a woman, baby, who gets drunker than me." Chicks know it's tough to fly solo at couples showers or the dreaded New Year's Eve. This might spark a moment of clarity, God love 'em, as they crouch alone by the toilet bowl. Perhaps they'll even take stock of their lives. And, more important, get the hell out of yours. For the night anyway.

But ultimately, don't give even the sloppiest invitee such a bitter heave-ho-ho-ho that they'll never come back to your casa. Because deep down, you know they're the fun ones who will really help get your first annual Flag Day party off the ground. In June. — Kristie McClanahan

Bubbling Under
Hyperbubble keeps it robotically real. This San Antonio synth-pop duo employs more off-beat noises than a Foley artist — all the while paying lyrical homage to their appliance parents and electronic gizmology.

B-Sides: When did your robot obsession begin?

Jess: Mystery Science Theater 3000.

Jeff: I like gadgets in general, machines working so that people don't have to. Frees us up to dance! Thank you, robots!

Who are your favorite robots?

Jeff: Gort from The Day the Earth Stood Still.

Jess: Tom Servo and Crow T. Robot!

What do you think of Aibo, the robot dog?

Jess: I think it's a great idea. When I was a kid, I was so desperate for a pet, I pasted a magazine picture of a cat onto a fur muff and dragged it around until it fell apart. My parents never got the hint.

But you have a pet now. There's a cat on the track "Leon."

Jeff: We followed him around the house for about an hour with a microphone to get some choice yelps.

Jess: I had to give him a couple of squeezes.

You say your parents were a toaster and a blender?

Jeff: That's what we were left with when our parents went out.

Jess: Actually, I can't even make toast. I never learned how to cook!

Jeff: You were abandoned by your Toaster Mom!

Jess: I was shooed out of the kitchen by my Toaster Mom.

You also talk about electric brains.

Jess: Our house has an electric brain. Every time we turn the microwave on, the lights flash.

Sounds like your microwave has a lot of power.

Jess: More than we'd like it to!

Jeff: Our microwave kicks ass.

Jess: But it does have a mind of its own. It turns itself on sometimes.

Jeff: It just beeps all of a sudden, like "I'm still here!" Once it knew we recorded it, it was like, "I can do other things!"

It's the holiday season. What is an ideal Hyperbubble Christmas gift?

Jeff: I think one of those Panasonic eight-track players and some Donna Summer tapes to go with it. She is the queen of techno. But also, everyone should own a synthesizer. If they did, the world would be much more easygoing.

What would be a good present to give a robot?

Jeff: Oil and some fresh ball-bearings.

Jess: Disco music! A Donna Summer CD!

Here's what I'm taking away from this conversation: You guys love microwaves and Donna Summer.

Both: Oh yeah!

Jeff: Think about it! [sings Donna Summer's "I Feel Love"] ...as the microwave goes round, oscillating? Would you like to hear our microwave?

Sure.

Microwave: Beeeeep.

— Kristyn Pomranz

Hyperbubble at the Creepy Crawl, 412 North Tucker Boulevard. Doors at 7:30 p.m. Thursday, December 22. Tickets are $7; call 314-421-9333 for more information.

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