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One look and listen of their record and you'll know these guys aren't serious about scoring a hit. But that doesn't mean they aren't seriously good, complete with an adult dose of humor and swagger that's equal parts early Bowie, Queen and wedding singer. The Batt spoke with Zuniga, er, Fantasy, about pseudonyms, Reno and his baby's momma.
BATT: So what's with the fake names?
Fantasy: It's a desire to entertain ourselves and the audience as well. Most people in show biz have a fake name anyway. I was just slow to catch onto it. Everywhere I look it's Andre 3000 and Prince and Madonna. There are more people that have fake names than don't. And like Puff Daddy changing it all around all the time; what's with that?
BATT: Describe the humor in The Small Stars.
Fantasy: In other bands I've tried to deny the humor side, thinking it was not sincere, but now I think I'm being more sincere because I'm honest when I'm making fun of myself.
BATT: I read your blog, and you have quite a few opinions to share about the business.
Fantasy: Depending on my alcohol consumption, I get to ranting onstage, too. I'm good at improvising off the top of my head. When I'm on a blog I feel like I'm off in space, you know? Like, 'Is anyone reading this?' But live I get feedback from the audience.
BATT: What do you think of INXS picking their new singer on a reality show?
Fantasy: It's ridiculous, and it's sad to see them do that. Though I respect J.D. Fortune. I have nothing against him. I don't know about the way they went about it. We should just choose the next president that way. F--- it. We all know it's corrupted. Forget the campaign funds. Call in and vote. It can't be any worse than it already is.
BATT: I've heard your sound described as rock/lounge/theatrical. Explain your music.
Fantasy: We play our own music, but we have some covers. It's more like there's lounge music that's associated with elaborate chord changes and smooth: it's all over the top.
There's a glam rock side, which goes good with clothes and the lounge side. We try to keep the glam and the drama and some campyness and humor. It's a certain kind of cocktail. It's very specific. You either like it or you don't.
BATT: How did the band get started?
Fantasy: We started writing a musical, actually, and that's where the idea of Reno came into play. We picked Reno because it's kind of a sleazy, divey town. It ain't Vegas. It was a singer, Guy Fantasy, in Reno with a drinking problem and no guts to go make it big in Vegas.
BATT: How are Fastball fans reacting to The Small Stars?
Fantasy: Some of them like it, some of them don't. Some think I've lost my mind, or I'm not playing the music I should be. Fastball's music was good and poppy. I don't like it every day. It's like, I love the Beatles, but I don't want them all the time. It's like eating ice cream every day. You get sick of it, you know? I wanted some alcohol in it. I wanted a change of pace. It's nice and all, but it doesn't have any sleaze or low-down. If you were in a bar, and it was smoky, and maybe there's a fight, Small Stars would definitely go in that bar more than Fastball. I guarantee you. Your average guy in that bar is going to like that music a lot more.
BATT: I saw your wife at South by Southwest wearing a shirt that said "Guy Fantasy's Baby" with an arrow pointing to her tummy. What does she think about Guy?
Fantasy: She likes Guy Fantasy, she just doesn't want him in our house. She's good as long as I keep Guy outside.
