We Skyped with Tijuana Panthers

The Tijuana Panthers are a trio that makes you want to pull pranks on the boardwalk in SoCal while skateboarding with your friends. They just released their third record, Wayne Interest, which was produced by Richard Swift (Foxygen, the Shins), their most complete yet—and in their eyes, "their best." We've always known that these dudes were an entertaining bunch, so rather than do that lameass thing where we call them over the phone and they give us the standard musician answers focused on what beautiful flower blowing in the wind inspired the record or whatever, we decided to Skype with 'em. They showed us some of their favorite belongings, told us stories, and talked about taking a shit on tour. Among the madness below, we're also happy to premiere the new video for "Four Horsemen."

What is the one thing that you can't live without/ always bring on tour with you?
Daniel: Well we have these road picks that we all need. It's kind of a shared thing-while we’re on the road we have these minty tea tree oil picks.

Phil: I guess if you're a smoker you smoke cigs on the road but I stopped smoking over a year ago and these were kind of my thing for like 3 or 4 years now

Daniel: I have a jump-rope. Every time we stop at a gas station ill pull this out no matter where wer’e at to keep in shape because I have locked knees.

Chad: I got this little juggling ball, this soccer ball. This is a good one. I get anxiety and stuff before the shows and its good to get some exercise like these guys were talking about. It’s just fun and sometimes we get a little action going inside the venue.

Phil: It’s almost broken some really expensive mics probably.

Show me your favorite record.
Phil: Mine’s Ian Dury. He's just my favorite artist of all time this record is pretty good but the cover is awesome.

Chad: I brought this record, Ruby and the Romantics. They're not my all time favorite artist, I guess I disobeyed the directions but its my favorite record right now because I need to relax and take it easy sometimes and this is the record I play the most. I love it, its great. It’s my go-to right now because its therapeutic for me.

You seem to really like relaxation. You've got the ball. You've got the therapeutic record.
Chad: Yeah. I know where you're going with that and its not…no. The answer is no.

Where'd you think I was going with that?
Chad: I know it seems like I smoke marijuana but actually I don't, I just relax in other ways.

Daniel: I brought Buena Vista Social Club. I loved the documentary that came out and my roommate had it. I would make espresso on Sunday mornings and listen to it and play chess with my roommate. The he moved out and said he wanted it back. It took me a really long time to find it and it was really expensive. It’s such a groovy sexy record and had to have it.

Who has the prettiest eyes?
Phil: I would say Daniel.

Chad: He has got those bright blue eyes

Daniel: I'm not gonna argue with them, do I have to get up close? My eyes may be kinda bloodshot.

Well apparently you guys don't smoke weed so I don't know, but you should get up really close.
Dan: Just do some contrast on it like you do on Instagram and make them really blue .

What was the first show you guys each remember going to?
Daniel: Mine was New Kids on the Block. My mom and sister took me to see them. I remember being really far back and not enjoying it at all or knowing what was going on surrounded by screaming people. It wasn't enjoyable.

Chad: My sister took me to U2. She's obviously an older sister. I was pretty dumb, she said we were going to a Rams game because at that time they were the LA Rams. It was on a Friday night and I didn't even put it together. I wore my Rams jersey and was excited about the game and then I was like, “these people don't look like football people.” And then The Sugarcubes came out and my sister was like yeah you're actually at a U2 concert. And I was pretty excited. That was in the early 90s. It was awesome.

Phil: I think my first one was seeing my dads band play. He was in several bands when I was growing up.

Favorite toilet on the road or the worst toilet experience you have had.
Chad: I pretty much get diarrhea before every show so I get real acquainted with the toilets.

Do you get super nervous?
Chad: No it's like a pre-show thing. It's not every show. I exaggerated but you know I don’t know, I’m just trying to be vulnerable here on this interview. I actually as of late have been OK with that.

You're chillin out on the diahhrrea issues?
Chad: Yeah, but I can't think of a favorite toilet though.

Daniel: I feel like the key is, ill find a place down the street like at a Starbucks or a Coffee Bean.

Favorite pair of sunglasses?

Best T-shirt that you own?
Phil: Mine's from this guy who did a drawing for our newest record. He takes hardcore bands and pop culture that we like and does mashups.

Chad: And I’ve got this Soft Pack shirt on. They’re my buddies.

Daniel: My old roommate used to work at Wasteland and he would get first dibs so he bought it at a discounted price for me because he knew I was such a Paul Rubens fan. We all grew up on Peewee Herman.

Tell me about the new video for “Four Horsemen.”
Phil: I went to school for art and video wasn’t a part of it. As a band we figure things out on our own. I was basing it off a lot of the paintings I was doing so I made the video in one day in my garage.I put a camera in one place and did it myself. We have a hand in everything, so I decided to make a video that made zero dollars.

Let's talk about the new album. Do you guys think that this was your best album?
Phil: This is the best album we have put out, i think we all agree with that.

Daniel: We were always rushing to just put something out and we found friends that wanted to do it cheap as far as engineering.

Phil: It is very clean. There were places we knew about down south, but I didn’t want us to sound like every single other band.

Daniel: We went up to Cottage Grove with Richard Swift and banged out seven songs in one day. Literally I think he fell asleep on the last song. It was all on four track cassette tape for this album. There was some tequila there. We were having a very comfortable, nice time. We weren’t scared to be charismatic and we just went in and fucking did it. Swift was so comfortable and so perfect for our sound.

Phil: The way swift does it is he figures out what your thing is. He has this vast background and connects that with his thing. He knows what he’s doing.

Daniel: Yeah he stripped it down for us. He was like, you guys are a three-piece rock and roll band, don’t overthink it.

Kayla Monetta talks too much about the toilet. She's on Twitter — @kaylamomo