Our Interview with Cecil Otter of Doomtree

Doomtree are an enigma wrapped in a gluten free peacoat. They portray this welcoming and accepting group vibe that is as large as the genre they perform in (lo fi indie power punk), but it's all a fucking sham. They are only out for our fucking wallets, our farm animals and our toll change. They are as conniving and selfish as the hairs on my head.

While, yes, I'm lying, they are indeed fucking annoying. They all eat healthy, they are all undoubtedly some of the nicest people on the fucking planet, and they fucking rap good. Whoever the Fuck these prick shits think they are, they are annoying above all else. Rappers aren't supposed to be likable. I want my rappers like I want my professional athletes: drugged up, entertaining pieces of shit that I would never invite over to my house for egg nog ice cream from Oberweis (shit IS BOMB).

Unfortunately, Cecil Otter of Doomtree, is a close personal friend of mine. We ride bikes together, we shop for pager cases with each other, we call people poopie butts and giggle like broads high on estrogen... See? Beastly besties. Cecil Otter might annoy you with his rapperings too, but at least he's fucking honest about accepting the fact that he's more talented than you.

SYFFAL NOTE: I took advantage of Cecil in this interview, as I got my friend Michael Nameche on the guest list for the Chicago Doomtree show just because Michael is a huge Doomtree fan and just the cutest and I hear Michael knows how to throw his hands in the ay-yer.

CECIL OTTER INTERVIEW GO:

SYFFAL: Cecil, if that IS your real name, why do you wear hats all the time?

Cecil Otter: No real reason other than it's easier than brushing my hair... and I like hats.

SYFFAL:: So the rumor about the tattoo of the Charlie Brown hair zig zag is true maybe still kind of somehow? Can you confirm/deny that you are indeed the "cute one" in Doomtree?

Cecil Otter: My mom says I am, therefore I am... my mother is infallible.

SYFFAL:: She may be, but her opinion on horchata means nothing to me. I once met POS outside of a portapotty. I went to shake his hand, he went to shake mine, and I innocently pulled away when I realized his hands were wet. What is it about POS that just makes paper towels obsolete?

Cecil Otter: Maybe he has a large paper towel phobia. Maybe he fears that when he pulls the paper towel from his hands that his hands will disappear... maybe he had an uncle who was both a magician and an asshole who had a huge effect on the way POS deals with reality... or that portapotty was just out of paper towels. Can't be too sure though.

SYFFAL:: You're kind of fun to talk to. I mean the Minnesota accent is cute and all, but man, that lazy eye, I can't even tell where you're looking! THIS IS EXCITING! Ahem. Wugazi. Please to explain why this took until 2011 to actually exist? Is this because you are a lazy stoner with other things to do? And do those other things that you have to do, are they going to get done tomorrow because you're tired today?

Cecil Otter: My shit head friend Andy didn't bring up the idea to me until last year and I don't work on anything that wasn't thought up by someone else. Just because I smoke weed with my cats for breakfast doesn't mean I don't get things done... I have plenty of detailed kitten drawings to prove it.

SYFFAL:: The bond we have, it is insurmountable on a razor scooter alone. What is the most hipster piece of clothing you own? Will you publicly announce that you will donate it to a charity of your choosing after this interview is over? How will we prove you're a fucking liar?

Cecil Otter: My fedora, NO and I'm really enjoying your questions.

SYFFAL:: Flattery will get you a facefull. RAWR. How many mustaches on a stick do you own currently?

Cecil Otter: If you're talking about the mustache on a stick factory that I bought into ten years ago that burned down three years later that cost me my marriage and left my home town smelling like burning cats and defeat... then Fuck you!!! Too soon man!!! Too fucking soon!!!

SYFFAL:: LIVE IN THE NOW WAYNE! When the Doomtree isn't in bloom, where do you spend most of your time awake?

Cecil Otter: In front of my computer making music that will hopefully inspire a nation to watch sports. It's like everyone just forgot. There are a lot of hungry football and baseball players out there who can't even eat. Not because they never learned how to eat, but because they can't buy food. It's got me welling up just thinking about it.

SYFFAL:: I well up from time to time, but my well drains from episodes of Parenthood and The Wire. The last time I saw you, I was shoving cold Budweiser cans down the many many pockets of my delicious denim jeans, backstage at Sound Set. How many cans of shitty beer can you fit in your pants?

Cecil Otter: I tried once but it made my penis cold and nobody like a cold penis... sooooo... none.

SYFFAL:: Your vagina, she is vast. Over the past 9 months or so, I have been battling an incessant strain of algae on my pond's surface. I have tried chemical treatments, different bacteria strains meant to kill what the algae eat before they eat it, and I even had the muthafucker vacuumed. What is a hip hopper to do when his zombie apocalypse fishing hole becomes a green blanket covered puddle of death?

Cecil Otter: These days I think they'd prolly just tweet about it and promptly tweet again about a fucking show or something.

SYFFAL:: MESSAGE! What is next for Cecil Otter besides more headwear?

Cecil Otter: V-Neck jeans and a dick neck tattoo.

SYFFAL:: Inventive, AND COMFORTABLE. Your role in the latest Doomtree record can be summed up in three words "white guy rapping". What three words would you use to describe your participation in the creation of that record?

Cecil Otter: Every-Little-Detail.

SYFFAL:: Cecil, the aloof. You are from Minnesota. Can you agree with me that Solid Gold are the best band from Minnesota to ever grace my lovely ear holes?

Cecil Otter: I would say that they are near the top of my list, but The Plastic Constellations would get my vote.

SYFFAL:: I will look them up because I love Minnesota music dude. Every fucking band up there is fucking awesome. When you come to Chicago in February, can you get my friend Mike Nameche on the guest list? He wears a leather jacket and he just thinks you're the adorables.

Cecil Otter: He sounds like a pretty tough, but sensible guy. It would be nice to have him around. So... yes.

SYFFAL:: HOLDING YOU TO THAT. Michael Nameche is on the guest list for the Chicago stop of the DoomTourTree. Speaking of adorables, how do you overcome a Sims overdose? What steps do you take to make sure something like that doesn't happen agains? (Yes, agains)

Cecil Otter: I would say “Hey! Don't do that!”

SYFFAL:: You even SOUND limp wristed Cec. SYFFAL.com started with a handful of music pricks telling other music pricks about the music pricks we were manhandling and fellating publicly. Name us three bands we should be listening to now, but probably aren't, because we were too busy being the 99%.

Cecil Otter: Terry Reid - Seed of memory
Charles Bradley – No time for dreaming
King Crimson – In the court of the Crimson King

SYFFAL:: What is your favorite song from an animated movie that stars a mouse?

Cecil Otter: That's easy. Somewhere Out There (Fievel's solo version) from the critically acclaimed
“An American Tail" ... hands (firmly) down.

SYFFAL:: AND HOW. Tell the world how many flannels you own and how many you are actually wearing at this very second.

Cecil Otter: Maybe 15, and I am currently wearing nothing but a tube sock.

SYFFAL:: My friend Del is a piece of shit you know. Stay pasty my friend.

Cecil Otter: RAP RAP RAP RAP RAP RAP RAP RAP