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Quick & Dirty: Pretoria Comment on Their Favourite Drinks, Pizzas, Venues, and First Concerts

We caught up with Michigan-based indie rockers Pretoria for a Quick & Dirty interview about their favourite drinks, pizzas, venues, and first concerts.

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Over the last few years, since their formation in 2018, Pretoria has been a single-releasing machine. Each has been distinctive in its own way, ranging from surf punk to more of a nostalgic retro-soul sound. The Michigan-based indie rockers have now returned with two recent single releases, “I Blew It” and “Roller Derby.” Both songs are as catchy as ever, each featuring a slightly different sound but also succeeding in giving you that pleasant, summery feeling that is becoming synonymous with each new Pretoria release.

As the band continues to ready their debut album, which will feature a track listing of their best material yet, we caught up with them for a brand new Quick & Dirty interview. Read on as we pose a bunch of random, sometimes ridiculous questions that really have nothing to do with music at all!

Favourite drink and food?

Two Beards (sandwich shop in Grand Rapids). Piña Coladas.”

Beer, wine or liquor?

“LIQUOR.”

Must-have on your rider?

“A green room with a bathroom so (drummer) Ben (Dewitt) can brush his teeth.”

Must-have non-musical items when you’re on tour?

“Great metal comb.”

What’s your secret to great metal hair?

“Great metal comb.”

If your life were a book or movie, what would the title be?

Escape from Pretoria, starring Daniel Radcliffe.”

Artwork for the double-single “I Blew It” and “Roller Derby” by Pretoria

Would you rather be a zombie, vampire or werewolf?

Matt Pavlock: “Vampire.”

Dewitt: “Vampire, for sure.”

Cats or Dogs?

Pavlock: “Dogs or cats?”

Dewitt: “Caaattss.”

If you could have anything as a pet, what would it be?

Pavlock: “Red Panda.”

Top three songs of all time?

Matt Burdick: “‘This Must Be the Place’ – Talking Heads.”

Dewitt: “‘Hide and Seek’ – Imogen Heap.”

Rob Gullett: “‘Going to California’ – Led Zeppelin.”

If you could hang out with a famous person (dead or alive) for one day, who would it be?

Dewitt: “Does Jack Stratton from Vulfpeck count as famous?”

Burdick: “Andre 3000, alive.”

What toppings do you like on your pizza?

“Pineapple all day.”

What was your first concert?

Dewitt: “Slash.”

Burdick: Slash.”

Gullett: “Red Hot Chili Peppers.”

Josh Bilisko: “Nickelback.”

Pavlock: “Umphrey’s McGee.”

Pretoria, photo by Brady Olson

How do you drink your coffee?

“Out of our cupped hands.”

Favourite book of all time?

Burdick: “Hitchhiker’s Guide to the GalaxyDouglas Adams.”

Name a big guilty pleasure of yours.

Owl City.”

What’s the best venue you have ever played, and why?

The Breslin Center at MSU. It was the biggest show we’ve played so far, and the sound and crowd energy were fantastic.”

Favourite movie?

Burdick: “Good Will Hunting if I’m sad and Face/Off if I’m happy.”

Dewitt: “Wait, is Face/Off actually spelled with the slash? I didn’t know that.”

Gullett: “Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind.”

Bilisko: “The Fellowship of the Ring.”

Pavlock: “The Shawshank Redemption.”

What were you doing in the ’80s?

“Trying to get our parents together and fix the DeLorean before we stop existing.”

Favourite childhood musical memory?

Gullett: “Recorder class in third grade.”

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