There is Nobunny

After we’d missed each other for days, I finally got to speak with Nobunny, aka Justin Champlin, on the phone at 12:30 a.m. Lucky that both of us are night owls (setting aside for a moment the relationship that owls usually have with bunnies), because the thoroughly interesting front-man of this catchy, scratchy garage pop/punk band is one interview that it would have been a shame to miss.

Here’s what Nobunny had to say about his notorious bunny identity, loco mocos and a 10th anniversary gig at the Playboy Mansion.

Nobunny
NextDoor, Saturday April 16 (tonight) at 8 p.m.
Tickets: $15 for 21+, $20 for under 21

First time here? What do you think?

Yes, it’s my first time. I’m super stoked on it. Coming here, it almost felt like we needed a passport… while I’m on an island that is technically part of my home, it’s still very far from home, and very different.

I went to the beach but I didn’t actually go in the water yet.
A couple of the guys went surfing and body boarding. They tried and didn’t quite make it up, but still had a lot of fun. We’re going cliff-diving on Sunday.

I had my first loco moco yesterday. It was awesome. I’ve actually been craving it all day today, but I probably shouldn’t eat another one if I want to be able to play our show. It knocked me out.

How hard is it to keep a secret identity when you’re wearing your “human mask”?

The identity of Nobunny… well, there’s never been any official word from the Nobunny camp who is or isn’t Nobunny. There is Nobunny, and that’s part of the reason for the mask and the anonymity. It’s all about fun, and it doesn’t matter who’s behind the mask. Many people have worn the mask, and I’d like for it to continue, whether it’s me or someone else.

I do appreciate the anonymity. I certainly like meeting people, but at the same time I’m shy.

What’s your fascination with masks?

I’ve always liked Halloween… for me it never became conscious until as a teenager I picked up a magazine called “Walktober,” in Chicago. There was an article about the history of masked rock & roll. The Mummies were in there, along with artists like Kiss, and even Michael Jackson, because he had so much plastic surgery. It covered kabuki, tiki masks and all kinds of masks around the world used in performance and festivities.

I come from a somewhat theatrical family of weirdos and artists. When I was young, I was in a million bands that were pretty crappy. It was always fun to wear costumes and cover up for our lack of skill. Now, hopefully, we don’t need that.

Why’d you decide to go with creepy rabbit as your image?

At first it was a mask I found that I didn’t alter too much. It was kind of the first mask I saw that I could afford. I wanted to be a rabbit Elvis impersonator, and in a way I kind of embraced it when I first saw it. Everybunny likes a bunny, for the most part. They’re cute and they’re weird and they’re dumb.

Where’d you get your first bunny mask?

In Tuscon, AZ… I honestly don’t even remember the place. For a while I was telling people I skinned a Jackalope. Unfortunately, that type of mask has been discontinued.

Do you see a lot of people at your shows wearing bunny costumes?

Yeah, more and more, actually. It seems to be getting crazier. In New York, there were quite a few people wearing bunny ears and tails. One guy, older, looked kinda like the Unabomber with bunny ears. It was wild.

Would you say you put more emphasis on making performance art or on the music itself?

It’s about equal… the music is planned, but we just kinda go in the spirit of it. I want to start bragging and say that we’re way more exciting than most live bands.

Our recorded music is one thing, but if we’re performing live, I like to have a show to go along with the music. People are not there just for the music, they’re there to have a good time and see a show.

You’ve got a long list of former members; who’s in the band now?

Nobunny started off as a solo project and continues to be a rotating cast. The lineup we have here in Hawaii (Touchy Tony – bass guitar, Jason “Elvis Christ” Testasecca – drums, lead guitar and Danimal – drums ) is a lineup that’s been going strong for the last year or two. We’ve been traveling together and living in a van together for quite some time now, and we’re very close, very good friends.

We’re coming up on 10 years now. Technically today (April 15) is the exact anniversary; also, a sad day because it’s 10 years ago today that Joey Ramone died.

How many instruments do you play?

I play the basic rock & roll stuff; just drums, bass, guitar. Technically I play tambourines, shakers, bongos… I wouldn’t even say I “know” how to play them, but those are the ones I have access to.

It sounds like your performance style is pretty impromptu; do you ever make up songs on stage?

Yeah, we have, if it’s a band that likes to just get up there and jam. We’re hoping to have a DVD out for Easter with some of our early shows that includes stuff we just made up on stage.

How do you feel about file sharing?

It’s cool, I’m fine with it. I certainly appreciate if my songs get played on the radio and I get paid for it, but at the same time, people are just listening with their ears. It’s not like they are taking anything from me, from my soul. I think all that matters is if people like it and listen to it.

What would you say your fans are like?

Very diverse. We have some really hardcore fans who would come out to all our shows, with bunny ears all the time. We’ll play for anybody, young, old, pop, indie, punk, I think we can entertain any crowd.

What’s next for you guys?

I wanted to stay longer but we have to get back. We’re playing the Playboy mansion for our 10th anniversary (on Easter). I’ve kinda got all my eggs in that basket (no pun intended). I set that as a goal two years ago on Easter… thankfully, we’ve become a little more popular since then. I kept emailing them and basically badgered them into it. I kind of still don’t even believe that’s happening, but it’s so cool.

We’re also going to play a show that evening in LA for our 10th anniversary. We’ve got a couple other plans for an East Coast tour, then going to Europe after that. Hopefully we’ll come back to Honolulu once it’s all done.

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Get a taste of Nobunny’s music! Check out his song, “I Am a Girlfriend.”