THE TRAGICOMEDY: AN INTERVIEW AT LE CHATEAU NOIRE, A FANCY RESTAURANT
SPRINGFIELD, MO -- The Tragicomedy is a Springfield, MO based art-music duo comprised of Chad Johnston and Mark Thorne. Since their birth into the music world in April of 1997, they have played numerous prestigious venues in Missouri and had a profound impact on the twelve people who frequent their concerts.
"One time, we had 13 people at one of our gigs," says Mark, raising his eyebrows to enhance the impressiveness of this useless factoid.
"14," says Chad.
"Oh. Well, I meant 14. Sorry."
When asked how the Tragicomedy's music sounds, Mark replied, "Our music reminds me of a leaky, dripping faucet. It keeps dripping and dripping and dripping and-"
Chad interrupts. "Yeah, our music's really annoying."
"No, I mean it's like a leaky faucet because you just can't turn it off!" Shouts Mark as he leaps on top of his chair.
"Oh," says Chad as he scratches his head in frustration. "I think we sound like a combination of Simon & Garfunkel, Radiohead, Jeff Buckley, Sixpence None the Richer, and Danny Elfman."
"Nobody knows any of those ‘artists.' No one ever knows," notes Mark.
"Oh well. That doesn't mean we don't sound like them. It just means people listen to Top 40. They like Hanson. As Bill Murray once put it, ‘People eat blood sausage.'"
"What?"
"They eat--Well, they... They just... They like Hanson! That says it all!" Chad decrees as he pounds the table, scaring those seated at nearby tables.
At this point in the conversation, Mark reaches under the table and pulls out a mask of Brak, the stationary Space Ghost cartoon character known for his wavering voice and inane remarks. He puts it on and says "Hey buddy, buddy, baby, buddy boy."
The next five minutes of conversation is virtually unintelligible as he and Chad reenact various Brak skits. Chad looks briefly around the room, shakes his head for a second and says, "Oh. Sorry."
Nearby customers are moving to tables further away from the duo at this point in time. Chad straightens his dress-shirt and Mark adjusts his mask.
"Since the term ‘art-music' is used so frequently these days, people always say ‘Oh, okay. I know what you're talking about,'" says Chad of the band's obscure genre niche.
"No they don't," says Mark. "They never know what ‘art music' means."
"Oh. Sorry. I forgot. Well, we've been told that we play neo-classical/folk music. What's that mean?" Chad says, questioning Mark.
"I think it's kind of like avant-garde Irish drinking music."
"Or maybe like euro-pop with a tinge of acid jazz," says Chad.
"No. Sorry, Chad. I don't think so," interjects Mark.
"Well, I think you're wrong too!" Shouts Chad as he lunges for Mark with his guitar. He pretends that he is going to hit Mark with it, but at the last moment, he halts.
"He's always wanted to smash his guitar," says Mark, oblivious to the brutal carnage which could have ensued. At this point in time, a waiter asks Chad if he can put his guitar up for him.
There is a moment of silence. Mark and Chad engage in a staredown.
Mark wins because Chad laughs.
"Sir?" Questions the waiter.
"Go away," says Mark.
"Yeah, can't you see that you're scaring him?" Asks Chad ferociously.
Mark takes off one of his shoes and throws it at the waiter. The waiter exits.
"We got our name from a 1980 U2 song called ‘Shadows and Tall Trees.' It's really old. It's a great song. Kind of a post-punk, embryonic alternative rock piece," says Chad. "Our name refers to the simultaneous tragedy and comedy that life is sometimes. The actual term is Shakespearean now that I think about it. It refers to the drama masks... the tragedy and comedy masks."
"It's all about how..." Mark pauses for a moment of brilliant reflection. "It's all about how we are able to see the beauty amidst the chaos in life because of God's salvation through Christ. Life is still problematic and, at times, frustrating, but God gives us hope. It's about our humanity and--"
"Our quest to avoid sounding like Matchbox 20," Chad interrupts.
"Yeah. Whatever," says Mark.
"Oh yeah? Well... I don't want to sound like Matchbox 20, do you?" Asks Chad.
"No, but--"
At this point in time, the waiter who Mark threw the shoe at walks back into the room, escorted by a large, imposing security guard.
"Zees are zee men," he says in an semi-authentic German accent as he points to Chad and Mark. This concludes the interview because, shortly after this incident, Mark and Chad are escorted out the front door. "At least we didn't have to pay," they concluded.
Surely life is both tragic and comical.