Dan Hoffstrom (Murf)
SPB: Which musicians have the most inspiring stage presence?
Hoffstrom: THAT'S TOO HARD! WE DEMAND ANOTHER QUESTION! THIS IS RIGGED! YOU SET US UP!
Uhhh shit. Well OVERALL I mean it's like anyone who doesn't care -- and breaks barriers. People like Little Richard was a HUGE influence on me as a kid watching him on Sesame Street -- also him just being the Architect of Rock 'n’ Roll and breaking so many color barriers -- and he'd be rocking out with Grover so I was like, “Yes, this is what I need to do in life!”
Also:
ELVIS IS NOT INSPIRING! Not sorry- I just have to say this: ELVIS SUCKS. COME AT ME!
Anyone who has the guts to take the stage and say fuck you to their inner negativity/prejudice or even the lack of an audience. It's a huge undertaking to take the stage - and I'm just a little white guy from Minneapolis so I have no fucking clue how hard it is. Ya know, for me, it's like "Oh boy I hope no one picks me up and drops me, or I sure hope nobody spills beer on our gear!" So for me, I'm just out there being as crazy as I can be for those who are unwilling/unable. And, plus, I take it as a front to challenge my anxiety/want to stay hidden from the world because of my insecurities.
But here's a list of LOCAL inspiration: Riot Grrrl Darko, 6Rips, Texture Freq, Paqrat, Meda, Buio Omega, Rigby, Kiss the Tiger.
On all levels, these people come from different backgrounds and rip shit very hard. They deserve all the success they get and then some!
Iggy Pop is super inspiring! Tom, Evan and I saw him on the "Post-Pop Disaster Tour" at The Coffman. Ironically we were not there together -- those two were there and I was with a group of buddies -- one of whom we lost and dedicated a song to (Nick Blood). Despite Iggy's age and physical "limitations" he came out GUNS BLAZING like the proud ring leader of this giant circus as the riff for "Lust for Life" blared. It was an instant electrocution moment. The POP in that auditorium! Not only did he have the moves and the tunes, but he came out into the audience! He went everywhere man, he was like Spiderman -- all of the sudden I saw him a few rows down from me. At that moment I had two choices 1) to live in regret and never get close to my idol or 2) Jump over every fucking chair, dodge security like my father taught me and get close to our Jesus.
So I said "FUCK IT!" My buddy Nick chuckled and looked in awe as I turned into a beast jumping over seats, stomping on fine U of M fabric, slithering between passive aggressive show-goers not bold enough to get close to the man himself. I skidded into a group where he was, I was about one foot away from God. I studied his back: it was scarred, tanned, stretched, perfectly distressed. I put my hand out and touched his back -- it was warm, soaked in sweat -- he swiveled his body around, his perfect mid-west surfer hair swiveled and I gasped as he made direct eye contact with me like "Hey man, what's up!?"
I screamed with pure joy. This guy has been in my life since I was a child! Pete and Pete, all the songs you hear growing up and discover the legacy of Iggy and The Stooges. I was screaming, thinking IT'S YOU! I lifted up my hand and he gave me a solid high five. THWAP! I screamed. It was like being knighted! I screamed even more and he smiled. He descended into another part of the auditorium to make more dreams come true. I was left there in awe as I watched him fly off.
I ran up back to my squad of rock nerds and told them all that happened.
Later that night I reunited with Tom and Evan, that was the night where Tom floated the idea "Man it'd be cool if we did like ONE show for Murf..." And I was really excited about it! I was really down at that time, so it was really awesome to see both of them. They have a magnetic quality to them and can make a guy feel really cool by just sipping cokes and chit-chatting about how great that show was.
I will say that the Iggy Pop show is a big pillar in the formation of MURF. It just has that narrative element in the hero's journey where we didn't go right out and record an LP, but it was a light in the middle of a dark sea.
So thank you Iggy. If you are reading this, or if anyone knows how to get a hold of him, we'd love to play a show with you, or at the very least hang out with you and your adorable bird.
