The Incurables are from Detroit, and it shows in their music, as it is really punky power pop (think Ramones, MC5, Stooges). It’s a lot of fun to listen to – serious fun for the smart set.

The band was kind enough to collaborate on answers to a few email questions I had.

Andrea Weiss: For those who don’t know you, how did the band form?

The Incurables: We have all know each other almost our entire lives, all growing up with similar musical taste and backgrounds. Ray and I (Pat) started playing together when we were 15, working with old Beatles, Kinks, and Who songs along with the Ramones, Clash, and Stooges that were just being discovered and rarely played on the radio. Within a couple of years we started writing our own songs and were getting the itch to record and play out live. Dennis joined about this time as a drummer, and was moved over to rhythm guitar when Darrin came in.

AW: Who plays what in the band?

TI Ray Lawson is our bass guitarist and does the majority of the writing and lead vocals. Pat Kelly is the lead guitarist, along with additional writing and vocals. Darrin Lawson is the drummer, along with additional writing and vocals. Dennis Pepperack is the rhythm guitarist and does harmonies.

AW: Who are your influences?

TI: Like many musicians in the last 50 years, it is hard not to credit The Beatles for wanting you to pick up a guitar and start a band. We really have a wide variety of music that has influenced us all. Darrin might say a lot of the intricate bands of the 70s like Yes, and Rush. Dennis gets into some more obscure bands from the 80s and loves ska. We all love the mix between harmonic melodies and aggressive power chords. Cheap Trick comes to mind.

AW: I hear the Ramones, the Stooges, and the MC5. Were they influences, and is that the sound you're after?

TI: We have never tried to emulate any particular sound, but would be ecstatic to be lumped in with that group. Being from Detroit, it would be a shame not to include the MC5 and Stooges as influences. The raw energy they managed to capture is absolutely something we look to for inspiration.

AW: “When I Grow Up,” which is a great single, seems to be about never wanting to get old, even as you want to be an adult. Am I right?

TI: I am not sure if it is not wanting to grow up or just unable. It is from the perspective of someone that appears to be delusional about their future, expecting the white picket fenced ideal, but headed down a different path.

AW: “Soda Pop” is about regional names for soft drinks, and another great single, but is it really about diversity?

TI: I wish I could say its about something with a deeper meaning, but sometimes we are just goof balls. A lot of our songs do have hidden meanings and some we even challenge the listener to find them. If you can take away a message about diversity, then we will take that as a bonus. Darrin gets the credit for the idea. He was traveling a lot and found that he couldn’t just ask for a pop and have people know what he wanted. So I guess it is about diversity.

AW: What is the Detroit scene like now, and how do you fit into it?

TI: It is amazing, with a lot of hidden gems all over. By that I mean amazing clubs and bands that need more recognition. We have been traveling to other cities a lot lately and they are great, but it is always good to come home.

AW: Any bands you want to give a shout out?

TI: Mostly just those in our Big Stir family. The Popular Creeps are from Detroit and we have done several shows with them. Dolph Chaney we met at a show in Chicago. He is amazing. The Forty Nineteens are one of our favorites and we would love to do a show with them. Mike from Sparkle Jets U.K. helped with our album art. And looking forward to the new album from The Armoires.