k i l l e r POP

If you' ve been to a show in Orlando in the past month, you've probably seen Jeff Ilgenfritz cock rockin' in one way or another. He bangs on the drum all day with popsters Dodger and twanglin' hillfolk the Heathens. But more than that, he's also a super hero named Mumpsy whose super powers include playing music (and I think levitation, but that could be another guy).

Dear Mumpsy,

Why' d your mom name you Mumpsy?

Actually, my mom was attacked by a wolverine off the Gold Coast before I was born. It was an assault to her face and throat, and when my father saw her at the hospital, he replied that she looked "mumpsy," given the disease (mumps) and the swelling of the salivary glands characteristic of the affliction. So, really, my dad did.

If you could smash anyone's guitar in the history of guitars, whose guitar would you smash?

Could I smash a piano instead? It's not like I don't prefer guitars to pianos in the smashing sense, but I would really like it if that Billy Joel guy would just shut up already. Isn't he annoying, though?

I whole-heartedly agree. I could spend all day talking about how much a hate Billy Joel. Do you think I could have said guitar more in that last sentence? Be honest.

Sure you could have, but if you had said 'Billy Joel: love him or hate him?' then I would have answered: No. That is, "No, you couldn't have said guitar as much."

I see that you wear a lot of hats. How many hats do you think you could wear at one time? Also, how much do your hats influence your performance/music?

I've got one hat. The hat pictured on the front of the "Exuberance of Peachtree" album was not mine, but was loaned to me for the shoot. I'd say I'm a hat connoisseur; I've got one hat (for primary purposes) and three for shits-and-giggles. But no, I've had bad and good hat days and they never affect my performances because I'm always terrible.

Not only do you get busy makin' Mumpsy music, but you play in at least 200 other bands. Name 2 of them.

Fortunately for me, the other 198 bands ALL died under mysterious circumstances (actually, only 1 did). But now I only play with The Heathens and Dodger, doing an ample amount of shit for each one.

Let's get real for a second. I usually ask a bunch of pussy questions like "What's your favorite fast food?" and "What does your name mean?", but we're men, so I'm gonna ask you a man's question: What's your favorite type of beer?

I love the hell out of Guiness. In fact, it's never too early for Guiness, even in the wee hours of the morning, considering I don't have to work the rest of the day or drive anywhere (and it happened while recording the Heathens album "Big White House").

Alright, now that I've got that demographic covered, what's your favorite fast food? I'm just kidding. What's your least favorite fast food?

I can honestly say my least favorite fast food is Albertson's. They take too long at everything. It's as though flaming assholes teleported back from the future just to be rude and arrogant to you, but did it in a condescending way so as to not provoke suspicion by wasting your time and hard-earned money...

Those Post* Records dudez are pretty gnarly. How's your experience with them been? Perfect.

I met Chris Cucci, the owner, early in 2005 and was the first to tell all my friends about the record label. They were all suspicious at first, considering he was perpetually dressed in bloodied, ivory tusks and gold suits... but they realized he was a good guy, although slightly drunk at times.

Your latest EP is called 3 People. Why not 4 People?

Basically, it's a concept EP about this love triangle (hence, it HAD to be called "3 People") involving an assorted mish-mash of characters. Two are related, though not by blood, and there is definitely some hardcore-gay-incestuous-steamy-heterosexualness there that I think everyone can relate to.

Got any rock shows comin' up in The City Beautiful?

Indeed. I have a show at Tatame Sake Lounge on November 7th with Sean Moore and Rory. I've got two free shows on November 9th and December 7th (which is Pearl Harbor Day) at Infusion Teas in College Park. Of course, I'll have more free shows at Tatame Sake Lounge and Austin Coffee and Film in the next months posted on the Myspace site (myspace.com/mumpsy)... and the multiple other gigs with the Heathens and Dodger.

What's one word you'd like this interview to end with?

Flamethrower.

Interview by Matt Harrison