When Auto Interiors released their album No Frill Halo Flight in 2001, they made an impressive mark on the feverishly-paced music scene in Boston with their powerful infusion of rock and pop.

Six years later, the band is back with an even more infectious sound that guitarist Larry Mansdorf can only describe as "sonic pop bonbons."

Mansdorf talked to ACED about the band's antics, influences and transformation. This all comes after the release of their second album, Let's Agree to Deceive Our Best Friends, from the indie label Rykodisc Records. While the album's title may seem a bit cynical, Mansdorf assures us that it's all in good fun.

Mansdorf formed Auto Interiors with Eric Waxwood, Tom Girard, and Bruce Caporal in the way every good rock band comes together.

"Booze is to blame," he admitted. "Eric and I were introduced by a mutual friend, who knew we would get along. Soon after, we started jamming together. Songs followed quickly and easily and then Tom Girard, the bass player, came into the fold (also over booze). Bruce Caporal came in on the drum stool in 2002, and we've been the same line-up ever since."

In its early years, the band toured under the name Kilowatt Hours. That was until they discovered another band with the same name! Following this, the band played one gig as Sterling Engine Company before renaming themselves Auto Interiors, after the title of a 4-track tape that Mansdorf made with his wife.

According to him, changes in Auto Interior's line-up led to sharp differences between Let's Agree to Deceive Our Best Friends and their premiere album. "Well, the first album, No Frill Halo Flight was kind of designed to sound like it came from the Creation Records catalogue. After that release, we changed drummers and lost our farfisa player, which resulted in a more compact and direct sound."

"We also spent a lot of time listening to The Jam, Guided by Voices, and Elvis Costello, and were influenced by the immediacy of their songs." Mansdorf continued.

He was also excited to discuss the influence of British rock bands the guys enjoy, such as The Small Faces and T-Rex.

"The Small Faces had this incredible energy - songs like 'What'cha gonna do about it', 'E too D', and 'Sha-la-la-la-lee' owe as much to Motown and early British beat as they do to the mod movement. In many ways, their early output rivals The Who, but remains fresher. As for T-Rex, the songs just kick ass. There's a primal groove and beat to every song, and the lyrics are all just sexual metaphors dressed up as cars and mysticism."

While we at ACED enjoy sexual metaphors dressed up as cars just as much as the next person, we're even more thrilled to see a band with such love for its local music scene. "The Boston music scene is highly competitive, but in a really good and healthy way. There are a ton of great bands here and the local scene is filled with such talent that you have to really work hard to get yourselves noticed."

Local competition hasn't stopped the band from touring and some crazy on-the-road antics, which involve more booze, of course!

"One drunken night after a gig in New York, we loaded out, staggered to another bar, and kept drinking until the sun came up. After a few hours, we drove back to Boston, loaded the gear into the space, and took a week off. Well, when we finally went back to practice after the week off, it seems that our trusty bass player left his bass in NY, never to be seen again."

All drunken mishaps aside, Mansdorf said the band isn't as wild and crazy as they may seem. "We're not really naughty internally. We're kind of like a gang, and look out for each other."

See? They're not a bunch of crazy rock n' roll booze hounds (and shame on you for thinking such a thing!) They're a gang!

"That being said, we still laugh at each others' expense." He recalled one night when bassist Tom Girard slammed himself on to his back while attempting to carry a six foot amp cabinet offstage at the Middle East in Boston. "We were all standing above him laughing our asses off."

Now that Auto Interiors has released their newest album, their focus has turned to touring, writing, and recording some more!

While the guys enjoy time off for fine cuisine, and adding to their collection of musical equipment, Mansdorf said music is their true passion.

"It's completely interwoven in all aspects of my lifestyle. There's nothing cooler than turning someone on to music they have never been exposed to."

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3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."