The Orwells Frontman Mario Cuomo Talks Third Album ‘Terrible Human Beings,’ Upcoming Tour, and His Love for L.A.

Sandy Lo

Garage rock band, The Orwells are dropping their third album, “Terrible Human Beings,” on February 17.  With catchy songs featuring creepy undertones on songs like “They Put a Body in the Bayou,” and “Creatures,” The Orwells’ new release is sure to please their growing fanbase. The band started turning heads after performing on “The Late Show with David Letterman“ and their song, “Who Needs You,” was featured on an Apple commercial during Super Bowl 50. Along with the release of “Terrible Human Beings,” The Orwells will be heading out on tour this month as well.  Entertainment Voice spoke with lead singer, Mario Cuomo about the band, the new album and their upcoming tour.

How did you come up with the name The Orwells?

From the author. We were in school at the time and 1984 was one of our required books. So we wanted a simple name, like a last name. So we just took his last name.

How would you define your sound?

I don’t know. I guess it’s just rock & roll music. It’s not some sort of special genre or anything. I don’t know if it sounds too different from anything else. I guess it’s just regular rock & roll music.

Is that a favorite song you like to perform live off the new album?

What we have been liking the most is probably the song “Black Francis.”  It’s really fun.

Is there a city you’re most looking forward to?

Probably L.A. That’s just because I like being there a lot. We have a lot of friends there, so I think I end up always looking forward to that the most.

Is there a city where the crowd is particularly boisterous than others? I know some bands notice that.

Yeah, Canada can get pretty nuts. Probably Toronto. It’s usually pretty wild.

What was the most memorable moment during a tour, onstage or offstage?

I’m bad at this kind of thing! Maybe the craziest experience, I guess, that had happened was probably just seeing Japan and walking through it. That was like, ‘Wow! Look at this! Just making songs has put me on another side of the world.” It’s just such a strange place compared to where I live. That was probably the most surreal moment.

As a band, what’s the biggest thing you fight about?

Christ, like every little thing. We disagree a lot. Like music, we have really different tastes. If you don’t have your headphones on, you better have on something good or else we’re going to get yelled at.

When you’re not playing music, what do you guys like to do together?

We still have different friend groups, but we do see each other when someone has a party.  We don’t go on adventures together outside of music really.

What is your favorite album out right now?

Probably The Lemon Twigs’ record. That’s really what I have been listening to most. That’s my favorite record right now.

What else can we expect from The Orwells in 2017?

I don’t think I know yet. I’m going to have to see how the world reacts to this record that we have put a lot into and care a lot about. So, I don’t know if anything is going to change too much, but if it does, I’ll know in two weeks.

“Terrible Human Beings” is available Feb. 17 on Apple Music. The Orwells will play Brooklyn’s Rouch Trade Feb. 16 and L.A.’s The Regent March 30.