Arts & Entertainment

The Mathletes

Local nerd rockers start the New Year off with a wave goodbye

By Dusti Rhodes 

The Mathletes are starting out the year by calling it quits. We’re disappointed to hear the news about the quirky local rockers, who combine the genius of They Might Be Giants and Atom and His Package. “There will probably be other Mathlete-type things, but I think this is going to be a last time where there’s a thousand, million people,” says frontman Joe Mathlete.

The group is known for an ever-changing lineup of musicians packing themselves onto the stage, sometimes outnumbering the audiences. “I want to keep doing stuff like that, but I like writing songs with just me, and it doesn’t make sense to just write it in my bedroom with an acoustic guitar and then add 30 people.”

But downsizing isn’t the only change. “I’ve hated the name basically since we’ve started,” Joe says. “People kept asking me about math and that didn’t have anything to do with it.” He also says he chose the name because he wanted something that was absurd and not “rock at all,” which got harder after adding local hometown heroes The Dimes to the band. “The Dimes rock, you can’t tell them not to,” Joe says.

Although he doesn’t know what will come next, Joe will have plenty of time to think about it. Mr. Mathlete will head to the Capitol City to star in a run of Speeding Motorcycle, the popular production created by Houston’s now-defunct Infernal Bridegroom Productions. “A company in Austin is taking over the director and the three main actors to do it for about three, four or five months or so.” But what’s after that, Joe? Will we ever see you again? “I will keep making music, and I’ll keep making music with my friends,” he says. “I can’t imagine not coming back to Houston.” Whew. Okay, we’ll be waiting. Also on today’s bill are Fishboy, Jenny Westbury and Ill Advisory. 8 p.m. The Proletariat, 903 Richmond. For information, call 713-523-1199 or visit www.theproletariathouston.com.
Fri., Jan. 18, 8 p.m., 2008