Back in the 60s and 70s Berkeley, California was a counterculture mecca. A hop-skip-and-a-jump from Haight Ashbury, the somewhat sleepy college town—home to UC Berkeley—has since attracted less subversive twenty-somethings and more scholars. But that’s not to say its cultural backbone has been broken.

The birthplace of Allen Ginsberg and Green Day, Berkeley (or more specifically its namesake university) is likewise responsible for crossing the paths of four fun-loving musicians who have since banded together to form The Morning Benders. The 60s pop-infused rock band, who have released two EP’s to critical acclaim, are now gearing up for the launch of their debut LP, Talking Through Tin Cans (out on +1 Music this spring). PsychoPEDIA caught up with The Morning Benders’ frontman, Chris Chu, for a tour around his adopted hometown. In his own words:

Did you grow up in Berkeley?
No, I moved out here to go to school at UC. And then I met all the guys [in the band] there. I grew up down south in Santa Monica.

How does Berkeley compare to, say, Santa Monica?
Berkeley is very different. It’s more of a smaller city. It feels more like a college town than I would have liked—my vision of it from the 60s and 70s was very different. Now there’s a cool, relaxed vibe. You can walk a few blocks and get out to a place where there are no buildings. I’ll go running there. There are these great fire trails, tons of great restaurants within walking or biking distance so we don’t have to drive much. And there’s great public transportation to [San Francisco], which LA doesn’t have.

How would you describe the locals? Are they that distinctive from the college crowd?
I think it’s a lot different because school-wise it’s very academic. It draws a very collegiate crowd. But with Berkeleyites you can still see the hippie-ish vibe in the older generations. People are more conscious, more laid-back. There’s not as much of an industry feel. People are generally more open-minded. Every city has it’s quirks but that’s the one thing I’ve like about living here—people are open to trying new things.

I’ve heard there’s lots of pizza in Berkeley. Who has the best?
[Laughs] The best pizza is definitely at The Cheeseboard, which is an awesome collective/co-op on the north side of Berkeley called the “gourmet ghetto,” near Chez Panisse [the restaurant credited with first introducing Californian cuisine]. It’s really cheap. They have one pizza a day and it’s creative with fresh ingredients. They always have a jazz band playing in an open room; people just get their pizza and eat it out on the median on the lawn.

And when you’re looking for something more upscale as far as dining?
Upscale? I wouldn’t know [laughs]. There’s another place I really like, Manzanita. It’s in Oakland; it’s a macrobiotic, organic and vegan restaurant with really good food. It’s similar to the Cheeseboard in the sense that it’s a set menu and you get the one thing. I guess I am drawn to places like that. They seem to come from people who care more about putting good stuff in your body. It’s nice having that option in Berkeley. One of the hardest parts of playing music is being on the road.

When you’re on tour is that the first thing you get homesick for?
Yeah just to be able to be healthy—to eat good meals and cook good meals and exercise. And then in terms of Berkley I like being settled where everything I need and like is accessible there are great record stores like Amoeba and all the great restaurants and parks.

Have you played many shows in Berkeley?
We usually go to the [San Francisco]. We really like to play Bottom of the Hill. And the Great American Music Hall is one of the best venues ever.

What about other noteworthy cultural attractions?
There are amazing theatres, like The Castro. I just saw a screening of There Will be Blood there and Paul Thomas Anderson was there to introduce it. In Oakland there’s the Grand Lake or The Parkway—they call it a speakeasy movie theatre; there are all these couches set up in the screening room and they serve you food and beer.

Back in Berkeley do you rub shoulders with the college crowd often or do you try to avoid it?
We try to get away from the college-y parts and the frat-y parts. There are some cool bars. We hang out at this place, The Graduate. That’s a nice place; it’s off outside the college area. It’s cheap, dive-y. Two of our members are underage and they don’t card there so that’s also one of the perks [laughs].

Favorite place to grab brunch after a bender?
We’re not big on brunch. We usually sleep through it.

What about a good place to crash for out-of-towners?
The Claremont. Our bassist worked there for a while doing food service or something.

Do you guys have girlfriends?
Yeah, I do.

Where would you take her for a night out on the town?
We would usually go to [San Francisco] to make it a special occasion. Chez Panisse. [Pause] But I’ve never been there so that’s kind of misleading. The beauty of everything is that it’s so cheap.

What’s Berkeley’s best-kept secret?
We’re very honest. We don’t have any secrets.

~Alisa Gould-Simon

Go There:
The Graduate, 6202 Claremont Avenue, Oakland (510) 655-8847