The Citizens Band is a magical musical group of wide-eyed bandits that I wish ruled the airwaves and the dance floors more than the pop racket we hear so much of. Their look may hearken back to Vaudevillian escapades and Weimar Republic wackiness but if you listen to their lyrics, it’s all very much of the moment politically and culturally. I sat down with two of the band’s founding members, Sarah Sophie Flicker and Mark McAdam, to hear how they got their start, how Karen Elson became involved and where in the world they find those KitKat Klub clothes.

When did the band start? 

Sarah Sophie Flicker: We started in 2004 in response to the second Bush administration. We tried out the idea of a band a while ago in Los Angeles and they weren’t very receptive of it.

Ha. The Kardashians aren’t very political I guess. Are you?

SSF: I like to think so. My husband and I have been a part of a political organization to campaign for Democrats in swing states for a while.

I am excited about what is happening now. People feel their voices can be heard. Unfortunately a lot of us are really disappointed with Obama’s run so we have to keep voting.

How did the first show come about?

SSF: I am also a filmmaker and Jeffrey Deitch asked me to screen one of my pieces at his old Williamsburg location. I knew they had high ceilings and an amazing space so we decided to give the band a shot.

Mark McAdam: But that was more of a variety show and it went on for three hours! Billy Corgan even got up and sang.

SSF: Deitch really fell in love with the band and we ended up on his artist roster. We had 3-4 shows at his gallery. I love artists’ collaborations. The more people you can pull in from different disciplines the better.

Have you had any collabs?

SSF: Several.  One time Deitch had a David Lachapelle instillation in the form of a brothel so we made that our theme. But then there were times when themes were hard to go with.

Is the band still composed of the core crew?

SSF: Yes! There were ten of us who started it and lots of people have come and gone. There are about 19 of us who go in and out. We have done some shows with almost 35 people! We have had everyone from Rain Phoenix, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Zoe Kravits, Zoe Deschanel and even Cyndi Lauper. It's such a labor of love; we all just try to make it work. The age span is from 20-65 and maybe some four year olds thrown in. Everyone from musicians to teachers to soap stars (Ian Buchanan) are in the mix.

MM: It’s no one person’s project. Even Sarah has many hats, er, turbans to wear. We have had dozens of shows and nobody has hit anyone yet!

 SSF: It’s a mini testament about what we can do when we all get along.

How do these people become involved?

MM:  Well I just threw rocks at Cindy Lauper’s window. Kidding.

 SSF: Zoe Deschanel is just a friend of mine. And Nina from the Cardigans came by for one shot and now she is with us all the time. It's chaos but smoothly running chaos. It’s a stellar community.

MM: There are eight musicians and we have all learned to make our sound cohesive. We even had a kazoo lesson!

SSF:  I don’t know music lingo but I just say, “Can we make it sound mean and tap dancey?” And Mark figures it out. 

Where do the songs or lyrics come from?

MM: We do write our own but we also take songs from the past 100 years and changing them just a bit. It’s interesting that the same songs from 60-80 years ago still resonate.

SSF: And that is kind of scary. We are still singing the same ol’ song and we haven’t learned anything yet from them! The Occupy Wall Streeters have been so interesting and I have gone to all of these events and the main thing I hear is “We almost did it in the 60’s, you need to do this now.” But I also think it is weirdly comforting that we were here before, but we want people to vote and be active.

Are your lyrics anywhere we can read them? 

SSF: I can send you some. We should put some on the site. There is a song called ‘Gasoline’ from 1913 and it’s about our lust for how oil rules the world. How relevant?!

Lets talk the fashions. Where do you find your costumes?

 SSF: I grew up in the Bay area and used to go to The Wasteland vintage shop after ballet class and this girl Jorjee was working there. I always wanted to be her. I made her become my friend and she has an amazing esthetic. She grew up with Zaldy and Sophie LaMar and all those cool kids. She is now one of my closest friends and a main member of the band. She is also a super makeup artist. 

Back then we would just get everything from showgirl outfits to lingerie and Victorian dresses. So I have always collected those things. Once Karen came into the mix we became obsessed with collecting more. 

So it’s all vintage? Anything new?

SSF: We do work with designers and accessorize their pieces. Lorraine Kirke from Geminola on Perry Street is incredible. She has up-cycled vintage pieces that we wear a lot. We work with Leanna from Electric Feathers too. Zaldy of course has made loads for us and he is so very special to everyone involved. We love working with designers but they get a little nervous since we move around a lot and get really sweaty! 

How did Karen Elson get involved?

SSF: She is one of my close friends and she has always been a singer but she was very shy. I remember at one of the first shows we had to drag Karen on stage and then we couldn’t get her off! It’s been amazing to watch her evolve as an artist. And she worked with a lot of us for her own album.

So it sounds like you guys have a pretty talented family going on.

MM: I write for film and TV and 80% of the hiring I do comes from this band.

SSF:  Now a lot of us have kids and there is a show called ‘Lowmax the Hound of Music’ on PBS and its theme is Americana music for kids. Amy Miles is the star but also in the band. So for all of our kids it is just so cool to know her!

I can’t believe y’all haven’t tackled Sesame Street yet.

SSF: All I want to do is be on Sesame Street! Even Waris was on it. I’m so jealous!!!

What has been a real highlight for you performance wise?

SSF: Art Basel 3-4 years ago was amazing with Deitch. But the highlight really for me is that we have stayed together this long. I really try to work well with other people and put the ego aside. We have been together for eight years and I am so proud of the community we have formed.

MM: We had a run at Abrahams art center. And Debbie, Prince, and then I saw Robert Segal from All Things Considered was there. It was awesome.

What is next for the band? 

SSF: It’s a big political year for obvious reasons. We want to make a big show that makes apathy the enemy. Just with what is happening on the streets and the Occupations, I feel an electricity that I haven’t felt in my lifetime and it is something I am nostalgic for. I am excited about the focus and that the dialogue is changing. Our goal is to perform a lot, and also to do something beautiful and inspiring.

For more on the band follow them on Twitter (@TheCitizensBand) and sign up for their email list on their website.