Episode 206: Michael Imperioli

Look At My Records!

Episode 206 of Look At My Records! features an interview with Michael Imperioli of the New York City band Zopa. We’re all familiar with Imperioli from his Emmy award-winning role as Christopher Moltesanti on HBO’s The Sopranos, but in addition to acting, Michael has a long history of playing music in New York City. His current band, Zopa, released their long-awaited debut album La Dolce Vita in 2020, but Imperioli’s roots in music reach all the way back to New York City’s bustling downtown arts scene in the 1980s. He got his start playing in a no wave band called Black Angus and after answering an ad in the Village Voice, joined an early incarnation of Feelies offshoot Wild Carnation in the early 1990s. Along the way, he’s also put on gigs at Maxwell’s in Hoboken (including one featuring Miracle Legion and Yung Wu), befriended the late Lou Reed, and played shows with Zopa in places like Portugal. Tune in to the interview to hear all about Imperioli’s fascinating music background, the circumstances surrounding Zopa’s original formation and eventual reunion, the band’s recent experiences recording with notable indie rock producer John Angello, his long collaborative relationship with director Tom Gilroy, what inspired him to incorporate Lou Reed as a character in his novel The Perfume Burned His Eyes, and way more. Plus, Imperioli picked some awesome records, including some choice cuts from L.A. Witch, My Bloody Valentine, and Pylon. You can follow along with his picks via the official playlist for Episode 206.

Zopa will be performing at Baby’s All Right in Brooklyn next Thursday, February 17th with 2C-B. Get your tickets now! Tonight, the band is playing in Los Angeles at Zebulon with Crush and they’ll be at Kung Fu Necktie in Philly with Gladie next Friday, February 18th.

La Dolce Vita is available on vinyl via Mt. Crushmore Records and digitally via Bandcamp.