SFBG: What kind of response have you been getting for Bitchin'?

MF: Everyone who hears Bitchin' it loves it. Our live shows have been amazing because the songs are full of energy. The crowd feels it and throws it right back at us by singing along very loudly even when the song is over.

SFBG: How did the CD's title come about? Do you feel like the word "bitch" needs to be reclaimed in some way?

MF: Bitchin' was the only word that could fit with that hot, purple pleather ass. The word bitchin’ is slang - it perfectly describes our totally tubular, hella rad rock album.

SFBG: What was the songwriting process like this time?

MF: We spent way more time writing than on previous albums. We ended up writing around 30 songs. Allison wrote the songs on her midi keyboard, and then we shuffled through lyrical ideas and fit them with songs.

SFBG: In the past you've been credited with coming up with pivotal lyrics for the band - did you come up with anything specific this time around?

MF: We wrote a lot of the songs all together this time. I wrote the lyrics to “Wasted” with Holly Knight. Brett and I worked on “Like an Animal” together at her apartment and were really excited about it. I also wrote a lot of the lyrics to “What Do I Have to Do.” Apparently I can’t do anything to get that guy, but, whatever, there are more boys out there for me.

SFBG: Anything autobiographical inspire this album's songs?

MF: Foxy boys usually inspire lyrics. For instance, “What Do I Have to Do” is about a tall, dark stranger who I met and fell madly in love with, but he didn’t want me. “Wasted” is also about being obsessively in love and out of control, having no boundaries or limits, and losing yourself in the process.

SFBG: The at-home studio environment seemed very relaxed when I stepped in last year.

MF: Working with Jay Ruston at this home studio was really comfortable. We would go there from noon to 6 p.m. usually. A regular day would include sinking into a big red couch with a posse of puppies jumping around begging for attention and talking and hangin’ out. Oh, and when we weren’t ordering delicious tacos, we would get some work done.

SFBG: How would you describe the Donnas' show right now? Has it evolved of late?

MF: I would describe a Donnas show as being an action-packed, head-banging fest. We start the set with “Bitchin'”, a slow heavy riff that suddenly gets really fast. It scares the crowd into submission, then they all sing along for the rest of the show. We get extremely sweaty and make ourselves laugh by running into each other and making heavy metal Zoolander faces. We try to have as much fun as possible and still play the right notes.

SFBG: How has it been relocated in LA? Miss the Bay Area? Do you spend much time here?

MF: LA is very spacious, and there's always something going on if you’re bored. There are a lot more boys to chose from and interesting people to hang out with. I’m pretty happy in LA, but I miss some things from the Bay Area, like the banana slugs, the trees, the rain, friends, family, the 280 freeway, a taco stand called El Grullense, Haight Street. I like spending time in the Bay 'cause I have a new niece and nephew there, and they need to have their cool aunt around.

SFBG: The band has been playing some smaller shows of late around the Bay - what has inspired those outings?

MF: We like playing in the Bay Area - we get to see our families, and we don’t wanna get outta practice. We also get paid and that is important 'cause we all have to pay our rent somehow.

SFBG: Got a joke for me?

MF: How can you tell if Michael Jackson is having a party? There are lotsa tricycles parked out front.

One of my fave Donnas songs.