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Interview
Superchunk's Jon Wurster phonercizes with Omar from "Hooked on Sonics" (part 1/2)
Submitted by Omar Goodness on Mon, 09/20/2010 - 17:28
*Closing out CJLO’s Disorientation 2010 is influential Chapel Hill, NC indie rock band Superchunk, back after a nine year hiatus. Hooked on Sonics’ Omar Goodness finally got to cross the band off his interview wishlist when he had the chance to discuss the band’s changing fanbase, how nine years away may have reinvigourated the band, Master Cleanse diets, and the legend of canadian MOR rock songsmith Kim Mitchell with Superchunk drummer and all around funnyman Jon Wurster the morning of September 16, 2010.
*ALL SONGS taken from Superchunk's latest record, Majesty Shredding.
NOTE - Audio for the interview is available below - produced and edited by Omar Husain.
[SUPERCHUNK] [HOOKED ON SONICS]
[INTERVIEW PART 1] [INTERVIEW PART 2]
---------------"Digging for Something"---------------
We're here with Jon Wurster, the drummer of Superchunk. How're you doing, Jon?
Good, doing real good. Just frantically running around trying to get stuff in order for day one of our tour.
Now, I noticed also on your twitter that this is day one of your "Master Cleanse"...
It is. Yes.
...and I was wonder how that's going so far?
It's going well. As you may have read, I'm allowing myself only Master Brand frozen pizza.
Okay...?
So that's what I'm sticking to for the next six months – it's a six month cleanse.
Wow, that's pretty intense.
Yeah.
Just gotta get that colon nice and clean, right?
Exactly, yeah.
There ya go.
Yeah.
I know how it is.
There's something about the dough that they use that's really good. Very healthy stuff.
(laughter)
So this is the first tour that you've done with Superchunk in almost, what, nine or eight years now?
The last actual tour tour that we did was I think in summer of 2002 where we opened for the Get Up Kids, but our last real tour of our own was for our last record that came out in the fall of 2001. So yeah, it's our first real tour in nine years, yeah.
Was there any trepidation going into this tour; were you guys nervous?
No, because we never really stopped playing, y'know, we didn't do big tours, but we'd play two or three shows a year at least ever since then. We just didn't make albums or release much.
So the performance itself is not worrisome to you, I was more concerned about the fact that you guys are gonna be together in a bus or a van for the next month or so and that's been something that you haven't done in a long time. Was there any worry about that?
No, that was always kinda the fun part. We always pretty much got along, it was more everything else that went along with it that was just kinda burning us out. We hit it really hard for pretty much eleven years; I joined in October of '91 and we were on that cycle for ten years.
Yeah, and there was a span of time too in the book that Merge Records put out about Superchunk and about Merge Records, Our Noise, where it's listed in there that there's a period of four or five years in the nineties when you guys were constantly on the road…
Yeah, when you're young you can do that. It's funny, I do that all the time with other bands – I guess I never really stopped doing that really – but when you're younger you're more excited and more jazzed about seeing what's out there and doing more and "oh, so-and-so wants us to tour with them, let's do that, and we can play here, we'll go to Brazil…", as you get older, maybe the charm kinda wears off in a way.
Plus you've kind of seen everything by that point.
It's kind of true.
Is it different playing in a band that you're an essential part of as opposed to just being a touring drummer?
Yeah, this still feels like "home" in a way. But, I love touring with the other people I've played with like Bob Mould and the Mountain Goats - I feel like a full member of the Mountain Goats. But, yeah, this is a relationship that has been going for almost twenty years.
And plus they're your songs too.
---------------"Crossed Wires"---------------
Does it work in your favour to have been away for about nine years or so from playing shows – I mean from doing extended tours or from putting out a record. Does it kind of feel like you're starting over to an extent or is there a newfound energy in it to be doing it again now after so long – to have given yourself that break?
Yeah, definitely there's a new energy and it's kind of fun. Like, we've never really thought of ourselves of having any influence on anybody; while you're doing it you never think that way, but now that there's a whole generation or two of kids in bands that are successful that say your early records were an influence on them – that's great and exciting in a way also. So that gives you a different perspective on what you do.
Especially to come back after having that sort of time away from it too, where people have been mentioning you here and there in interviews.
Yeah, you never assume that people are even gonna care about it at this point, or that they're gonna remember what you did or who you are, so it's nice that these articles are coming out with reviews of the records and people seem to like it and remember it.
Is it odd to see people always kind of use that term "legendary band" when they mention you, especially now when the new album is coming out?
Oh yeah, because 1991 seems like yesterday to me in a way.
(laughter)
I remember lugging my drums into Mac's little house for that first rehearsal and Laura coming to the door and saying something like "Hey, I'm Laura, I'm the weak link". So, yeah, that just seems like yesterday. To have someone say "legendary", it's flattering, but it doesn't feel like it really.
It's odd to hear I'm sure when years melt by after a certain time – twenty years goes by fast when you think about it.
Yeah, but we covered a lot of ground. I think about that too like "wow, we went to everywhere several times!"
And it's kinda cool to see where how when initially you guys came out some people used to call you guys "Hüsker Junior" –
Mm-hmm.
–and now people really hold you in such a high regard and you have that cult fanbase. And the funny thing that I was noticing too, we're putting on your show in Montreal next Thursday, it's organized by the station, and we're looking forward to having you coming and the one thing that we noticed too was, I mean a couple of us who are a little bit older than everyone else at the station were obviously excited about it, but the younger crowd seems to be excited as well, and it seems kind of interesting that during those nine years your cult fanbase has stayed the same but there's a disparity within the age group – so you still have a lot of younger fans still.
Y'know, that's kind of what I'm excited about having not played a lot of these places in a quite a while and I'm curious how young it skews. Cuz around here if seems if we play in North Carolina or Chapel Hill or whatever, it seems a bit older to me, so it'll be interesting to play in New York, or D.C., Boston or up there just to see if kids do come out.
And it can kind of seem I guess like the same people that you recognize are showing up at those shows.
Right, yeah.
It should be interesting to see whether you have a whole new fanbase now.
Yeah, I'm trying to think the last time we played Montreal...
I think it was 2000 or 2001.
I'm trying to think if we played there on our last record – I remember playing a place called – is there a place called the Forum, does that sound familiar?
Yeah, but that's kind of a huge venue, I don't think you guys played there back then 'cuz I think the Forum stopped being the Forum back then too...
The Phoenix?
No that's Toronto, I think you guys played Cabaret here in 2002 or 2001.
That's it! That's it.
Yeah so it's been nine years since you've been here, it'll be interesting to see how the crowd has changed.
And we definitely played a Halloween there, I dressed up as Fred Durst
(laughter)
I think that would've been in '97.
[INTERVIEW PART 1] [INTERVIEW PART 2]
[SUPERCHUNK]
[HOOKED ON SONICS]
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Hooked on Sonics - Superchunk Interview Pt 1/2
View from the Venue - The Casualties
Submitted by CJLO on Fri, 03/23/2012 - 12:34
View From the Venue just got good and crusty
I sat down with Jake Kolatis of The Casualties, who were supporting their buddies English Dogs on their Forward Into Battle tour. In part one, Jake talks dirty habits, traveling and crust culture. In part two, we talk about Jersey City Tat shop, fan appreciation and Jorge's camera shyness. Unfortunately, I couldn't squeeze any spoilers out of him concerning their next record, which is set to drop sometime this summer. We got played off by Havoc. A pretty sweet way to end an interview, if I do say so myself.
Part 1
Part 2
-Filmed and edited by Julia Hoelscher
View from the Venue - Cancer Bats
Submitted by CJLO on Tue, 02/07/2012 - 23:24
In Montreal, Canada, Cancer Bats interview you!
On this episode of View from the Venue, I sat down with Cancer Bats at Foufounes Electriques. They were on their Bastards of Reality tour, trekking across Canada and the United States as a Black Sabbath cover band called Bat Sabbath. Liam and Jaye promptly began to interview ME. Part 1 contains lots of hating on Christmas, goth talk, Black Sabbath praise and a serious question here and there. In part 2, Cancer Bats continue to make me their butt monkey and talk about Dead Set On Living and being nice dudes in a scary band. Jaye and I also face off in a Pogo-Headbanging competition of epic proportions. CHAOS.
Check out their single "Old Blood," out now. Stay tuned for their full length, Dead Set On Living, out April 20th.
-Filmed and edited by Julia Hoelscher
JEFF The Brotherhood
Submitted by Stephanie Pastel on Sun, 02/05/2012 - 12:06
One week into JEFF The Brotherhood's 2012 North American tour with The Kills, Twee Time's Stephanie had the chance to chat on the phone with guitarist Jake Orrall about his new gear, the Infinity Cat label's Canadian connection, and what's going on with the band since signing to Warner Bros. Records. Below is the audio from the full interview or, if you prefer, a transcript of the highlights.
Audio for the interview engineered by Lachlan Fletcher, produced and edited by Stephanie D.
Stephanie: You have an LP of rarities you just released on Infinity Cat. Can you tell us about Brotherhood of Light?
Jake Orrall: Yes, kind of older stuff that's out-of-print... the more kinda cosmic side of JEFF The Brotherhood, I guess.
S: The cover of Brotherhood of Light has some symbols of the zodiac, Hebrew letters, the Star of David, the moon and the sun. I'm wondering where that concept for the cover came up?
J: The cover is actually from an old astrology pamphlet from a secret society called the Brotherhood of Light.
S: Oh wow! Is a secret society and mystical symbols something you're interested in?
J: Yeah, absolutely. Kind of a hobby, I guess.
S: Can you tell us a little bit about that book?
J: I found it in just an old pile of junk, and it's just kind of full of numbers, algorithms and stuff. It doesn't make any sense to me; none of it makes sense at all, actually. It's pretty weird, but it’s interesting.
S: I'm going to talk a little bit about Infinity Cat.
J: Yes.
S: You have two Canadian bands on that label, there's Uncle Bad Touch, and Peach Kelli Pop from Ottawa.
J: It's pretty much exclusively Canada and Nashville [laughs] on the label, dunno why.
S: How did you get in contact with Uncle Bad Touch and Allie Hanlon from Peach Kelli Pop?
J: Uhh, Allie, we played a show with her other band White Wires [Allie is on drums], who we are also big fans of, and we had a copy the Peach Kelli Pop record... and I listened to it with some friends and went, "This is awesome... where do I get it? I don't know, I don't think you can get it. I think it's just in Canada you can get it really." So, then I was like, oh let's just ask them if they wanted to put it out on record 'cause it's awesome, and so we did. And then Uncle Bad Touch, it was actually kind of a similar thing. We played with them, and became friends with them, and started doing shows together and stuff, and they had an LP and it hadn't been released in the US. So, that's kind of how it started.
S: Do you have any plans to collaborate with them musically?
J: Yeah, we actually almost recorded with Uncle Bad Touch, like a big collaboration thing the last time we were in town, but we didn't have time. We don't really have any real hard plans for that kind of stuff...
S: I’ve spoken to Allie from Peach Kelli Pop a couple of times, and she's a really good drummer as well as playing the ukulele and the guitar.
J: Yeah.
S: And I'm wondering if, because of that interest in drumming, did she have any sort of friendship, or love connection with Jamin?
J: [laughs] You'd have to ask them.
S: You know, you [only] play the top three-strings on your guitar.
J: Yeah.
S: Have you always played that way?
J: No, I used to have two, and only two, then I added one after the second album.
S: Wow, I'm really curious, how exactly do you get such a huge sound out of just three strings?
J: Well, I have a really, really nice pickup in my guitar, that was built by a guy named [inaudible] in Nashville; a very talented pickup builder. But even before I had that uhh, I think it sounds a lot better now, but I use a Big Muff distortion pedal. Umm, and it’s an old Russian one, it’s not like a new one. And I play through a bass amp and a guitar amp, and I just EQ instead the bass amp is really, really bass-y, and the guitar amp is really treble-y, and then I just; when they mix together they make up for all the lost sound of not having a bass… A really big amp… Yeah, and I also got this custom made amplifier cabinet, speaker cabinet, which I got the day before this tour, and they’re really cool. I’ll have them at the show, in Montreal. I’m really excited about it, they sound really good.
S: Yeah, I can’t wait to hear it, and I read that some of your gear was stolen last year in Nashville, so be sure to keep an eye on your stuff when you’re here in Montreal.
J: I will. It’s pretty hard to sell, if they do get stolen. [laughs] I got some of my stuff back from a pawn shop when I got broken into last time, but the guitar wasn't there and the pawn guy was like, "No it only had three strings on it; I didn't want that piece of junk"... It’s missing three strings, so he’s like “I can’t do anything with this”. So the guy didn't buy it from them [the thieves], so I guess they probably just threw it away.
S: The saying goes, opportunity comes disguised in the form of misfortune, and you got a pretty wicked guitar out of it.
J: Yeah... I really didn't care when I got my new guitar that my old one had been stolen. [laughs]
S: I also saw your post on Twitter that you guys were in the studio recording a few weeks ago.
J: Yeah, just basically recording another album, and I think it's the best one we've ever done.
S: I can’t wait to hear it! Can we expect to a new single soon?
J: I dunno, we have to mix it when we get back from this tour, so we'll see.
S: Will this album be released on Infinity Cat? Because there's some buzz about you and Jamin being signed to Warner Bros. Records last year.
J: Yeah, we just signed with Warner Bros., and this album will come out Warner Bros. slash Infinity Cat kind of thing.
S: Has the dynamic of the band, and how you run things at Infinity Cat, changed since being signed to Warner? Do you still feel independent…
J: We have a lot more freedom because of the resources we have access to. While before our record label basically consisted, you know, of me and... being on tour all day, and my dad and some interns at home mailing out packages. Now we have, you know, all these departments and all these people working for us. We come up with an idea, and we can send it to Warner Bros. and they get it done. And it's really been awesome so far; it really opened up a lot of new opportunities for us. And we also work harder and be a more professional band. But it's kinda like, it's almost like we just got like promoted at our job, and our job is like playing music, you know? It's fucking awesome…
S: I’ve always felt that, you can have the biggest bass amp, or the biggest guitar amp, or any pedal that you want; but for me I felt that your music really came from the soul, and it spoke to me for sure. And everyone I know who, like when I convinced my friends “Please stay at the VICE party to see JEFF”, and they’re like, “I’m so glad that I stayed”.
J: That’s awesome.
S: I wanted to thank you guys so much for sharing you music. I know, umm… some people think you’re a pretty new band, or didn’t hear much about JEFF, and you guys have been around since 2001.
J: Yeah, it's hard to get your name out there, you know. It really helps when people bring their friends to shows, and make them stay out ‘til the end, so thanks for that.
View from the Venue - Junior Battles
Submitted by CJLO on Wed, 02/01/2012 - 11:34
On this episode of View from the Venue, I caught up with Junior Battles. They're currently touring in continuous support of their first full length release, Idle Ages, which you really should be listening to if you like pop punk, because if you aren't already, you're totally missing out. Go on, do it. Their intricate song construction and pop sensibility makes them stand out amongst the punk crowed. Singer/guitarist Sam Sutherland talks to me about leaving the southern Ontario nest for more fertile grounds, why his voice sounds so pretty and the little things that make touring with a van that has a hole in the floor worth while.
-Filmed and edited by Julia Hoelscher
View from the Venue - Interview with the Flatliners
Submitted by Omar Goodness on Fri, 11/04/2011 - 13:09
CJLO correspondent and View from the Venue videographer Julia Hoelscher caught up with vocalist/guitarist Chris Cresswell from The Flatliners on their tour of eastern Canada in support of their “Count Your Bruises” 7” EP. The ska-punk band from Toronto, Ontario who have been making legitimate music together since before they had their drivers licenses. If that doesn't impress you, their most recent full length release, Cavalcade, most certainly will. Chris and I talk about The Flatliners career so far, strange venues, beard envy, and touring til you hit the pavement dead.
*Filmed & edited by Julia Hoelscher
Anthony Jeselnik
Submitted by Robin F on Wed, 07/27/2011 - 06:05
I first saw Anthony Jeselnik perform online. He is the master of the smart laugh and awkward pauses. Although he cites Rodney Dangerfield and Steven Wright as idols, Anthony's humour is only similar in format; the content is horrifically and hilariously all his own. He has appeared on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel Live, and Late Night with Conan O'Brien to name a few.
Having written for both Jimmy Fallon and Sarah Silverman, Jeselniks humour is incredibly distinctive and certainly offensive (you've been warned.) He released his first album, Shakespeare, last year as well as recorded his own half hour special on Comedy Central.
This is his third year at Just for Laughs; he will be performing with The Nasty Show on July 29. He will also be performing as the Nick Thune & Anthony Jeselnik: Double Threat which you can see on July 26, 27 & 28. Finally, he will be part of Talk of the Fest on July 27.
I was fortunate enough to get the occasion to speak with him before he arrives in Montreal for his shows. The audio recording can be found below.
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Anthony Jeselnik Interview - July '11
Kunal Nayyar (Big Bang Theory)
Submitted by Robin F on Fri, 07/22/2011 - 08:19
So the name Kunal Nayyar may not be familiar to you, but maybe the name Dr. Rajesh Koothrappali is? Known famously for his portrayal of the an astrophysicist on The Big Bang Theory, Kunal plays Raj with so much Indian charm, it's almost impossible not to relate to him. Kunal is in town with Simon Helburg to MC the Just for Laughs A Tribute to Nerds event on July 29th.
Comprised of comedians Brian Posehn, Mark Little, Chris Hardwick and Sammy J & Randy, the evening should be fun for the hardcore nerds and the slightly nerdy alike.
I was fortunate enough to get the chance to interivew Kunal. You can listen to the interview below.
Listen to The Onomatopoeia Show for more interviews and more coverage of Just for Laughs 2011 every Sunday from 3-4pm. You can follow Robin @cartoongal on twitter or go to her website for old episodes, www.cartoongal.com.
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Kunal Nayyar Interview (July '11)
PS I Love You talk about Perfect Strangers, Gene Simmons & Other Things w/ Omar from "Hooked on Sonics"
Submitted by Omar Goodness on Sun, 04/10/2011 - 12:44
After releasing their critically acclaimed (and much buzzed about) debut full length Meet Me at the Muster Station on one of our favourite labels around CJLO, Paper Bag Records, Kingston noise-pop duo PS I Love You dropped by the CJLO studios to record a session and interview.
NOTE - Audio for the interview is available below. Transcription courtesy of Alex Rabot.
[PS I LOVE YOU] [HOOKED ON SONICS]
[SESSION PAGE]
-------------------------------------------------------
Omar: Thanks for coming down to the studio, guys. This was kind of a stripped down set for you cuz we just had a small little practice amp for you...
Paul Saulnier: Yeah, a little bit.
O: I guess that's not what you're usually used to playing live.
P: Not really... I mean, a lot of people will say that any good song will hold up, no matter what the instruments you play, but... that's not true of our songs though.
O: Yeah.
P: At all.
Benjamin Nelson: Should be loud.
O: So, you guy's've been around for a couple of years now, right?
P: Uh, yeah.
O: And you have a 7" (Starfield 7", 2010) and an EP out...
P: We have two 7"s, one we did a split with Diamond Rings, that sold out, and we have a couple of copies left of our Starfield 7", and we have a full length album out on Paper Bag Records... sold out of the vinyl, but we're gonna make more!
B: Yeah, we're gonna make more, thank God, and we'll be putting out more 7"s on Paper Bag.
P: Yeah, soon! Plus Paper Bag is re-issuing our first EP (EP, 2008, first released on Apple Crisp Records), that I did a few years ago, that I just did in Kingston, on my own... it's already available digitally, but we'll have CDs at our shows coming up soon.
O: And you just finished a tour with Diamond Rings recently.
P: We did just a week in Southern Ontario, then Montreal was as far East as we got. That was amazing.
O: Are you guys old buddies with them?
B: Yeah... we've known them for a year and a half now, and it's been best buddies ever since we met.
P: Total best buds.
O: Both of you seem to be getting a lot of press these days, is it kind of bizarre that all of a sudden people are starting to write about you?
B: It's a little weird... it's nice, but I think, we're so busy that we haven't been able to fathom anything, but... it's a little strange...
P: I've tried to fathom.
B: It's more... I've tried to fathom.
P: *laughs*
B: It's more strangers coming to our shows, I guess. Coming to see us and being really into us, it's really nice.
P: It's too many strangers, and our friends who don't buy tickets can't get into shows.
B: Yep, it's true.
O: It must be cool though, after a couple of years of doing this, that all of a sudden, it almost seems like in just a few days or so people have heard the new album and are all over what you're doing.
B: Yeah!
P: Yeah, I guess that's pretty cool, it is encouraging.
O: Have you, FATHOMED IT, Paul?
P: No. *laughs* I'm not fathoming things, and I could probably find things to complain about.
B: You probably could.
O: So you're in Montreal and you're playing the M for Montreal showcase tonight, have you done industry showcases like this before?
P: Uhh, sort of, we played CMW in Toronto.
B: Is CMJ like that?
P: CMJ, in New York, is pretty industry-driven, so yeah, we're familiar with, I guess, this type of crowd.
B: This one seems a little more... focused. Way less bands playing.
O: *laughs* That's a good way to put it.
B: There's less.. there's more focus on finding out which bands people are gonna come see, I dunno. I like it, I really like it. It's short.
O: *laughs*
P: Yeah, we're good at doing short sets! Our songs are short.
O: A short blast?
P: Yeah.
O: Is it weird to be playing to people like that [in the industry] as opposed to fans or the general public.
P: I'm sure it'll be the same... When we play I never look at the crowd...
B: Me neither.
P: ...It's just a bunch of people, right? What's the big deal?
O: Right.
P: Are they all going to be wearing suits, with clipboards?
O: Who knows? With ponytails, and afterwards, they'll be all "we're gonna make you guys STARS". Gene Simmons (The Demon, Kiss) might be there.
B: Yeah... we'll see how that goes.
O: With Gene Simmons?
P: I don't have any comments about Gene Simmons.
B: He's ok.
O: Aww... I was hoping for haters. I hate the guy.
P: Yeah.
O: So much.
P: Yeah, it's kind of a GIVEN...
B: He might be listening.
P: Yeah... he's definitely not listening. We have a lot of private, fun-times hating on Gene Simmons.
B: Yeah.
P: Is this the proper arena to hate on Gene Simmons? Maybe.
O: It's more for private time? And not for public time.
B: I like some Kiss songs! The man, I don't know him. So maybe I'll meet him tonight, and give you my opinion later.
P: It would be great to meet him... I would like to touch his hair. I bet it's like soft steel wool.
O: The full-length (Meet Me at the Muster Station, 2010, Paper Bag Records), how long did it take to put this together?
P: Uh, that actually took a couple of years, because we didn't really go into a studio and record an album in a traditional sense, we kinda, we had friends come into our jam space and record us playing songs, then I would do some overdubs, and we were sort of recording it as we were writing songs. The past couple years.
A couple [songs] were really old ones, Benjamin and I did together. We just took our time, we had it all recorded before we had a record label and stuff, too. We were just recording it because that's what we wanted to do.
B: When we [decided] "let's make a record", we didn't have any full-length plans, at the time, but it gave us a reason to just go ahead and do it and finish it. Document it.
O: Is it hard to find a common thread for all the songs, when you're recording in that manner?
P: Uh, no. There's already common threads between the songs, no matter when they're recorded, they're all mixed and produced by the same person, our friend Matt Rogalsky. We mixed it all in a small studio, and made it sound like all one session. Through the magic of mixing boards. And reverb.
O: It must have a bit of different texture, based on how there's songs from different times...
B: True.
P: It all represents the way, Ben and I, we play live... We always played them the same way live. So they're not going to be any different, one to another.
O: I'm sure people have asked you before, but have you thought of playing with more people? How did it only end up being just you two? Cuz, you're pretty loud for only two guys.
P: Yeah, I sorta... I started this four years ago, when it was just me, it was just for a fun, sort of a weird pop thing, we only started to get really loud when we got Benjamin to play drums, it was like...
O: You had to keep up with him?
P: Yeah, it got gradually louder and louder. And I think we can both agree it's gotten better and better?
B: Sure, yes.
P: *distracted* Um... I've... lost track of what I was saying. What are we talking about?
B: "How did I change your life?"
P: *laughs* THAT's what we were talking about? The question?
B: Yeah, Paul and I, we were in another band, we had a good musical thing, and he had a solo thing, and there was a concert where he was finally gonna play live to release his EP, and I played drums, and it was great, and, I dunno... Paul, you have something to say?
P: I remember what the question was! Why don't we have any other members.
B: Oh, right.
P: I think it was because I'm actually, crazy? It's kind of amazing that I found...
O: Ben can tolerate it?
P: No, no, it's not that, it's not like I'm maniacal, but I'm obsessed with the sound of our band.
B: Yeah.
P: It's kind of amazing that Ben and I work together so well.
B: But if somebody else came into the mix, it would kind of screw things up. Probably.
P: Unless there's, like, a really special person out there.
B: Like John O'Reagan?
P: John O'Reagan, that would be great, but...
B: But that's not gonna happen, no.
P: We're still a duo, we'll always be a duo. Sometimes we'll have guest musicians. And sometimes John O'Reagan, aka Diamond Rings, joins us onstage, and plays guitar, and sings, and stuff. But mostly that's just for fun, excitement, comraderie...
B: And we can't fit another person in the van, so... not gonna happen.
P: No. We really can't.
O: In the band name, the PS, is actually your initials, I think?
P: Yeah, that's the sick joke behind it all...
O: Really?
P: Yep.
B: Yep.
O: Alright, cool... thanks guys, I think I touched a nerve...
P: No, really! You didn't!
B: No problem.
P: It's just I was waiting for you to ask about that movie, but you didn't, so I'm glad!
O: No...
P: I'm really glad.
B: Paul found out recently, though, that there is a Perfect Strangers fanclub that's also called 'PS I Love You'.
O: My sister actually got me Seasons 1 and 2 of that for my Birthday, I was JUST watching some!
P: Yeah, check it out! Perfect Strangers fanclub 'PS I Love You'. It's all online now, but they used to make zines in the 90s.
O: On your next album you could have a picture of Balki on it... you should cover the theme song!
B: We could do something. That's a tough one... did you know, there's Full House, there's Step by Step, and then Urkel, and Perfect Strangers, they all had the same band?
P: Family Matters.
B: Yeah, Family Matters, I know. It was all the same band. You can look that up online.
O: Fun facts with PS I Love You.
P: Was it Jesse and the Rippers?
B: It was not, in fact, Jesse and the Rippers. It was way better.
O: Thanks guys, for coming by!
P: We'll be back.
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[SESSION PAGE]
[PS I LOVE YOU] [HOOKED ON SONICS]
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CJLO - Hooked on Sonics - PS I Love You Interview
Superchunk's Jon Wurster phonercizes with Omar from "Hooked on Sonics" (part 2/2)
Submitted by Omar Goodness on Mon, 09/20/2010 - 17:38
*Closing out CJLO’s Disorientation 2010 is influential Chapel Hill, NC indie rock band Superchunk, back after a nine year hiatus. Hooked on Sonics’ Omar Goodness finally got to cross the band off his interview wishlist when he had the chance to discuss the band’s changing fanbase, how nine years away may have reinvigourated the band, Master Cleanse diets, and the legend of canadian MOR rock songsmith Kim Mitchell with Superchunk drummer and all around funnyman Jon Wurster the morning of September 16, 2010.
*ALL SONGS taken from Superchunk's latest record, Majesty Shredding.
NOTE - Audio for the interview is available below - produced and edited by Omar Husain.
[SUPERCHUNK] [HOOKED ON SONICS]
[INTERVIEW PART 1] [INTERVIEW PART 2]
---------------"My Gap Feels Weird"---------------
I met Laura and Mac when they were doing the booksigning at CMJ last year for Our Noise and I was telling them how I was looking forward to a new tour, and I'm actually really excited that our station is putting it on cuz, I mean, I grew up listening to college radio when I was 14 or 15 and you guys were one of the bands that got me into music...
Oh, thanks.
...and the fact that we're putting on the show means a lot to me because of the fact that you were one of the bands...
Oh, nice!
...and to be involved in college and community radio, this is pretty cool. And this'll be the first time I've seen you. Every time you guys played Montreal when I was younger, I was either too young to get into the venues, or when I was a little bit older, I always had exams one those nights, so this is gonna be pretty cool.
Now, the new record, people keep calling it a "return to form". Is that kind of aggravating to hear in that it seems that people seem a little bit more interested in hearing your older sound as opposed to the sound that you guys were, I guess, sort of experimenting with on the last few records?
I think that's how it goes for everybody. It's kinda weird, I think the longer a band is around, the more people do sort of gravitate to the early stuff. I'm sure I do that. But we never sat down really and said "let's go back to this".
We recorded this record very differently than the last four or five. I think from around maybe Here's Where the Strings Come In to the last album in 2001, we kind of wrote them from the ground up and we would just come up with a part and we'd all jam on that and come up with something else and Mac would write the melody and the lyrics later.
But this was different cuz I was gone for about two years on the road with other people and I wasn't living in Chapel Hill anymore. So he pretty much wrote all the songs on his own and would demo them and send them to us and the three of them would work out stuff on their own and I'd come in a couple days before the recording and we'd play them a few times and work everything out and then just go do them. Which was a great way of doing it where you just kind of aren't thinking at that point, you're just kind of going on instinct.
Yeah.
And the first idea is usually really good.
It sounds like a pretty fast recording process.
Yeah. Although it went over the course of a year cuz we'd grab a weekend at this studio we like to work at and we'd record three or four songs and then not do it again for another two or three months or so and come back and do two or three more. The guy we worked with was a great help and producer...
Scott Solter...
...I worked with him on the last two Mountain Goats records that I played on, and he's just great. He was really good, he pushed us a little bit more than usual to get better takes to just get a more cohesive basic track.
Yeah.
So that definitely helped the songs hang together better, yeah.
So the writing process for the record, like you were mentioning, the Leaves in the Gutter EP you put out last year was supposedly to "clear the decks" of the old songs you guys had written randomly over the last few years. So this record was written over the course of about a year or so? At that point did you guys decide then "hey, y'know what, let's do a full record now"?
Yeah, I think we realized that, y'know, if we're gonna keep doing this at whatever level, or any level, let's try to be relevant and put a record out and create something new as opposed to going out and playing our back catalogue over and over.
Yeah.
I think that was something that appealed to all of us, and it made it more of a real relevant thing.
And the time I guess seemed right for you guys to get back together and do something like this, you guys all seemed to be in the same headspace I guess?
I think so, and I think, y'know, there's kinda less to worry about now, which is really nice. When you're younger and you're in the middle of it, everything seems to be more life or death in a way...
(laughter)
And you're depending on it more...
(laughter)
That's not what it takes anymore.
---------------"Learned to Surf"---------------
I gotta thank you so much for doing this, Jon, it's been a pleasure talking to you, and like I mentioned, you guys have been a huge influence on me in getting into campus and community radio and wasting way too many hours of my life listening to music.
(laughter)
I have a question for you, who do you like better: Superchunk or the Asexuals?
Oh, Superchunk by far.
Oh, okay. Thank you!
Sorry...now if you put Superchunk and the Doughboys next to each other...
That's right! My second show ever with the band was at Maxwell's in Hoboken with the Doughboys.
No way!
Yes!
If you put Superchunk vs. the Doughboys I would still pick Superchunk, but that would be a harder choice.
What about the Nils?
Uh...I'd pick Superchunk over the Nils.
How about Stretch Marks?
I'd still pick Superchunk. I'm giving you honest answers too, man!
How about SNFU?
I'd still pick Superchunk.
Oh my God, DOA?
Oh, Superchunk definitely. DOA – I only really like one record.
Uh... Sloan?
(pause)
Oh, I knew it!
Hmm... Still Superchunk! The first two Sloan records, though, I stand by, but I'd still pick Superchunk, you're still more consistent!
Crash Test Dummies?
Oh God, are you kidding me!? Crash Test Dummies, baby!
(laughter)
Ok, how about Kim Mitchell?
Kim Mitchell? I mean, I wanna go for a soda...
I know!
...so I'd go with Kim Mitchell there. "Patio Lanterns"?
(laughter)
That's a jam, man!
(laughter)
I did a tour with A.C. Newman, and he was telling me about "Patio Lanterns"...
(laughter)
...and it sounded like the most insane song idea I've ever heard – I've never heard the song, but I've heard him sing it several times...
Oh Lord.
...and it sounds like the most craziest, weirdest teen song.
It was a hit too, man. It was a big hit up here.
(laughter)
When you come to Montreal, one of us is picking you up at the airport. If it happens to be me, I'll make sure to bring that song so you can hear it.
Please do, please do.
There ya go. Cool, thank you so much, Jon
Thank you.
---------------"Everything at Once"---------------
[INTERVIEW PART 1] [INTERVIEW PART 2]
[SUPERCHUNK]
[HOOKED ON SONICS]
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Hooked on Sonics - Superchunk Interview Pt 2/2
