Month: September 2018

• September 28, 2018Protonic Reversal, Show Posts

  Ep127: Steve Albini (Shellac, Big Black, Electrical Audio Studio)

  

  

  (stream and download – Episode 127)

  Well hey, hey there Protonic Reversal devotees. Time for another episode, Steve Albini is back with us after a 106 episode break. Conan and Steve talk about:

  -Steve inadvertently ruining the “perfect run” of 9 continuous guests for the 100th episode of Protonic Reversal (not out of malice)
  -Winning the World Series of Poker (and why that might not be as impressive as it sounds)
  -Why recording records is still satisfying.
  -Fluffy coffee shop
  -A story of two competing magic shops
  -Thoughts on the internet equalizing things for music.
  -How this helps those passionate about music as opposed to those passionate about profit.
  -The hive mind as a filter.
  -The internet as a discovery tool for lost art.
  -Nick Drake’s mother.
  -Pegboy play South America
  -Streaming Services and the next logical progression of decentralization.
  -“how do you stop something that doesn’t store anything?”
  -Longevity in studios = flexibility
  -dislike of meritocracy as a term.
  -the value of record stores are the maniacs that work there
  -On hating nostalgia the first time
  -On the lack of appreciation of nuance and allegory in past compositions
  -Specifically: Prayer to God
  -Appropriation of past art and public figures for political end
  -the mind opening power of punk rock
  -You don’t make anything better by assuming your audience is stupid and dumbing down
  -Kindred spirits with the devout.
  -Making records with people who also record at home or in unorthodox ways.
  -Who gets told “no”?
  -Fleetwood Mac (and the like) helped create punk rock
  -Overdubs and Harmonies, and how they can be life lessons.
  -Who would Steve most like to record?
  -Rerecording In Color by Cheap Trick
  -The End of Radio is the end theme song for Protonic Reversal, the ideas behind the song.…

• 

  September 28, 2018Protonic Reversal, Show Posts

  Ep126: J.D. Pinkus (Butthole Surfers, Melvins, Honky)

  
  

  (stream and download – Episode 126)

  It’s Jeff Pinkus of Butthole Surfers, Melvins, and Honky! It’s an episode of Protonic Reversal.
  What more do you need to know?

  ok, ok…
  Greetings protonic friends, time again for a thrilling new episode of Protonic Reversal. Today is Mr. J.D. Pinkus of Butthole Surfers fame, he also plays in the Mighty Melvins, Honky and has recently released a solo banjo record called: Keep on the Grass. Interview starts at: 14:40
  Conan and Jeff talk about the following topics:
  -Keep on the Grass, the story behind it and the involvement of Danny Barnes (bad livers)
  -different sequences for different formats
  -the concept of the full length In general
  -the cassette comeback
  -Pinkus Abortion Technician
  -joining up with Buzz and Dale because of Jared’s impending fatherhood
  -picking BHS songs for a Melvin’s set
  -Paul Leary songs
  -the incredible depth of the Melvin’s catalog.
  -different lyrical approaches.
  -John Prine
  -lots of headphone listening of Chicho music
  -live interpretations of Melvin’s songs and arranging the songs for two basses.
  -playing with Steven McDonald
  -bringing the “creepy old man” vibe to the Melvins.
  -playing bass with fingers (a study in contrasts!)
  -using a Dark Glass amp from finland
  -opening for Sleep with a banjo set
  -432 tuning frequency
  -playing Rebel Girl by Bikini Kill in Melvins w/Teri Gender Bender
  -Daddy Longhead, Skinny Leonard, then Honky
  -the double edged sword of Butthole Surfers not listing credits in the records
  -Playing with Helios Creed on Activated Condition and the journey of making that into a record.
  -half machine lip moves talk
  -trash talk about Lenny Kravitz
  -On joining the Butthole Surfers and making those classic records.
  -drugs and cycles.
  -Buzz doesn’t do drugs and probably shouldn’t.
  -the Butthole Surfers chapter of “Our Band Could Be Your Life” is total bullshit.
  -working with John Paul Jones on Indepdnent Worm saloon and playing banjo on “ballad of naked men” while he plays bass!
  -Being a mixture of Steve Martin and Dean Martin.
  -banjo as a songwriting tool.
  -Doing covers.
  -Hairway to Steven, pictographs haven’t translated well for the iTunes age.
  -taping fire ants to cardboard and sending them to Chicago “a Texas Trip”
  -cockroach snuff movies with Jem Cohen
  -talking with Ian Mackaye about weed expenditures
  -Double Live BHS, a self released bootleg.
  -P.S.Y.
  -is it wrong to be weirded out by the fans of your band?
  -The band name Honky, and how that can (and has been) misconstrued. Different times and all.…

• 

  September 22, 2018Protonic Reversal, Show Posts

  Ep125: Sam Coomes (Quasi, Jon Spencer & the HitMakers)

  

  

  (stream and download – Episode 125)

  Howdy there, friends and well-wishers of the Protonic Reversal, and welcome to another fine program! On this episode, Conan and Josh got to chat with Sam Coomes of Quasi! We talked of so many things:
  Interview begins at 10:53

  -recording with Jon Spencer
  -the Roxichord
  -contrasting music and lyrics
  -playing in a two piece, and solo
  -consistant learning
  -being ill-prepared to start a tour
  -the timing of switching keyboard patches
  -playing with Jandek
  -the three B’s: Ballads, blues, and brutal
  -not being a session man
  -playing favorites and covers in the set
  -the Takeovers
  -keeping Quasi fresh and why
  -learning how not to resent the popular back catalog
  -Hot Shit!/writing political songs during “Shock & Awe”
  -keeping honest in songwriting
  -musical rapport and confidence
  -the role of a producer
  -having confidence in your vessel on tour
  -being where you were trying to get to…