Pitchfork is where I first heard The Walkmen. I watched your Juan’s basement episode and I couldn’t decide if I liked you guys or not. I showed my wife and she wasn’t sure about it either. We gave it a couple more chances. Fast-forward 15 years and Walkmen is one of our favorite bands.
That was a ton of fun. I thought I would have my bases covered on this one, but I had never heard that song by Joanna Newsom (I also don’t think you ever tell us it’s her before or after the song, which added to the intrigue…). I always knew people loved her but never tuned in for some reason. Holy moly that song is incredible.
This was a lot of fun. As it happens, you and the rest of The Walkmen introduced me to Deerhunter back in 2011. You guys were doing a radio session in London during the 'Lisbon' tour, and my sister's then-boyfriend was the soundman at the venue, the Lexington, where the recording was taking place. He asked if I wanted to come along and help out as he knew I was a fan of your music (from memory, "helping out" just entailed moving around a few mic stands).
During the session, you guys covered 'Agoraphobia' from that same Deerhunter record, 'Microcastle.' I'd never heard of Deerhunter before, but I looked the band up afterward and have been a fan ever since. In a break in taping, I asked Hamilton if you guys were going to play 'Blue as Your Blood,' which was my current fave from 'Lisbon', but he said he didn't have his guitar. Speaking of guitars, the cameraman for the video shoot seems more interested in those vintage guitars than the band members. Anyway, thanks for that discovery and many since then on your radio show.
For to me this era feels like the end of a larger era. Mostly analog. Raucous. And live. Something has happened with the festivalization of music where this genre feels like it cant persist (unless its nostalgic reunions) because the venues where it can be birthed and bathed are largely gone. Im sure im being dramatic and I too feel like “my era” was the last good era like most do, but especially post covid do people go out and stay up way too late and stumble upon a new band at a small all ages club anymore?
Huh yeah I’ve never thought of it that way but that makes sense to me. I kinda tuned out around 2013 because I suddenly had two babies in our house so lost track a bit of cool new music. I don’t go out and see live music searching for good new bands anymore but I bet there are great ones— I hope so.
Thanks for the indulgence! This music feels indulgent to me too. I think because it feels nostalgic and feels like “my” music. Because I was totally into it while it was coming out and was young enough for things to make a stronger impression. For me the indulgence part comes from not wanting to be like my dad who only listens to “his” music on eternal repeat. I mean Mark Knopfler is great, but you don’t want to get caught in an indulgence rut.
I feel like I have a similar experience. As a kid I ended up preferring the classic rock station. And then I went backwards with music from there. I mostly got into the blues and kept going further back and didn’t listen to much contemporary music throughout college. I was reluctant to even listen to The Beatles, but was eventually convinced that some pop music was pretty good. After college I started getting enticed by this type of indie music and started taking a much more open minded attitude towards music. I wonder if this is a common thing. Or a least a common pattern for people around our generation.
Pitchfork is where I first heard The Walkmen. I watched your Juan’s basement episode and I couldn’t decide if I liked you guys or not. I showed my wife and she wasn’t sure about it either. We gave it a couple more chances. Fast-forward 15 years and Walkmen is one of our favorite bands.
That was a ton of fun. I thought I would have my bases covered on this one, but I had never heard that song by Joanna Newsom (I also don’t think you ever tell us it’s her before or after the song, which added to the intrigue…). I always knew people loved her but never tuned in for some reason. Holy moly that song is incredible.
Hey thanks Patrick. Yeah my wife told me I failed to mention Joanna Newsoms name. But if it adds to the intrigue that’s great. She’s amazing
This was a lot of fun. As it happens, you and the rest of The Walkmen introduced me to Deerhunter back in 2011. You guys were doing a radio session in London during the 'Lisbon' tour, and my sister's then-boyfriend was the soundman at the venue, the Lexington, where the recording was taking place. He asked if I wanted to come along and help out as he knew I was a fan of your music (from memory, "helping out" just entailed moving around a few mic stands).
During the session, you guys covered 'Agoraphobia' from that same Deerhunter record, 'Microcastle.' I'd never heard of Deerhunter before, but I looked the band up afterward and have been a fan ever since. In a break in taping, I asked Hamilton if you guys were going to play 'Blue as Your Blood,' which was my current fave from 'Lisbon', but he said he didn't have his guitar. Speaking of guitars, the cameraman for the video shoot seems more interested in those vintage guitars than the band members. Anyway, thanks for that discovery and many since then on your radio show.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BrotVxcKgm8&t=49s
Ha so cool - yeah I remember that taping well. Glad u like the show! ✌️
My college friends were obsessed with Pitchfork. I still wonder if they really liked any of this or were just hipsters.
For to me this era feels like the end of a larger era. Mostly analog. Raucous. And live. Something has happened with the festivalization of music where this genre feels like it cant persist (unless its nostalgic reunions) because the venues where it can be birthed and bathed are largely gone. Im sure im being dramatic and I too feel like “my era” was the last good era like most do, but especially post covid do people go out and stay up way too late and stumble upon a new band at a small all ages club anymore?
Huh yeah I’ve never thought of it that way but that makes sense to me. I kinda tuned out around 2013 because I suddenly had two babies in our house so lost track a bit of cool new music. I don’t go out and see live music searching for good new bands anymore but I bet there are great ones— I hope so.
Thanks for the indulgence! This music feels indulgent to me too. I think because it feels nostalgic and feels like “my” music. Because I was totally into it while it was coming out and was young enough for things to make a stronger impression. For me the indulgence part comes from not wanting to be like my dad who only listens to “his” music on eternal repeat. I mean Mark Knopfler is great, but you don’t want to get caught in an indulgence rut.
I feel like I have a similar experience. As a kid I ended up preferring the classic rock station. And then I went backwards with music from there. I mostly got into the blues and kept going further back and didn’t listen to much contemporary music throughout college. I was reluctant to even listen to The Beatles, but was eventually convinced that some pop music was pretty good. After college I started getting enticed by this type of indie music and started taking a much more open minded attitude towards music. I wonder if this is a common thing. Or a least a common pattern for people around our generation.
I bet it’s a common phenomenon among music lovers. Always thinking we know the best music but, especially as we get older, eager to be proven wrong.
Fantastic ep. Brought back tons of memories -- thanks! Hoping for parts 2 thru TBD...
Great episode. We share a similar timeline with pitchfork. For me, I was out of college and had grown out of the interest of metal and"
heavier" music that had intrigued me in teen years. I always liked various musical genres but
Pitchfork helped me discover some refinement and music that was more relatable. This music
was the soundtrack of some great years and life moments like meeting my wife and us discovering these bands and seeing them live.
Also meeting some of them, we met Skyler at the first Fleet foxes show in Toronto at the historic Massey Hall, and it was a great
moment. I had an encounter with Ezra at another iconic
Toronto establishment- the dive bar the Horshoe tavern where Vampire Weekend performed to a small crowd some of Contra before the
albums release date. In my opinion some of thebest music has come from this era and also, films
too. So much to cover, Grizzly Bear is a stand out for me and hopefully can make a pt 2. Interested to hear more. Thanks!