81. Mayo Thompson

It's an election day bonus episode! Today we’re gonna be digging way back in the archive to episode 4: Focusing on Margo Guryan. This was recorded in early 2019, when I was still figuring out this show’s format.  At that time, it consisted of panelists with a shared interest (Andrew Dorsett and Michael Sean Coleman) nerding out about a favorite artist, and sometimes we’d get the chance to talk to the artist or somebody who was close to them. Margo Guryan passed away three years ago, and at the time of recording she did not agree to an interview, but she and I had some email correspondence that was helpful in researching her, and she put me in touch with her publisher, Jonathan Rosner, who also happens to be her stepson, who joined us about halfway through the show. I’ve re-edited that admittedly rough episode to make it more digestible, and at the top of the show I spoke with Jonathan again about the latest renaissance of Margo’s music- two new reissues, plus a tribute album called “Like Someone I Know" which features Pearl And The Oysters, TOPS, Margo Price, Clairo and many others, available from Sub Pop and Urban Outfitters. Low Profile is supported by you on Patreon.com/lowprofile where you can sign up for flexible monthly donations that afford me the time it takes to research, record and edit this program. If you enjoy this show and can afford to contribute anything at all, it would be extremely helpful. It adds up in a big way. Believe me, I know things are tight, so if you can’t chip in financially, please tell somebody you know about a favorite episode of Low Profile and share it on the internet. If you are in a position to donate, that address again is patreon.com/lowprofile  Thanks to this show’s in-kind sponsors here in Olympia, including Three Magnets Brewing Company, Rainy Day Records, Old School Pizzeria, San Francisco Street Bakery, and Schwartz’ Deli- if you come through Olympia these are all excellent places to visit.

If there was such a thing as the American ambassador to 60s French Pop it would have to be Elinor Blake, better known as April March. Elinor began her professional career in the world of animation back in the early 80s before she took on the April March rock and roll alter-ego. You’ve probably heard her music over the last few decades classic cartoons like The Ren and Stimpy Show and I Am Weasel and cult favorite films including But I'm A Cheerleader and Death Proof. She’s rubbed shoulders with all kinds of heavy figures in the entertainment world, including Ronnie Spector, Pee Wee Herman, Frank Zappa, Maya Rudolph, and numerous figues in classic and contemporary Franch pop. I spoke with Elinor in the Summer of 2024 about her storied career, starting with a sneak preview of her upcoming 2025 album Villerville.

Psychic Temple is the extended-family project of Chris Schlarb, the proprietor of the retro-chic Big Ego studio in Long Beach, California. Chris is an old friend of mine, going back to the turn of the century when I lived for a brief period time in Long Beach. This episode is being released shortly after the announcement of the dissolution of Psychic Temple, which is addressed during a quick follow-up call at the top of the show. This episode was engineered by Chris Schlarb at Big Ego in the summer of 2023. Chris shares with me about his musical background, his creative endeavors, and some of his work-for-hire as a record producer, including the final Psychic Temple album, Doggie Paddlin’ Through the Cosmic Consciousness. The portrait of Chris Schlarb for this episode was hand-drawn by Jack Habegger. Low Profile is supported by YOU at patreon.com/LowProfile. Producing this show costs time and money! Thanks for chipping in. Low Profile receives in-kind support from these Olympia independent businesses: Rainy Day Records, Old School Pizzeria, Schwart'z Deli, San Francisco Street Bakery, and Scheler Easy Premium Shitty American Lager from Three Magnets Brewing Company.

Bob Log III is a one man band from Tuscon, Arizona. He tends to tour at least half the days of the year all over the planet, bringing a party, and doing it all by himself, ever since his old band Doo Rag broke up while on tour with Ween back in the 1990s. Nowadays, when Bob's’s not on the road, he lives in Australia. If you catch him on the tour in your area, there’s balloons, an oversized rubber duck, a boat, and even rides! No wonder this guy’s side hustle is writing personalized birthday party songs. He regales us today with tales of busking on the streets of Tuscon with Doo Rag, how he developed his solo act, why it’s hard for him to collaborate, his misadventures in Sweden (like being hired to play the Swedish national anthem for a bunch of metal musicians), and how he challenges himself to keep the party level in the red. He’s also got some surprising health tips for touring performers. I spoke to him on the phone, presumably the one protruding out of his motorcycle helmet. Low Profile is a part of the Ruinous Media network and airs Fridays at 4PM Pacific Standard Time on KAOS in Olympia, WA. Supported by you at patreon.com/lowprofile, and in-kind sponsors Rainy Day Records, San Francisco Street Bakery, Schwartz's Deli, Old School Pizzeria, and Three Magnets Brewing Company (where you can catch live tapings of Low Profile and music performances Sundays at 3pm until 9/22/2024!) Catch a live episode! visit Scherlerbeer.com for details. Illustration of Bob Log III by Jack Habegger See an animated segment of this interview, created by Andrew Ebright, on my YouTube Channel. https://youtu.be/NlO9Sw85EXw

Bonjo Iyabinghi Noah is the percussionist and vocalist behind African Head Charge, the experimental dub project he co-founded with legendary studio wizard Adrian Sherwood in the late 1970s. With dozens of albums to his credit, he’s been established as an influential and singular performer with a sound all his own. Today I’m speaking with Bonjo about how he found his musical and spiritual calling in the Poco churches of Jamaica in his youth, how an encounter with Fela Kuti changed the course of his life, his collaborations with classic reggae and soul artists like Desmond Dekker, Prince Far I, Creation Rebel and the Foundations, how he turned an experimental studio project into a large live ensemble, and insights into African Head Charge’s latest album, A Trip To Bolgatonga on Adrian Sherwood’s On-U Sound label. Scherler Sundays is returning to downtown Olympia for summer 2024!! That means ten weeks in a row of free outdoor concerts and live interview tapings for future broadcast.  Come see your next favorite artist and get to know them in one fell swoop, week after week! This year’s lineup includes Little Wings, Mirah, Tender Forever, Lois, Damien Jurado, Michael Hurley, Chris Cohen, Oh Rose, Jonny Kosmo and more than 20 others, all curated and hosted by yours truly.  It’s happening every sunday at 3pm from July 21st through September 22nd. Find more info at ScherlerBeer.com If you’re a fan of this show, please consider taking a moment to support this show by committing to a flexible monthly donation at patreon.com/lowprofile. It would mean the world to me if I could set aside a proper work week at a living wage every month, and I believe with enough of the regular listeners chipping in 5 bucks, it could happen.  So thanks a lot to those of you who have continued to support me on Patreon, and if you haven’t yet, give it a try! It will be great for your karma, I bet! You can find links to more of their work on this episode’s website at lowprofilepodcast.com, where you’ll also find a treasure trove of oral history from exceptional musicians of all stripes. Low Profile is a part of the Ruinous Media podcast network, and this episode’s artwork was drawn by Jack Habegger.  Thanks to Howard Wuelfing at Howlin’ Wuelf Media for facilitating today’s interview.

The band Danielson started when Daniel Smith worked with his siblings to satisfy a requirement for his senior thesis three decades ago. If you’re not familiar with their music, one thing you’ll notice throughout today’s show is that nobody else sounds anything like them. Daniel and I are talking today about the thirty-year evolution of the group, why he sings the way he does, how the group incorporates visual art into their work, producing records for others (including friends of the show Soul-Junk and Hermit Thrushes), creating the soundtrack to the film Electric Jesus, a new album in the works via Joyful Noise Recordings, collaborations with Sufjan Stevens, Half-Handed Cloud, Kramer, Jad Fair and so many others. Since recording this interview, Danielson has released a short film for their song “Come and Save Me” directed by Chris White that stars Fred Armisen and features previously unused lyrics by the late Larry Norman. Daniel spoke to me from his studio in New Jersey. Low Profile is supported by you on Patreon and also receives in-kind support from these independent Olympia businesses:  Schwart’z Deli, San Francisco Street Bakery, Old School Pizzeria, Rainy Day Records and Scherler Easy Premium Shitty American Lager from Three Magnets Brewing Company. Instagram: @lowpropodcast Facebook Community: Low Profile Listener Hub Support this show: patreon.com/lowprofile Illustration by Jack Habegger Scherler Sundays (live episode tapings + free concerts) is happening again in Olympia for Summer 2024, visit scherlerbeer.com for updates!

Mayo Thompson is the founding member of The Red Krayola, an experimental rock group that has existed in various formations since 1966. He’s collaborated with The Raincoats, Pere Ubu, and the Fall as a record producer, is an active visual artist, and has recently published his second novel, “After Math,” a sequel to 2020’s “Art, Mystery” (both available via Drag City Publishing). Mayo joins Low Profile to discuss the unconventional processes of several Red Krayola albums, his lone solo album “Corky’s Debt to His Father” and its recent live embodiment, his experience as a writer, a long-standing collaborative relationship with the conceptual collective known as Art and Language, and working with others including Lora Logic, featured on the previous episode.  The interview is conducted by a panel featuring returning cohosts Dylan Shearer and Jack Habegger teaming up with Markly to tackle this heavyweight guest. The unedited interview is available for supporters at patreon.com/lowprofile in this episode: The Red Krayola “People Get Ready, The Train’s Not Coming” (00:02) The Red Crayola “Hurricane Fighter Plane”  (08:30) The Red Crayola “Freeform Freakout no. 3” (15:05) The Red Crayola “Transparent Radiation” (16:32) Mayo Thompson “The Lesson” (18:25) The Red Crayola “Coconut Hotel” (25:03) The Red Krayola with Art and Language “Ergastulum” (34:02) Mayo Thompson and the Corky’s Debt Band (live) “Worried Worried” (35:53) The Red Krayola with Art and Language “The Milkmaid” (39:13) The Red Krayola “If S Is” (45:57) The Red Krayola “Bad Medicine” (51:43) The Red Krayola “Breakout” (55:12) Low Profile is supported by you on Patreon and also receives in-kind support from these independent Olympia businesses:  Schwart’z Deli, San Francisco Street Bakery, Old School Pizzeria, Rainy Day Records and Scherler Easy Premium Shitty American Lager from Three Magnets Brewing Company. Instagram: @lowpropodcast Facebook Community: Low Profile Listener Hub Support this show: patreon.com/lowprofile Illustration by Jack Habegger Scherler Sundays (live episode tapings + free concerts) is happening again in Olympia for Summer 2024, visit scherlerbeer.com for updates!

Markly brings his weekly pub trivia game "Questionable Music" to the radio in this exciting segment from the new two-hour Patreon release featuring Markly Morrison and Jack Habegger being interviewed by KAOS station manager DJ Jonny H. Full show available at patreon.com/lowprofile Play Questionable Music in-person at Three Magnets Brewing Company in Olympia, WA, Monday nights at 6:30.

Friend of the show Sean O’Hagan returns to the Low Profile to discuss “Hey Panda,” the first release from The High Llamas in eight years. When we last spoke in 2021, he had dropped the High Llamas moniker and forged a new path under his given name, embracing more contemporary influences.  In the years since, he’s recruited Llamas new and old to reroute the course of the band he’s led since the early ‘90s, and invited exciting guest performers to come along for the ride. “Hey Panda” is out on March 29th from Drag City Records. Today Sean explains the process that led to this album, collaborating with Bonnie Prince Billy and Fryars, recent production and arrangement work with other artists, and a bit of the contemporary music he’s been getting into lately.

Once upon a time in England, a teenager named Susan Murphy brought her saxophone to audition for a new punk band called X-Ray Spex- a group that was not looking for a sax player. Despite that fact, she made the cut, and like her fellow new band mates, she adopted a stage name: Lora Logic was born. When her tenure with the band was unexpectedly cut short, a friend with a studio encouraged her to forge her own path, and in 1979 the underground scene was introduced to her next project Essential Logic- a groove-laden and experimental sort of progressive punk rock. Somewhere along the way she became a Krishna devotee and let her music career take a back seat, re-emerging on occasion with a new set of songs. Nearly 50 years after it all began, Essential Logic is back with a new album called “Land of Kali,” and a box set called “Logically Yours.” Dylan Shearer co-hosted this episode, and we spoke with Lora at length about everything- how it all began, how things have changed, her nuanced collaborative relationship with X-Ray Spex vocalist Poly Styrene, why she plays the sax, her travels to India, and collaborating with her daughter on the latest iteration of Essential Logic. Lora also shares a favorite vegetarian recipe.