RIP: Steve Albini (Roland)

Stan's Lynch's swinging, powerful groove and chiming backing vocals propelled Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers ascent from bar band to one of the greatest bands in the history of rock. Stan tells Joe about growing up in Ohio and Florida; being raised by two mental health professionals; how drumming felt like a superpower; lessons learned playing in the house band at a strip club; how The Heartbreakers felt "closer than family"; and how Don Henley helped him gain a foothold in the world of production. Stan's latest band, The Speaker Wars, released an eponymous album last week.

Over the past 40 years, Lou Barlow's body of work--with bands like Dinosaur Jr., Sebadoh, and as a solo artist--has immensely impacted Joe's life. Lou tells Joe about growing up in the chaotic 1970s; his early love of pop radio; the enormous influence the Ramones had on his life; hearing his early songs on college radio; sleep hygiene; and his inclination towards flittering and fretting.

Dave Elitch returns for a bonus episode to discuss his new course, Staying Out of Your Own Way. At its best, learning to play an instrument can be the catalyst for self exploration. Joe and Dave share a curiosity about the nature of learning, and Dave--who has taught many of the best working drummers--talks about the impetus to create his new course. We'll be back with full-length episodes next week.

Steve Albini died yesterday, May 7, at the age of 61. Here's Joe's conversation with Steve from 2017. Originally intended to be a gag episode featuring Roland (the drum machine used in Steve's band, Big Black), this turned into an earnest conversation documenting Steve's evolution from sharp-witted provocateur to sharp-witted empath. With thousands of recordings to his name, Steve has left a brilliant legacy of massive influence. Requiescat.

King Coffey tells Joe about: growing up in a single-parent, Christian household; his 40+ year tenure with Butthole Surfers; his interest in Buddhism; and caring for his husband, who suffered from dementia.

Guy Picciotto's work in Fugazi and Rites of Spring had an immeasurable impact on Joe's life. As a producer, Guy has helped artists such as Blonde Redhead, Vic Chestnut, and The Blood Brothers reach new heights. In an uncharacterisically candid conversation, Guy tells Joe about his childhood, his artistic trajectory, and his most recent project as a producer--Jim White's first solo album, All Hits: Memories. 

For over thirty years, Jim White has been the drummer of choice for many of the most compelling songwriters working. Now, with assitance from producer Guy Picciotto, he's created his first solo album, All Hits: Memories.

The latest incarnation of Built to Spill will undoubtedly be remembered as one of that band's most potent lineups in its 30+ year career. Teresa Esguerra's heavy groove and lyrical rhythmic conception are a crucial part of the equation. She tells Joe about Prism Bitch, Built to Spill, and her career as an occupational therapist.

The Trap Set is back, and so is Marnie Stern. Marnie burst onto the NYC rock scene in 2007--seemingly out of nowhere--with a unique blend of virtuosic guitar; surreal, beautifully yearning lyrcs; and a "sheets of sound" vocal delivery. Joe met Marnie in 2012 and toured with her behind Stern's 2013 album, The Chronicles of Marnia. It was on this tour that Joe conceived of the idea for The Trap Set. Shortly after the tour, Stern took a break from releasing original music and took a gig as the guitarist for the 8G Band--the house band for Late Night with Seth Meyers--a position she held for over eight years.  Now back with a fantastic new album, The Comeback Kid, Marnie joins her old pal, Joe, to catch up!

Jeremiah Green, drummer for Modest Mouse, passed away 12/31/2022 of cancer. This is a re-post of our conversation from 2017. We at The Trap Set are sending love to Jeremiah's family, bandmates, and many friends around the world.