there’s a 1958 silvertone that’s been had the once-over done in Athens Georgia
had the once-over done in Athens Georgia
had the once-over done in Athens Georgia I saw the name Scott Baxendale takes
I saw the name Scott Baxendale takes
I saw the name Scott Baxendale takes these old guitars and he gives them a
these old guitars and he gives them a
these old guitars and he gives them a special little touch speaking of which I
special little touch speaking of which I
special little touch speaking of which I got here on 72 the desert is perfect for
got here on 72 the desert is perfect for
got here on 72 the desert is perfect for lazy bastards
lazy bastards
lazy bastards I was born in Pennsylvania mistakenly
I was born in Pennsylvania mistakenly
I was born in Pennsylvania mistakenly apparently and nature took her hand and
apparently and nature took her hand and
apparently and nature took her hand and washing me this way were the rest of the
washing me this way were the rest of the
washing me this way were the rest of the lazy bastards found comfort in cluster
lazy bastards found comfort in cluster
lazy bastards found comfort in cluster there was a flood in our little town in
there was a flood in our little town in
there was a flood in our little town in Pennsylvania in 72 from Hurricane Agnes
Pennsylvania in 72 from Hurricane Agnes
Pennsylvania in 72 from Hurricane Agnes n’ six feet over the roof of her house
n’ six feet over the roof of her house
n’ six feet over the roof of her house washed that away and my dad had
washed that away and my dad had
washed that away and my dad had remarried out here so I’m extremely
remarried out here so I’m extremely
remarried out here so I’m extremely thankful for the two greatest disasters
thankful for the two greatest disasters
thankful for the two greatest disasters in my life I’m a folks divorce and
in my life I’m a folks divorce and
in my life I’m a folks divorce and Hurricane Agnes once out here
Hurricane Agnes once out here
Hurricane Agnes once out here I met a fella came out here when I was
I met a fella came out here when I was
I met a fella came out here when I was 15 and a few years later I met a fellow
15 and a few years later I met a fellow
15 and a few years later I met a fellow named Reiner thought check see this is
named Reiner thought check see this is
named Reiner thought check see this is the Segway from a fellow who put the
the Segway from a fellow who put the
the Segway from a fellow who put the juju and guitar fixings Reiner worked
juju and guitar fixings Reiner worked
juju and guitar fixings Reiner worked here first at the guitar workshop and
here first at the guitar workshop and
here first at the guitar workshop and then a little place down town here where
then a little place down town here where
then a little place down town here where I bought my first electric that’s now
I bought my first electric that’s now
I bought my first electric that’s now the Ronstadt Center I can’t remember the
the Ronstadt Center I can’t remember the
the Ronstadt Center I can’t remember the name of the shop there and then
name of the shop there and then
name of the shop there and then eventually came caddy corner to the old
eventually came caddy corner to the old
eventually came caddy corner to the old Chicago music store he worked down in
Chicago music store he worked down in
Chicago music store he worked down in the basement
Reiner and I came he was 5 years older
Reiner and I came he was 5 years older than me but Reiner and I came to America
than me but Reiner and I came to America
than me but Reiner and I came to America the same year him by boat me by birth
the same year him by boat me by birth
the same year him by boat me by birth canal he ended up in Chicago and I ended
canal he ended up in Chicago and I ended
canal he ended up in Chicago and I ended up in wilkes-barre Pennsylvania until
up in wilkes-barre Pennsylvania until
up in wilkes-barre Pennsylvania until the flood and then we both came here in
the flood and then we both came here in
the flood and then we both came here in 72 but we didn’t meet each other until
72 but we didn’t meet each other until
72 but we didn’t meet each other until 76 where I know while I was in Chicago
started playing the dobro Reiner I
started playing the dobro Reiner I didn’t know this at the time until we
didn’t know this at the time until we
didn’t know this at the time until we would tour Europe for the first time in
would tour Europe for the first time in
would tour Europe for the first time in 1986 and we were on our way to Berlin
1986 and we were on our way to Berlin
1986 and we were on our way to Berlin back when we had to drive through he’s
back when we had to drive through he’s
back when we had to drive through he’s Germany we realized the night before in
Germany we realized the night before in
Germany we realized the night before in Hamburg that Reiner was born in East
Hamburg that Reiner was born in East
Hamburg that Reiner was born in East Berlin and that there might be an issue
crossing the border they might not have
crossing the border they might not have had enough slide players in East Germany
had enough slide players in East Germany
had enough slide players in East Germany and want him back so we had to fly of
and want him back so we had to fly of
and want him back so we had to fly of into West Berlin and that’s when I began
into West Berlin and that’s when I began
into West Berlin and that’s when I began to understand him a little bit more all
to understand him a little bit more all
to understand him a little bit more all of ten years after I met him when we
of ten years after I met him when we
of ten years after I met him when we were on tour the first time we started a
were on tour the first time we started a
were on tour the first time we started a band I started playing with him in 1976
band I started playing with him in 1976
band I started playing with him in 1976 I was on the thing about the desert I
I was on the thing about the desert I
I was on the thing about the desert I think besides the art of being a lazy
think besides the art of being a lazy
think besides the art of being a lazy bastard the whole point of that is to be
bastard the whole point of that is to be
bastard the whole point of that is to be so comforted by the minimalism and the
so comforted by the minimalism and the
so comforted by the minimalism and the unending space that’s what appealed to
unending space that’s what appealed to
unending space that’s what appealed to me I guess cuz ever since then our music
me I guess cuz ever since then our music
me I guess cuz ever since then our music has had an unending space and a
has had an unending space and a
has had an unending space and a minimalism I’m kind of like the way
minimalism I’m kind of like the way
minimalism I’m kind of like the way comedians the best comedians tell a joke
comedians the best comedians tell a joke
comedians the best comedians tell a joke and they leave a little something for
and they leave a little something for
and they leave a little something for you to fill in the line yourself that
you to fill in the line yourself that
you to fill in the line yourself that this music is like that it doesn’t
this music is like that it doesn’t
this music is like that it doesn’t explain everything to you need to take
explain everything to you need to take
explain everything to you need to take part in it so we got together I met him
part in it so we got together I met him
part in it so we got together I met him at the Helen Street Cafe one night I was
at the Helen Street Cafe one night I was
at the Helen Street Cafe one night I was on a three-day psychedelic excursion it
on a three-day psychedelic excursion it
on a three-day psychedelic excursion it was a it was a last day I just saw Roman
was a it was a last day I just saw Roman
was a it was a last day I just saw Roman Polanski’s the tenant and have you ever
Polanski’s the tenant and have you ever
Polanski’s the tenant and have you ever seen that this is before computer
seen that this is before computer
seen that this is before computer animation and there was some serious
animation and there was some serious
animation and there was some serious scenes at the end there where the
scenes at the end there where the
scenes at the end there where the audience was project perceived as demons
audience was project perceived as demons
audience was project perceived as demons while tor Roman was trying to kill
while tor Roman was trying to kill
while tor Roman was trying to kill himself and they had serpent tongues and
himself and they had serpent tongues and
himself and they had serpent tongues and all the like
all the like
all the like right after that I went to I remembered
right after that I went to I remembered
right after that I went to I remembered are supposed to meet this fellow named
are supposed to meet this fellow named
are supposed to meet this fellow named Reiner at the Helen Street Cafe
Reiner at the Helen Street Cafe
Reiner at the Helen Street Cafe I was living on Helen Street in Park at
I was living on Helen Street in Park at
I was living on Helen Street in Park at a time and the woman who invited me to
a time and the woman who invited me to
a time and the woman who invited me to meet him was named Helen this is the
meet him was named Helen this is the
meet him was named Helen this is the other thing about Tucson is uh it has a
other thing about Tucson is uh it has a
other thing about Tucson is uh it has a curious amount of coincidences that
curious amount of coincidences that
curious amount of coincidences that occur they don’t mean anything but they
occur they don’t mean anything but they
occur they don’t mean anything but they are appealing and when enough of them
are appealing and when enough of them
are appealing and when enough of them happened at one time you know you’re on
happened at one time you know you’re on
happened at one time you know you’re on the right track or you just keep
the right track or you just keep
the right track or you just keep following the path via like breadcrumbs
following the path via like breadcrumbs
following the path via like breadcrumbs so I got there and Reiner invited me up
so I got there and Reiner invited me up
so I got there and Reiner invited me up up to play while he was playing now he’s
up to play while he was playing now he’s
up to play while he was playing now he’s playing a dobro and I was just nineteen
playing a dobro and I was just nineteen
playing a dobro and I was just nineteen at the time and he was 24 and I I would
at the time and he was 24 and I I would
at the time and he was 24 and I I would try to get out of it and I said I can
try to get out of it and I said I can
try to get out of it and I said I can only play in gene that’s what his dobro
only play in gene that’s what his dobro
only play in gene that’s what his dobro was tuned in so that was no problem
was tuned in so that was no problem
was tuned in so that was no problem so we jammed and the thing is the piano
so we jammed and the thing is the piano
so we jammed and the thing is the piano was facing the wall and probably I
was facing the wall and probably I
was facing the wall and probably I figured it out years later decades later
figured it out years later decades later
figured it out years later decades later it was because of that film but I
it was because of that film but I
it was because of that film but I couldn’t stop the song I couldn’t stop
couldn’t stop the song I couldn’t stop
couldn’t stop the song I couldn’t stop playing because I didn’t want to face
playing because I didn’t want to face
playing because I didn’t want to face the crowd as small as that place was and
the crowd as small as that place was and
the crowd as small as that place was and Reiner was ok with it so we played for
Reiner was ok with it so we played for
Reiner was ok with it so we played for 45 minutes in the key of G maybe two
45 minutes in the key of G maybe two
45 minutes in the key of G maybe two chords the song changing evolving never
chords the song changing evolving never
chords the song changing evolving never being the same it was what an Escher
being the same it was what an Escher
being the same it was what an Escher print would sound like and then I heard
print would sound like and then I heard
print would sound like and then I heard the guy who owned the place empty out
the guy who owned the place empty out
the guy who owned the place empty out the joint and then once everybody left
the joint and then once everybody left
the joint and then once everybody left we we brought the puppy in for a landing
we we brought the puppy in for a landing
we we brought the puppy in for a landing and that was it that’s how me and Ryan
and that was it that’s how me and Ryan
and that was it that’s how me and Ryan are bonded just like that
are bonded just like that
are bonded just like that that’s how we met I wasn’t until he came
that’s how we met I wasn’t until he came
that’s how we met I wasn’t until he came down with brain cancer in 96 so 10 years
down with brain cancer in 96 so 10 years
down with brain cancer in 96 so 10 years after that
after that
after that oh sorry 20 years after that and uh 10
oh sorry 20 years after that and uh 10
oh sorry 20 years after that and uh 10 years after we first toured in Europe in
years after we first toured in Europe in
years after we first toured in Europe in 86 and he saw we looked over the wall
86 and he saw we looked over the wall
86 and he saw we looked over the wall and saw his old neighborhood in East
and saw his old neighborhood in East
and saw his old neighborhood in East Berlin and in 86 96 he came down with a
Berlin and in 86 96 he came down with a
Berlin and in 86 96 he came down with a brain cancer and
brain cancer and
brain cancer and he was going to pass away before 97 was
he was going to pass away before 97 was
he was going to pass away before 97 was uh was finished and that kind of thrown
uh was finished and that kind of thrown
uh was finished and that kind of thrown me in a tailspin for quite some time
me in a tailspin for quite some time
me in a tailspin for quite some time he’s been with me ever since but anyhow
he’s been with me ever since but anyhow
he’s been with me ever since but anyhow so uh he he was drawn to the dope
so uh he he was drawn to the dope
so uh he he was drawn to the dope borough because his father was a Czech
borough because his father was a Czech
borough because his father was a Czech descent the name thought Czech means
descent the name thought Czech means
descent the name thought Czech means small bird the mother was German and he
small bird the mother was German and he
small bird the mother was German and he explained to me how the the dobro was
explained to me how the the dobro was
explained to me how the the dobro was invented by these five Czech brothers
invented by these five Czech brothers
invented by these five Czech brothers that came to America to create a an
that came to America to create a an
that came to America to create a an instrument with a built-in speaker to
instrument with a built-in speaker to
instrument with a built-in speaker to compete with the big band sounds before
compete with the big band sounds before
compete with the big band sounds before they had amplification and the LPO
they had amplification and the LPO
they had amplification and the LPO brothers and they would argue amongst
brothers and they would argue amongst
brothers and they would argue amongst themselves and splinter off and they
themselves and splinter off and they
themselves and splinter off and they would build the national guitarist which
would build the national guitarist which
would build the national guitarist which he also played the duo lien and then
he also played the duo lien and then
he also played the duo lien and then eventually they would make these silver
eventually they would make these silver
eventually they would make these silver tones and airline guitars and a lot of
tones and airline guitars and a lot of
tones and airline guitars and a lot of cool guitars in the 60s and I’m not sure
cool guitars in the 60s and I’m not sure
cool guitars in the 60s and I’m not sure what the point of any of that was I just
what the point of any of that was I just
what the point of any of that was I just turned 60 on this stage a week ago and
turned 60 on this stage a week ago and
turned 60 on this stage a week ago and [Music]
[Music]
[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] so I’m I’m enjoying the cool cool
so I’m I’m enjoying the cool cool
so I’m I’m enjoying the cool cool breezes here in the foothills of
breezes here in the foothills of
breezes here in the foothills of dementia waiting for that lovely storm
dementia waiting for that lovely storm
dementia waiting for that lovely storm to kick in one day and relieve me of too
to kick in one day and relieve me of too
to kick in one day and relieve me of too many ideas memories so we got together
many ideas memories so we got together
many ideas memories so we got together in in 76 you know we started with a band
in in 76 you know we started with a band
in in 76 you know we started with a band that would become Giants and first it
that would become Giants and first it
that would become Giants and first it was the Giants and worms is an easy
was the Giants and worms is an easy
was the Giants and worms is an easy crowd and along the way I was 22 or 23
crowd and along the way I was 22 or 23
crowd and along the way I was 22 or 23 at the time when we finally got it going
at the time when we finally got it going
at the time when we finally got it going and he found a drummer who was about 20
and he found a drummer who was about 20
and he found a drummer who was about 20 named Billy subtle Meyer and and then at
named Billy subtle Meyer and and then at
named Billy subtle Meyer and and then at another guitar player who would switch
another guitar player who would switch
another guitar player who would switch off on bass named Dave Seeger who was 19
off on bass named Dave Seeger who was 19
off on bass named Dave Seeger who was 19 and and we started this van Giants and
and and we started this van Giants and
and and we started this van Giants and worms and rhinos house and we played a
worms and rhinos house and we played a
worms and rhinos house and we played a little tiny place on 4th Avenue called
little tiny place on 4th Avenue called
little tiny place on 4th Avenue called tumbleweeds they were you know was can
tumbleweeds they were you know was can
tumbleweeds they were you know was can you say shithole it was the only place
you say shithole it was the only place
you say shithole it was the only place that would allow bands of our ilk
that would allow bands of our ilk
that would allow bands of our ilk post-punk bands at the time and but one
post-punk bands at the time and but one
post-punk bands at the time and but one of the most monumental things here and
of the most monumental things here and
of the most monumental things here and this is what I’m getting it
this is what I’m getting it
this is what I’m getting it [Music]
[Music]
[Music] x-play there yeah the band from Los
x-play there yeah the band from Los
x-play there yeah the band from Los Angeles called X they made these cool
Angeles called X they made these cool
Angeles called X they made these cool mementos for the band and uh as
mementos for the band and uh as
mementos for the band and uh as coincidence would have it John Doe and
coincidence would have it John Doe and
coincidence would have it John Doe and hexane from the band X we’re here in
hexane from the band X we’re here in
hexane from the band X we’re here in this stage one week ago on set birthday
this stage one week ago on set birthday
this stage one week ago on set birthday as they were in tumbleweeds back in 1980
as they were in tumbleweeds back in 1980
as they were in tumbleweeds back in 1980 and they were very important because
and they were very important because
and they were very important because very few bands came to Tucson and here’s
very few bands came to Tucson and here’s
very few bands came to Tucson and here’s the whole point we were in the middle of
the whole point we were in the middle of
the whole point we were in the middle of nowhere
all the bands stopped in Phoenix nobody
all the bands stopped in Phoenix nobody came here much and it was no college
came here much and it was no college
came here much and it was no college radio it was the only decent sized
radio it was the only decent sized
radio it was the only decent sized university town that had no you know
university town that had no you know
university town that had no you know college radio that played you new music
college radio that played you new music
college radio that played you new music that our station still plays now I’m
that our station still plays now I’m
that our station still plays now I’m thankful for they play a lot of jazz and
thankful for they play a lot of jazz and
thankful for they play a lot of jazz and classical but there was no station here
classical but there was no station here
classical but there was no station here kxe I finally came around in 1983 but
kxe I finally came around in 1983 but
kxe I finally came around in 1983 but but even then they didn’t just play new
but even then they didn’t just play new
but even then they didn’t just play new music they had maybe one show would play
music they had maybe one show would play
music they had maybe one show would play something new and they played a lot of
something new and they played a lot of
something new and they played a lot of traditional stuff and all kind of they a
traditional stuff and all kind of they a
traditional stuff and all kind of they a great spectrum of stuff but we didn’t
great spectrum of stuff but we didn’t
great spectrum of stuff but we didn’t get any information here we were a city
get any information here we were a city
get any information here we were a city without the usual influence especially
without the usual influence especially
without the usual influence especially with the University sitting here like
with the University sitting here like
with the University sitting here like that was 30,000 people so what had
that was 30,000 people so what had
that was 30,000 people so what had happened was we there was only one
happened was we there was only one
happened was we there was only one record shop called the record room on
record shop called the record room on
record shop called the record room on 4th Avenue and they would get you know a
4th Avenue and they would get you know a
4th Avenue and they would get you know a couple copies of whatever was new in but
couple copies of whatever was new in but
couple copies of whatever was new in but that was it if you got there too late he
that was it if you got there too late he
that was it if you got there too late he missed out on the new terms record
missed out on the new terms record
missed out on the new terms record which might have been a good thing but
which might have been a good thing but
which might have been a good thing but the point is that what happened back
the point is that what happened back
the point is that what happened back then in the late seventies was we all of
then in the late seventies was we all of
then in the late seventies was we all of post-punk descent started coming up with
post-punk descent started coming up with
post-punk descent started coming up with their own kind of music that we couldn’t
their own kind of music that we couldn’t
their own kind of music that we couldn’t buy it was kind of like sonic pioneers
buy it was kind of like sonic pioneers
buy it was kind of like sonic pioneers making your own clothes with sonic
making your own clothes with sonic
making your own clothes with sonic threads so and you know some no set of
threads so and you know some no set of
threads so and you know some no set of clothing look the same
clothing look the same
clothing look the same amongst the bands you know as everybody
amongst the bands you know as everybody
amongst the bands you know as everybody had their own sound nobody could play or
had their own sound nobody could play or
had their own sound nobody could play or sing very well
sing very well
sing very well because that was a punk ethic it was all
because that was a punk ethic it was all
because that was a punk ethic it was all a matter of attitude and getting it done
a matter of attitude and getting it done
a matter of attitude and getting it done it wasn’t about destruction it was just
it wasn’t about destruction it was just
it wasn’t about destruction it was just about punching through gravity and
about punching through gravity and
about punching through gravity and getting buoyant and this was the perfect
getting buoyant and this was the perfect
getting buoyant and this was the perfect place to do it this was at a time when
place to do it this was at a time when
place to do it this was at a time when burritos cost a dollar 25 when you
burritos cost a dollar 25 when you
burritos cost a dollar 25 when you didn’t just have dulcet case you had
didn’t just have dulcet case you had
didn’t just have dulcet case you had tress a case does anybody remember tres
tress a case does anybody remember tres
tress a case does anybody remember tres Equis beer
Equis beer
Equis beer all right well you can get a bottle of
all right well you can get a bottle of
all right well you can get a bottle of it with a dollar 25 bean burrito at El
it with a dollar 25 bean burrito at El
it with a dollar 25 bean burrito at El Dorado right there on South 4th and so
Dorado right there on South 4th and so
Dorado right there on South 4th and so it was a perfect teachery dish we didn’t
it was a perfect teachery dish we didn’t
it was a perfect teachery dish we didn’t know it at the time we just thought it
know it at the time we just thought it
know it at the time we just thought it was a cheap place to live perfect for
was a cheap place to live perfect for
was a cheap place to live perfect for the lazy bastard inside of us that slept
the lazy bastard inside of us that slept
the lazy bastard inside of us that slept all day with aluminum foil on the
all day with aluminum foil on the
all day with aluminum foil on the windows and stayed up all night and went
windows and stayed up all night and went
windows and stayed up all night and went down to the washes and took whatever
down to the washes and took whatever
down to the washes and took whatever libation was handy and this is how the
libation was handy and this is how the
libation was handy and this is how the indie rock scene in this neck of the
indie rock scene in this neck of the
indie rock scene in this neck of the woods blossomed or at least came to be
woods blossomed or at least came to be
woods blossomed or at least came to be and then it wasn’t until the 90s where
and then it wasn’t until the 90s where
and then it wasn’t until the 90s where indie rock became a real thing in the
indie rock became a real thing in the
indie rock became a real thing in the 90s small labels weren’t swallowed up by
90s small labels weren’t swallowed up by
90s small labels weren’t swallowed up by the bigger labels like they were in the
the bigger labels like they were in the
the bigger labels like they were in the 80s and Lofa thankfully became a
80s and Lofa thankfully became a
80s and Lofa thankfully became a tangible order of the day audibly
tangible order of the day audibly
tangible order of the day audibly speaking
speaking
speaking in no small part to the advent of a band
in no small part to the advent of a band
in no small part to the advent of a band called small Sparklehorse
called small Sparklehorse
called small Sparklehorse which made it so palatable and almost
which made it so palatable and almost
which made it so palatable and almost pop like and that’s when things got
pop like and that’s when things got
pop like and that’s when things got really healthy you can be on a label and
really healthy you can be on a label and
really healthy you can be on a label and get a 50/50 split after expenses and in
get a 50/50 split after expenses and in
get a 50/50 split after expenses and in the meantime we had lived in various
the meantime we had lived in various
the meantime we had lived in various different places we tried living in
different places we tried living in
different places we tried living in Lower East Side in 1981 when it was
Lower East Side in 1981 when it was
Lower East Side in 1981 when it was precarious on Avenue B in 3rd Street
precarious on Avenue B in 3rd Street
precarious on Avenue B in 3rd Street playing CBGB’s I don’t know how many
playing CBGB’s I don’t know how many
playing CBGB’s I don’t know how many times oh I’m done so it’s been really
times oh I’m done so it’s been really
times oh I’m done so it’s been really nice talking to y’all I’ll play you one
nice talking to y’all I’ll play you one
nice talking to y’all I’ll play you one chord one chord which will hopefully
chord one chord which will hopefully
chord one chord which will hopefully represent the sound
represent the sound
represent the sound [Music]
[Music]
[Music] this is pretty much the sound of this
this is pretty much the sound of this
this is pretty much the sound of this town to me I mean you know the human
town to me I mean you know the human
town to me I mean you know the human sounds are great here but I was more
sounds are great here but I was more
sounds are great here but I was more impressed with the elemental sounds of
impressed with the elemental sounds of
impressed with the elemental sounds of the desert the erosion of the of this
the desert the erosion of the of this
the desert the erosion of the of this place which sounds to me just like this
[Music]
[Music] Oh
there you have it
there you have it [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] thanks for having me
thanks for having me
thanks for having me [Applause]
”
Be First to Comment