My first meeting with Chris Knox:
My band, The Olivia Tremor Control, had been on hiatus for 5 years and the time had finally come for a reunion tour. What was possibly even more exciting than this was the fact that we were touring with one of the bands that had inspired our band to form in the first place, The Tall Dwarfs. I can't even begin to describe how their music had not only held the flag that led the parades of the good times in my life, but also helped me understand during the bad moments that yes, life is shit and there is nothing to be done but sit back and enjoy the beauty of despair.
Our first show was to be at the Subterranean in Chicago. As I approached the stage, I wandered what I could say to these guys, my heroes - don't be a babbling fanboy - say something interesting - keep it short - move on and let them get on with their soundcheck.
At this point I must mention that I have, for some years now, sported what some people incorrectly refer to as mutton chops. They are actually called "dundrearies". I won't get into the history of dundrearies or the way that they are involved with the assassination of our 16th president but I will say that it does make for an interesting yarn 'round the campfire.
Anyhoos, I carefully approached the stage, nonchalantly pretending that I was checking my gear, when the Goode Mr Knox walks straight up to me, grinning from ear to ear, and growls, "I luuuve these theeengs!" and proceeds to grab, with both hands and a great gusto, my aforementioned dundrearies, one in each hand, and shakes them side to side like a mother bitch playfully reprimanding her pup. Needless to say, my apprehension slowly gave way to resolution as I realized that there is nothing to do but sit back and enjoy the beauty of terror.
Why we chose ""bodies""
When Neil Cleary and I first got together to begin our Appalachain project Red&Zeke, we both had rudimentary lists of songs we wanted to try. On my list was a Tall Dwarfs track "Sign the Dotted Line". It had been of favorite of mine and all my friends for many years. Unfortunately, something about the song just didn't seem to work in the style that we were attempting. So Neil, who had been working on his clawhammer banjo technique, suggested ""bodies"". Not only did the song work but the lyrics seemed to fit the "life is shit and then you die and that is a beautiful thing so get on with it" spirit that pervades so much of the music that originated in the Appalachian Mountains. "
Artist Website
Credits
Artist: 'Red&Zeke' featuring Bill Doss (Oivia Tremor Control, Apples in Stereo) and Neil Cleary.
Song: "Bodies" from the forthcoming album "Old Man From Indy-Rock Mountain".
Recorded at Bel Air Studios in Athens, GA with Jason Nesmith, March, 2009.
Produced by Red&Zeke&Jason. |
