59. Bret Lunsford

Painted by Nathan Berko-Gibson

Today I’m joined once again by my co-host Madison Nadine, who you might remember from the Martin Rev interview from October ‘21. Earlier this year we went with cameraman and engineer Andrew Ebright to Anacortes, Washington to meet up with the local historian and musician Bret Lunsford in a cavernous repurposed train depot. Calvin Johnson interjects during the intro to say a few words about his pal and former Beat Happening band mate Bret, who recently wrote a book called Sounding for Harry Smith: Early Pacific Northwest Influences:

Bret Lunsford is a pal of mine. He’s actually an Anacortes, WA native and currently the director of the Anacortes history museum, which is very appropriate because he’s always been a cultural historian… the flora, the fauna, the native populations and the underground weirdo culture. Bret and I have played music over the years in Beat Happening, and his band D+ has also toured with my other combo Dub Narcotic Sound System across the United States of America. And of course, he was one of the instigators of the What The Heck Festival in Anacortes, where I have performed a few times over the years.

-Calvin Johnson (Beat Happening, K Records founder)

To give a little background on who Harry Smith was, The Holy Modal Rounders’ co-founder, living legend and returning Low Profile guest, Peter Stampfel weighs in on Harry Smith and his Anthology of American Folk Music:

Bob Dylan said , “If not for the Smith Anthology, there wouldn’t be a Bob Dylan.” The “Smith” is Harry Smith. The “Smith Anthology” [The Anthology of American Folk Music, Folkways Records] is a 6-LP compilation of 78RPM tracks cut between 1927 and 1933. Basically, folk music dating from what was then called Hillbilly Records (white) and Race Records (black). The Smith Anthology was released in 1953, coincidentally the first year that there were no lynchings in the United States, and the year that MAD comics were introduced, and about when Rock and Roll was born. The Anthology has been called the roots of the roots of rock and roll. The Anthology was where I first heard Charlie Patton, who taught Howlin’ Wolf and Robert Johnson how to play. And Uncle Dave Macon, and the Carter Family, and Mississippi John Hurt, and Cajun music and a lot more. Harry’s intention was for the Anthology to change the world… and it actually did! For starters, besides changing Bob Dylan’s life, it changed mine, and there were thousands and thousands of others. It made me realize that the world was way more strange and complicated than I had previously thought. Coincidentally, I first heard the Anthology in October of 1956. The anthology paved the way for the music that was introduced to the world through the Coen Brothers film “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” Besides the Anthology, Smith, among other things, made strange films, collected Ukranian Easter Eggs, paper airplanes, and string games like “cat’s cradle” by the thousands. He made thousands of recordings on cassette recorders, reel to reel, wire recorders way back during World War II, and studio recordings like the Fugs’ first record in 1965; he even used a telephone answering machine. Google him if you want to know more. And listen to the Anthology. Maybe it’ll change your life, too!

-Peter Stampfel (The Holy Modal Rounders, The Fugs)

In our conversation with Bret Lunsford, we talk about his years with Beat Happening and D+ (his band with Karl Blau and Phil Elverum), his record label/publishing company Know-Yr-Own, and the story behind his recent book.

Music from this episode:

Here’s some early videos of Bret’s bands:

58. Loren Connors (w/ Suzanne Langille)

Painted by Nathan Berko-Gibson

Loren Connors is a guitarist, poet and painter who grew up in Connecticut but has called New York his home since early adulthood. Since the late 1970s he was released over 50 albums of primarily improvised material (released by labels with names like Persona Non Grata, Ambiguous Recordings, and as of late, Family Vineyard) and developing his unique avant-garde playing style in formed by early blues and 20th century composers. He has collaborated with a diverse array of likewise important musicians such as John Fahey, Sonic Youth, Jim O’Rourke, Kath Bloom and Alan Licht. His most frequent cohort is also his partner, Suzanne Langille. She and Loren join me from Brooklyn at their friend Bob Bellerue’s home studio. We talk about Loren‘s family doorway into music and the lessons learned along the way, his body of work, Suzanne and Loren‘s aesthetic partnership, and we’ll also hear Loren‘s guitar improvisations in real time throughout the interview. Suzanne and Loren also improvise a piece together just for today’s show, and David Grubbs gives a warm introduction.

Special thanks to Bob Bellarue for engineering this episode.

Some music from this episode:

More music from Suzanne Langille can be found on her bandcamp site, and the band Haunted House has physical albums available through Erstwhile Records.

An entertaining video outtake from this interview is available for Patreon supporters.

57. Elf Power

Painted by Nathan Berko-Gibson

Athens, Georgia band Elf Power has been cranking out homespun psychedelic rock for nearly three decades, with their 14th album “Artificial Countrysides” coming out this July on Yep Roc records. I spoke to the band’s founder, Andrew Rieger about Elf Power’s beginnings, working with legendary producer Dave Fridman, collaborating with artists like Vic Chesnutt and Robyn Hitchcock, his roots in the hardcore punk scene, being involved with the Elephant 6 Collective, the farm and record label Orange Twin, and his crew of indie rock musicians teaching at the University of Georgia.

Music from this episode:

Elf Power videos!

56. Terror/Cactus

Painted by Nathan Berko-Gibson

My guest on today’s show is Martin Selasco, the man behind Terror/Cactus, an electro-cumbia fusion project based in Cashmere, WA. Martin tells me about his early exposure to South American music, giving credit to his father who was in the music business when he was a child living in Miami, where he taught himself to make multitrack recordings as a preteen. We also discuss his move to Seattle and the challenges of bringing his music rooted in tradition to a predominantly white indie rock audience, the responsibility to preserve and evolve Argentinian culture, why he doesn’t sing, and his new collaborations with folks who do. I spoke on the phone with Martin Selasco from his farm in Cashmere.

Music from this episode:

55. Half-Handed Cloud

Painted by Nathan Berko-Gibson

Since the start of the millennium, John Ringhofer has been making hundreds of bite-sized kaleidoscopic story songs under the name Half-Handed Cloud. I became a fan of his work when I first heard his bedroom-production sunshine pop (with an avant-garde leaning). Years later, I found myself playing a pile of instruments for his touring band in Europe. In today’s interview John visits the studio via Zoom from his home in Finland. He discusses his tape recorder’s role as a band member, raising an artistic family, writing songs about some of the more unpleasant subjects in the Bible, collaborating with Sufjan Stevens, WHY? and Danielson, and his new album “Flutterama” out June 17, 2022 on Asthmatic Kitty Records. He also gives an exclusive performance: 11 Half-Handed Cloud songs in 2 sets. You’ve gotta see it, and thanks to TCTV Studio, you can see this whole episode on video below! The video version is a bit longer as there are parts of the show that don’t work without a visual element.

My guest co-host today is KAOS DJ Scott Eaton who has been hosting the show “God’s Misfits” since 2000.

This episode was engineered and filmed by Andrew Ebright at TCMedia.

Watch the video version of this episode (highly recommended):

Songs Featured this episode:

Disaster Will Come Upon You (Live 2009 with LAKE)

Anamnesis

Antennas Extend

Live Setlist A:

1. We Don't Know How It Grows [2002]
2. Handles [2022]
3. Titus Three [2014]
4. Tongues That Possess The Earth Instead [2006] (briefly)
5. Out On The Ice, We Face Our Hearts [2010]

Once, Twice, Seven Times a Werewolf

The Netherworld Squints At The Sight Of You

Hoarding Begins at Birth

Live Setlist B
1. Buffet... [2006]
2. Thumb/Toe Collection [2005]
3. In You Now But Still Below [2006]
4. Baldy Knees [2002]
5. The Netherworld Squints At The Sight Of You [2022]
6. You Came To Disappear [2016]

Handles (Album Version)

Live concert from 2009 with LAKE as John’s backing band:

Find all Half-Handed Cloud's music at their Bandcamp site:

54. David Liebe Hart

Portrait by Nathan Berko-Gibson

Today’s featured guest is none other than actor, comedian, puppeteer, singer/songwriter, alien expert and all-around entertainer DAVID LIEBE HART. David is probably best known for his work on the TV show “Tim and Eric Awesome Show Great Job,” where he contributed original songs, puppetry and character acting. But he has been in show business for most of his life, with roles on the Golden Girls, Wings, his own show “The Junior Christian Science Bible Lesson Program,” and more recently, “I Love David” on Adult Swim. He’s also a prolific recording artist, with dozens of albums to his credit including collaborations with outsider legends like Jad Fair and Kool Keith. I spoke with David from his home in Los Angeles about his new album “The Wonderful World About Pigs, Horses, Clowns and Especially Dolly Parton,” his true Hollywood stories, grievances, and right off the bat, extra terrestrials.

The unedited tape for this episode is available through patreon.com/lowprofile

Find all things DLH at artbyliebehart.com

Thanks to director Nic Collins for the live clip at the beginning of this show!

Thanks to Jonah Th’Mole Mociun for arranging this interview!

The first single from David’s “The Wonderful World about Pigs, Horses, Clowns and Especially Dolly Parton” is his homage to Cooky the Clown, and here’s the video.

This is how Tim and Eric discovered David’s work:

53. Wes Buckley

Portrait by Nathan Berko-Gibson

Wes Buckley is a contemporary musician and songwriter from western Massachusetts. We talk about his solo records, homemade instruments, improvising in music, and more. We’ll also hear some stuff from his recent LP on Half A Million Records entitled “The Towering Ground,” and discuss his alter ego, concerns about the opoid crisis, and his stint as a funk saxophonist. Hear the episode:

Watch a live public access TV performance from 2020 on CTSB, in which Wes’ homemade instrument “The Borscht” is used to dazzling effect:

Here’s the music video for “We Take Our Share”:

Find more about Wes’ music at his Bandcamp site. Here’s the latest LP, The Towering Ground.

52. The Black Tones

Portrait painted by Nathan Berko-Gibson

Live Audio Engineering by Robin Camosino and Finn Foley.

Cameras by Hannah Byrd, Bryce Aguirre and Kefa Crow.

Video editing by Andrew Ebright.

This program's featured artist is Seattle's The Black Tones. Founded about a decade ago, The Black Tones members Eva Walker (guitar and vocals), Cedric Walker (Drums), and Jake Iuti (bass) talk about their formative years as musical twins leading up to the realization of the band, the inspirations behind their 8-bit video game, sharing the stage with Mavis Staples, performing for a packed crowd at a Seattle Sounders game, and their new 45rpm single "The End of Everything," out now on Sub Pop records. They also perform the b-side from that single, “Mr. Mines” and a few other songs in an exclusive live-in-studio session. This episode is also watchable, being the second installment of the new Low Profile TV series on Thurston Community Media (channel 22). There, you can view the interview and performance complete with multiple camera angles and dogs in diapers.

The Black Tones describe their sound as a mixture of Cobain and Cornbread, which is also the name of their debut LP:

Learn more at The Black Tones’ official website.

You can order their new 45rpm single The End of Everything b/w Mr. Mines from Sub Pop.

51. Steve Arrington

Painted by Nathan Berko-Gibson

I've known who Steve Arrington is for a little over a decade, and he became one of my favorite musicians. But up to that point I didn't know that I already knew him... as in, he's one of the most sampled artists since sampling became a thing, so when Steve hit the snooze button on his music career in the late 1980s, his back catalog took on a life of its own. WhoSampled.com lists Brand Nubian, A Tribe Called Quest, Snoop Dogg, Jay-Z, Public Enemy and too many more to mention. We talk about his early days in the band Slave, whose “Stellar Fungk” best-of compilation has just been reissued by Rhino Records, the origins of the funk scene in 1970s Dayton, Ohio, the formation of his next group Steve Arrington’s Hall of Fame, his following days as a pastor, and his monumental return to music, including 2020's "Down To The Lowest Terms" LP, and collaborations with Dam-Funk, Snoop, Thundercat, and even George Clinton and Parliament. He also has one of the most unique voices in the zeitgeist of soul music, and as a bonus, we really hit it off. It was one of the most fun interviews I've ever conducted, and I defy you to make it through listening without smiling or bobbing your head.

Steve Arrington's website: https://stevearringtonmusic.tumblr.com/
IG: @steve_arrington
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SteveArringtonMusic

50. Urge Overkill

Art by Nathan Berko-Gibson

It’s the FIFTIETH episode of Low Profile! Urge Overkill began in 1980s Chicago and carved their own path over the past several decades. In the ‘90s, they toured with bands who are household names, and reached that status on their own with their cover of Neil Diamond’s “Girl, You’ll Be a Woman Soon” on the groundbreaking soundtrack to Quentin Tarantino’s Pulp Fiction. On this episode, Urge Overkill founders Eddie “King” Roeser and Nash Kato join guest co-host Casey Bruce and me to talk about their new album “Oui,” loaning their suits to their tourmates Nirvana, the band’s long hiatus following their two albums on Geffen Records, Nash’s brief run as a solo artist, Jack Black’s hand in resurrecting the group, and their admiration for other artists like Cheap Trick, Selena, and Wham! Recorded at TCTV Studios in Olympia, this episode is also available in a video format, which is currently airing on public access cable. You can watch it online here.

49. Osees

Portrait painted by Nathan Berko-Gibson

John Dwyer, best known for his work in the band Osees, fka Thee Oh Sees, fka O.C.S., speaks at length with guest host Matt Murillo (drops 12/8/2021) about his extended musical universe, including projects Krang, Pink and Brown, Coachwhips, Damaged Bug, the Trawggs, and Yikes. Dwyer also talks about his record label Castle Face, aging out of rock and roll lifestyle tropes, and his admiration of artists like Bob Log III and The Mummies. The Osees (sp?) are certainly one of my favorite current rock and roll bands. I love this band, I love these stories, and so will you. Miles Rozatti edited this one, thanks homie.

Referenced works:

Osees- Mizmuth

https://youtu.be/DD6PVxDW12c

Pink and Brown- Messy Bessy Get Undressy

https://youtu.be/OQriZrCBitE

Coachwhips- Hands On The Controls

https://youtu.be/Fn1hsfTVFXg

Coachwhips- Evil Son

https://youtu.be/WwD9Cg7vZXM

Coachwhips- Thee Alarm

https://youtu.be/Qf63VjzBOhc

Yikes- The Cars

https://youtu.be/0HCC27lZbnA

OCS- Second Date

https://youtu.be/t7Evm8dwzk4

OCS- Split the Take

https://youtu.be/gC9LvSh72dE

The Oh Sees- Sucks Blood

https://youtu.be/8Q3SjJbhrAg

Thee Oh Sees- Withered Hand

https://youtu.be/RhHlxrIh2Yo

Damaged Bug- Jet in Jungle

https://youtu.be/Ai1D08sGIZ8

Bent Arcana- The Gate

https://youtu.be/PcCtU0xczsk

Endless Garbage- Vertical Infinity

https://youtu.be/Sk-svPor1cQ

OSees- Said The Shovel

https://youtu.be/9E_GNQkcXoA

48. Alejandra and Aeron

Painted by Nathan Berko-Gibson

This episode begins with a sound work entitled “Murk” by the duo Alejandra Salinas and Aeron Bergman.

Taken from a collection of re-edited works called “Ficcion,” it’s a slice of a chapter in this couple’s life together as globetrotting sound artists, which lasted for about a decade starting in 1996. Back then, they were simply known as Alejandra and Aeron. They also ran a record label called Lucky Kitchen, which released albums by dozens of international sound artists like Asuna, Johsua Abrams, Toshiyuki Kobayashi, Pauline Oliveros, and too many more to mention here, but I absolutely love all of the duo’s recordings. Thankfully, most of these rare and obscure records have been recently become available again through bandcamp. Today, they are teaching art in Portland, Oregon, developing a new species of genetically enhanced attack bees (maybe), and producing multimedia works under the name Bergman and Salinas.

Come with me now to Alejandra and Aeron’s backyard garden, where we will meet them (and their daughter Agnes) for the first time over coffee.

Featured compositions this episode:

“Speed” (Ficción, 2020)

“Barbearia Salao Ferreira” (Porto, 2005)

“Mouricada Sobrado” (Porto, 2005)

“Lavadouro” (Porto, 2005)

“Loser,” (2019 Choral performance)

Installed in the garden of Kunsthal Aarhus, Loser is a sound piece developed by the artist duo Bergman & Salinas, and performed by
Blueprint Choir in Portland, Oregon. (Read more)

“Amapola” (Bousha Blue Blazes, 2003)

“Day Night” (Bousha Blue Blazes, 2003)

“Fin Folk” (Scotch Monsters, 2002)

“Tale of Pip 2” (Tale of Pip, 2002)

“Lost Cat 7” (Lost Cat, 2004)

They also sent me a list of stuff they listen to often:

Susumu Yokota. Wonderful, perfect music for painting.
Tsege Mariam Gebru. Sounds like yesterday, and also a million years old. Incredible.
Nuno Canavarro. Reminds us of all our favorite moments in life

Laurie Spiegel. A light-filled fall day, the smell of wet leaves blowing.
Nate Scheible. Sunday morning coffee music.

Asuna. Sounds like an old friend.

Motohiko Hamase. Back deck gardening music.

Joao Gilberto. All of course, but Undiú is almost too beautiful to bear.

Here’s a fun book they made together, “Telepathy” (2018)

You can find new artwork by Alejandra Salinas and Aeron Bergman at bergmansalinas.com.

47. Richard Youngs

Portrait by Nathan Berko-Gibson

The first thing you'll hear on this episode is the sound of the English-born, Scottish-dewlling musician Richard Youngs playing guitar with his feet. Entitled “Foot Guitar XXXV,” it’s one example of the many forms that Youngs’ music can take. On the other 99 and a half percent of his recorded output, you can hear him singing and playing nearly every instrument you can think of, and many you have probably never heard of. A handful of American fans have discovered his music due to his somewhat shoegaze-sounding record Sapphie, released in the USA on Jagjaguar records, Richard Youngs has recorded over 140 albums since his 1990 solo debut “Advent.” Many of these albums were released on his own label, No Fans Records. Usually involving an element of improvisation, one could use the blanket term “experimental” to describe his sound. Really, you could call it a lot of things…
Just don’t call it folk music. "That term doesn't mean anything," Youngs said.
Friend of the show Andrew Dorsett joined me in speaking with Mr. Youngs earlier this year to get inside his head, and find out about the stories behind his work. Youngs speaks on the influence his son brings to the table, his long-term artistic relationship with Simon Wickham-Smith, and the ways he continues to challenge himself as a musicisan. He also shares a bit of his expertise on the subject of vegan cooking.

You can find a lot of Richard Youngs’ music at his website.

His all-dad disco band Amor can be found at https://amor-glasgow.bandcamp.com/

Richard also has a Twitter page, find him @nofansrecords

46. Martin Rev

Portrait by Nathan Berko-Gibson

Keyboard wizard and punk pioneer Martin Rev, (born Martin Reverby) grew up in New York where he still lives today. In his youth, he was a fan of doo wop music, and then became engrossed in the emerging jazz world that was happening around him, brushing shoulders with the likes of Thelonious Monk, Archie Shepp and Eric Dolphy, and playing in a combo called Reverend B in the late 1960s. It was in those days that he befriended a visual artist called Alan Vega, with whom he would soon form a band named Suicide. They were likely the first group to advertise their performance as “Punk Music,” back in 1971, and their influence is far-reaching. Artists who have reworked their songs include Henry Rollins, Bruce Springsteen, Neneh Cherry, M.I.A and R.E.M., among countless others. Martin Rev has also been a solo artist in his own right since, well, forever really. He joins this program to speak with Markly Morrison and Madison Nadine to talk about his formative years, expound on his creative process, wax philosophical on art in general, and set the record straight on a handful things that the well-meaning citizens of the internet got twisted.

(There is a link to the raw unedited version of this phone interview at patreon.com/lowprofile)

45. Corey Ledet

Portrait by Nathan Berko-Gibson

Corey Ledet is a 2012 Grammy-nominated Zydeco musician unlike any other. He was born in Houston, and started playing this traditional Creole music professionally when he was a kid, performing with Wildbert Thibadeuax’s Zydeco Rascals and others before moving to the small town of Parks, Lousianna, where he spent his summers immersed in his extended family’s Creole traditions… especially Zydeco music, which has been in his blood for generations, all the way back to its conception in the beginning of the twentieth century. Corey blends Zydeco traditions with the other music forms that have surrounded his life…jazz, funk, rock, r&b, country – anything his ears could get a hold of, it’s in there, but still his deep Zydeco roots are always present. As of this episode’s release, his latest album is simply called “Corey Ledet Zydeco,” his 14th to date, which was released CD and Cassette tape in 2021 on Nouveau Electric Records.

Here is our conversation:

Check out some videos: