Super XX Man in-studio @ OPB, 10-3-08
This being the occasion of the 12th release in the 13-year existence of Scott Garred's Super XX Man, it's somewhat remarkable that portions of his other life, that as a music therapist at the Oregon State Hospital, don't seem to have creeped into the lyrical content until now. Vol. XII: There'll Be Diamonds is, in fact, informed almost excusively by people Garred's job brings to him. Some are specific, like the girl "who plays guitar until her fingers are bleeding" in the tongue-in-cheek-titled "Crazy People," while others seem like they could perhaps be drawn from a collection of character-types-- the paranoid narrator of "Cautious Like a Panther," for example. In a way, There'll Be Diamonds is, among other things, a kind of statement of advocacy for a group of people who have often been dehumanized by stereotypes-- it just happens to work well as a pop record, too.
We talked to Garred about working with Super XX Man's current line-up (which includes his wife, Michelle, singer Ali Wesley, bassist Kelley Dachtler, and Bob Ham on drums), the hospital jam sessions he hosts, and the band's upcoming release party for the new album (November 23rd at the Someday Lounge).
View the photo set from the session
Recording engineer: Steven Kray
Technical assistance: Randy Layton
Streaming video to come...
November 15, 2008 at 10:20pm by inmemoryofjohnpeel
Super XX Man is brain in music. So clean cut that you might not appreciate how menacing a song like "Too Many Meds" could be live, especially if put in the hands of slightly more dynamic influences of Super XX Man like Ray Davies, Robyn Hitchcock or Elvis C.
Live they are great to hear, everything's audible and after a while the sets build to a level of engagement that doesn't occur from a single song (ie: they don't do anthems).
Recommended.
November 16, 2008 at 9:24pm by sam b
i have been told super XX man will join tender loving empire to perform a collaberative show with boy gorilla in april in salem... cherry city music fest.
it is going to be an awesome weekend. apr 9, 10, 11.
i am listening to their stuff and i am very excited!! -sam
November 17, 2008 at 1:55pm by larry n olson
can we get subtitles so we can understand the lyrics?
Comments are now closed.