Pow! to the People
It’s funny that a year ago I was sleeping on couches in the Pacific Northwest, with vague plans to move someplace and get into journalism. Here we are, one solar rotation later, and not only do I call Austin, TX home, but I’m actually making headway with this whole writing thing. I’ve done three show recaps for Decider so far (at some point they should be cutting me a $75 check…whoo hoo!) and on Tuesday I hit the big leagues. I get to do an interview (via phone) with a real, honest to god, rock star. Well, at least in my opinion he is.
Ian Svenonius is an anomaly in the world of underground music, he’s managed to not only stay in the scene for over twenty years, but remain relevant the entire time. Other alternative luminaries make their name, and then live off that nostalgia for as long as possible. Svenonius made his name back in 80s with the Dischord post punk outfit Nation of Ulysses, and has since continued to trade and upgrade that reputation, forming and fronting genre redefining groups like The Make-Up and Weird War. His writings, essays on the symbolic, esoteric, geo-politcal ramifications of rock and roll, have been compiled into the widely praised, and criminally out of print, little pink book, The Psychic Soviet. He also hosts an interview program on vbs.tv, Vice magazine’s video site, called Soft Focus. That last bit scares the crap out of me, he’s a pro-interviewer so he’ll spot all my mistakes a mile away. Oh well, he’s also a dangerously smart pop philospher who has put forth theories about the maternal symbollism of the Soviet Union, broken limbs during live performances, and recently, espoused an anti-freedom agenda in reaction to the perceived negative consequences of the spread of America’s so-called “liberty.” So at least he has something to talk about.
For anyone interested, Fluxtumblr assembled this excellent unofficial anthology, showcasing the best of Ian’s past projects, including Nation of Ulysses, Cupid Car Club, The Make-Up, Scene Creamers, and Weird War. This anthology is the perfect introduction to the Svenonius sound; his signature frontman crooning and call and response provides a common thread to this mix of paranoid punk, soulful organs, dance rhythms, and angular guitar. Tracks to check out: “Pow to the People” by the Make-Up, “Grape Juice Plus” by Cupid Car Club, “A Kid Who Tells On Another Kid Is A Dead Kid” by Nation of Ulysses, and “Baby It’s The Best” by Weird War (featuring the always excellent Neil Michael Hagerty on guitar) Download and enjoy.
Also enjoy this video of Weird War playing for a primary school in New Zealand.
