{"id":612,"date":"2011-09-30T05:32:53","date_gmt":"2011-09-30T10:32:53","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/?p=612"},"modified":"2011-09-30T05:32:53","modified_gmt":"2011-09-30T10:32:53","slug":"a-conversation-with-the-grip-weeds-kurt-reil","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/index.php\/2011\/09\/30\/a-conversation-with-the-grip-weeds-kurt-reil\/","title":{"rendered":"A Conversation with The Grip Weeds\u2019 Kurt Reil"},"content":{"rendered":"

Though they prefer to think of themselves as creators of a classic-style rock\u2019n\u2019roll, to most ears, The Grip Weeds<\/strong> are carriers of a powerpop tradition. And while that alone should be enough to bring them fame, the sheer quality of their music should earn them fortune. As it is, while they maintain a successful career, the four-piece is less than a household name.<\/p>\n

Among those in the know, however, the arrival of a new Grip Weeds album is cause for celebration. Ever since their 1994 debut House of Vibes<\/em> (expanded and reissued in 2007 as House of Vibes Revisited<\/em><\/a>, making a great album even better), the appearance of a new long player has also been a rare occurrence: after that debut, only three albums followed in the ensuing decade.<\/p>\n

So it was with some delighted surprise that fans greeted the news of the group\u2019s 2011 album Strange Change Machine<\/em>: it included twenty-four tracks spread across two CDs. I ask Kurt Reil<\/strong> (vocals, drums, guitars, keyboards) why the Grip Weeds released a double album, and why now.<\/p>\n

\u201cBecause we took so long between putting out Giant on the Beach<\/em> [2004] and Strange Change Machine<\/em>,\u201d he explains, \u201cwe wound up with a whole batch of songs.\u201d He also points to the fact that the House of Vibes Revisited<\/em> project took more time than expected, keeping them busy. \u201cIt\u2019s not as if we have an archive crew that goes into the vaults and does all this stuff for us,\u201d he laughs.<\/p>\n

Finding themselves with an embarrassment of riches \u2013 the songs on Strange Change Machine<\/em> are up to the Grip Weeds\u2019 typically high standard \u2013 the band considered some options. \u201cWe got into the mindset of, \u2018Yeah, we\u2019ll give away half of the album on the internet,\u2019\u201d Kurt says. But more importantly, the double-album format freed the band up a bit. \u201cWe were free to go off in a few directions, and explore more long-form presentation.\u201d Having some ideas, approaches and styles that simply wouldn\u2019t fit comfortably on a single album, the band used the longer format to find a home for those songs.<\/p>\n

The twin sonic hallmarks of Grip Weeds music are punchy instrumentation and carefully executed and fairly intricate harmonies. There are strong echoes of Todd Rundgren<\/strong><\/a>\u2019s early group Nazz<\/strong> on the band\u2019s vocal arrangements; the Grip Weeds don\u2019t always take the most obvious path when crafting vocal harmonies. \u201cGreen Room Interlude\u201d is a showcase of this, but it\u2019s on display throughout the album. \u201cMore than anything,\u201d Kurt observes, \u201cit\u2019s a case of trying to pull out of your head a sound that you hear in your head, and make it into reality.\u201d Kurt arranged \u201cGreen Room Interlude,\u201d but enlisted all four band members to add vocal parts. \u201cHaving all the different voices really makes it much more dimensional,\u201d he observes.<\/p>\n

While Kurt plays many instruments, in the band his primary role is holding the drum chair. His stick work is always very musical; it\u2019s rarely a case of just thumping a rhythm along; the songs always end up with a very human, organic feel. \u201cIt\u2019s always analog,\u201d Kurt says. \u201cI never go anywhere near an electronic drum kit, or even any samples.\u201d While he pauses and adds, \u201cNever say never,\u201d it\u2019s clear where he\u2019s coming from. \u201cI usually defeat electronic kits anyway, because I play too fast,\u201d he chuckles.<\/p>\n

But in the end, Kurt\u2019s goal as a drummer is singular: \u201cI\u2019m always looking to serve the song, not overpower it.\u201d Since he\u2019s also a songwriter, he brings that sensibility to bear on all of his parts. \u201cWhen a write a song, I hear a soundscape \u2013 a full band sound \u2013 in my head,\u201d he says.<\/p>\n

Kurt\u2019s musical inspiration comes from some perhaps-unexpected places. \u201cI was inspired by this band Dungen<\/strong><\/a>, from Sweden,\u201d he reveals. \u201cDungen has never been tied to the three-minute song format,\u201d he notes. \u201cThe Grip Weeds have always been a song<\/em> band. Dungen is more of an ambient group; I think they\u2019re really good for their tone, their sound.\u201d On \u201cSpeed of Life,\u201d Kurt\u2019s out-front drum part was the basis for the song. \u201cThat doesn\u2019t usually happen; it\u2019s usually the other way around. I\u2019m going to have to do more of that,\u201d he muses.<\/p>\n

The Strange Change Machine<\/em> songs are very well-layered; they\u2019re straightforward, but there\u2019s a lot going on in them. Often \u2013 as on \u201cClose to the Sun\u201d \u2013 there are multiple keyboard parts. \u201cLive, it\u2019s a whole different thing,\u201d Kurt says. Lacking a keyboard player onstage, the band inventively develops different arrangements for some songs, ones that play to other strengths that the melodies possess.<\/p>\n

There\u2019s an interesting pair of short tracks on the album called \u201cSun Ra Ga.\u201d I tell Kurt that when listening to them, I hear the raga<\/em>, but not so much the Sun Ra<\/strong>. He laughs and points to the pieces\u2019 out-there, improvisational nature. \u201cWe were just jamming in the studio,\u201d he says, \u201cand I ran tape. Wherever it went, it went. It\u2019s just very pure music.\u201d There\u2019s even an eleven-minute version of the song available for as a bonus download for purchasers of the HD version of the new album.<\/p>\n

Powerpop \u2013 or whatever label you\u2019d care to apply to the classicist approach the Grip Weeds use \u2013 has only rarely been a commercially successful formula. Clearly the Grip Weeds think there\u2019s a market for the style: People like me, for example. In an age of market narrow-segmentation, online social media plays an important part in the band\u2019s efforts to reach fans\u2026and potential new fans. Kurt agrees that the internet makes it easier to connect with those people, but it\u2019s a double-edged sword: \u201cThe internet wrecked the music industry. There\u2019s no chance for fame or fortune anymore.\u201d<\/p>\n

As far as that powerpop tag — Kurt cites Pete Townshend<\/strong>\u2019s \u201cthree-minute single on steroids\u201d description \u2013 the Grip Weeds have always been about more than just that style. \u201cOn this album in particular, we really cover a really wide range.\u201d The band strives to follow their own path, hoping that in being true to themselves, they\u2019ll create something that resonates with listeners.<\/p>\n

To that end, the Grip Weeds don\u2019t record a lot of covers. That makes Strange Change Machine<\/em>\u2019s cover of Todd Rundgren\u2019s \u201cHello It\u2019s Me\u201d even more notable. Close to a note-for-note creation, the song makes one important departure: Kristin Pinnell<\/strong>\u2019s guitar takes the place of Something\/Anything<\/em>\u2019s horn charts. \u201cWe were asked to cover the song by Pat DiNizio<\/strong> of the Smithereens<\/strong><\/a>,\u201d Kurt explains. \u201cHe was doing a show about baseball for ESPN, called Seventh Inning Stretch<\/em>.\u201d Part of that program would feature Todd\u2019s sons Rex<\/strong> and Randy<\/strong>, minor-league baseball players. DiNizio wanted the song for background ambience but the budget didn\u2019t cover licensing fees. So the Grip Weeds re-recorded it. While the goal was to hew closely to the original, the session provided an opportunity to chance a few things they didn\u2019t like. For example, Kurt says that he\u2019s \u201cnot a big fan of the chick singers\u201d on Todd\u2019s version. He also could do without the sax and other jazzy elements. The resulting Grip Weeds track has it both ways: true to the original, yet with an indelible Grip Weeds stamp.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat wound up happening,\u201d Kurt notes, \u201cis that the segment got cut from the show!\u201d Again, the double-album format came to the rescue: this band that \u201cdidn\u2019t do covers\u201d could now reasonably include one on an album.<\/p>\n

At the time of this writing, the Grip Weeds\u2019 web site and Facebook page do not list any upcoming shows. \u201cIt costs a lot of money to go out and play out of town,\u201d Kurt admits. \u201cBut it is really hard right now, with gas prices, and with the uncertainty of knowing how many people you\u2019re going to draw.\u201d He says that the band\u2019s \u201cdays of sleeping on the floor, traveling around in a van and living on ramen noodles\u201d are pretty well behind them. Still, he says, \u201cIf there\u2019s a good opportunity, we\u2019re there.\u201d<\/p>\n

At the moment the band is busy putting the finishing touches on two other projects. \u201cWe have a live record in the can right now,\u201d Kurt says. That CD+DVD package is slated for release in early 2012. \u201cThis live album is designed to give people a taste of what we\u2019re like live. And a Christmas-themed Grip Weeds album will be out in time for the holidays.\u00a0 <\/span>\u201cWe recorded a Christmas song in 2006, and we had good success with that,\u201d Kurt says. \u201cEvery year it comes back. And we wanted to do more. Eventually realized we could do a whole album, between originals and covers.\u201d That project will feature special guests including The Smithereens, former Paul Revere and the Raiders<\/strong><\/a> lead singer Mark Lindsay<\/strong>, and members of the Anderson Council<\/strong>.<\/p>\n

\u201cOnce we\u2019re done with [those projects], we\u2019re going to start on our next new album,\u201d Kurt says. \u201cWe had about half a dozen songs left over from Strange Change Machine<\/em>, so we\u2019ll pick up from there.\u201d If past is any indication, expect that record \u2013 no release date set — to be another essential purchase.<\/p>\n

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Though they prefer to think of themselves as creators of a classic-style rock\u2019n\u2019roll, to most ears, The Grip Weeds are carriers of a powerpop tradition. And while that alone should […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_exactmetrics_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[41],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-612","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-interview","cat-41-id"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/612","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=612"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/612\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=612"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=612"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.musoscribe.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=612"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}