Anyone catch it yet?
.@ThatEricAlper's Show is on #SiriusXM 167 at 12pmET! Today: @tthbaker on @thehipdotcom (repeats 2/11 11pm - 2/13 3am - 2/15 Noon est)
Anybody happen to record this by any chance?
Signed up for a free trial to listen at 11. Hope it's a gooder!
Those of you who had a chance to listen to this, could you be so kind as to post the Coles Notes version of what was discussed? Or better yet, does anyone have a link to the audio, or perhaps an mp3 version?
Thanks!
Starts by ragging on Paul about not being verified on Twitter (back in 2014ish?), discussed music history, what makes him proud (Boris), why he picked the major he did, etc. It's not on demand yet so I can't grab it.
carebread Wrote:Starts by ragging on Paul about not being verified on Twitter (back in 2014ish?), discussed music history, what makes him proud (Boris), why he picked the major he did, etc. It's not on demand yet so I can't grab it.
Cool, thanks. :thumb:
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Here's my summary of the 22 minute interview:
Interviewer prefaces his talk by stating the precondition of the interview: "I'm not going to get into the band. I'm just fascinated with Rob. He's a Twitter master."
Twitter:
How he first got on Twitter: Queen's University set him up and verified him for an event a few years ago.
Rob looks at all the questions he's asked on Twitter, even if he doesn't answer them all.
On the Junos:
The nods are flattering. He was happy to see July Talk nominated - "I absolutely adore that band and I want to see them do the best."
On the concerts this summer:
"I wasn't prepared for all of it and I really didn't know (how the Hip would be received). Without delving too deeply into all of it, I had a lot of trepidation about going out and doing the tour, whether it was the right thing to do. Whether we could do it. There were a lot of issues. There were a lot of potential problems. I'm one of these, "Plan for the worst, hope for the best" people. I'm often so busy planning for the worst that I forget to hope for the best. The second we walked on stage in Victoria it all faded away. I was afraid of a funereal atmosphere or a mourning but people were celebrating and over-the-top happy and living in the moment. It was a glorious thing."
On his nickname:
El Tinieblas (loosely translated as the "Black Cloud"), given to him by his Mexican friend and reflecting his "Plan for the worst" approach.
On his fall back plan:
Fine arts degree/art school
On the Hip's first gig:
Playing a Christmas party for Rob's fine arts class.
On when he felt like he could make a living from music:
"I'm still wondering. When Gord S and I had graduated (Gord D was in 3rd year, Johnny had just graduated high school), we were making $350 per week each. It was enough money to keep going and that's what we did. And then one day you find yourself retired at 54."
Other quotes:
"I worry about some of the bands today where their history only goes back to the 90's. That's not far enough. There's a long stream and you've got to go back and find the sources. That's what's always really interested me."
"I watched keenly the whole Led Zeppelin Stairway to Heaven trial. (His opinion: "I thought it was ridiculous (that Led Zeppelin was being sued)"
"The cities that the band recorded in (Memphis, NOLA, London, Seattle...) didn't inspire the Hip's albums so much as the albums from those cities did. "
"I try to spend 3-4 hours per day in my home studio."
He doesn't practice but if not feeling inspired he will do guitar arrangements from the sheet music of pre-1950 piano standards. He grew up with dixieland jazz and swing music and still loves it.
What inspires him in 2017:
"My son Boris. He keeps me turned on to new music. Not all of it I like. Some of it I love."
On the best thing he heard in 2016:
"Love July Talk's album. You know the best thing for me, the album of the year for me, was Jason Isbell's album. I really love that record. I was a huge Drive-By Truckers, still am. I saw them this past week. Their new album is really awesome. I really love it. Perfect timing. The Jason Isbell record is a different thing. It's funny that they are carved from the same cloth or the same tree. But his album was my favourite of the past year."
On who he would put in the Canadian Rock and Roll Hall of Fame:
"Gordon Lightfoot again. Some people need more than one (induction)."
On what he watches on TV:
He just binged on Black Mirror and has started watching Young Pope.
The most famous person on his cell phone:
"I don't know. How about Steve Berlin from Los Lobos".
On the most trouble he's been it?
"When I was 16 I got arrested on a synagogue roof throwing up. I almost got Paul arrested in London, but that's a long story. Had to do with a bad hotel and Johnny throwing a mattress out a window."
potsie Wrote:On the best thing he heard in 2016:
"Love July Talk's album. You know the best thing for me, the album of the year for me, was Jason Isbell's album. I really love that record. I was a huge Drive-By Truckers, still am. I saw them this past week. Their new album is really awesome. I really love it. Perfect timing. The Jason Isbell record is a different thing. It's funny that they are carved from the same cloth or the same tree. But his album was my favourite of the past year."
This put a smile on my face. Rob's got great taste in music! Isbell's veering down the "rock" route on his next album. Once I heard a 30 second preview (basically one guitar riff) of the new album the other day on RollingStone.com, it quickly became the most anticipated of the year for me.
I love that he's a big Drive-By Truckers and Isbell fan. Excellent taste in music indeed. And I agree, July Talk's new album is great.
The "retired at 54" comment seems to put to bed any hope of another Hip live show...that reality still hasn't hit me yet (cue Blue Rodeo).
potsie Wrote:potsie Wrote:On the best thing he heard in 2016:
"Love July Talk's album. You know the best thing for me, the album of the year for me, was Jason Isbell's album. I really love that record. I was a huge Drive-By Truckers, still am. I saw them this past week. Their new album is really awesome. I really love it. Perfect timing. The Jason Isbell record is a different thing. It's funny that they are carved from the same cloth or the same tree. But his album was my favourite of the past year."
This put a smile on my face. Rob's got great taste in music! Isbell's veering down the "rock" route on his next album. Once I heard a 30 second preview (basically one guitar riff) of the new album the other day on RollingStone.com, it quickly became the most anticipated of the year for me.
When I was interviewing him at his place in October (small brag :lol: ) he was super pumped about July Talk. He lit up when we started talking about them. He talked about how he thought they should be headlining festivals. I think July Talk is great, but I think there are some other up and coming Canadian artists that are better and really get overlooked because I don't think they appeal to the masses as much. Glorious Sons I think are incredible and their music just keeps on getting better..Live they are amazing. Mother Mother is also another band that doesn't get much credit around here..
Escape@Hand Wrote:The "retired at 54" comment seems to put to bed any hope of another Hip live show...that reality still hasn't hit me yet (cue Blue Rodeo).
Yeah, he also talked about this with me and pretty much said flat out that there will not be any more live hip shows.
Sent Mr.Baker a tweet yesterday asking what his favourite Springsteen album is...His answer was Tunnel of Love.
Great album, great answer.
Escape@Hand Wrote:The "retired at 54" comment seems to put to bed any hope of another Hip live show...that reality still hasn't hit me yet (cue Blue Rodeo).
On "when he felt like he could make a living from music" Saying "making $350/week was enough to keep going," perhaps "retired at 54" means Rob is rich as fuck now? Could be his way of saying he has the financial independence to do whatever he wants? Regardless of Rob's comments in an interview, after the recent clip from Gord @ Massey Hall made it harder to believe there might be another live show.
Who could blame the Hip for wanting to go out on such a high note (the highest ever?)
"Yeah, he also talked about this with me and pretty much said flat out that there will not be any more live hip shows."
^ I guess that settles it.
arewhyehen Wrote:He talked about how he thought they should be headlining festivals. I think July Talk is great, but I think there are some other up and coming Canadian artists that are better and really get overlooked because I don't think they appeal to the masses as much. Glorious Sons I think are incredible and their music just keeps on getting better..Live they are amazing. Mother Mother is also another band that doesn't get much credit around here
Agree with better artists being overlooked. Hard to argue with July Talk's mass appeal. They've nailed the mainstream success formula on several metrics.
Anyone elses enjoyment hampered by the gravelly sound of July Talk's male volcals? Have never been able to get into them when his voice and my ears do not agree.
Scotty12 Wrote:Agree with better artists being overlooked. Hard to argue with July Talk's mass appeal. They've nailed the mainstream success formula on several metrics.
Anyone elses enjoyment hampered by the gravelly sound of July Talk's male volcals? Have never been able to get into them when his voice and my ears do not agree.
His voice was what initially turned me on about them. I'm a huge Tom Waits fan, and the gravelly vocals instantly reminded me of late 70s Waits.