Gary Olson of The Ladybug Transistor discovers lost AM radio tape!
BROOKLYN, NY - What started out as siblings’ love of music has turned into a bitter battle between brothers in the Olson clan. Apparently Gary Olson (of Ladybug Transistor fame) recently uncovered a cassette he recorded of Styx’s “Mr. Roboto” off the AM airwaves only to discover that his brother had recorded a live version of Captain & Tennille’s “Do That to Me One More Time” over it. According to Eric, his brother, “He’s got it all wrong. I recorded that song first. Heck there’s probably a dozen songs I recorded on that tape over the years. Besides, hearing Captain & Tennille live blows away any Styx song!” BY ERIC “EGGMAN” EGGLESON
How was the tour? Good, we just got home. Pittsburgh was certainly a highlight as Jeff and Jennifer Baron joined us on stage for a few songs. It's been almost ten years since Jennifer was last on stage performing with us. Wonderful to have a proper reunion. It was outdoors in the Carnegie Museum sculpture garden. Perfect summer setting.
What songs did they play with you? “Oceans in the Hall,” “Like a Summer Rain,” "Today Knows" and “Rushes of Pure Spring.” We sounded nice as a seven piece. It was great to be in Pittsburg since we hadn’t visited in ages. The whole Baron clan was there: parents, sisters, aunts. A real family occasion. We got to go shopping at Jerry's Records which is this enormous vinyl shop in town. A true Pittsburg institution.
How much of the new album, Clutching Stems, are you playing live? Which songs?
Just about everything. We found a nice way to arrange “Breaking Up On the Beat” with trumpet and glockenspiel taking the solo in the middle. We're having a little trouble finding a live approach for “Hey Jack I'm On Fire” but we'll get it.
The band seems to have had a rotation of band members, where did you find the new members? Actually, Michael and Eric (on drums) have been in the band for four years now. We met Michael through Amy Linton from The Aislers Set. A good match to take over the guitarist’s chair. Eric is an old childhood friend of Kyle's and an extremely talented drummer. We've also added Mark Dzula on additional guitar. Mark has also co-written a lot of Clutching Stems with us. Everyone is pretty well settled into their roles. We're a happy family.
Tell me about your involvement with other bands. I'm a long term member of Still Flyin’ and play with them as often as I can. I also guest on trumpet with other bands from time to time. Most recently with Amor de Dias. I’m featured on five tracks on their new album and played live with them when they visited Brooklyn a couple of months back. I've also been known to pop up for a few songs with Comet Gain, The Lucksmiths, The Clean, The Clientele and Crystal Stilts. It's fun "guesting," even with my ordinary trumpet skills!
Amor de Dias is a great album, but I’m wondering if The Clientele is over. Love that band. They've just fired Alasdair so I'm taking over lead vocals. They will now be known as "Gary Olson's Clientele." Pat Metheny is our new guitar player. James Hornsey is thrilled.
What’s with your connection to Norway? We first visited when touring in ‘99 and have more than a few enduring friendships. Ole Johannes Aleskjaer from The Loch Ness Mouse is a dear old friend. He’s my guitarist when I do the occasional Scandinavian solo show and often puts me up at his family home in the countryside. Let's see, I engineered the first I was a King album here at the Farm. It was a collaboration with Emil Nikolaisen from Serena Maneesh producing. Daniel Christopher Smith from Danielson helped as well. It was a 24 hour operation around the studio and I'd say we finished 90% of that album in just three days. Not bad!
How often do you tour outside of the US? Will you be touring the new album overseas?
Ladybug usually gets over to Europe once or twice a year. Spain and Sweden and England are normally pretty kind to us. We'll be over there later this year if all goes well.
When you write songs, what comes first the music or the lyrics? For Clutching Stems, Mark or Kyle would come up with a sketch or even a fully formed demo. I add melodies and lyrics. Then the final arrangement is ultimately a collaboration between all the band members.
Tell me about the greatest artist/band you shared the stage with. Opening for or opening for us? Hmm. There have been a lot, but I am excited to open for The Left Banke tonight.
If you were stuck on a desert island, what five albums could you not live without?
Well none really because I imagine it would be impossible to find a phonograph player on a deserted island! Maybe a copy of ZZ Top's Tres Hombres so I can stare at the gatefold and recall what a proper Mexican meal looks like. Honestly though, I would hope that a box of mix tapes would wash ashore along with a boom box and lots of D batteries.
What do you think of the current music scene? As long as we have been in the business, it keeps cycling around. Fads come and go and it seems I've seen history repeat itself more than once but there is always something new to be found in its evolution. It’s been tricky for a few years with labels trying to make it work but Ladybug has been blessed to have been on Merge Records more or less from the beginning.
Are there any bands we should know about? I used to consume a lot more albums and read the music press regularly but these days I like running into music by chance. I love listening on the car radio or stumbling on bands when I'm out. McDonalds and Tanks Amigo are some of my local favorites. The new Comet Gain album is pretty special. It is excellent summer listening.
What was the first record/CD you ever bought? Oh, Charlie Daniels Band "The Devil Went Down To Georgia" on 7", maybe the Grease soundtrack, Carwash soundtrack, Star Wars soundtrack. That awful Bee Gees Sgt. Peppers record! My siblings and I belonged to the Columbia House Record/Tape club, so we had a lot of cassettes. We had all the Beatles albums on tape. Lots of 70s MOR - Billy Joel, Bread… Styx, ugh. The first CD I bought was probably Sister by Sonic Youth or maybe Signals by Rush. I remember those funny long boxes they came in back then.
What was the first concert you went to? Rush at Nassau Coliseum! My second show was U2 at Radio City Music Hall with The Waterboys. Third may have been The Smiths or Depeche Mode at the Beacon Theater.
When did you realize how important music was in your life? I used to listen to a lot of AM radio when I was little. Always anticipating what song was coming on next… making lists and following the chart shows. I'd record songs off the radio, a true addict. There was less access than today with YouTube and streaming. My brother, Eric, and I would steal each other’s cassettes when we started running low of on blank space. Taping over someone else's stuff was a serious offense! When you are that young, there was still the mystery of not knowing the process of how music was made. In a way I wish I still had those young naive ears today so I could listen with that same wonder.
How are musicians making a living today? Or are they? It's not how it was ten years ago when labels were shelling out large advances. More often this led to the artist being in eternal debt to the label. Labels have had to become more frugal now that they don't sell as much physical product. Merge is pretty savvy in making their current model work. If you don't sell tons of records and tour a lot it's difficult to make a living. Kyle (Forester) and I do some composition work for a publishing company, music for ads or TV things. Regular work like that helps a bit. I also do some freelance recording work at Marlborough Farms.
Tim Hinely is looking forward to your show in Portland. Yes, that is a great lineup with Olivia Tremor Control, The Music Tapes and The Minders. It's been a while! Tell Tim no heckling please.
That reminds me, what is up the elephant 6 collective? Is it still happening? I’m not really the person to ask, but it's great to see that a lot of that gang is on the road this year.
So I guess it is still going strong. Just like The Ladybug Transistor and Gary Olson’s love of music.
http://circusdevils.bandcamp.com/
http://cloudsformingcrowns.bandcamp.com/
http://brotherearth.bandcamp.com/
