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NEM#192: Guitarist Ivan Julian Serves the Song

Ivan was a founding member of Richard Hell and the Voidoids in 1977, fronted The Outsets in the ’80s, and has put out two solo albums while playing with Matthew Sweet, Shriekback, and other projects.

We discuss “I am Not a Drone (Alone)” (and listen to “Voodoo Christmas”) from Swing Your Lanterns (2023), the title track from Naked Flame (2011), and “Liars Beware,” by Richard Hell and the Voidoids from Blank Generation (1977). Other clips: “Everything or Nothing” by Outsets from Punk Voodoo Collection (1984) and “Someone to Pull the Trigger” by Matthew Sweet from Altered Beast (1993). For more, see ivanjulian.com.

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NEM#191: Chris Slusarenko and John Moen As (And Before) Eyelids

Chris and John are veterans of the Portland music scene since the mid ’80s. By the ’00s, John was drumming for bands like the Decembrists, while Chris was playing bass for Guided by Voices. They recorded together as Boston Spaceships (aka The Takeovers) with GBV frontman Robert Pollard from 2005-2011 and then founded Eyelids, which has now issued 17 releases including four full albums.

We discuss “Runaway, Yeah” from A Colossal Waste of Light (2023), “Seagulls Into Submission” from 854 (2014), “Shrunken Head” by Chris’ band Svelt from Souvenir (1996), and we listen to “Blindfold Follies” by John’s band The Maroons from You’re Gonna Ruin Everything (2002) and “Ceremony” by Eyelids from The Accidental Falls (2019). Intro: “My Will” by The Takeovers from Bad Football (2007). For more, see musicofeyelids.com.

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NEM#190: Jad Fair (Half Japanese): Being Productive = Being Yourself

Jad estimates he’s released over 180 albums between his band, solo, and collaborative work. He started Half Japanese with his brother David in 1975.

We discuss “Fate Is On Our Side” by Jad with Samuel Locke Ward from Happy Hearts (2023), “Hold On” by Half Japanese from Perfect (2016), “Frankenstein Must Die” (1977), “Do It To It” from Now It’s Back (2021), and conclude by listening to “Cupid” by Teenage Fanclub and Jad from Words of Wisdom and Hope (2002). Intro: “Said and Done” by Half Japanese from Charmed Life (1988). For more see jadfair.net. For the results of Jad’s 150 albums in one year experiment, see jadfair1.bandcamp.com.

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NEM#189: Claire Hamill’s Epic Journey

Claire is a folky singer-songwriter whose 13 albums since 1971 have ventured into prog, new age, dance, adult contemporary, and more.

We discuss “Aphrodite Obscured” from A Pocket Full of Love Songs (2022), “Love Has a Mind of Its Own” from Over Dark Apples (2019), “The River Song” from One House Left Standing (1971), and conclude by listening to “The Last Shirt” by Claire Hamill and Andrew Warren from Summer (1998). Intro: “Leaf Fall” from Voices (1986).

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NEM#188: Pat Irwin (Raybeats, B-52s, SUSS) Writes for TV (and Himself)

Pat started in the late ’70s New York No Wave scene with 8-Eyed spy, but quickly got into soundtrack work for shows like Nurse Jackie, plus cartoons and indie films.

We discuss clips from Dexter: New Blood (2022), Bored to Death (2011), and Rocco’s Modern Life (feat. the B-52s, with whom he was playing at the time in 1992), plus “In Another Time” from Duets for Electric Guitar and Piano (2018) (the outro is the version of that with J. Walter Hawkes from Wide Open Sky (2019)), “Hoodlum Priest” by The Raybeats from Glass: The Lost Philip Glass Sessions (1982), and conclude by listening to “Winter Was Hard” (2022) by SUSS.

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