Billy Childish & Accepting Interpol as a Business, Not Art
Up until watching this Soft Focus feature Billy Childish was but a name I had merely heard along the way to this day. The following research that went into further figuring out just who this Childish character is lead me to a realization that I had a better understanding of his work than I previously believed, primarily through his now defunct band with Thee Headcoats. Being band that I had heard mention of some years ago it was the group’s debut album, Headcoats Down!, in particular that served as one of the starting points in terms of my discovery of ’60s styled garage rock. Not that I particularly enjoyed the album above others I heard at the time, nor does it stand out in my memory – but all the same it was a building block.
Much of the reason why I’ve come to appreciating Soft Focus on the level I do is because of the unique conversation that typically develops between the guest and host Ian Svenonius. Having attempted to string together relevant thoughts in the style of an interview myself, I have gained an appreciation for Svenonius’ vast knowledge and his ability to retrospectively delve into his history to find a creative response or suggestion to any given interviewee (without making the interview about himself). And based on such suggestions, a fantastic idea becomes a key ingredient of this interview – that being the thought suggesting rock to be dull and meaningless when it becomes a show rather than an event.
As Childish notes, “rock music is a load of silliness, you don’t feel involved.” He continues by adding that “art should be something that empowers people and you can be involved in.” Funny enough, but the first thing that came to mind was an Interpol show at the State Theater which I was invited to earlier this year. That show was the least enjoyable of any in recent memory, but not entirely because I felt the music to be anti-climatic or drab – but rather because felt like a show rather than a performance, and a lackluster show at that. There was no feeling that the audience was apart of something special that night, plain and simple the band was doing its job by showing up and playing their instruments and the audience was to oblige simply by showing up to watch.
Subsequently, in terms of Child’s suggestion, I may have to suggest that it was Dan Deacon’s show at First Avenue that I may have to actually label as my favorite of the year. It wasn’t so much a show as it was an event – everyone who was willing was able to take part in the show, there were no barriers to entry nor barriers to physically reaching out and patting Deacon on the back. And for his efforts Deacon got a few days off following the show, previously citing exhaustion due to his heavy touring regiment (combined with the ridiculously draining event he hosts at each gig) – a much deserved break I might add. Friends, call it a show, a gig, a concert…that is the best example that I witnessed this year of someone taking their thoughts and expressing them in an honest, humorous manner – it’s art, right? And unfortunately I don’t believe I can say anything close to as adoring of Interpol – they have become a business commodity. “Professional footballers ruin football, professional musicians ruin music,”and with over seventy albums to his credit, I doubt that I will ever even begin to consider Childish one of the sources detrimental to whatever it is that can be considered modern music.
Thank you SO much for sharing this Billy Childish interview! The man is brilliant, and he has tons to say. Love your site, by the way. Have been stopping by for ages. Cheers!
Glad you enjoyed it as much as I did. Given the time I’d love to explore a bit more of his vast body of work – is there anything you would recommend? Also, thank you for joining me on this blog adventure type thing I’ve got going on here.
Pleased to make your acquaintance. I’ve been checking out (and fully enjoying) your blog for a long time. I appreciate your comments and articles, and the MP3s don’t hurt either! Plus, your tastes seem to run mostly similar to mine on a consistent basis, and your page is well-organized and updated regularly. All of this equals a must-read, for me. I tell everybody I know about it. Kudos to you on a great site. I hope you continue for years and years.
I, too, am involved in a music review site, with a buddy of mine. Ours is far less professional than yours, and it’s generally just a couple of hacks writing about whatever record or concert we happen to take in. It’s just for shits and giggles, but if you’re at all curious (or more likely bored and looking for absolutely anything at all to read), we’re at http://www.keepsmealive.com. It ain’t much, but we call it home.
(NB My wife always gives me hell for being self-deprecating, but I still say she’s just biased.)
As for Mr. Childish, you’ll be spoiled for choice, but anything you get will likely please you to no end. As stated in the interview, he’s released an embarrassment of riches in his time, not unlike another of my favourite genius musician/artists, Robert Pollard. Anyway, there’s a super-awesome 2-CD greatest hits set called ’25 Years Of Being Childish’ that pulls from his extensive catalogue and does its level best to give you a taste of a little of everything. Of course, it falls short, but in the face of such choice it ain’t too shabby. There’s also a 34 track set covering his Thee Headcoats and Thee Milkshakes days, called ‘The Genius Of Billy Childish.’ I’m also partial to his ‘Native American Music Sampler,’ if you’re lucky enough to find a copy. There’s also a great book of interviews, with Childish, Henry Rollins, Lawrence Furlenghetti and Jello Biafra, all interviewed by Vicki Vale. It’s called ‘Real Conversations No. 1.’ I highly, highly recommend this read, if you can get your hands on a copy. Shouldn’t be too hard, methinks.
Anyway, I found the first two CDs, and the book, on Amazon.com for you (to save you some work and because I always love turning people on to this guy’s amazing music and output in general):
http://www.amazon.com/25-Years-Being-Childish-Billy/dp/B00006RSMT/ref=pd_bbs_sr_1?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1196562906&sr=8-1
http://www.amazon.com/Genius-Billy-Childish-Milkshakes-Headcoats/dp/B00067FGNS/ref=pd_bbs_9?ie=UTF8&s=music&qid=1196562906&sr=8-9
Good luck in your search for all things Childish. Anything you find will be solid gold.
Cheers, and long live Culture Bully!
Brilliant reply – I shall begin to delve, thank you for the time you put into that reply and thanks for the supportive words!
With over 100 albums to choose from it’s hard to say what’s the best one to start with. But the best way to experience Childish is live on stage. I’ve seen Billy live well over a hundred times – and I’m never bored with him, it’s always amusing, exciting, at times thrilling. Next one in London is Friday 14 December (dirtywaterclub.com).
Thanks for the words PJ, hope that some day I get the opportunity.