Grandaddy

Grandaddy – the Modesto post-skatepunk atmospheric pioneers who deserve more recognition. From Jason Lytle's skateboarding origins to their unique sound blend, Sean and Rene discuss their history, evolution and more concert amnesia. Plus, CLICK, Sean surprises Rene with strong feelings about the band. Earshifter playlist: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/6bDzK72WMGg4k0VJMBapiY?si=8b2a6593af344444 UPDATE: Grandaddy’s Blu Wav album has since been released.

Transcript

Episode 4 Grandaddy

Speaker 3: [00:00:00] Okay, it's time for another episode of Ear Shifter. He's Renee Relo and he's Sean Cosick. And guys, air Shifter is all about discovering new music, uh, bands specifically that are either overlooked or underrated or. Depending on the band. If you know the band already, guess what? You're gonna learn everything you need to know about that band.

And that's what this show is all about. 

Speaker 2: And on this episode, we are going to be talking from a band from Modesto, California, granddaddy, but I got two questions. Where is Modesto and why is a. Skateboarding punk 

Speaker 3: rock are so important. Wow. Okay. Sean, you're just stealing my thunder here. Uh, Modesto's in California, [00:01:00] which is in the United States, um, on this planet Earth.

Uh, no, actually, Modesto, I think is near you. Tell me, is it, is it near San Diego? 

Speaker 2: Uh, no, it is in Northern California, uh, probably two hours away from San Francisco in the King Valley, I think. But in the, pretty much the, the over the Sierra Nevada mountains, you know, it's, it's kind of equilibrium to where Monterey is.

It's in the middle of nowhere in California. If you had to be a place from California. Away from the big city and the coast. Modesto could be a place. 

Speaker 3: Yeah. And it's Jason Lightle, the lead singer isn't terribly fond of Modesto, California. And, and we'll get into that as well in this show. Uh, as for your other question, which was how does a skateboarder punk.

Get into music, become so important to us, become so important to us. Oh, interesting. I mean, I think without getting ahead of [00:02:00] ourselves too much, I think he just spoke to both of us in that way. That he constantly was struggling with loving bands like, uh, suicidal Tendencies and the Bad Brains, which was kind of escape punk sort of youth, and also this atmospheric.

Uh, he loves ELO. He loves a lot of that new wave, and he wanted to bring the atmospheric, which is a bit of Renee relo in terms of a ambient music and that skate punk aesthetic and bring them together. And he was trying to figure out how to do that, and that's how that granddaddy sound, became the granddaddy sound.

Which is not skate or punk rock, neither. No, not at all. So tell me more. Okay. So, um, well, granddaddy is in fact from Modesto, California formed in 1992. Now the original name of granddaddy was Simple. Simon, very quickly after just two gigs, they realized simple Simon's [00:03:00] maybe not the best name we could come up with.

So. Jason Lidle kind of had a long list of band names. He can't actually remember why he came up with Granddaddy, but he could remember that when he did the logo for Granddaddy, which you'll see on their albums, he actually did that logo himself. Once he saw the logo granddaddy, he realized that was the right name.

Also, though, I think it might hint to, um, his. Dislike of technology. Ironically, he felt that people misused technology and used it for like stupid, mundane things. And so in that sense he was kind of, and he loves nature. So in that sense, maybe he was kind of a granddaddy too, reacting to technology in the way that.

People just misuse it and he didn't like it. He loves technology himself, but he hates the way people use it, and he loves nature. So he's kind of like an old guy in a young, a young guy's body. Um, so that's [00:04:00] how Granddaddy became the name granddaddy, basically. In terms of band members, there are actually five band members in total.

There's Jason Lidle, there's Aaron Birch, who's the drummer. Jim Ch Fairchild, the guitarist, Kevin Garcia, the bassist, and Tim dried in the keyboardist, but the bulk of the band's recorded output is really Jason Lidle in a home studio. Um, so, you know, it's kind of interesting that that is the case that he actually just did most of the music himself because, uh, the way he got started.

Was, he was actually originally a professional skateboarder, and what happened was he threw himself into skateboard. He frigging loved it, but at 19 he tore his ACL and, uh, couldn't afford the knee surgery, and also found out how difficult the knee surgery would be, and realized that his skateboarding career was.

And this freaked him out. He literally described it as a withdrawal [00:05:00] because he had poured his life into skateboarding. He didn't, he needed something else to pour his life into, so that's where music came in. So he actually didn't have very much money, of course. So he worked at a waste management facility for two years, worked his butt off, saved his money, and bought piece by piece the equipment for his homeless studio.

Speaker: Hmm. 

Speaker 3: By about 25, he's realizing that he better take this seriously and he, 'cause he, you know, 19 to 25, working two years at the Waste Management, if you do the math, he's, he's kind of lost as well. At one point he was thinking about being a firefighter. At one point he was thinking about being a park ranger, which would work 'cause he loves nature.

Um, but at 25 he said. I've gotta pour myself into this songwriting itself and learn how to song write. 'cause he had no idea and 

Speaker 2: I'm glad 

Speaker 3: he did. Yeah, so why now? Fun fact. He actually had a set of drums in his teenage years and he actually did play as [00:06:00] a drummer for a few bands, but nothing serious. Music became his passion.

Full on passion and drive at about 25 where he learned to write music, but it's always being in his world. And, uh, he even talked about, I'm kind of skipping over here, but he talked about his favorite concert. His favorite concert was Cheap Trick at the age of 10 with his older brother. And, uh, he described it as, uh, a very small concert.

It was like 500 people. And the guitarist, do you remember the guitarist saying the guy with the hat, what's his name? 

Speaker 2: Can't remember. No, I can't remember. But he was one of the straight, uh, cheap tricks. Not the rocking cheap trick. Yes. Yeah, 

Speaker 3: he's kind of goofy, right? Yeah. And he was throwing out guitar picks and, uh, Jason Lidle at the age of 10, like scrambled under the stage all over the place just to get one of these guitar picks.

And, uh, he said to kept it for years and years and years. He's lost track of it now. But that was his best concert ever. 'cause that was the moment where he went, this could be something I wanna do. Right. So. 

Speaker 2: That's [00:07:00] kind of cool. In a ironic way, naming cheap trick as an influence, you have to be pretty confident in yourself.

Hey, 

Speaker 3: man, live at Budokon. I freaking love that album. 

Speaker 2: Daddy's All right. Mommy's all right. Just seem all weird. Yeah. But it's, it, uh, uh, as a skateboarding punk rocker be having cheap trick as an influence that is, um, being a little bit more self-aware than maybe somebody, 

Speaker 3: and that's really, actually interesting.

They say, yeah, Sean. 'cause he literally talks about how confused he is sometimes about the, his music likes his favorite song When asked, what is your favorite song? Which by the way. I don't think either one of us could actually answer. No, but he did. 

Speaker 2: Depends on the day. 

Speaker 3: Depends on the day. But he actually, he's very thoughtful man.

So when he, he is asked a question, he actually pauses and thinks about it and, and he hesitated, but he said, boys of Summer, Don Henley. And then he quickly said, I know, I know I can't explain it either. But then he went [00:08:00] into, what I love about it is, is the feeling it gives, 'cause it's actually about the summer, but it kind of ends.

In this moment of the summer's almost over, and the boys are going back to school. So it has this happiness and this melancholy at the same time. And that's, that's why he loves the song. 

Speaker: Hmm. 

Speaker 3: So you're not wrong in terms of him being kind of all over the place. Cheap Trick. ELO. Uh, he, he's, he's a complex individual.

Mm. Yeah. 

Speaker 2: And, uh hmm. And I wonder what his song before Boys of Su favorite song would've been before Boys of Summer 

Speaker 3: or even after for Beat Sakes. Who the hell knows 

Speaker 2: at the time? Okay. 

Speaker 3: Isn't that wild? Yeah. Uh, okay. So, um, some of his favorite bands actually were Dead Kennedys, Metallica, bad Brains, suicidal Tendencies.

But like I said, he loved ELO. He loved talk talk and he loved tons of other new wave bands. There's no 

Speaker 2: reggae in his music. How can he like bad brains? I find that surprising me on that list. 

Speaker 3: Yeah, it feels like Bad Brains is kind of an outlier out of all of those. Even, even so, [00:09:00] EELO seems pretty, um, unusual as well.

But 

Speaker 2: no, we get into the synthesizers and the ambience that, uh, he later became, right. Like I can see him enjoying the noodling of, uh, ELO. So. 

Speaker 3: Yeah. Fair enough. Okay. So, so he figures out his sound, he's got his name of his band, um, gets his band members together and their first couple of gigs were actually at skateboarding competitions.

So he's kind of like going back to where he was. Um, but in a different role, which I thought was kind of interesting. 1997, they released their debut, uh, full length album. Under the Western Freeway, uh, through Big Cat Records, which was a subsidiary of Richard Branson's V two records. And we know Richard Branson.

Virgin Records. Virgin. Yep. Sex Pistols. Come on. I mean, that's kind of cool. 

Speaker 4: Tubular bells. 

Speaker 3: Tubular bells. Oh my God, yes. Amazing. Alright, [00:10:00] so the album included, uh, the single, uh, AM 180, which was featured in the 2002 British Film 28 Days letter. Have you seen 28 days later? I can't remember. Yes. So horror movie, very avant-garde at the time.

Um, it was also used in the BBC radio show and a Dodge Journey commercial. Have you ever owned a Dodge Journey, Sean? 

Speaker 2: Uh, no. My wife would not. Let me 

Speaker 3: guess who did. You owned a Dodge Journey. We owned a black Dodge Journey. And I'm not gonna say it's because of that song, 'cause I actually don't even know what, I don't even know what that commercial is, but Subliminally, subliminally, maybe that's why we got a Dodge Journey.

I don't know. Because they 

Speaker 4: are, they were pretty cool. Of all the minivans, Hey, hey. 

Speaker 3: It was an SUV. Oh, okay. Don't cross that line. No, no, no. It was not a van. It was an SUV and it was pretty cool. It was a very affordable SUV. So this song, uh, am. [00:11:00] 180, not one of my favorites. Um, to be honest, I, I like it. I think it's, I think it's good.

I think it's catchy. Um, and it was very good to them, right? But, uh, it's not my, my favorite song. I don't know about you. 

Speaker 2: Uh, I agree. Although I like the noodling. Um, right at the start. 

Speaker 5: I know you won't, it's just that I'm unorganized.

Something good.

Speaker 6: We'll go to town. I haven't been there 

Speaker 2: for years, so what I think that song actually [00:12:00] foreshadowed was, uh. What the bank could become in terms of the, the synthesizer, almost toy synthesizer, DDDD, um, that would become prominent later. So yes, a good first album 

Speaker 3: and a, and a good first single as well. Um, but then in 2000 they released the software slump.

Which we both know is probably our favorite album if we go out on a limb. Oh, okay. We'll, we will talk about that. We'll come back to that then. Uh, but the software slump, um, just to give you an idea, the album touches on themes of modern technology, alienation and the relationship between humans and machines, NME, the great music, uh, mag had it at number 34 in their top 100 greatest albums of the decade.

That's a pretty high number, ear sheer quality, uh, number. [00:13:00] The independent, you know, this one, I'm, it is kind of contentious. The Independent, which is a, I believe a British, uh, newspaper, described it as, and I quote easily the equal to Okay computer. Which I think are, I, I actually think if Jason Le it's way better than Okay.

Computer. Hey, hey, hey. Easy, easy, easy. And it was, it's 

Speaker 2: influenced by okay, computer in terms of it's written before the Y 2K issues when technology is, uh, going to destroy us. Fits right into what Jason Liddel talked a lot about in terms of nature and technology and how they can, uh. Combine together. So I think it's a bit of a response to Okay, computer that um, uh, this is one of Renee and i's bones of contention.

Like, I don't know how you could subject yourself to listen to a full album of Radiohead. Uh, but wow, from what I understand, we are gonna get [00:14:00] haters. 

Speaker 3: We are gonna get haters from what I, all three of them understand. 

Speaker 2: Uh, okay. Computer. About technology and their response to technology. So I think that it, they are linked somehow 

Speaker 3: that I would fully agree with.

Like sometimes I, I hear elements of software slump in OK Computer and vice versa. I, I really do. And I, and I think that's kind of awesome. The album reached, uh, number 36 on the UK album charts. Celebrities like Kate Moss, Liv Tyler and David. Boy, were vocal about their admiration for this band who were really 

Speaker 2: hot 

Speaker 3: at the turn of the century.

Yes. Yeah, yeah, yeah. David boy too. Yeah, of course. Super hot. Uh, okay. And then Crystal Lake. Became the band's first UK Top 40 single, and here is Crystal Lake.[00:15:00] 

Speaker 2: Great Second single, great second album, but if they'd stop there, I don't think we'd be talking about them because what comes next album wise? 

Speaker 3: Yeah, someday. Click. Yeah. Thou is absolutely on. You're absolutely right. And it's so funny 'cause actually, I, I thought about it quite a bit and Software Slump is my favorite, but someday is a hot second.

A hot second. So for you it's someday first software slump second. 

Speaker 2: Yes. Yeah. And. Someday to me represents what I think we want to do with ear shifter [00:16:00] because when you gave me granddaddy and said, Hey, you should really listen to this band. Uh, I can't think of not having someday in my life. It is part of the soundtrack of my life since 2003.

I listen to it constantly. Um, still to this day, uh, I listen to it with my son. Um, the amount of times that, uh, you know, we've listened to. The first track goes click and you know, it's like, okay, we're now everybody knows what we're gonna be listening to in the car, listening to at home. Um, it's been a super important album to me and my family.

Speaker 3: Oh my God, dude, I freaking love all of that. I feel like you should have done this part, this, this episode then. 'cause I'm, I'm, I'm touched actually. For me, you introduced me to pavement and built a spill that meant so much to me 'cause I was so music [00:17:00] bored at the time. I was lost. And those two bands, like to this day, I still listen to a lot, but I had no idea granddaddy, uh, affected you that much.

Totally. That's awesome. Totally. I love that. It's, it's gonna 

Speaker 2: get pretty boring when we get to the part of our, the air shifter. Bad then. 

Speaker 4: Yeah, it's gonna be still listen to the end faithful listeners. Wait, wait for the end please. 'cause you don't know. Yeah. One of us could just turn on a dime. We're still in 2003.

Speaker 3: That's right. Okay, so let's talk about someday, Sean. 2003, like you said, uh, someday was released, recorded in Lidl's Home Studio. Lidle described the album as, and I quote, granddaddy, influenced by Granddaddy, the ultimate Granddaddy record. Agree, agree, agree, agree, agree. Uh, for me, this is a hot second to software slump.

I freaking, I do freaking love this album. Uh, let's hear the opening track. Now it's on 

Speaker 5: outside. You won't [00:18:00] wanna hide anymore.

Speaker: Light front

Speaker 7: once. Never want, turn it off.

Speaker 2: Okay. Best opening track of a granddaddy album, and it's too bad that we're limited to short periods of time to to say, to show you the records clips. The 32nd clips? Yeah, the 32nd clips. Because it does, it starts with click and it's him saying click and it, the whole, it goes from there. The records feel of him saying things outtakes.

You know, being not a perfect record in terms of the, you know, [00:19:00] mistakes, the leftover tape, things that happen in the, uh, record, I think makes it more of a perfect record. 

Speaker 3: Yeah. And he does talk about, he has problems listening to his own, uh, studio albums. 'cause he just feels like software's a slump. I, I hear things that could have been better.

And so he does that to himself quite often. So you're, you embrace those mistakes and, and maybe he should too. Maybe Jason, don't be so hard on yourself, man. You're freaking awesome. 

Speaker 2: Well, he did release the B sides to, uh, both software slum and, um, someday in the outtakes. So he is getting over some of that, or needs to make money.

Um, uh, so he has brought back some of the demos and, um, uh, yeah, the, it's much more polished. They sound better on the records. Yeah. 

Speaker 3: Yeah. And so I just wanna say. This album in particular. Um, I love so many songs. Like honestly it was hard to pick songs [00:20:00] to play from this album. 'cause I love them all so much from, uh, the, they have a few upbeat ones.

Uh, I'm on standby. I love, uh, El Camino's in the West. I love Stray Dog in the Chocolate Shake. Those are all kind of upbeat, fun. And then you got the sadder ones. So, oh, go who? 

Speaker 2: Tricked who? Did the stray dog trick, the football coach sitting on the couch? Or did the football coach trick the stray dog? That's what I need to know.

Renee. Jason, can you resolve that? 

Speaker 3: Jason Lidle, if you're out there, can you please answer Sean's question at ear shifter please? Thank you. '

Speaker 2: cause the stray dog won't forget the day. He tricked him with a chocolate shake. But I have listened to the song a million times and I don't know who tricked whom, one of those great things about lyrics.

Speaker 3: Yes, yes. There's so many ways to interpret them. Indeed. Uh, okay. And then I also like the [00:21:00] quieter songs like, uh, sad Vacant. Lot in all the world. And that repeat of that lyric at the end is just so beautiful. So beautiful. And I also love, um, the Warming Sun. It's a beautiful, quiet song. The last song on the album.

Yeah, the last song on the album. 

Speaker 2: So all of his records, the last songs on up until now are these wonderful, almost taking apart everything that he's built up in those fast songs. 

Speaker 3: What do you mean? Can you explain 

Speaker 2: like the, the, so it starts out with a, you know, the noodling synthesizer click. Now it's on rousing lyrics.

And then he's already gone through lyrically that he's okay with his own decay. That he is, uh, getting old that things aren't the same, and then that. You know, you are the emotive guy, the emotive, [00:22:00] um, you know, final push to the sun, where, what is it all for? The same thing with, I don't know what, I can't remember the last song on, um, the software slump, but that also is this huge at the end, this kind of breathing out at the end of these albums, which I think is, you know, they were albums.

As much as, uh, anything right. As a, you know, a collection of songs. But there seemed to be a whole theme throughout, um, uh, software slump, but much more in terms of someday. 

Speaker 3: Yeah. Uh, and I, I think you're right. I think that last song in both cases, I can't remember the last song either on Software Slum, but, but that last song, um, are you saying, 'cause I felt it was melancholy, but also kind of hopeful.

Are you saying it is kind of hopeful or No, you don't get that from it? 

Speaker 2: I am. The, [00:23:00] the, it, it's, it's an exhale that is kind of. So you'll aim towards the sky again. Theme, um, sun, you know, that it, it seems to be that we're leaving the album. It's an exit that, you know, he's created, uh, you know, uh, uh, something and now we're exiting that something.

It does let you out of that. Okay. An artist once said to me. You always have to let people out of your picture. Hmm. That you create a place for them to stay and then they have to have an exit so they can leave your picture. 

Speaker 3: Hmm. Wow. That's cool. Very, very cool. Okay. I don't know if you listened to Pulled the Curtains, but 

Speaker 2: I listened to it and, um, it didn't move me at that point, or maybe I didn't, uh, uh, have the money to spend an EP [00:24:00] record.

Um, and now in the age of free music, it didn't move B again. Yeah, sorry, Jason. 

Speaker 3: No, I, and I think that's, I, I think he, I think Jason, you'd be okay with that too? I mean, what moves you, moves you. I think his power is in that instead of just going straight on kind of punk, it's that melding of the punk and the atmospheric.

That's where his magic is. That's, that is granddaddy, I think. Um, so this is all fine and good, but in 2006 they announced the official breakup, the lack of financial income from being in the group. So in other words. They just couldn't afford to do it anymore, 

Speaker 2: which is a shame 'cause they had critical success.

They were, you know, indie rock darlings and why did they need that success? Why couldn't they just do it for themselves? 

Speaker 3: Yeah. And I think that's, that's kind of a big question. What was additionally [00:25:00] interesting is he, he did say that in the press conference, but he also talked about. That he is in fact, an introvert, surprise, surprise, uh, you know, his own home studio creates the music on his own, basically skateboarding, even skateboarding is a solo sport.

It's not tennis, it's not soccer. Um, so he was saying that as, as an introvert, touring with the band was difficult. Um, and, uh, and he just felt like he was just on this constant, uh, treadmill. He literally said. Any more success than we had, and I think I would've lost it. Like he was very comfortable. No, he was uncomfortable actually with how much success he did get.

Speaker 2: So it wasn't the financial losses and the thing, it was the attention. 

Speaker 3: I think it was complicated, right? I think it was. I think it was the attention, I think it was the treadmill and that he just wasn't having fun anymore and he knew that if he didn't do this. He might hate music forever, and he didn't want that to happen, so he felt like it was, he had [00:26:00] to do this just to kind of sever and, and move away from it for a while.

Speaker 2: So why did he continue to release albums as granddaddy than just being John, uh, solo albums, 

Speaker 3: right? Like, I don't know. I, I don't, my answer is I don't know. Um, 'cause he moved away from granddaddy, obviously, spoiler alert, he comes back to granddaddy, but maybe he just needed a hiatus and maybe he just needed to do his solo records, like you said, and just be fully on his own and not, not accountable.

To anyone, but I'm making that up. We don't have him here to ask him. I don't even know if he'd answer. 'cause the interviews I saw with him, he was, he is a lovely, like, thoughtful man. Um, and uh, but also kind of a little bit shy, you know, which is, which is probably not surprising. 

Speaker 2: Which is understandable. So tell me what happened to the family cat?

Speaker 3: Do you know the story behind the family cat? You probably tell, tell me. All [00:27:00] right. Well, first of all, I don't know why it's spelt the way it's spelt. I frigging, if you can tell me, I would appreciate that. I could not find it, but, but the Family Cat album, uh, Sean's alluding to is the, uh, is the next album or the last album before they broke up in 2006.

Uh, what's the actual titles? What happened to the Family cat? What happened to the family cat? So his reasoning is, uh, that that album. Is about he, he said that when cats die, they just don't make a big deal out of it. They just die. And I don't know if that's true or not. 'cause I've had a few cats and I've seen it's, it's been a big deal in this house and there's some drama around the cat.

But let's, let's just say cats die with no ceremony or no circumstance, or no, uh, pomp and circumstance, I should say. And he felt like he was kind of, he wanted to leave Modesto. 'cause Modesto was sucking the soul out of him. And he felt like that that was a good analogy to the way he felt about Modesto.

So that [00:28:00] album was the last album they released until they reunited later. And it was also the moment where he said, I gotta get the hell out of this place that's sucking the life outta me, that being Modesto, California. So he moved from there to Montana and uh, like we alluded to, he uh, did a few soul albums.

Uh, this podcast is not about those solo albums, it's more about granddaddy, um, which would bring me to, um, the reunion. So 10 years later, 10 years later, we fast forward where granddaddy announced a limited reunion tour light. Like I said, hated touring, uh, but was surprised when the other members were game.

So it was like he kind of threw it out there and said, you guys don't want to do this, do you? And they all went one by one. They went, yes, yes, yes. And then, and then he was like, well, I guess I have to do it. And so they did a limited tour and uh, and then took another little bit of a break and, [00:29:00] um, Jason Lightle actually produced an album.

And that album, do you know which album I'm talking about? One of the better bands from Portland, Oregon Gives you Goosebumps? Yes, yes, yes. You did your research, my friend. Yes. So which album is it? Uh, I don't know which one it is. Okay, which one is it? By? By Band of Horses? Yes. Uh, why are you okay? I love that album.

I love that album too. In fact, we talked about this, like when it came out it was like, oh my God, I love this album. Oh, I forgot 

Speaker 2: that. Yes, we do know that it was, and we were saying Jason Le was on it. And, uh, maybe we'll talk about Band of Horses in full. But, um, Jay Maskus sings on the second song on, um, uh, why Are You Okay?

In a Drawer? 

Speaker 3: Ah, in a Drawer. Yes. I love that one. Yeah. Uh, yeah. So he produced that album, which is pretty cool. Also fun fact, uh, band of Horses and granddaddy officially did one [00:30:00] song together. It's called Hang an Ornament. I listened to it. I literally put Christmas song question mark. If it is a Christmas song, it is perhaps one of the saddest Christmas songs I've ever heard.

Uh, so you might wanna give a listen to that at some point. Maybe when I'm drinking by myself on Christmas. Yeah, exactly. It's not gonna go on one of my Christmas playlists, I think. Okay. I, I don't think so. Um, but, but still pretty cool. So 2016, guess what? Granddaddy does another reunion tour and then they released last place in 2017.

Now I thought last place was a very solid album. Music occurred. I'm excited 

Speaker 2: when it came out. 

Speaker 3: Yeah, and I think it's a, it's a good album. Your voice went up. A couple octaves there though. 

Speaker 2: It's hard to come back from a classic, but I agree. I think that it is a granddaddy album, so if there is a [00:31:00] sound, he recaptured that sound and feeling in some of those songs.

Speaker 3: I agree. And it, it is my third favorite granddaddy album. So, uh, what I thought was really interesting was the, in, in some ways, not fully structurally, but certainly the, the opening song, much like on Someday With Now it's on, which we heard, uh, the opening song on last place is. Way we won't, which I feel is the banger on that album or the, the most energetic song on that album.

So I thought that was interesting. In terms of parallels, I don't know if that was intentional or not. And it does remind me of Band of Horses in the sense that they had weed party, right? And then they had the follow up to weed party, which was, I just can't remember the name of the song. No, I don't know.

No, I don't remember that one. No. It's, it is not called weed party, but it's called something party. Anyway, it doesn't matter.

Speaker 6: Damn.[00:32:00] 

Speaker 3: I love that. I love that. I can't sing, but I just love that little bit. And it, it is so granddaddy that, that he even did it in, um, now it's only he has that, even that AM 180, that very first song. We listen to has that kind of catchy little Diddy, if you will. So now we're gonna go into um, his indie super group.

Sean, did you know that he was a part of an indie super group? 

Speaker 2: I did not know he was part of an indie super group and he probably 

Speaker 3: hates the term [00:33:00] indie supergroup. Probably every member in that indie super group hates that term, but it is what it is. So I'm gonna give you a hint. Your son introduced us to them.

Hmm. He's introduced me to so many things. So that, that, 

Speaker 2: that's a, that's 

Speaker 3: a a a a, that's a hard hit. That's, that's fair. Uh, banquet. BNQT. No, it's not ringing a bell. Banquet. Yeah. Yeah. It was definitely you that your, your son, you, your son introduced you to them, and then you introduced them to me. 

Speaker: Okay. 

Speaker 3: Um, they did one album.

One album only. Uh, they were actually founded by, do you remember a band called Midlake? Yep. Okay. So, uh, Eric, uh, Polito, I think of Midlake was the one that kind of formed this indie super group. Uh, it featured, uh, Fran Healy of Travis. Um, and I personally love Travis. I'm, I remember them well. I have all their albums.

Uh, Alex [00:34:00] Kapranos, uh, from Franz Ferdinand. Okay. A guy from Midlake, uh, Ben, uh, Bridgewell from Band of Horses, and Jason Lidle. 

Speaker 2: Hmm. I don't remember. 

Speaker 3: Yeah. 

Speaker 2: Well, and I saw Midlake 

Speaker 3: with, 

Speaker 2: uh, my son. 

Speaker 3: Whoa, that's very cool. I love that band. Oh, very nice. Okay, so that's the super group. That's the one album that's 2016 to 2017.

2017. Sadly. Uh, Kevin Garcia, uh, granddaddy, uh, died suddenly from a massive stroke at, at the age of 41 years old. Really? So, um, he had been with Granddaddy since the age of 15. Um, and so consequently, the band canceled all their following tour dates as a result. So in 2020, uh, granddaddy released the 20th anniversary edition of Software Slump, but that is just Jason and a piano.

Let's talk about that. An old fashioned 

Speaker 2: piano. 

Speaker 3: An old fashioned piano. You're right. So let's talk about that. So we haven't really [00:35:00] dug into, we've hinted at lyrically at what Jason does with granddaddy and, and the themes he explores. Um, do you wanna talk a little bit more about the lyrics that inspired you or, or that you particularly liked?

Speaker 2: So I think it's the juxtaposition of nature and technology that, uh, I find fascinating. Um. In his lyrics. So, and I can't sing either, but if we go back to someday, um, the Stray dog questions starts with him saying the supervisor turns off the factory lights, so the robots have to work in the dark. And I have had that happen to me where the supervisor has.

Had the lights on when I was touring a factory, and then, uh, the robots are doing their job and then he turns the [00:36:00] lights off and says, well, we don't have to see them anymore. So, you know that, uh, that. You know, feeling bad for the robots that they have to work in the dark, the technology, it is a really interesting part, I think, of his lyrics that the group who couldn't say, um, on again from someday, um, that, you know, it's about, uh, a group of people who are, um, rewarded for selling more shit than the other guys.

Uh, with an outdoor day. And he expresses in such beautiful detail how being outside profoundly affects each one of them. So that to me is, you know, the use of the, um, environment in his songs. And again, you know, I'll, I'll, uh, um, uh, take, pick another song off. Um, uh, [00:37:00] someday, you know, the. The Satisfac law in all the world.

He rhymes hot sun with Datsun. And so it does take someone greatly with words, uh, to be able to pull those, um, uh, you know, cheesy rhyming and, you know, longer, um, uh, uh, stories back. But I think that. You know, we haven't talked about one of his other big, um, themes in his lyrics of, of loneliness and being a part, and alcoholism, um, you know, which he is very open about in terms of these lyrics he suffer, uh, suffered from it.

And, you know, that also is very. Putting himself out there in terms of that, but then creating a persona, [00:38:00] uh, in terms of, again, technology, in terms of Jed, the humanoid. 

Speaker 3: I was just gonna say, do you wanna talk about Jed, the humanoid? 'cause that's, that's all about that. 

Speaker 2: That's all about that. So Jed, the humanoid is on four songs.

Speaker 3: It's crazy. Jed's other poem. Uh, Jed, the humanoid, I don't know. I can't remember the other two. 

Speaker 2: Uh, on, um, uh, the, the, uh, the, uh, last place Jed returns in Jed iv. Wow. And Jed IV lyrics, I'll just pull them up, is all about the, so Jed, he's dead and gone and Jed left his son. Jed four and, uh, Jed's and Betty four to forced rhyme.

Um, and he don't come around and we know it's all a metaphor for being drunk and on the floor. Hmm. So, you know that [00:39:00] I find it very, um, um, you know, that this circle around these songs and the themes that he repeats, I find very. Compelling and draws you more into them. 

Speaker 3: Yeah, I mean, I didn't know. I could feel so bad for a robot.

And can we actually, drunk robot? Pardon? Drunk robot. Well, an alcoholic robot, actually, do you mind, can we just, because I love the humanoid, can we just listen to it a little bit? Let's hear Jeff Humanoid. Let's do it.[00:40:00] 

Okay, so I, I have a couple of things to say about this and it's so interesting that we are, I mean, John, I'm actually talking about lyrics too. I've, I've talked about the technology and the, um, and bringing technology and nature together and all of those things. And what I did for the first time ever call me dumb.

But Spotify has a little button where you can actually have the lyrics, uh, shown to you as they're singing. So I actually found myself. Doing that. And I feel like there's a couple of things going on there. One is lyrically I, yeah, I think he's, he's really carved out a niche for himself and, and it's, it's very, you know, melancholy, sad, beautiful all at the same time, but also I think his voice is so, um, delicate at times and, and vulnerable at times that it, it actually makes you pay attention to lyrics as well.

So, so on both those notes, I actually do find myself paying more attention to the lyrics. I also wanna say [00:41:00] this. That folks, if, if you've never heard of this band, if you're willing to give him a shot. I implore you, and I think we both do to actually listen to full songs. 'cause our 32nd clips are not doing these songs justice.

Uh, they have some real atmosphere to them and they're slow builds and then let downs and all sorts of wonderful things happening within these songs. And 30 seconds doesn't really capture it. No. Is that fair? 

Speaker 2: That's fair. And the noodling, the uh, the simple little rifts that, um, yeah, her hearing a 32nd. Um, track may sound like he's playing that on a cassio organ who could do that, but then when it's put together with all of the orchestration and everything, the, the, the sounds really all do work together.

Speaker 3: Beautifully. Yeah. Um, 

Speaker 2: I agree. I think this is one of the bands where maybe we're in such violent agreement, [00:42:00] uh, because they have the, the build the soft that you like, and then, um, the more you listen to it, the more depth the sounds have and the lyrics, the stories that he's telling all seem to meld together and become such a compelling overall theme.

Speaker 3: Yeah. Yeah, so good news. Um, he is working on a sixth album. Uh, he's confirmed that, um, he said it possibly might be the final granddaddy album, but he also joked and said, I think I say that about every album. So, but this one's definitely in the books 'cause they have a two record contract. So this. This album will be happening.

Uh, he said, and I quote, uh, I'm gonna go big on the Granddaddy album. I want it to be this all encompassing cool sendoff. I'm not calling it the last granddaddy album. It's gonna be the most comprehensive sounding, and it's gonna be tied in with a [00:43:00] documentary. 

Speaker 2: Hmm. That's interesting. Yeah. Just the, the lyrics that I've.

You know, the songs that I've heard and the things like he's got, speaking of Nature, one of the songs is called Cabin in My Mind and he is retreating into the cabin in his mind. So yeah, it's an interesting, he continues to, uh, talk about the things that, uh, really move him and that's great. But, uh, move me as well.

Speaker 3: Yeah, that's definitely on point for him in terms of Cabinet, in my mind. It's perfect. Um, and then the album is actually gonna be called Blue Wave and he said that he, uh, loves Bluegrass as well as a music genre. And he was, he had this idea in his head that he could blend bluegrass and New Wave, and that's why the album's called Blue Wave.

Speaker 2: I am looking 

Speaker 3: forward to it even 

Speaker 2: more. Yeah. 

Speaker 3: Yeah. I mean, I heard the first, uh, two tracks released. [00:44:00] They've been released uh, recently. Uh, they weren't my favorite granddaddy songs. I 

Speaker 2: didn't hear any bluegrass. 

Speaker 3: I didn't. I didn't either, but I don't know if I would know, because I'm not a Bluegrass fan. 

Speaker 2: Maybe we'll do Bill run Monroe, maybe one day on ear shifter.

Speaker 3: Okay. 

Speaker 2: Bill run Monroe Bluegrass. Okay. Yeah, I'd like bluegrass. 

Speaker 3: Okay. Do I have to be here for that one, or? Can you do that one on your own? 

Speaker 2: Uh, I think we need the call and response here, Renee. So. Okay. Stay tuned folks. Doesn't seem to be coming up too soon. 

Speaker 3: Yeah, yeah, yeah. Okay. So, uh, I think that about does it Sean?

Uh, unless you have more to say about, uh, granddaddy. Well, are they in your shifter bed? I mean, I think it's kind of obvious, don't you? Yeah, I think so too. Yeah. Um, and I will say this, that, you know, there was David Bowie, David Bowie talked about them. That's, that's pretty influential. If, if anybody's gonna be influential as David Bowie.[00:45:00] 

Speaker 2: And more importantly, they're influential to us, which I think is, uh, and I hope they're, uh, I sincerely do. Again, why we're doing this is. To me and we, we were debating on who should do the, um, it's your band. I've always thought of Granddaddy is your band and I'm just happy to be influenced by you. 

Speaker 3: So that's very sweet.

And we did see them guys. Uh, we actually forgot to mention that we got so caught up in this. We saw them, uh, they actually. Open for Frightened Rabbit, which is another band that we love. And it was like that night was just on fire 'cause it was a twofer for us. It was like Granddaddy and Frightened Rabbit in the same concert.

This is crazy 

Speaker 2: and I can't remember. The, I remember frightened rabbit, but I don't remember Jason. I don't have any strong memories of that. I hate to say that. 

Speaker 3: Well, then we're even 'cause joy formidable. I don't have any memories of that. So, so we're good buddy. [00:46:00] You gotta remember the gong. 

Speaker 4: I 

Speaker 3: remember the gong now.

But you, you know how long it took to like jam my memories like Jesus. And apologies if joy formidable again because, uh, it was awesome. I just couldn't frigging remember the beauty of forgetfulness and age. Uh. Uh, I believe granddaddy had some beautiful projections behind them when they were playing of like fields and cows.

And I, I do recall something of that ilk and, uh, it was great, John. We enjoyed it. Yeah. So how many monthly listeners do they have? Uh, 

Speaker 2: 335,000 monthly listeners. So do you think how, in terms of success, is that the right about of success for a band like that? Or do you think. 

Speaker 3: Well, according to Jason Lidle, he doesn't want any more success than that.

But I would argue that honestly, I mean, the reason we do this podcast listeners is 'cause we wanna expose others to some amazing bands. I've just never gotten the exposure they should have [00:47:00] gotten. And so my answer would be, I would like Granddaddy to have more exposure, not for granddaddy's sake or Jason Lidl's sake, but for everyone's sake 

Speaker 2: well.

Let's hope it happens. 

Speaker 3: Yes, let's hope it happens. All right, so, um, that's that episode and next episode we'll listen to another band. And this time it's Sean's turn even. So this one should have been Sean's turn, but No, 

Speaker: no. 

Speaker 3: But uh, next time we're gonna listen to another band and it's Sean's turn. And do you wanna give a hint on what it's gonna be?

Speaker 2: The best damn band from Winnipeg. Whoa. 

Speaker 3: Okay. That's, that's in Canada, right? Capital of Manitoba. Capital of 

Speaker 2: Manitoba. That's a province in Canada, right? That's a province, one of our middle, the transitional province between the prairies and, uh, the eastern, uh, Canada, um, on top of, uh, North Dakota. 

Speaker 3: Okay. Okay.

Well we look forward to that. Uh, until next time, guys, we hope you [00:48:00] enjoyed this episode of Air Shifter. Tune in next time where we'll cover another band that deserves more. You can find Air Shifter on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok. Friend us or listen to our playlist on Spotify and visit air shifter.com for more information.

Special thanks. Go to our logo designer Stuart Thorsby and our intro Outro Music by Joe Novak. You can find him as, bye. Bye. Badman. One word on SoundCloud and a big shout out to Joe for being our awesome sound engineer slash editor. Until next time.