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Jon Spencer Blues Explosion - The majors are a gamble

"The Blues are #1!," for years Jon Spencer has been preaching to those who'll listen. After converting thousands to the church, The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion has been spreading its wings with its latest release "Plastic Fang". Judah Bauer took a moment to chat with Kinda Muzik, here's what transpired.

Tekst: Pat Wensink

Publicatiedatum: 06 november 2002

Where were you the last time you were smacked upside the head by a record? For me, I was on my porch reading the newspaper after just popping in the new Blues Explosion record Plastic Fang.

As a longtime JSBX fan, I was left with a funny taste in my mouth after the band's previous release Acme. The record was a more soul-ish affair, less skronk and bounce, and more experimentation. I was left wondering, "What happened to my Blues Explosion?" As it turns out, they never left; they just got something out of their system. It wasn't bad — just different.

And then WHOOSH! Sweet N Sour burst out of my speakers. The first track from the new record reaffirmed my belief that I needed a Blues Explosion Man. It's more straight-up rock than any of the band's previous output and still different from any of their other work — but different in a good way. Syncopated rhythm with chug-a-lugging guitars that bop along to a funky strut only the hyperactive JSBX could produce. Sure, Spencer wasn't asking if you wanted to "Take a whiff of my pant leg," but now he has to "Get right with God," and the results are killer.

JSBX guitarist Judah Bauer was kind enough to chat with KindaMuzik by phone, even though he had just woken up. The man needs all the sleep he can get, too. In three days, the band leaves for what will be one of the most rockin' tours of 2002: JSBX and up-and-comers the Liars and Yeah Yeah Yeahs.

Upon close inspection, one might note that the current music scene owes something to these three guys (Bauer, frontman Jon Spencer, and drummer Russell Simins). Countless bands are praising obscure blues masters and incorporating it in their work, something the Blues Explosion was doing since its 1992 debut record. Another trend is in the thickly rhythm-based rock that some are labeling "post-punk." For the last decade, nobody has been more rhythmic than Spencer and Company.

"I'm not sure about everyone's influences," claims a sleepy Bauer. "I'm surprised how many bands are fans of the Blues Explosion. Maybe those bands saw us doing it and decided that maybe they could too."

No matter who is influenced by whom, the new tour is shaping up to be a scorcher. However, the band does not see themselves as mentors or the uncle that these guys look up to.

"I'm definitely not an uncle," says Bauer. "I'm sure Liars and Yeah Yeah Yeahs would succeed without us. We just wanted bands that we would like to see every night come with us. They're good people to hang out with too."

Even though each Blues Explosion record seems to have a life of its own, Bauer claims that it is never an intention to change direction from record to record. "We're pretty un-premeditated. Acme was an experiment working with so many different people. For Plastic Fang we only wanted to work with one person, but it came down to the wire on how the record would sound, depending on who we chose to produce," says Bauer. The band chose Steve Jordan to work with them on the latest outing.

Even though the record sounds like something different and more accessible to some ears, Bauer doesn't see it that way. "I don't see that much difference in the sound. It's compressed; that doesn't change the core of the song," says Bauer. "It's still pretty raw. I don't think people are very discerning; under the compression is some of the rawest sound we've made," defends Bauer. "It's just rock 'n' roll."

The Blues Explosion has been putting out its own hot-shot brand of rock 'n' roll for more than a decade. The band has released its last six (not including mix and B-side albums) records for Matador. In an age when bands jump from indie to indie, up to a major, and — sometimes if they are lucky enough to land on their feet — back on an indie, the Blues Explosion has happily stayed-put as the flagship group of Matador. So what's the secret to a happy home?

"We don't have a manager, so we're free," claims Bauer. "I don't know how upwardly mobile we are." Friendship seems to be the key to the band's longstanding relationship with its label as well. "We know them, we have a rapport with them. Jon's known the Matador guys for years."

But why has one of underground rock's most celebrated and exciting groups never even made the jump to the majors? "The majors are a gamble," answers Bauer when thinking about the band's tenure with Matador. "The Blues Explosion is kind of off the wall; some major label people love us and some are not so sure." But in the end, the band has never found an offer they felt was worth it to them.

The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion has been on the cutting edge of rock for longer than you have. The band evolves with every release, while maintaining a familiar spirit that can only be called JSBX. Wild, unpredictable, and original, the band has remained a breath of fresh air in a recurrently stale musical environment. If you've never been Inside the World of the Blues Explosion, take a chance on the band's 2 Kindsa Love, off of '96's Now I Got Worry: You're either with it or not.

http://www.kindamuzik.net/achtergrond/jon-spencer-blues-explosion/jon-spencer-blues-explosion-the-majors-are-a-gamble/2011/
Meer The Jon Spencer Blues Explosion op KindaMuzik: http://www.kindamuzik.net/artiest/jon-spencer-blues-explosion