I’ve known Josh Hensley (aka The Rutabega) for many years. Back in the day I put out a split he did with Owen (aka Mike Kinsella). We had lost touch for a while but I recently came across his latest album (although the band now includes drummer Garth Mason), Brother the Lights Don’t Work, which is pretty amazing and certainly will finish in my top five albums of the year. I asked if he wouldn’t mind giving his thoughts about the songs on the latest album. He told me “I am not very good at talking about our music,” but I like his insights and thoughts on the songs.
Josh and Garth
Side One:
1. ben’s theme – We wanted an intro song without any words to *ahem* “set the mood.” I had written ‘vessel’ (which closes the album) and had the thought that it might be nice to bookend the album with an instrumental version. My daughter was in an all-girl choir, and I approached her director to see if she would be open to me recording the girls singing this. She was all for it, so I sent her a rough recording and within a week they had it down. I know I’m a little biased, but being in the room while they were singing this was absolutely stunning. It still chokes me up. Also, my daughter told me she was proud of me in front of her entire choir. Agh!
2. come back big brother – This song has been around for a while, although it has been through several mutations. Sometimes when we play it I think about my brother-in-law. Other times I think about Ben. Or Matt. Or Ted. Or Steve, whom I never met. I hesitate to say what any of these songs are “about,” because I think songs should be open ended and leave room for the listener. I like singing the line “distend the direction of your doubt.” Alliteration, right? My head started spinning while typing those last couple sentences.
3. the shaman – Songwriting can be a form of self-hypnosis. My brother was in a bad way and we heard that Mia’s uncle was having some kind of shamanic drum ceremony up in Michigan. Why not? I remember sitting in the car together, listening to Jeremy Enigk’s “Explain” and crying. Was that a breakthrough? IS THIS A BREAKTHROUGH?
Garth and I made this video with Jared from Daytime Volume. I had a ponytail and the rocket was a metaphor or something.
4. turn on the summer - This song came together in Garth’s basement. His furnace has a little note that says “TURN OFF IN SUMMER” which is what I originally sang for the chorus.
The middle build section is something I’ve had sitting around for over a decade, just floating around, waiting for the rest of the song to show up. I’d tell you who I wrote this song for, but he’d probably be embarrassed.
Side Two:
5. buried in the snow – I picture people standing on a hill, everyone’s eyes are closed. Every so often one of them realizes they are all the same person standing on the same hill and it feels like time speeds up and then the person relaxes and there is this strange cosmic celebration.
Also, guilt.
6. through the holes in the floor – Sometimes when we play this he is there with us.
7. out of the woods and into the light – The seeds of “woods” were planted in South Carolina. Then, a month or so later, I was running away from my parents’ house. Actually running into the woods. But yeah. Sometimes people boo when we get to the part about leaving your drugs behind, but “drugs” can be anything.
8. vessel - When I was a kid I used to be able to fly. I have a vivid memory of being at a softball game and running up this pile of gravel and flying for a little bit. I remember the other kids. Some of them (probably the younger kids) seemed totally unimpressed. Some of the older kids were looking around, maybe trying to figure out if they should tell someone.
