Even though his ruthless trio (Jon Spencer Blues Explosion) is officially disbanded, Jon Spencer has not turned his back on rock’n’roll. Almost 60 years old, the New York singer and guitarist continues to offer wild performances, as if his life depended on it. Back in Montreal for the Taverne Tour festival, he took part in the game of The Press : between two words, choose one. And explain why.
The Press : Elvis Presley or Elvis Costello?
Jon Spencer: Elvis Presley. I prefer his songs. He is a tragic and interesting figure. A hell of a singer and quite a showman. He was an influence for me, but not the only one. There are plenty of other rockabilly singers who made a big impression on me. Jerry Lee Lewis. Charlie Feathers… I grew up in New England in the 1970s. The rock of that era was just awful. It was great for me to discover 1950s rock, because I found it much more exciting. It was a great time for music.
Gibson or Fender?
Neither… A few years ago, I would have answered Zimgar. It’s a Japanese brand, the Blues Explosion guitar. I’ve always preferred what you might call cheap guitars. They have character and can sound great. The Zimgar sounded fantastic. She really defined my part in the Blues Explosion. She had pickups incredible. A lot of drive. No need for pedals. I only had the guitar and an amp. Right now I’m playing a 1960s Silvertone. I’m getting a little more fancy…
Stage or studio?
Both are great, but I think I’ll choose the scene… For me it fills a need. I like making an album. But the stage… if it goes well, if it’s a good concert, it can be an almost religious experience. Like getting out of your body! It’s not just me and my group. These are all the people who are in this room. It’s a collective thing.
Vinyl or streaming?
Vinyl. I like records. These are very cool items. I like having something I can hold in my hands. To look at it. Return it. At the moment I’m listening to a lot of Charlie Rich. He is best known for his country hits from the 1970s. But my favorite period is the mid-1960s, when he was making rhythm’n’blues records. He was a pianist, a fantastic singer, a bit jazzy. I come back regularly…
Drugs or alcohol?
Forgive me, but I think it’s a cliché to associate this with rock culture. Alcohol and drugs aren’t exclusive to rock ‘n’ roll. In any art form, people consume to get high. That said, if I had to choose, it would be alcohol. I like to have a drink before a concert. It can help me get closer to what I need to achieve. It can help a concert. But that’s not what makes a good show. It’s not that important. It’s a social thing. It makes reporting easier.
Glory or money?
I guess I have to choose fame, because I sure don’t have the money! [Rires]
Explosion blues or implosion group?
It’s not great to go through a breakup. With the Blues Explosion, Russell Simmins, Judah Bauer and I, we were lucky to find each other. We were lucky to make music together. It was a question of chemistry [le trio s’est officiellement séparé en 2022, à cause des problèmes de santé de Judah Bauer]. After the Blues Explosion, I worked with the Hitmakers, but some members of the group were too busy with other projects. In Montreal I will play with a new rhythm section, Macky Bowman [batterie] and Kendall Wind [basse]. I knew them when they played with the Bobby Lees. It’s a trio, but different from the Blues Explosion. This time there is a bass. It’s powerful. We revisit the songs of Pussy Galore, the Hitmakers and the Blues Explosion. Eventually, we will write our own songs.
Energy or experience?
No one can help but grow old. Personally I don’t want to relive my youthful years. I wasn’t a very happy person. I was nervous, I didn’t know how to communicate very well. What I know is that it’s possible to play rock’n’roll even as you get older. I had the chance to play with seniors, people like RL Burnside and Andre Williams. They’re proof that you can get older and still produce interesting sounds. My new group is very energetic. And I’m not ready for the rocking chair yet.
Joe Biden or Donald Trump?
Joe Biden. I have already written songs with political content, like Junkman, on the Hitmakers’ latest album. But I’m not a big fan of politics in rock. Because it’s often too specific. If you’re writing about striking miners in Wales, it’s not a song that people are going to universally relate to. If you write about being so in love that you can’t bear to be without each other, that’s something everyone will understand. Rock’n’roll is a very beautiful and strange art form. I don’t know if it’s a political force. But we can legitimately say that he changed the world.
Jon Spencer at La Tulipe, Friday February 9, 8 p.m. Part I: Population II.
The Tavern Tour
The Taverne Tour is 60 rock concerts in 20 performance halls located in Mile End and on the Plateau Mont-Royal. Taverns, but also small venues, larger ones and even record stores will present artists from Quebec, New York and Toronto. Suggestions from Philippe Larocque, co-programmer of the event.
All Hands_Make Light
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All Hands_Make Light
Experimental noise duo composed of former members of Godspeed You! Black Emperor (Efrim Manuel Menuck) and Broken Social Scene (Ariel Engle). Melancholic and gripping. “Introspective music, quite deep, luminous, in the Godspeed spirit,” summarizes Philippe Larocque. It represents our times well. »
All Hands_Make Light, Thursday February 8, 8 p.m., La Sala Rossa. With Yonatan Gat and Ben Shemie.
Laurence-Anne
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Laurence-Anne
Synthetic rhythms, soaring melodies, sonic landscapes. Laurence-Anne comes to defend her most recent album on stage, Oneiromancy. “Ethereal dream pop, in the Feist and Cocteau Twins movement,” emphasizes Philippe Larocque. And a good example of a Franco-Anglo song which brings together the two scenes, one of the missions of the Taverne Tour. »
Laurence-Anne, Thursday February 8, 8 p.m., L’Escogriffe. With Sun Entire.
Deli Girls
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Deli Girls
Industrial hardcore punk from Brooklyn, led by Danny Orlowski. Politically engaged “pro-queer and pro-freak” trend, according to certain specialized sites. Good buzz. Potentially an experience.
Deli Girls, Thursday February 8, 9 p.m., at the Ministry. With Slash Feed and Alix Fernz.