Features

Artists on Pavement

The latest issue of Relix examines the past, present and future of the band Pavement. In conjunction with our story, we asked a number of artists to share their thoughts on the band. Here Trey Anastasio, Patrick Carney, Josh Ritter, Will Sheff and Marco Benevento all comment on the music.

Trey Anastasio, guitarist/vocalist for Phish

When do you remember hearing Pavement for the first time?
We were playing in Portland, Oregon, I think it was the spring of 1994. I was wandering around town and came across this cool little record store and went in to look around. I asked the woman behind the counter if she had anything new that she liked, and she handed me Crooked Rain, Crooked Rain.

I clearly remember liking the cover and putting it on in the bus. I didn’t love it at first, but I remember thinking the first track sounded heartfelt. That was enough for me to want to play it again, after which I began to really hear the first track. I also began to notice the second track, and found myself gravitating to a couple others deeper in the record as well, like “Range Life” probably, though at this point I didn’t even know what the songs were called. This process continued with each subsequent listen. The record just kept sounding better and better.

To make a long story short, by the end of the tour I could not stop listening. I fell in love with that record. I ended up getting everything they put out. Wowee Zowee is my favorite. Pavement was the soundtrack to the second half of the ‘90s for me. I had a couple friends who felt the same way and we would quote lines to each other in the corner at parties. “chim chim chim sing a song of praise, for your elders… They’re in the back. Pick out some Brazilian nuts, for your engagement… Check that expiration date man, it’s later than we think.”

Most of the people I hung out with didn’t really get what the big deal was, but to the friends I had who really liked Pavement at that point, it felt like we were in on a secret.

What do you find appealing about Pavement’s music?
“Father to a Sister of Thought” is one of my all time favorite Pavement songs. I used to sing that song to my girls to put them to sleep—“Rotten device, I’ll say it twice;” “Angel of Corpus Christy, you’re so misty.” Listening to it now, I’m transported right back into that era, the mid to late ‘90s. The busses and hotels, the parties in Burlington, the European tours. It’s really emotional.

I love Stephen Malkmus’ guitar playing. Check out “Rattled by the Rush”. He kind of reminds me of Neil Young, who’s playing I also love. They both know how to milk it. When I met Bryce Goggin he told me that the solo on “Rattled” was one take, which didn’t surprise me because it sounds so fresh. Bryce’s genius is knowing when not to “fix” something, which is a tough thing for a lot of producers to get. Bryce gets it. He knows that “right” or “perfect” usually isn’t better.

I wish I could appropriately thank those guys. Their music was a big part of my life during that emotional, turbulent period. I’ll always be grateful.

Patrick Carney, drummer for The Black Keys

When do you remember hearing Pavement for the first time?
The first time I heard Pavement was 1994. I was 14 and I was in my friend Gabe’s basement. His older brother Josh was always introducing us to new music, some of it amazing and some of it horrendous. I remember hearing “Silent Kit” and flipping out. I wanted to really get into Sonic Youth back then but it wasn’t poppy enough for me at 14. Pavement was the missing link between noisy guitars and pop for me.

What did you find appealing about Pavement’s music on record and/or live?
I saw Pavement May 19, 1995 in Cleveland on the Wowee Zowee tour. To this day it is the best concert I have ever seen. I remember being surprised they were playing such a small room ‘cause to me they were the biggest band on earth. Watching Bob Nastanovich was by far my favorite part.

How, if at all, has Pavement impacted your own music?
Gary Young’s drumming on Slanted and Enchanted is amazing. He is basically writing guitar parts on the drums—I’m into that kind of thing.