Meat Puppets making most of a second chance
Posted: Sunday, October 26, 2014 12:15 am
By ED CONDRAN Correspondent
When the Meat Puppets reunited in 2007, something was missing.
But the void was filled in 2013 when the punky-rootsy band released "Rat Farm," its best album since its Reagan-era salad days.
The Meat Puppets showcased new tunes while opening for Dave Grohl’s all-star band Sound City Players at Austin’s South By Southwest last year. It was the biggest show for the Meat Puppets since the brothers Kirkwood reformed the group.
“That was a lot of fun playing that,” says vocalist-guitarist Curt Kirkwood. “This time around has been great since we’ve had an opportunity to write a new chapter in what was kind of a bad book. We had some rough times back then.”
The roughest times occurred during the band’s commercial peak. After performing on Nirvana’s MTV Unplugged special, in which Kurt Cobain’s band played three Meat Puppet songs in 1993, the group recorded its lone hit, “Backwater,” which was in heavy rotation on alternative radio.
The ironically titled “Too High To Die” album, which featured “Backwater,” only hinted at what was going on behind the scenes in Meat Puppet land. Cris Kirkwood had huge drug addiction issues, and his wife and one of his best friends died due to drug use.
“It was a horrible time,” Curt Kirkwood says. “It was really dark. It was only a matter of time until we couldn’t exist as a band.”
But Cris Kirkwood finally cleaned up his act — and the Meat Puppets live again.
“The good thing is that Cris isn’t going back (to drugs),” Curt Kirkwood says. “He went through way too much with the penal system and ... well, with drugs. I wouldn’t wish what he went through on anybody. It’s terrible. It’s great to have a second chance. A lot of our friends didn’t get that second chance. Some of them died and we’re thrilled to have another chance.”
Shandon Sahm, the son of Texas roots-rock legend Doug Sahm, is on board this time out. The trio made an album that has the qualities of vintage Meat Puppet material with “Rat Farm.” The latest batch of songs, which will be showcased Monday at Underground Arts, are freewheeling, eccentric and satisfying.
The new cuts fit right in with songs from the adventurous but innocent classics “Meat Puppets 2” and “Up On the Sun.”
And for once, timing has been right for the Meat Puppets, who reunited when peers such as Dinosaur Jr. and Pavement reformed.
“Cris got out of prison just as all of these bands were reuniting,” Curt Kirkwood says. “There was that cry for ‘90s nostalgia, but I always thought of us as an ‘80s band.
"We existed that whole decade, but then again, I don’t know what we are. All I know is that we’re still here and that’s a good thing.”
The Meat Puppets and Cass McCombs will co-headline Monday at Underground Arts, 1200 Callowhill St., Philadelphia. Show time: 8 p.m. Tickets: $15. Information: undergroundarts.org.
Accessed: 10/27/14
http://www.theintell.com/life-style/local-entertainment/meat-puppets-making-most-of-a-second-chance/article_a0ec85b8-496c-578c-8bc5-74fca8123857.html
Posted: Sunday, October 26, 2014 12:15 am
By ED CONDRAN Correspondent
When the Meat Puppets reunited in 2007, something was missing.
But the void was filled in 2013 when the punky-rootsy band released "Rat Farm," its best album since its Reagan-era salad days.
The Meat Puppets showcased new tunes while opening for Dave Grohl’s all-star band Sound City Players at Austin’s South By Southwest last year. It was the biggest show for the Meat Puppets since the brothers Kirkwood reformed the group.
“That was a lot of fun playing that,” says vocalist-guitarist Curt Kirkwood. “This time around has been great since we’ve had an opportunity to write a new chapter in what was kind of a bad book. We had some rough times back then.”
The roughest times occurred during the band’s commercial peak. After performing on Nirvana’s MTV Unplugged special, in which Kurt Cobain’s band played three Meat Puppet songs in 1993, the group recorded its lone hit, “Backwater,” which was in heavy rotation on alternative radio.
The ironically titled “Too High To Die” album, which featured “Backwater,” only hinted at what was going on behind the scenes in Meat Puppet land. Cris Kirkwood had huge drug addiction issues, and his wife and one of his best friends died due to drug use.
“It was a horrible time,” Curt Kirkwood says. “It was really dark. It was only a matter of time until we couldn’t exist as a band.”
But Cris Kirkwood finally cleaned up his act — and the Meat Puppets live again.
“The good thing is that Cris isn’t going back (to drugs),” Curt Kirkwood says. “He went through way too much with the penal system and ... well, with drugs. I wouldn’t wish what he went through on anybody. It’s terrible. It’s great to have a second chance. A lot of our friends didn’t get that second chance. Some of them died and we’re thrilled to have another chance.”
Shandon Sahm, the son of Texas roots-rock legend Doug Sahm, is on board this time out. The trio made an album that has the qualities of vintage Meat Puppet material with “Rat Farm.” The latest batch of songs, which will be showcased Monday at Underground Arts, are freewheeling, eccentric and satisfying.
The new cuts fit right in with songs from the adventurous but innocent classics “Meat Puppets 2” and “Up On the Sun.”
And for once, timing has been right for the Meat Puppets, who reunited when peers such as Dinosaur Jr. and Pavement reformed.
“Cris got out of prison just as all of these bands were reuniting,” Curt Kirkwood says. “There was that cry for ‘90s nostalgia, but I always thought of us as an ‘80s band.
"We existed that whole decade, but then again, I don’t know what we are. All I know is that we’re still here and that’s a good thing.”
The Meat Puppets and Cass McCombs will co-headline Monday at Underground Arts, 1200 Callowhill St., Philadelphia. Show time: 8 p.m. Tickets: $15. Information: undergroundarts.org.
Accessed: 10/27/14
http://www.theintell.com/life-style/local-entertainment/meat-puppets-making-most-of-a-second-chance/article_a0ec85b8-496c-578c-8bc5-74fca8123857.html