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On episode 80 of the Americana Music Show, Joe Maynard talks about his many-faceted art career in New York City; explains the name of his first band, the Millerite Redeemers; runs through the current band line up and explains how they became The Musties; the advice he got from Ryan Adams; and explains why his band is mapped out to “the rhythm section” and “the weirdos.”
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The Americana Music Show is copyright 2012 by Taproot Media. The music and interviews in this episode are used with permission of the artists. The Taproot Theme music is called “Meltdown Man” by Derek K. Miller of Penmachine.com.
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Maynard and the Musties
Interview Recap
Joe Maynard talks about how Brooklyn is home to many different kinds of people and that members of Maynard and the Musties come from all over the U.S and their drummer is from France. So that’s how they can be an oasis of easy going music in Brooklyn.
Joe Maynard talks about the anti-politically correct title “Cheap Cigar” and that they chose the name Maynard and the Musties to go along with the band name “Maynard and the Musties.”
Joe Maynard sets up the title track, “Cheap Cigar” by describing it as “politics, religion, and sexual morality all tied together.”
[plays "Cheap Cigar"]
Joe Maynard talks about his many different forays into the New York City art scene. He went to Pratt, did art for a long time. He talks about how he did a series of automatic drawings” which contained more and more words, which lead him to writing fiction and zines. He worked at Christie’s for a while. He started writing lyrics and playing guitar.
Joe Maynard talks about how he put the Maynard and the Musties together. He had enough songs written. He met Naa Koshie Mills the fiddle player. They first performed with her as the “Millerite Redeemers.” Joe played in Mo’s Jepson band, Mr. MacGregor, and eventually Joe “adopted” the band and they started calling themselves the Musties because they all worked with old books. Drew Glackon also played with them on lap steel.
Joe tells the story of working at a flea market and talking to Russ Titelman who encouraged hime to make a demo. With Russ’ advice, he booked a recording studio. He also talks about occasionally seeing Ryan Adams at the flea market and Ryan encouraged him to go ahead and make a full album. Ryan Adams played with them on a few tracks on the Maynard and the Mustie’s first CD.
Joe Maynard sets up “Pretty and Cryin’.” It’s based on a long road trip he took to Florida and in Jackson ville he witnessed a commotion in a parking lot and the songs is based on what he saw.
[plays "Pretty and Cryin']
Joe Maynard talks about some of the additional band members. Dikko Faust plays trombone as his “midlife crisis” instrument. Chet Hartin on bass, Gordon Hartin on pedal steel. They are from Texas and their dad was a country musician. Eric “Roscoe” Ambel plays rhythm guitar and Maynard and the Musties plays at his bar, The Lakeside, once a month.
Joe Maynard talks about the way Eric “Roscoe” Ambel helped Maynard and the Musties “map out the group.” Joe, the bass, and drums are “the rhythm section” and everyone else are “the weirdos.” Joe says that actually helped them a lot.
Joe sets up “Marfa.” It’s a town in west Texas known for weird lights in the sky and there is speculation about what the lights are. Are they car head lights? UFOs? Something like the Northern Lights?
[plays "Marfa"]
Joe Maynard points out the myspace page, reverb nation and other sites for the upcoming gigs for Maynard and the Musties. Joe talks about the joys of being self-produced and doing such fun tasks like stuffing inserts into CD jewel case.
