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Off the Record features interviews with local and national musicians as aired on WKNC 88.1 FM HD-1/HD-2.
Adrian Lopez 0:00
Hello, hello, welcome to WKNC 88.1 HD one, Raleigh. This is your radio Bart here with a special interviewer. A punk rock legend, if you will. From fans, such as bombed the music industry, the arrogant sons of bitches, we can say that. And many, many others. We have Jeff Rosen Stein.
Jeff Rosenstock 0:26
Hi, Adrian. Hello. Hello. Hi. I'm doing good hanging out doing good. Nice out. It's kind of cooled off a little bit. That's nice.
Speaker 1 0:33
Oh, yeah. Yeah, no, it has been crazy, crazy hot in the triangle recently. So this has been a good change of weather.
Speaker 2 0:40
Yeah. Yeah, it's been hot this whole tour, I just moved. So California just kind of stays the same the whole time. And I'm just like, what's this weather? I don't understand any of it.
Speaker 1 0:51
Yeah, unbelievable. So I wanted to talk about your new album, cool mode. The station's been loving it. We've got a bunch of songs on there.
Unknown Speaker 1:02
Thanks for playing them.
Speaker 1 1:05
So I wanted to know, kind of how you decided to approach this album in specific, it seems to be a lot more introspective in a way lyrically. So I kind of wanted to know how you decided to tackle the lyricism on the album,
Speaker 2 1:23
I'm not really sure. I mean, like, a lot of these songs, it was just kind of, like, there, it was building over the course, the course of years, you know, and little, like, lyric fragments and stuff like that. And just, you know, just kind of try and bounce back and forth between how a bunch of, you know, a bunch of personal stuff was feeling. But also, like moving across the country, like big things, like moving across the country. Big things that just like, I don't know, like, not like, not necessarily the pandemic itself, but just the feeling of 2020 especially in California with like, wildfire season, just being nuts, and like, you know, kind of being being stuck on the other side of the country away from my home for like, my whole life. And like, the place that I live is like burning down. And not literally not my house, but like this, like the city I live in is on fire. And like I have a lot of friends who were like in the bay or just like, oh, man, we're gonna have to evacuate. And just feeling very intense. And like, you know, and of course, like, kind of like the riots and uprisings and protests and like anti, like, police brutality stuff, and just kind of seeing, like, where that had taken us years later, which is that just like police have more funding, and it's like, nobody was listened to and just like a very bleak kind of vibe, and just kind of like, trying to think about all that stuff, but not in terms of like explaining what's happening, but just like, how, what, like, the piling on of all these things, like how it makes a person feel, you know, whether it leaves space for, for joy, and like how to, like, have that joy and trying to like, find the balance of all those things. And not necessarily like writing lyrics because I'm like, I want to explain how to find the balance or anything like that. But just like it was a lot of like searching within for a while and then eventually like, taking those like lyric fragments and like, going away for like a week to demo all the songs and just like really digging through and just try and be like, what what am I feeling what was I feeling let's write this out, just like trying to go through like the catharsis of like, how like, like, just processing, like, you know, just a challenging time. You know, a challenging, like, a challenging time, that one we all shared and in one regard, but then a lot of other ways. Like, just like very specific stuff that I was going through, like good and bad, just trying to like, you know, figure out what's it all mean, man?
Speaker 1 3:56
No, it's it's really interesting. Tackling the lyrics that way. Um, thanks. I, there were a lot of things. There were a lot of things that I noticed carried on from no dream. Like you're sort of like disapproval of a lot of things going on, especially with what happened with COVID. And I think the way that you have like you said, not necessarily explaining what's going on, but explaining how you feel about it. Yeah. really adds to the relatability of your music like
Unknown Speaker 4:31
Oh, thanks. Yeah,
Unknown Speaker 4:32
like we don't need it. Explain to us Yeah, we
Speaker 2 4:34
all know I mean, it's as clear as day at this point all these things I don't know. Yeah, I don't know it's not like an i It's weird. Well, it's not weird. It's just like none of it's like intentional. I'm just just tried to figure out just try to deal with some stuff you know,
Speaker 1 4:51
yeah. Yeah. No, I think I think that's what a lot of listeners appreciate is not coming off as some some profit. Yeah. Oh, Um, yeah,
Unknown Speaker 5:01
it's a great brand. Yeah, it's all part of my scheme.
Speaker 1 5:06
What's next? No one's catching on yet. Yeah, profit phase will become
Unknown Speaker 5:09
a profit phases coming.
Speaker 1 5:12
Yeah. There, there are a couple lyrics that to me stood out that I kind of want to get a little bit more insight on. Sure. From the mouth. Yeah, man, let's do it. Like in the song. The future is dumb us a lyric that I think a lot of us, especially around the triangle with a lot that's been going on a lot of violence. A lot of tragedies have been going on in the triangle recently. The lyric of it's weird that we become numb to it. We've grown accustomed to the fear. Yeah. I think is very direct. And I just wanted to know, sort of what you think about that? What has kind of drawn you to talk about that in your music?
Speaker 2 5:57
Well, I mean, it's just kind of it's something that eats at me, you know what I mean? Like? I mean, I think about there, there was a shooting today, right at UNC it was, and it's just like, I know, because Mike saw somebody say it on Twitter. And like that was kind of it is got to the point where they were like, school shootings are so pervasive, and shootings and mass murders are so pervasive that like, we're just like, Okay, another one happened, because they make us feel powerless to stop it, because nobody in charge will do anything. They'll like, take their dog to have a photo op, and they'll like, whatever. But like, no, like meaningful change is happening. And it just kind of beats you down. And that's just like one example of it. It's like, the wildfires are another example of like, climate change. Another example of it, police brutality, and other example of it is just like, these things are like, we, we know, it's terrible. We know, it's this big thing, but like, they just, it becomes so much that at a certain point, you're just like, it's just like wallpaper, you know? And it's like, no, which is just like, so. Like, it's tragic. But also, it's just weird. It's weird that like, we're in a space where like, you see enough videos of like, the police, like brutally attacking people of color, or like brutally attacking a crowd. That it just like, it registers as another thing where like, every single one of those things, you'd be like, let's get in the streets now and stop this. And like, you know, I don't know. So that's kind of, you know, that
Speaker 1 7:33
line. And you you talked about, you talked about going into the streets and sort of the danger that comes in with your song head if I'm yeah, if I'm remembering correctly. Yeah. And also, sort of like, how annoying it is to have to bring this up all the time. And just sort of be met with a blank stare, no response. It's definitely a very important message in your new album. I feel that wasn't those were a bunch of other lyrics that I had taken note of, like, a graveyard for the things that need to die. Yeah, I'm talking about how there's just no talking to people deceived by fascist. Yeah. It's, it's really important. And kind of sad to sure to have all these issues and ya know, in a way, the response you're gonna get talking about it. Yeah, I
Speaker 2 8:34
mean, it's a it's, it's weirdly it's a weirdly sad time to be alive. Because like, especially like the line, you're talking about going, I want to be wrong, but there's no talking to people to see my fascist. It's like they've been deceived. Like, it's just people who, like, people are brainwashed against, like, the interests of humanity. And it's, uh, you know, it's a typical thing to see and to, like, scream about and to, like, you know, have like, gathered in the streets or whatever, and, like, you know, you vote but like, you know, you feel demoralized because you're generally voting for people who don't actually represent you. It's just like, the closest thing you could get and it's still like, all kinds of evil. Also, I want to clarify like, I don't feel like I'm any sort of political expert or like that I have like, any kind of like, I feel stupid when I talk about these things. I know that I need more knowledge I need to know a lot more like if I'd be run off my mouth and stuff but like, I don't know it's just like it's how it's how it feels and it's sad. It was like it's sad that it happens it's sad it's nothing's done about it. It's sad that things like I don't know police like cuddling in protesters on like bridges in Manhattan. So they could be out past curfew so they could like beat people up is like how does that happen? It's like, no but and like the video goes up and it's just like alright, well there's there's just another video that's bad. Like, how does that happen? And like, things don't change? It's just like, and I mean, the answer is of the people in power. They're all you know, they're all it benefits all the people in power. So you know, it's turned
Speaker 1 10:11
into kind of an issue of the week. Yeah, for for
Unknown Speaker 10:15
for all of our weeks for all the rest of remaining weeks, I'll be alive until somebody actually does something.
Speaker 1 10:21
Well, who knows? Maybe Maybe, yeah, you educate yourself some more? And then you go on the campaign to hell? No. No, no, thank you. Yeah. Yeah. So I kind of want to know, with the, these these lyrics that you have with the music that you produce, and with how long you've sort of been in this industry for decades now. Yeah.
Unknown Speaker 10:52
Great industry.
Speaker 1 10:53
Yeah. I kind of want to, I kind of want to know, where you feel your, your place. And all of this is now with the messages that you're giving in your lyrics. With the shows that you're performing, what kind of outlet you feel you give to people with these same thoughts and experiences,
Speaker 2 11:14
I'm not really sure. Like, I don't, I tried to not approach it from the perspective. And it's selfish, but like, I don't try to approach it from the perspective of like, I am, I'm like, I'm, I want people to feel this way. Or like, even like, I want to be there for the audience, or like, I want to, like, create something that I think people will like, even, I just want to do something that I think I that that makes me feel truthful and makes me feel honest and stuff. And so but it's nice, because I feel like I thank you, thank you, I have a tattoo, someone likes it a news flash. But like, but with that in mind, like I really feel like our audience or like our community, and all that has been really accepting of that. Part of what I do that it is like, I feel comfortable to be able to change how I want to approach music, our approach lyrics. Yeah, but like, I feel, I feel like I don't know, when we're playing these shows, everybody seems really happy and seem and I'm really happy to be in that room with everybody. And like, whether it's me singing the words into the microphone, or people singing the back of feels like the same thing. And it just feels good. So I don't know about my place and like the, in the bills or my place and like the scene or anything like that. But like, more and more is like the more records that like especially this project has put out like, I feel like we're finding people who like they were like, oh, yeah, these were our people. And I feel like we can all kind of relate to each other. I don't know if that's a good answer or not. But it's an answer.
Unknown Speaker 12:51
I think I think it's a fantastic answer.
Speaker 2 12:55
Another fantastic hands. Yep. Crushing it, crushing it, crushing this interview.
Speaker 1 13:00
It does feel like this is very much an outlet for your thoughts. Oh, yeah. Totally negative. Yeah, especially? Sure, sure. In a way, it's it's like, almost like a conversation with the listener or at least that's how I interpreted it. Cool. It, it's, it's a lot of thoughts that very clearly a bunch of a bunch of other people have and resonate with. So I don't think it's selfish at all. You have this as your outlet, not necessarily the intention to create this big army of like minded individual. Yeah, no, I
Speaker 2 13:37
just want to make some tunes. I just want to feel a little better. I just want to, you know, hop on my dumb computer and scream into the microphone a couple of times. So
Speaker 1 13:45
what a what a, what an amazing way to do that. Yeah, I'm lucky. Speaking towards the feeling of being lucky in this position, another line that really sunk in kind of a new introspective idea that I didn't really see it in any of your other albums. Yeah, was in the last song, three summers where you're talking about another person can starve when one person can starve as another one hops into lift plus to JFK to Europe, talking about how you kind of partake in that. And sort of sort of how you feel about that. I kind of wanted to get more thoughts on that. Well, that
Speaker 2 14:28
that like particular line, and the lift plus thing is I've I should have just changed that lyric because that's supposed to firmly place the listener in like 2018 When like a big a big lift was called the lift plus before they were all called exhales anyway, that's just thinking about how like are like, I don't know, we're calling like these luxury SUVs to take us to the airport because it's the biggest car that we could get that could fit all of our gear so we can fly to Europe to play shows and we get to go, we got to go do all the stuff and lie Uh, you know, it's it's our work or whatever. And it is, like exhausting and draining, but also it's really fun. And it's like, you know, I'm like, I personally am just like, I think I think we're all equal and I want to be treated equal. But like, how can, but that's hard to parse some times, with Thank you, they're cheering because I said, We shall be treated equal. It's hard to parse sometimes with the fact that like, I, you know, whether or not it's for being in a band, or not, like, I get to go to Europe for free, regularly, and just walk around Portugal, because I'm in a band. Meanwhile, like, people don't have food and water, like, that's, that's an imbalance that sucks. And like, you know, I don't spend every I don't, I don't like spend every waking moment trying to rectify that I don't try to rectify that basically, at all, I kind of like stay on my path, and I do what I can when I can. But um, you know what I mean? In that song in particular, which is just kind of like, thinking about different phases of my musical life and thinking about the singer world, and Furneaux Friendship Society, Jack terrycloth, who passed away a couple of years ago. And wondering about, like, how he felt about all that, because that was they were really big inspiration him particular for me, and like seeing that, like somebody could be like a true freak, and get out there, do it and get a bunch of people in room like, feeling good. You know what I mean? Like, I hero. Like it was I, that was kind of where that came from, as I was thinking about that. And I'm like, man, like, what am I doing? That's so cool. I'm just like, using an app to get a ride share to get on a plane that uses a bunch of gasoline, you know what I mean? It's obviously not how I always feel about it. And I feel very grateful that I get to do it. But like, I don't know, I do regularly think about, like, there's an imbalance here, and I'm not doing enough to write it, you know, I could do within my own world. And that is really all you can do a lot of the time. But like, you know, outside of like, the thing that I run like, I can't I feel like I can't do anything sometimes. You know,
Speaker 1 17:08
that's, that's definitely that's definitely a perspective I see in a lot of people nowadays. And it was it was very interesting to see sort of your, your perspective on it, since like, you've got garnered a pretty solid amount of success with your music. Thank you very successful, very, very successful, very,
Unknown Speaker 17:28
very successful.
Speaker 1 17:31
So, I wanted to talk also, about your performances, your live music. Since you have been in this biz for so long, seeing sort of clips of your bomb, the music, industry performances, ESAV performances. There's just a certain energy and charisma that you bring to the genre, that I
Unknown Speaker 17:58
want terrible energy, a terrible curse.
Unknown Speaker 18:00
Everyone hates everyone. No one wants to learn about it all. I'm really weird for wanting to
Unknown Speaker 18:05
Yeah, what's your problem.
Speaker 1 18:09
But I wanted to know, especially with how catchy this new album is, I wanted to know if the sort of live sound or thought of playing this music, live plays in any role into how you produce your music, or sort of paste it out.
Speaker 2 18:23
I'm on this one a little bit on this one. I really was trying to think about like when me Mike, Dan, Kevin and John play together. What will we be playing? Can we just can we, like we always track or like or records or records live? And, you know, then there's a bunch of overdubs that go into it and everything and like, no dream was pretty like cynthy and pretty, like, I don't know, if you can even tell was like a lot of fuzzy thick synths and like, like, like, hazy stuff. In this one, I was really trying to think about, like, well, like, what's like a big sound we could get by five of us playing together. And it's cool and allotted for a bit of space for a lot more space and stuff and the arrangements and I didn't really think about how it would go over live or even how it would feel to play live. It was just like, what would we what would be something that we could pull off live in the room that like we don't have to add that much on to later. Yeah. And it's been fun to play it live. Just because the pace is a lot different and it gives us it like I don't know, it's fun to like play some Groovers every now and then and then also like, like the rippin was like things like sounds like future is dumb and head are just like really really really fun to like, when they when they open up a cut loose it feels very like satisfying playing it and stuff like that. Yeah,
Speaker 1 19:45
yeah, no, those were the exact two songs I was thinking about. Talking about like, listening to them for the first time being like, oh, people are gonna cheer this the chorus of this I'll stop
Unknown Speaker 19:57
what they're doing, sir. Cheering
Speaker 1 19:58
Yeah. Yeah. And I wanted to know, whenever you do perform, and in your career performing, what do you what do you kind of find important in giving a good live performance, a good concert experience, be it with your music, seeing other people live something that you appreciate, in concert experiences,
Speaker 2 20:24
I think just not being I think not being bored is already a really low bar. And I feel like many bands just don't have it in them to do that. And I'm like, Really, you could have just like, not seem uninterested. But I think like, the bands that I always find myself drawn to are bands that have, like, have fun and like, seem to enjoy playing music with each other. And not necessarily in like a like, hey, everybody do like the like, wave your arms around, or like marching place or whatever, I don't know. Like that. Not like, you know, like, that kind of thing. But just like bands, like you see, like, I remember, every time I've seen the weaker them's like they're having such a good time. And I think about their music in that like, that was not what I expected. The first time I saw them that like John K, Sampson would be kind of like Malvan off about stuff. And then I'll just be goofing of like, this is great. And like I like that's the kind of thing I like to see when I go to shows. And I think that's just kind of like how we like to play together. When we practice. Like, we like to play together on stage. You know, I think there might be some sort of, I do, like, run around a lot of sweat a lot of jump a lot, but that's just how I play that isn't like any sort of, like, I want to, I want to like, I want to, like do a thing or anything or like I'm gonna give these people a show or anything like that. Like, that's just like I try. I try so hard to stand still. And like, I just can't like this, like, these practices for this tour. Like as much as like, Alright, I'm gonna try and do it. And then like, first show, it's just like, yeah, that's all out the window. I'm still just like moving around stuff.
Unknown Speaker 22:07
You gotta gotta have your tour manager chain your leg?
Unknown Speaker 22:09
Yeah. Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 1 22:13
No, that's That's crazy to think that like, you're trying to sit still. I saw you. I saw you at Cat's Cradle a couple years ago. Yeah. After no dream and sky dream released. And you were like, on the rafters? Oh, yeah. against the walls. Oh, I've never seen someone do this. I gotta go
Speaker 2 22:30
somewhere I used I used to like, I mean, that's a part of the set. But like, I used to really like getting in the crowd and everybody like, singing together and stuff. And it feels really good. But like now, I don't know. I can like it, especially like right now because there's a freakin like spike and COVID. It's like, okay, I could if I get in the crowd, what? Like, what happens if, like, now cool. I got COVID We got to cancel like five days of her tour seven days of her tour. Because we don't want to like spread stuff. And I know, like, whatever. We don't want to talk about it anymore, whatever. But it's still like legitimate concern. Like, if you're doing our job that like you cannot get it because like, it messes up a week of your life. And then you can't really get it back. You have to find somewhere else to do it is like, oh, all because like I was gonna stage dive today. Like, it's feels like the risk reward just isn't quite there yet. Anyway, so I'm just like, what is the cool thing? I get it? What is something else I could do? That feels good. And I'd end up on the rafters playing a saxophone or whatever. Yeah. That was
Speaker 1 23:32
an incredible way to do it. Because I've gone to a lot of shows here. And I've never seen anyone. Oh, really? Would that
Speaker 2 23:38
be up there all the time? They stacked a bunch of chairs up there today. So I don't know if I could I don't know if I'll be able to make it up there. They remember I want to Yeah, they were like, let's get this guy out. And this
Speaker 1 23:46
guy needs to stay on the stage. Yeah. Got the tour manager to shackle him to the stage. Yeah. Yeah. I also wanted to know, in your career, is there a performance that you have done? Be it through your current project on the music industry or any other projects that you've been a part of? Is there any performance that specifically stands out to you in terms of where like you're really feeling in the zone, your bands really feeling?
Speaker 2 24:13
I wouldn't say that but I would say the performance that stands out to me it was when Bond the music industry was on tour with big deal and the kids table and suburban legends and less than Jake and no one everyone at the shows hated us. And so at one of the shows, we came out to bulls on parade by Rage Against the Machine. But then when it kicked in, we just played the entire song. And then we played our set in order from slowest to fastest or from fastest to slowest. Yeah. And no one liked to like to ever was like, What are why? Why are they there? They weren't even like why they were just standing there. bummed that performance is one that's better remember why is these hooligans? What
Unknown Speaker 25:00
are they doing?
Unknown Speaker 25:01
What are they doing playing slow to fast? You can't do that
Speaker 1 25:03
and do that you play your best songs and leave. Yeah, you played
Speaker 2 25:07
an order that gives me a good feeling not this weird like ramp up, or maybe was ramped down. I bet it was fast to slow that seems more like what we would do
Speaker 1 25:17
a ramp. Drop in the frogs and boiling water. Yeah, you down. Yeah. Yeah. Another thing that I find really interesting, especially about your recent performances and tours, is your selection of like, or at least the people who go on tour with you like the openers. Like solder beach dog has a very different sound from you. Yeah, but seeing them perform really? Yeah. Really nice. A little a little romantic. But seeing them perform with you was was really interesting because hearing them I would have never expected like, oh, they'll tour with Jeff Rosenstock or so I kind of wanted to know what draws you to touring with these artists. Are they just ones you really like really respect?
Speaker 2 26:04
Yeah, me them particularly like their friends, their homies and I was stoked that they want to tour with us. Like I don't really, I really don't think about like what bands like would fit in our wheelhouse musically, I probably tend to feel the opposite of that. Because I like shows that have different kinds of bands playing was just like, you know, we tour bands that I like we tour with bands. We're friends with just kind of usual usual kind of thing. Yeah, sloth and slaughter beach dogs at the end of that one. We're like sick. Hell yeah.
Speaker 1 26:31
Yeah. I mean, even even this tour, Sydney said, Yeah, I'm a big Gish fan. A bit of a Gish head.
Speaker 2 26:37
It's a cool night. It's cool. Sydney playing before us is fun gets us in a good space.
Speaker 1 26:42
Yeah, no, it's it's amazing to have concert planned out like that. Like there was a tour. Last year, I think with JPEG mafia snare mill. I saw that style. Yeah,
Speaker 2 26:54
I saw that. And I was like, that's a that's a lineup. It's just cool. Yeah, that's, that's what I want to see.
Speaker 1 27:01
It's it's, it's also crazy, seeing like, the indie crowd with the punk crowd with the hip hop crowd. Like the hardcore Yeah, no, it's it's it's an amazing atmosphere. And I'm sure we'll be seeing that tonight. Yeah, I
Speaker 2 27:15
hope so. Music is fun. I don't know.
Speaker 1 27:21
Yeah, so that kind of wraps it up. All right, for what I wanted to get from you. Great. Cool. Thanks for talking. Well, thank you for letting me talk to you for sure. Yeah, incredible album. Thanks, Adrian. Thank you. And I'm prepped for an incredible performance. Oh, we do. Okay, incredible openers.
Unknown Speaker 27:45
Today I'll be the one will do. Okay.
Speaker 1 27:47
It will be the one please let it be the one please let it be the one. Is there anything you want to say to anyone listening?
Speaker 2 27:55
I don't want to say anything. Does anyone know? Yeah. Yes. Be nice to be nice to people.
Speaker 1 28:02
Yeah, all right. That's a good closing message except for him. He doesn't want to be nice to you at all. No way. I want to be
Speaker 2 28:08
nice. I never said that. I just selfish. You know, I just want to be selfish and nice. Too much house.
Unknown Speaker 28:18
No, not at all. Not
Unknown Speaker 28:19
I'm the main character.
Speaker 1 28:21
That's what you gotta look like. Oh. All right. All right. Cool. Thank you. We'll be going back to your regularly scheduled music hope you've enjoyed this exclusive Jeff Rosenstock interview and hope you have a great day. This is your radio Bart again. You are listening to WKNC at a point one HD one Raleigh.
Transcribed by https://otter.ai