A conversation with Dave Pirner of Soul Asylum

By Ian Losz.

A survivor of the turbulent grunge era of rock, Dave Pirner, lead singer and founding member of SOUL ASYLUM, sat down with Ian Losz for Xperience Monthly/RadioradioX prior to their sold-out show at Saratoga’s Universal Preservation Hall.

RRX: Let’s talk technology, Dave. You had a very rare album out called “Time’s Incinerator” (1986) that only came out on cassette tape. Is that true

Dave Pirner: That’s correct.

RRX: You’ve come a long way from the days of cassette tapes.

DP: I don’t remember what the last cassette we put out with a recorder was, but we did put out a limited cassette with one of the albums.

RRX: On Soul Asylum’s video of “Misery,” it shows a CD factory making compact discs.

DP: Right.

RRX: So you’ve seen the different cycles of how music is found, played, and listened to. How do you listen to music now?

DP: Vinyl. Yeah, I got a turntable set up. A whole mess of records. It’s like a thing. I mean, you have to get up and turn it over, you know.  You do some extra work, but it’s pretty easy with a computer or whatever to have a playlist for you.  But I like the way vinyl sounds and I have the stereo in the living room, and I don’t know how other people do it anymore, but it’s good to me.

RRX: Sure. It’s a way people can become invested in the music.

DP:  Yeah.

RRX: So let’s talk pop culture …

Some amazing bits and pieces struck me. You guys released “Clam Dip & Other Delights,” featuring your bass player, Karl Mueller, posing as a parody of Herb Albert’s “Whipped Cream” album cover.

DP: Yeah. When I was a little kid, the one record my parents had that intrigued me was Herb Albert’s “Whipped Cream & Other Delights” because there’s a woman covered in whipped cream on the cover. Which kind of got me into the music, and then I became a trumpet player. And then later decided to sign for A&M Records (Albert’s record label). So it’s a crazy connection.

The justice of, let’s cover Karl in clam dip, was just another one of those stupid ideas that you’re kind of kidding around, but Karl was game.

RRX:  You guys played at President Clinton’s inaugural event. And then you worked on Kevin Smith’s “Clerks” and “Clerks II” films. Did you change anything in your compositions for those musically?

DP:  I’ve always been a movie fan. Scoring the music for “Chasing Amy” (another Kevin Smith film) was probably one of the more fun work experiences I’ve had.

It kind of became a thing, where I hadn’t made, at least professionally, incidental music. It kind of got me into this headspace where you know, all kinds of music can be incidental.  It got me into a situation where the actors became the voice, the vocalist scoring the conversation.  And I did it all by myself. All the instruments and stuff. It was great. I always loved his (Kevin Smith) sensibilities and his movies.

RRX: That leads to your connection with social, somewhat political, and economic aspects. You were part of fundraising in North Dakota after the Red River flood.  You’ve been a supporter of the Kill Kancer program, in honor of the late Karl Mueller, who died of cancer. And in Soul Asylum’s “Runaway Train” video, you featured missing children, which was edited to show local children as it was broadcast globally. And with your Minneapolis (home of Soul Asylum) in the news …

DP: Minneapolis has had a terrible winter. Being involved in that stuff is really important to me. It’s the least I could do – play some music that raises awareness or raises money for people who need help.

Those were some cold, cold protests over the winter.

RRX: Those are tough people, Dave. Spiritually, physically, mentally.

Before Soul Asylum, you played as Loud Fast Rules and also Proud Crass Fools. You have an album called “Slowly But Shirley”(laughing). Rock people love the tongue-in-cheek stuff. Obviously, as time has passed, you’re not necessarily playing it loud and fast now. How does it feel to be bringing live music acoustically to audiences now? What’s changed?

DP: (laughing) nah. I mean, the process is pretty much the same. It’s very … a whole hell of a lot of travel. Just going to where people are … which is here. And you know – lucky me.

It’s a sold-out show, and it’s acoustic. You know, so I miss the really, really loud situation where no one can fucking talk. So that keeps me on my toes.

RRX: Is there maybe a little part of you that wants to break out in the middle of these acoustic sets?

DP: Yeah. I’m ready to play my Marshall (amplifier).

RRX: I’ve read a lot of criticism and descriptions of Soul Asylum and your music. I found what I thought was interesting.  It’s only one person’s point of view, but sometimes fans can say a lot in one sentence. It said, “When these dudes were on the airwaves, life was just better “.

DP: Yeah. It’s nice that rock bands were so popular for a while.

RRX: Thanks, Dave.

DP: No problem. Thanks, my friend.

Read another interview with Dave Pirner here …