On the 30th anniversary of Pony Express Record, Craig Wedren looks back on the era with more wonder than regret. To say he simply "survived" the nineties would be a literal understatement.
“Well, if we’re going to make any kind of move, we’d better really show them what they’re signing.”
I remember when Pony Express Record came out, I realized they'd gotten signed to a major label, and my inirial reaction was "what were they thinking? This is not mass-appeal music." Not in a gatekeepy way, just recognizing that Shudder To Think could be sort of an acquired taste, and a lot of bands got swept up in that post-Nevermind signing frenzy that were never going to translate to wider appeal. It did seem llike a record that was 110% Shudder To Think.
But looking back, a lot of really interesting stuff came out of DC post-Revolution Summer. Fire Party, Lungfish, Shudder To Think, Rites of Spring...stuff with hardcore energy in musical forms that were increasingly further from hardcore.
It was an interesting time for sure. The guy who signed Shudder (and Pearl Jam and Rage Against the Machine) also tried to sign Texas is the Reason. I do feel like he was sincerely signing bands for the art of it. PJ and RATM gave him carte blanche to get freaky so he did. I respect it!
Oh for sure, there were definitely bands from that period who could have (and in some cases did) go on to bigger things. If Texas had gotten signed, I wouldn't have batted an eye. But bands like The Jesus Lizard, Melvins, and Shudder To Think...like, as much as I love each of those bands, I don't see any of them putting out the next Nevermind.
Love this interview. I always felt Shudder to Think was beyond my understanding and didntvgive them a fair shake after their 2nd record. Which is weird because I dug out there music when I was a teen and actually got more "rulesy" if you will in my 20s. Craig seems so genuine and cool. I must take a trip down the Shudder to Think catalogue.
Obviously, I took a trip down the catalog lane while working on this and I can definitely say that I cannot think of many bands who have an entire catalog of music, no exceptions, that holds up this well.
THIS: "I make music virtually all day, you know? This was not the case back then because you’re dealing with other shit. You’ve got to wait for your bandmates, you’ve got to get to the venue, you’ve got to set up. There’s always so much downtime. Now I just make music all the time and I’m so happy most of the time. Then, I was almost never happy or free or relaxed. It was so fraught."
“Well, if we’re going to make any kind of move, we’d better really show them what they’re signing.”
I remember when Pony Express Record came out, I realized they'd gotten signed to a major label, and my inirial reaction was "what were they thinking? This is not mass-appeal music." Not in a gatekeepy way, just recognizing that Shudder To Think could be sort of an acquired taste, and a lot of bands got swept up in that post-Nevermind signing frenzy that were never going to translate to wider appeal. It did seem llike a record that was 110% Shudder To Think.
But looking back, a lot of really interesting stuff came out of DC post-Revolution Summer. Fire Party, Lungfish, Shudder To Think, Rites of Spring...stuff with hardcore energy in musical forms that were increasingly further from hardcore.
It was an interesting time for sure. The guy who signed Shudder (and Pearl Jam and Rage Against the Machine) also tried to sign Texas is the Reason. I do feel like he was sincerely signing bands for the art of it. PJ and RATM gave him carte blanche to get freaky so he did. I respect it!
Oh for sure, there were definitely bands from that period who could have (and in some cases did) go on to bigger things. If Texas had gotten signed, I wouldn't have batted an eye. But bands like The Jesus Lizard, Melvins, and Shudder To Think...like, as much as I love each of those bands, I don't see any of them putting out the next Nevermind.
(Scowl, on the other hand...)
norm, please interview Gi (Fugazzi)
Love this interview. I always felt Shudder to Think was beyond my understanding and didntvgive them a fair shake after their 2nd record. Which is weird because I dug out there music when I was a teen and actually got more "rulesy" if you will in my 20s. Craig seems so genuine and cool. I must take a trip down the Shudder to Think catalogue.
Obviously, I took a trip down the catalog lane while working on this and I can definitely say that I cannot think of many bands who have an entire catalog of music, no exceptions, that holds up this well.
Remarkable interview. As usual, your research, your intelligence, and your otherworldly capacity for connection make this an amazing read.
THIS: "I make music virtually all day, you know? This was not the case back then because you’re dealing with other shit. You’ve got to wait for your bandmates, you’ve got to get to the venue, you’ve got to set up. There’s always so much downtime. Now I just make music all the time and I’m so happy most of the time. Then, I was almost never happy or free or relaxed. It was so fraught."