Conan Neutron’s Protonic Reversal

Latest Episodes:

Ep149: Billy Gould (Faith No More, Talking Book) Mar 31, 2020

Show notes

The one and only Billy Gould finally comes on Protonic Reversal! Billy and his coharts have an awesome new The Talking Book album. A project that evokes eno-like soundscapes as well as 70s film soundtracks. Conan and Billy talk about that, many things Faith No More and… Milk Cult? -Talking Book II-70s film soundtracks -9 year gap -Structured but not structured -“It’s not ready until it’s ready” -Adding a member to a very subjective and subconscious enterprise -Not the same as getting a new band member. -Milk Cult! -Faith No More going into new directions the audience didn’t necessarily expect -Being known as a “rock guy.” -Old San Francisco -(Men of) Porn -Playing in Jello Biafra’s band -Faith No More reunion and complex relationships. -Songs with problems “We fixed ’em!” -Getting the call from Wayne Kramer to play in the MC50 -The pressure. -Playing with Brendan Canty -“If you do something, see it though -Choose a journey where you don’t care about the destination. -The many moods and styles of guitar players of Faith More. -FNM as alchemy -Slap bass demo tapes -touring vs. recording -Live shows with Talking Book -Kool Arrow: the genre is “good”

Ep148: Buzz Osborne (Melvins) Mar 26, 2020

Show notes

Buzz Osborne returns to Protonic Reversal to discuss quarantines, the new acoustic(+) album Gift of Sacrifice, songwriting, gear and lots, lots more. -Quarantine Life -EP, Acoustic Records and covering Six Pack -Trevor Dunn! -Limited edition handmade stuff -“You don’t HAVE to buy it.” -Suiting songs to the player -Steven McDonald in the band -How people listen to music -Vintage vs. useful –Hilbish Design! –EGCs -Vinyl vs. cds -Songwriting and “banking songs” -Picking up a guitar to write vs. just to play. -“You don’t want the fourth of july at all times.” -Letting the lightning strike

Ep147: Jonathan Nuñez (Torche) Mar 19, 2020

Show notes

Jonathan Nuñez of the mighty Torche joins Conan for a talk that includes: -Nuñez Amplification and pedals -The current “golden age” of small scale, handmade gear. -Moving from bass go guitar. -Parting ways with Andrew -Parting ways with Juan -The extended family of Miami rockers. -The absolutely insane journey of Torche’s post-Russian/Greece Covid-19 tour -Covid-19 lifestyle changes -Torche “Part Time Punks” sessions -Jonathan’s path into recording and playing music. And tons more!

Ep146: Mark Lanegan (Mark Lanegan Band, Queens of the Stone Age, Gutter Twins, Screaming Trees) Mar 05, 2020

Show notes

-Doing the video with Travis and Joe (and Donel!) -Video with Jimmy the cab driver (reprising that character after years) -Making the other video at the Salton Sea with still photographs -“Don’t mind the crickets.” -The book! “Sing Backwards and Weep” (and companion piece record) -Recording the companion piece record to the book and linking the songs to it. -“A pandora’s box of shitty memories.” -Working with Rob Marshall of Humanist. -Making a double record/great double records. -Opening for Watt -Blues Funeral -Meet and greets at the merch table and getting ghost pain from shaking hands. -Complicated hand shake non-engagement -Older audiences. -Picking a setlist with so much material. -Ripping off Leonard Cohen -Rated R and joining Queens of the Stone Age -Gutter Twins with Greg Dulli -Playing on each other’s records, vs. working on things together. -Meeting Greg Dulli (and initially wanting to kick ass ass) -“Secret beef!” -Josh Homme in Screaming Trees -Walking the streets with Josh Homme, and Josh being misidentified as a cop! -The Conner brothers. -The story of the Screaming Trees. -Publically learning how to make records -Different crowds knowing different eras of the music. -Artist vs. entertaintainer vs. guy who stands there and sings. -Stooges and being in Iggy’s sights

Ep145: Creston Spiers (Harvey Milk) Feb 12, 2020

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Conan Neutron's Protonic Reversal

Ep144: Kevin Rutmanis (hepa.titus, The Cows, Melvins, Tomahawk) Jan 31, 2020

Show notes

At last! Kevin Rutmanis comes on Protonic Reversal, a delightful conversation with a self-identified genuine musical weirdo that is not heard from NEARLY OFTEN enough! In this episode Conan and Kevin talk about: -Covering Night Goat in Hepa.Titus -Boutique vinyl, human hands touch almost ever piece! -Finding Alice Cooper (who also hated everybody) -AM Radio inspiration and enjoyment -Da Blues! -Not picking up the bass until 28, he was very busy. -The Cows, a nasty bunch of creeps that also played music. Inspiration by other bands not being great. -SLIDE bass! -New generations getting into “weird” music and finding music in general. -Cape Fear guy. -Recording the last “Cows” record and then joining the Melvins. -Buzz wanting the Kevin thing. -The story of Tomahawk, Kevin’s tale. A contrast in musical approaches. (thanks Buzz!) -the story of Hepa.Titus, from early to now. -How great is Paul Christensen? -The Bass V-I… Kevin R. is NOT a gear guy -Electrical Guitar Company necks.

Ep143: Mike Watt (Minutemen, fIREHOSE, The Stooges) Jan 23, 2020

Show notes

What happens when you get two rock ‘n roll talkers together? Good, good stuff. Sit tight for a momentous protonic with the legendary Mr. Mike Watt. The movement! Minutemen! Stooges! more… -Technology! As tool of punk rock/DIY -DROOOOOOONE -Composing with BASS! (…and leaving room for the others that way) -Contemplating the engine room -Ballhog or Tugboat?: band as comp tape! -Pedro -Nautical imagery and Watt’s dad, ships and touring bands -Gigs v. flyers -Taking turns in punk rock. -Bumper stickers/No Littering, etc. -Perception is 9/10 of the law. -Driving the van -Il Sogno del Marinaio -taking turns and different roles. -Playing stuff that you didn’t write. -Plowhard (not blowhard!) -The story of Watt joining up with the Stooges. J. Mascis and the Fog, etc. -“First you rip of a guy, then you play with him.” -The songs end when they end. -Little Doll/Pharoah Sanders -Uniform music and punk rock. -“Steve, BLOW!” -Stooges crowd age. -Delivering the songs of the Stooges. -IGGY!… focus on Iggy. -Letting the freak flag fly. -Double Nickels on the Dime -Keeping it succinct: Ummagumma -Zen Arcade v. Double Nickels: friendly arms race/game of chicken -wearing the (proverbial) Carmen Miranda hat. -Treble v. Bass -Recording budgets for Minutemen. -Jam econo: way of life, not slogan -The Watt from Pedro show. -If you want a good crop, use a lot of manure. -Why do you do what you do?

Ep142: Matt Cronk (Qui, Cunts) Jan 17, 2020

Show notes

First episode of 2020 is up! Matt Cronk of Qui and Cunts speaks to Conan about all things rock! -Quite a bit of talk about midwest vs. L.A. -Cunts origin story -AmRep/Touch and Go style or Hardcore Band? -The name, reactions or non-reactions thereof. “If you’re offender by it, it’s probably not for you… and that’s fine” -Being in a band that is getting a little bit of attention while being a musician approaching middle age. -“While they argue about riffs, I can look at girls on tinder” -Qui… and Anything Goes! -Genre vs. Emotional Response. -Qui on recharge status -Covering “Goin’ Out West” -Hardcore bands lack of originality. -“I just want to listen to Captain Beefheart and REM -David Yow joining Qui -Qui recording Ashtry Heart with Buzz Osborne, Dale Drover, Trevor Dunn and Kevin Rutmanis -Ramones vs. Eric Dolphy: respect to both, different skill sets.

Ep141: Donna Diane (Djunah, Beat Drun Juel) Jan 11, 2020

Show notes

Conan talks to Donna about the Djunah full length Ex-Voto. Going over on a song by song basis, as well as the VERY BUSY YEAR that the band has had. There is talk of Donna’s previous band Beat Drun Juel as well… and gosh darn it, it’s just a great talk.

Ep140: Greg Saunier (Deerhoof) Oct 16, 2019

Show notes

It’s long overdue! But Greg Saunier of the mighty Deerhoof is finally on Protonic Reversal! -Blueberry tea. -San Francisco then vs. now and various tech stories. -Music scenes where everybody participates -Deerhoof finding it’s audience, an audience that likes to be surprised. -Corporations consolidating music together. -Greg and Conan talk about the early beginnings of Deerhoof. -Halfbird -Major label sell outs being an anachronism. -George Horn and mastering the crazy first Deerhoof 7″ for Kill Rock Stars -Satomi joining the band after only being in America a few weeks. -Brief forays into politics. -The complete lack of “development” in music now, and it’s vitality to Deerhoof becoming it’s thing. -tourin’ tourin’ tourin’, at medium sized places around the world. -Spotify and the gross insustainability of things that “seem like the future” but benefit everybody but the artist. -Underground and independent spaces worldwide! -Ed and John. -John’s pickup soccer games. -Political stances in 2019. Also be sure to check out part 2 and part 3!

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