An Interview with Pedro the Lion
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The Misconstrued Team headed Down To Birmingham to enjoy a Pedro the Lion/Death Cab for Cutie Show. We sat down a bit with Pedro the Lion to learn more about the band.
The concert was supurb. If you aren't familiar with Pedro the Lion they are a mellow indie rock band. Termed emo sometimes, it would be on the calm non tempermental scale of folk emo music.
Those songs played among others included: (Links to video clips have audio trouble (since I dropped the camerea).)
When They Really Get to Know You they will Run
Penetration
New Song from Achilles' Heel
Just Talking about Birmingham/another tour name Paperback
New Song from Achilles' Heel
Foregone Con
Big Trucks
Rapture
Criticism
David Bazan the mastermind of Pedro the Lion, is just a down to earth nice guy, with a thinking head on his shoulders. His concern and sencerity is seen in his music and shows.
Bazan is the only central part to a group that has been made up of over 30 people over the last 4 albums of release. However, based on this it is obvious who is the cohesive force of the group.
We will have a review of their new Album Achiles Heel soon enough, but you can visit the site and listen a bit to there music now!
We were able to get some time with David Bazan (Lead Singer/Band Leader), as well as Tim Walsh (Drums).
Listen to his responses on:
Some have Called Pedro a Christian Band, what Is Bazan's Response to this?
What is the song Of Minor Prophets and Their Prostitute Wives About?
The Latest Band Members Explain How they were added to Pedro
Does the Band Hope to make it Big?
What does the Word Misconstrued make Walsh think of?
Continue reading the extended entry to Read the entire interview with him, and watch some video clips of his response to various questions.
Of course there was more to the interview as well here are some other questions and responses of the interview with Bazan.
J- What do you think of the South?
D-I really like the south. Southern accent is so warm and inviting. People are really nice even in big cities. I love that. You think Mark Twain and such, its just great. I mean, I love black folks. They are a comfort to see. Make me happy. And there’s just not as many up north.
J-What do you think of the latest review of the album on allmuic?
D-Their review of the latest album…that was flattering. I don’t even know if its as good as they say it is.
Ben Kweller walkes in
Conversation with Ben
D-How’d it feel man?
B-felt like crap. Nah..its just dark, red lights and all. Hate that man. But I love the star. The star was awesome.
J-you guys do some great music.
D-well, these guys have some talent. Its just about working hard, filling in the gaps.
J-What was your best tour?
D-for me most special tour was with Bed Head. I just loved those guys. Texas Band. Mid 90’s broke up and formed New Year. Well they went on tour and asked me to open for them, and that amazing. I opened solo for them. I’d get to the show and hang out with them. Just asking them “Ya know this song, what made you write that?” and “This lyric here…that’s great!” just great times with them and hanging out. That was a great tour.
T-What is the meaning of the Priest and paramedics song?
D-My uncle, he was a paramedic. And so there was this one guy in the neighborhood who was ya know…drug addict, drunk, and all the time getting in trouble. And one night, I guess he just got way too messed up and ended up getting some 3rd degree burns. Yeah, real bad. And he’s in the ambulance and my uncles there with him. And the guy just would not calm down and seriously was freaking out. Coming in and out of consciousness and going crazy asking “Am I gonna die!? Am I gonna Die!?!?” My uncle he was trained, as all paramedics are, to never tell the person they are gonna die. But this guy was just going nuts. So my uncle looks at him, knowing he was going to die cause he was just so bad off, and my uncle looks him in the eyes and knew he had to level with him. So he tells him straight up “You are gonna die tonight man. In fact, prolly in the next 15 minutes. So you better get yourself straight with God and make sure your ready.” And the dude just calmed down and went into a daze and just… I guess got himself straight with God and such. And then of course he did die that night, about 15 or 20 minutes later he did die. So I just took that story about a man, and made it into a song about a husband and went from there.
T-well its an amazing song. One of my favorites.
Comments
Jerm,
Did Bazan know you were a witness? If so, I thought his comment about not believing in telling strangers about your beliefs was interesting.
D.A.
Posted by: D.A. | April 27, 2004 09:48 AM
Yeah, right after he said that, I told him We were witnesses. Got a moment to say a little about that.
Posted by: itzjerm | April 27, 2004 10:03 AM
I too have noticed a trend lately with artists having a dislike for sharing your religious/ spiritual beliefs with others. Just look at the song "Heaven" by Live this past year (a preachy song about not wanting to be preached to? ha...), also the band 311's new album Evolution has an entire song about the very same thing so it's great you called this guy on his ear, jeremy. Speaking of giving a good witness has anyone here seen the excellent story NPR ran on the Witnesses being banned in Moscow? Very fair and it exposes the Orthodox church for manipulating the govt into getting rid of competing religions such as the Witnesses "...the fastest growing religion in Russia." A few other highlights are brothers and sisters singing kingdom melodies int he background and a brother who explains why the Orthodox faith was not satisfying scripturally. Check it out here:
http://www.npr.org/features/feature.php?wfId=1848315
Posted by: Dylan | April 27, 2004 03:11 PM
Whoops, I meant did anyone *hear* the NPR story. :p
Posted by: Dylan | April 27, 2004 03:14 PM
Thanks for the info Dylan!
D.A.
Posted by: D.A. | April 27, 2004 03:14 PM
I was able to get a brother to capture it as an MP3 file using a Mac program called wiretap. I plan on burning it and playing it for my family and the folks in my business route. If anyone wants it I can send it to them.
Posted by: Dylan | April 27, 2004 03:34 PM
Jeremy, I hate to quadruple post (getting bombed with calls at work and my head is a little frazzled) but what was his reaction when you told him you were Witnesses? In any case I'll have to wait to lsiten to these when I get home, the sound card on this system just went out.
Posted by: Dylan | April 27, 2004 03:40 PM
Oh actually he is a really easy goin guy. He had no issues with it. Was actually fine with it. It was just his view... he didnt want to do it type thing (although he does to some degree). Which as he says puts him in a strange position.
Posted by: itzjerm | April 27, 2004 03:52 PM
Ah, interesting. Thanks for the info. Want me to say "Hi" to Jared Waltzer for ya? :)
Posted by: Dylan | April 27, 2004 04:21 PM
I hopped on a sound equipped system. His comments on Hosea were interesting. Also, I wish the society would make an Isaiah/Daniel style book that collects all the "minor" prophets together. Can you imagine one month in bookstudy you study about Noah, then another Amos, ect.? That would be awesome.
Posted by: Dylan | April 27, 2004 04:52 PM
Sweet, you met Ben Kweller.
Posted by: Javann Says: Shut Up | April 27, 2004 04:53 PM
Actually he appologized to me for interupting our interview with Pedro.
Posted by: itzjerm | April 27, 2004 07:46 PM