New Yorker Adam Green started out his career as one half the Moldy Peaches, who had a surprise retroactive hit thanks to 2007 film Juno. But by that time, Green was already a well-established solo artist, veering away from his old band’s endearing anti-folk territory with a style characterized by vulgar and cheeky lyrics while keeping listeners at an arm’s length. That’s not to say Green’s music (and life) hasn’t undergone its fair share of turbulence and change in the ensuing years, however. And he is certainly in a different place from the last time we spoke with him, as evidenced by his sixth solo album, Minor Love, released in February on Fat Possum. Recorded while living in an L.A. pool house in near-isolation, Minor Love shows us a more stripped-down, intimate side of the singer/songwriter. Green will be guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week. Read our brand new Q&A with him.
Green: People want to know what antifolk is, so: It’s a company started by Daniel Johnston that employs folk singers and rich kids. Everybody used to sing around the piano and do cover songs, but now that the Moldy Peaches are famous, the emphasis is on stand-up comedy and mime. Musicians like Ish Marquez and Turner Cody sing parody songs, spoofs and satires, while onlookers like Devendra Banhart from Little Joy throw coins into the tip jar. The biggest star is Adam Green’s wife Binki Shapiro, who is also a hostess there. Her uncle is novelty comedian Rick Shapiro, who has two or three gags that never get old. Occasionally, a newcomer like Daniel Bernstein, Darwin Deez or Toby Goodshank will get a chance to sing, but usually a big shot like Regina Spektor will grab the mic away and never give it back. Now that Seth Hebert from Dufus is gonna buy the club, we can only expect that it will be a shadow of its former glory before long. Psyche. Video after the jump.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2JUZELwHLmw
