In a recent study, professor Richard Stephens of Keele University found that cursing helps us endure pain for longer periods or, in this specific case, 40 seconds longer. 67 volunteers submerged their hands into ice water in two rounds. In the round in which cursing was encouraged, the volunteers went on average 40 seconds longer while using profanities in order to endure the freezing temperatures. The ability to endure pain through cursing is known as the Hypoalgesic effect of swearing. It’s good to know that psychology and science are working on this problem and are achieving results. Which brings me to Birdcloud.
Jasmine Kaset and Makenzie Green, the two gals who make up the Nashville-based duo Birdcloud, make great records that are hilarious, irreverent and beautiful. From their self-titled release to the band’s 2015 effort, Tetnis, Birdcloud has been chronicling the base and vulgar in America though country-punk songs that will have you laughing one moment and crying the next. Take “Warshin’ …” which is at once a song about female hygiene in the Mississippi River, and a cry for help as well. “Them young men on their jet skis, I’m hoping that they see me, warshin’… before I go to town.” Birdcloud are out to satirize everything and everyone, including themselves. I had to laugh and curse and reap the benefits of the good ole Hypoalgesic effect. It was a two-fold pleasure.
You both get attention for being “crude” or “irreverent,” etc. But, I have to say, when I listen to your voices and arrangements, there is a lot of beauty in the songs. How do you two mix the tender and the terrible so well?
Most of the songs are based on real life. The way we sing together when we aren't screaming is beautiful, I agree. Thanks for sayin’ that. I don't really know—we just have a song idea and we hit on something and say "Yep, sing that, I'll sing this"—ta dahh!!!
What musicians did you all grow up listening to?
Pop country music from the '90s. Punk rock. So Brooks n’ Dunn and Minor Threat. LOL.
I ask this of every group: Who are some authors, Southern or not, that you admire?
David Icke.
I really love the video for "Warshin’…" Could you tell me a bit about how that particular video came together? It’s tremendously funny and captivating. Where was it shot?
We shot in on Old Hickory Lake. Right beside Johnny Cash's burnt-down castle. You know the Bee Gees burned his house down? Also very close to Roy Orbison's house. We just got drunk and filmed it. It was fun, but other shoots have been funner.
Do you still do what you want to, dammit, or has touring and recording been keeping you both too busy?
No, we have gotten better and better at doin’ more of what we want. We are really close now so we ride the waves together. Sometimes we need to take it down a notch. Our tours are vacations.
There’s an honesty to your music, satire and irreverence aside that is grabbing folks. I know I’m one of them. Do you two have plans to expand your sound from vox, mandolin and guitar to bigger arrangements? What is the next and newest record going to “look” like?
Nope. It's the same setup as ever. We are making our live show even crazier. We have some distortion pedals. We've done stuff with an omni chord and bass before, but yeah, we stick to our main sound. Tetnis is a real party record. We are gonna have a double LP of greatest hits (all of our songs) available before spring next year. That's gonna be extra retarded.
Finally, do you two ever catch any hell for the music you make? Any battle stories about having to sort of defend yourselves against the powers that be?
Most people are smart enough to only flex [redacted] about our songs on the internet. The internet gives [redacted] the size of grapefruits. We really don't get harassed in public. People walk out. Hahahahha. We aren't for everybody! If you don't like it, don't buy a [redacted] ticket. If y'all don't like me, then [redacted]. Our fans are really cool. The worst part about being in Birdcloud is always gonna be the hangover.
Birdcloud take risks, musically and lyrically. They are one of the more dangerous groups around, and that’s a fact, though the duo comes with acoustic instruments—guitar and mandolin and Bird(cloud)-like voices. My brother once fell through ice into the creek near our house. I fell in after him. We cursed and screamed and the frigid waters were all the more bearable for that. We laugh about this to this day. Birdcloud captures the essence of being submerged in water, in danger, in vast expanses of America where things that are going wrong can somehow be made right. Or even more wrong.
Birdcloud plays The Demo (4191 Manchester) with Mountain Sprout and Blaine Cartwright on Thursday, October 22. For more info, go to thedemostl.com.
