Doug Martsch does not come across as what you might consider a typical frontman. After speaking with him about Built to Spill’s eighth full-length album, Untethered Moon, as well as other topics, I was left with the impression that he is an utterly unpretentious soul, albeit one who is a ridiculously innovative and brilliant guitar player and singer/songwriter. Other than for an ironic effect, Martsch would never wear studded jackets or swing from a chandelier over the heads of fans. Not that I know of. And I’ve looked for that type of thing.
Built to Spill, after 23 years of music-making, has become a classic (indie) rock band, recently playing Live on Letterman and performing to crowds that grow larger from year to year, album to album. Now, with the release of Untethered Moon, BTS is still crafting arresting songs. In this case, songs on a sparer record that house darker lyrics within instrumental arrangements that stun and delight. Although I enjoyed the whole of the release, a few tracks that stand out are “Never Be The Same,” a lush and poppy Beach-Boyish number; “When I’m Blind,” which is the jammier conclusion to the album; and “C.R.E.B.,” a song that justifiably suggests that we are only partially free, and that we are chemically determined, dependent agents. It’s mind-brain theory for the rock ‘n’ roll set. The songs on Untethered Moon blend well together, combining shorter songs with a few longer tunes, mixing brevity and punch with experimental jams and solos.
Get a guide to the region’s booming music scene
Subscribe to the St. Louis Music newsletter to discover upcoming concerts, local artists to watch, and more across an eclectic playlist of genres.
On the tracks on Tethered Moon, your voice has never sounded as good. What’s the recording process here?
I’m mostly doing it in one or two takes. When I was younger, I really struggled with pitch. On this record, I was singing as if it was live, and let it go.
You’ve drawn inspiration from SST bands and early punk. But BTS also plays their instruments extremely well and your arrangements are anything but predictable. Could you talk about the process of walking the line between punk and virtuosity?
Yeah. I guess that stuff is to me so subtle, I don’t really understand it myself. Like what makes a guitar part interesting … A lot of chord progressions … I can’t put my finger on that…
So it’s more natural for you?
Yes. I can’t understand the process of what I like about music or why I might not like it.
So audience makes some of the decision?
To some degree, for sure. I might think how Frank Black might think of it, as far as vocal patterns or progressions. Or David Bowie on Ziggy Stardust. I have no idea.
The last time I saw you was at LouFest. How have crowds been in our city?
I remember playing a dive, kind of a crappy place. Wonder Bread and American cheese. And some guys made some nachos on the coffee maker at the club. [Laughs.] My family always comes out. Actually, my brother lives in Springfield, Illinois.
Any family members at the show in May?
I think my brother’s been there every time we play. And my mother occasionally, too.
You’ve been around 20-plus years, but do you still have “good anxiety” about shows, given you’ve been at it so long?
One of the things that helps us get over that sort of thing is setting up our gear ourselves… I don’t think about the tour or show, I don’t think about anything at all until I’m there. Also, our career has developed so gradually … we’ve only had two or three big things in our career. But the audiences continue to grow.
Built to Spill have actually covered “Freebird” at concerts. While Martsch told me the song might be “ironic,” the execution of it is not. Originally, BTS worked on the cover for a show featuring Southern rock music, a show that would feature a rock band each week covering a well-known tune from a Southern predecessor. (Comedian David Cross was involved with the program—which alas, didn’t launch.) BTS can’t undo what they’ve done. They cannot not know how to perform “Freebird.” So those of you with lighters and loud, requesting voices, maybe you’ll get to hear the most requested tune of all time. Maybe you’ll ask for it as Martsch and Co. are setting up their gear for what I know will be a hell of a show.
Built to Spill plays The Ready Room (4195 Manchester) on Friday, May 22 with Wooden Indian Burial Ground and Clarke and the Himselfs. Doors open at 7 p.m. Tickets are $22, $25 day of show. For more info, go to thereadyroom.com.
