The Fortunate 13: Brad Bynum, vocalist/pianist for Elephant Rifle, former ‘RN&R’ editor

Brad Bynum is not any stranger to readers of the RN&R. He’s been contributing to the publication since 2002. He was the paper’s arts and tradition editor from 2008-2016, and the editor from 2016-2020. On high of some stellar journalism, Bynum has contributed closely to Reno’s music scene along with his band Elephant Rifle, which mixes parts of post-punk, noise rock, hardcore and steel into one insane mixture. The band’s newest album, Damaged Water, simply dropped and is the band’s first launch in 5 years. For extra, go to elephantrifle.bandcamp.com.

What was the primary live performance you attended?

Pearl Jam, Mudhoney and Urge Overkill on the Lawlor Occasions Heart on Dec. 2, 1993.

What was the primary album you owned?

Megadeth’s Countdown to Extinction, Metallica’s Black Album, and Weapons N’ Roses’ Use Your Phantasm I and II. That was type of the starter pack for 11-year-old rockers in 1992, after which the following section was Pearl Jam’s Ten and Nirvana’s Nevermind.

What bands are you listening to proper now?

Our tour is centered round taking part in this superb competition in Minneapolis referred to as the Caterwaul Music Pageant. It’s all noise rock, or no less than noise-rock-adjacent bands. A few of the larger bands on the invoice embrace Cherubs, Chat Pile and Flipper, however I’ve been having fun with testing all of the bands on the invoice. I like Rid of Me and Moon Pussy. The brand new Djunah report is nice. I dig Nerver from Kansas Metropolis, and I’m pumped they (had been slated to play) our record-release present. DJ Sooner Than You has been taking part in Caterwaul bands on his KWNK present, Left of the Dial, and has finished a pleasant job curating selection cuts. I’ve additionally been exploring the King Crimson discography. I really like diving right into a band with a deep, bizarre, eclectic oeuvre, and King Crimson delivers that. The Remedy, the Grateful Useless, Osees and Roxy Music have been different staples these days, and, after all, the brand new Spitting Picture album guidelines and is important listening for anybody who cares about Reno music.

What artist, style or musical development does everybody love, however you don’t get?

I get unhappy in regards to the business decline of rock music. I really like hip hop, and I perceive the enchantment of EDM and different modern genres, however I feel rock music can do sure issues higher than some other style. (The reverse can be true: There are different issues which are simpler completed in different genres.) Good rock music can present unbelievable moments of musical catharsis, and do this throughout the context of highly effective songwriting. Another genres can present musical catharsis, and another genres can ship nice songs, however to do each at the very same time? That’s a magical mixture. I want extra listeners, particularly youthful listeners, would acknowledge that. I feel a part of the issue is that the musical-industrial advanced spent too a few years selling shitty rock bands, however I feel there’s nonetheless a wholesome underground, and that makes me joyful.

What musical act, present or defunct, would you most prefer to see carry out dwell?

The Grateful Useless, someday early on, possibly 1972. Some present with unbelievable medicine and a variety of bare hippies.

What’s your favourite musical responsible pleasure?

As I age, it will get more durable and more durable for me to separate artwork from artists. For instance, I can’t hearken to Kanye West’s stuff anymore, or Michael Jackson’s, however each of these guys have written plain songs. It’s robust once you hear one among their nice songs, and you may’t assist however really feel superb issues, however they’re horrible individuals. It’s a bit heartbreaking. I really like the Smiths however have been aggravated by each public assertion Morrissey has made for the final 25 years or so. It’s the identical as after I’m watching outdated motion pictures, and the Miramax or Weinstein Firm brand pops up. I can’t assist however cringe—like, what did these poor girls need to do to be on this film?

What’s your favourite music venue?

I noticed the Osees at Purple Rocks in Colorado a few years in the past, and it lived as much as the hype. Regionally, I’m actually proud to have been a secondary or tertiary a part of what the Holland Challenge has completed, and I’m so glad our record-release/tour-kickoff present was there on Could 20.

What’s the one track lyric you possibly can’t get out of your head?

There’s a couple of, extra like 1000’s. There are many recurring snippets from nice lyricists, like Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan and David Berman, that pop up in my mind on an hourly, generally minute-ly, foundation.

What band or artist modified your life? How?

I’m in my 40s now, so my life has modified many occasions, and many alternative bands and artists have been a part of that. A key early one for me was Nirvana. I feel In Utero might be nonetheless the inspiration of my musical aesthetic. When individuals ask me what Elephant Rifle appears like, and so they’ve by no means heard of “noise rock” or “post-punk,” I often simply say “sorta like Nirvana.”

You’ve got one query to ask one musician. What’s the query, and who’re you asking?

Stevie Nicks within the Nineteen Seventies, and I’m asking her to dinner.

What track would you want performed at your funeral?

A couple of track would appear so as. I feel a three-day competition could be acceptable.

Figurative gun to your head, what’s your favourite album of all time?

I don’t negotiate with terrorists. It’s like a 40-way tie, however two that come instantly to thoughts are Sticky Fingers by the Stones, and Pink Flag by Wire.

What track ought to everybody hearken to proper now?

Properly, I’m right here to advertise Damaged Water, the brand new Elephant Rifle album, so I’ll say that.

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