On The Cover: Neil Young's After The Gold Rush By Nathan Barsness of Fingers Of The Sun

Twist and Shout presents On The Cover, a new monthly live series at Hi-dive featuring local bands covering influential and classic albums, from start to finish.

 We offered Nathan Barsness of Fingers Of The Sun a chance to tell us why he loved Neil Young's After the Gold Rush album and why he chose to cover it with his band, so read on, and be sure to catch the first ever On The Cover live series on July 31st!

Something that’s always struck me about Neil Young’s music is its intuitiveness. The emotional content of the lyrics are clear and the music drives the point home with a sort of unschooled, but supremely confident, simplicity. It has inspired my approach to songwriting over the years, reminding me to trust my instincts, not over-think my choices, and keep the feel of the song itself at the center of all of my creative decisions—even if it requires sacrificing technique.

When Langdon Winner of Rolling Stone reviewed After the Gold Rush in 1970, he described the album as “half-baked” and went onto say that it sounded as if the songs were recorded before they were properly rehearsed. Though that may be true from a purely technical standpoint, Winner missed the point. With After the Gold Rush Neil Young captured a specific time and place in his life as a person and an artist. What we are left with as listeners is a snapshot of the emotions and energy of that time and place. That’s part of why the album stands up after all of these years: it is genuine.

Thanks to my dad’s almost fanatical love of Young, I have been steeped in his meandering, folk-rock sound since my ears formed in the womb. But it wasn't until my late teens when I first picked up a guitar and formed a band that I began to realize what an innovator Neil Young was. What interested me at the time was the way he could pack so much emotion into such simple music. Songs like “Cowgirl in the Sand” and “Down by the River” were basically raw jams where Crazy Horse would repeat a basic, two-chord progression, while Young soloed over the top. It was inspiring to realize that with only basic musical knowledge (E minor 7, A major, REPEAT—as heard in “Down by the River”) you could not only make a complete song, but a potentially epic song. A perfect recipe for a 16 year old with a guitar and almost no training.

After the Gold Rush doesn’t have those extended two-chord jams, but it remains a great example of simple, non-technical music, that still communicates an almost unbelievable amount of feeling. It’s the kind of album that continues to inspire me, a constant reminder that the exploration of what a song can do is never finished. When Langdon Winner criticized what he perceived as the technical shortcomings of the album, what he missed was that those technical shortcomings were exactly what gave that album its abundance of emotion, its vibe, the intangible thing about it that keeps people coming back 40+ years later.

A perfect example of Winner missing the point is his criticism of the album’s title track. “Apparently no one bothered to tell Neil Young that he was singing a half octave above his highest acceptable range,” he wrote of “After the Gold Rush,” with its plaintive vocal and minimalist arrangement. At his best, Neil Young has a way of writing songs that sound as if they came into the world in their complete and final form. Listening to it now as a songwriter I get the feeling that Neil sat at a piano, put his hands on the keyboard, and wrote it in ten minutes of pure, unfiltered inspiration. Maybe the key that required him to sing “a half octave above his highest acceptable range” was the result of where his hands first landed when he sat down to write the song. And the fact that Young would trust his muse and take a chance on sounding slightly off on his vocals is one of the main reasons he remains an inspiration.

Similarly, Winner criticizes “Southern Man” for sounding “sloppy and disconnected,” where to me it sounds like it was recorded by a band that learned the song the very day it was recorded and nailed it. Young's guitar solo on the track has all the bite, grit, and energy of a first take. The difference between my view and Winner’s is only that, for me, that first take’s energy and uncertainty is what makes the track. It’s sloppy, but true.

Funny enough, earlier in 1970 Neil Young explained his process to another Rolling Stone writer, Elliot Blinder. He said that, for him, playing live in the studio captures the excitement of the moment and allows the musicians to react to each other in real time. In interviews he consistently talks about the “mood” or “spirit” of the recordings he’s been a part of and how the recording process (whether live or overdubbed) affects the final recordings. As an example he said that the differences between the Beatles and the Stones can be explained in part by the fact that the Beatles overdubbed (that is, recorded in pieces, often one instrument at a time) constantly, while the Stones preferred to play live in the studio.

I think that’s a good point and would go even farther in explaining my view of After the Gold Rush: It’s more like a field recording of some forgotten tribe’s traditional songs than a meticulously crafted, Sgt. Pepper-style concept album. It wasn’t meant to be built up, edited, and perfected, it was meant to share with us a particular time and place, while eliminating any distraction from the process of communicating the real, basic, human feelings at the heart of each song.

2012 UMS Band Interviews #2

Click the link below for complete info about venues, performers, and times for 2012's UMS!
The UMS July 19th-22nd South Broadway

Air Dubai

(Answered by Michael Ray, Keyboardist)

Where and when are you playing at the UMS?

Hi-Dive Saturday at Midnight

How long has your band been together?

The current line-up has been performing together since March of 2010

What was your band's first live show/ performance and what was memorable about it?

I joined a bit later after Jon & Julian had switched the group to a live setting. I remember my second show I straight up forgot a synth break. There was a solid 10 seconds of awkward silence on stage.

What was the first album you purchased?

Astro Lounge by Smash Mouth

What album was your most recent purchase?

Thelonious Monk Plays Duke Ellington

Do you have any advice for new bands?

Write genuine music first. Then learn how to market and promote yourself like it’s your day job.

Besides your own band- who do you want to see at the UMS?

Bad Weather California, Mancub, Churchill, Gauntlet Hair, Fairchildren

Best past UMS experience?

There was a miniature electric car racetrack at the Goodwill Stage two years ago. I spent a lot of time there.

Do you have any tips for festival goers?

Drink water, wear sunscreen, put on a helmet if you’re riding a bike.

What's the best food people can find on Broadway during the festival?

Steuben's truck or Spicy Basil. Ask for Uni, she’s super sweet.

Who is your all time favorite Denver band?

John Denver and Zephyr

If you were behind the counter at Twist and Shout, what three albums would you recommend to our customers?

Hail to the Thief by Radiohead, Get Lifted by John Legend & Bananaphone by Raffi

Is there anything we forgot to ask you about the UMS that you think people need to know?

If you find me on the street, tell me a joke.

Oak Creek Band

Where and when are you playing at the UMS?

Skylark at 9:00pm on Thursday July 19th (140 S. Broadway)

How long has your band been together?

Daniel and Jenna have been writing music together for 6 years. The band has been together for 2 1/2 years.

What was your band's first live show/ performance and what was memorable about it?

It was at the Hi-Dive in 2009, and it was with our 4 original members. I think we opened for Churchill. We had a great time, but I remember thinking "Oh dear, we have a lot of work to do".

What was the first album you purchased?

I'm pretty sure my first tape was Michael Jackson's Bad.

What album was your most recent purchase?

Last album we bought was Dr. Dog's Be The Void.  We are huge fans, and this is one of their best albums yet.

Do you have any advice for new bands?

No one else is going to do the work for you, at least not right away. The music industry isn't what it used to be, and you have usually have to work overtime to see results. Hard work pays off, and seeing the results (slow as they might be) is very rewarding.

Besides your own band- who do you want to see at the UMS?

We really dig Black Moth Super Rainbow, so that will be exciting. Locally, we are stoked to see The Swayback. (Carl used to play drums with us. He's the man)

Best past UMS experience?

Only did it once. Not great :) Played at Moe's BBQ, went on pretty late, not many people. We were competing with Achille Lauro, and they kick ass.

Do you have any tips for festival goers?

Go see music you normally never would! Open your mind to something new.

What's the best food people can find on Broadway during the festival?

If you like Asian, Karma is where its at! If you like pizza, The Walnut Room is delicious.

Who is your all time favorite Denver band?

The Congress are all great guys and excellent musicians. We also just saw James and The Devil for the first time at the Bluebird and they put on a great live show! (We loved O'Holloran, but they are no longer together).

If you were behind the counter at Twist and Shout, what three albums would you recommend to our customers?

Of all time? Oh boy! (I'd probably just give them the entire Beatles catalog or Paul Simon's Graceland) Here are some "newer" albums I really enjoy from start to finish: 1)Bonobo - Days to Come (I'm a huge fan of Bonobo). 2) The Cinematic Orchestra - Man With a Movie Camera.  3) MuteMath's self titled album....they just rock so hard! (I wish I could list 20 more albums (like Thievery Corporation's Richest Man In Babylon or Wilco's Being There) because these are just a 'few' that came to mind)

Is there anything we forgot to ask you about the UMS that you think people need to know?

Support your local bands! :)

Fingers of the Sun

Where and when are you playing at the UMS?

4pm on Sunday at the Hi-Dive.

How long has your band been together?

2 years

What was your band's first live show/ performance and what was memorable about it?

Moe's BBQ 6/18/10 with Bury My Bones and Lil' Slugger.  Dario Rosa did liquid slide projections for us.

What was the first album you purchased?

No Doubt - Tragic Kingdom (I bet that would've been your first guess)

What album was your most recent purchase?

White Fence - Family Perfume Vol 2.

Do you have any advice for new bands?

Practice, practice, practice and do what you like.

Besides your own band- who do you want to see at the UMS?

Imperial Teen, Black Moth Super Rainbow, Finn Riggins, The Marrow, and so many more.

Best past UMS experience?

It's all a blur! Too much fun.

Do you have any tips for festival goers?

Keep hydrated and keep your schedule with you at all times!

What's the best food people can find on Broadway during the festival?

Thai Monkey Club

Who is your all time favorite Denver band?

The Dinner Mints

If you were behind the counter at Twist and Shout, what three albums would you recommend to our customers?

Cate Le Bon - CYRK, Neil Young - Everybody Knows This is Nowhere, Pink Floyd - Piper at the Gates of Dawn

Is there anything we forgot to ask you about the UMS that you think people need to know?

Not that I can think of!

DJ Alf

Where and when are you playing at the UMS?

Sunday, July 22nd from 3pm to 6pm at Sputnik - 3 South Broadway, next door to the Hi-Dive.  I'll be DJing using instrumental 45s from 1955-1975.  I think it'll make a good "resting spot" if you're feeling overly hot or tired from running between live bands.  Stop in, get a drink, sit down, enjoy the music for awhile, then get back out there.

How long has your band been together?

I can't say as I've ever been all together.

What was your band's first live show/ performance?

I've been DJing off and on for about two decades.  I debuted this particular genre about a year ago at the Meadowlark.

What was the first album you purchased?

My first 7" single was "Theme from Rocky (Gonna Fly Now)" by Bill Conti.  My first LP was The Story of Star Wars.  My first music LP was a K-Tel LP called Starflight, purchased mainly because it had "Pop Muzik" by M at the end of Side One.

What album was your most recent purchase?

I purchased a few more 7" singles for my DJ sets yesterday.  I was most happy to finally get "Mo' Onions/Tic Tac Toe" by Booker T & the MGs.

Do you have any (quick) advice for new bands?

Follow your muse.

Besides your own band- who do you want to see at the UMS?

I don't know yet.  That's a big part of the fun of UMS.  I love just wandering around, stepping into the smaller venues, and seeing a bands I've never heard of playing to a handful of strangers.

Best past UMS experience?

I saw over fifty bands last year, and a lot of them were great.  Band Bajha Brass, In the Whale, Night Sweats and Fierce Bad Rabbit were a few highlights.

Do you have any tips for festival goers?

Feel free to roam.  Don't feel you have to schedule your day.  Don't feel obligated to stick with a band that you're not crazy about.  Go next door and see what's playing there.  There's too much good music going on to feel the need to stick with a band that's not really doing it for you.

What's the best food people can find on Broadway during the festival?

If I tell you, the lines will be longer there.  So forget it.

Who is your all time favorite Denver band?

I can't answer that without angering a lot of people.

If you were behind the counter at Twist and Shout, what three albums would you recommend to our customers?

It would depend on what they liked.  There are very few albums that I feel I can recommend to everybody.   Maybe Miles Davis Kind of Blue or the soundtrack to The Harder They Come.

Is there anything we forgot to ask you about the UMS that you think people need to know?

It's one of the few music events that I prefer to go to alone.  If you're with somebody else, you'll have to figure out what bands they like, and may be reluctant to duck out early if they're enjoying who you're watching now.  If you're alone, you can go wherever you'd like, for however long you'd like, and not worry about offending anybody.

Instant Empire

Where and when are you playing at the UMS?

Club 404, 4PM Sunday

How long has your band been together?

2 years total, 1 year this lineup.

What was your band's first live show/ performance and what was memorable about it?

Our first show was at the Meadowlark.  Our amazing virtuoso performance is to this day lauded as a touchstone in the annals of world music.   Not really.  In fact, a confused local media photographer made the show memorable.  By matter of necessity, Doug (on keys) had to set up in a booth WAY stage left (we are a six piece).  The photographer cut Doug from all photos, explaining that he "didn't want that guy with the laptop cluttering his compositions."  Tragically, our press kit never recovered.

What was the first album you purchased?

While in third grade, Matt (lead drummist) used his allowance money to buy Led Zeppelin's bloated In Through the Out Door (on vinyl!) from a Musicland store in Lakewood's Villa Italia Mall.  In a twist of fate, Sean (our equivalent of Izzy Stradlin) shoplifted a Cassette of Tiffany's breakthrough "I Think We're Alone Now" from a Georgia swap meet on the very same day. We are fairly certain that Doug, during his rebellious years, bought the "Mama Said Knock You Out" Maxi-single and Living Colour Vivid around the same time-period.

What album was your most recent purchase?

Matt:  Led Zeppelin's The Song Remains the Same on laserdisc.

Scotty: Sharon Van Etten, Tramp

Sean: Japandroids, Celebration Rock

Aaron: Puscifer, Conditions of my Parole

Lou: mewithoutYou, Ten Stories

Doug: XTC, Black Sea (he now owns this in every musical format invented)

Do you have any advice for new bands?

Steer clear of sleazy middleman promoters looking for a cut of your $43 Larimer Lounge take.  Don't fly too close to the sun if you are the sole member of an acoustic metal side-project called "Icarus."

Besides your own band- who do you want to see at the UMS?

El Toro de la Muerte, Hindershot, Mouthful o' Thunder, I Sank Molly Brown

Best past UMS experience?

Instant Empire played the truck stage at last year's UMS.  We rocked that truck clean onto its side, killing four.

Do you have any tips for festival goers?

Drink water, wear sunscreen; and please, please keep the jaws of life handy at the truck stage.

What's the best food people can find on Broadway during the festival?

Sweet Action.  Ice cream is Instant Empire's preferred rockfuel.

Who is your all time favorite Denver band?

Three way tie:  Lion Sized, Bright Channel, and Born in the Flood (ca. 2006).

If you were behind the counter at Twist and Shout, what three albums would you recommend to our customers?

Matt: Kurt Vile, Childish Prodigy

Scotty: Desaparecidos, Read Music/Speak Spanish

Sean: Handsome Furs, Face Control

Aaron: Mutemath, Odd Soul

Doug: REM, Murmur

Lou: Portugal. The Man, In The Mountain In The Cloud

Is there anything we forgot to ask you about the UMS that you think people need to know?

UMS-goers should be aware that Instant Empire's performance at 404 will re-define music in the 22nd century.  Yup.