THE MELVINS play Observatory Jul 12 and Troubadour Jul 13; press photo
Somewhere along the course of American history, the name, “Melvin,” became associated with pocket protectors, questionably sized eyeglasses, bowl cuts, and feeling passionate about long division. With this connotation firmly in hand, it seems only fitting that this word would go on to describe the gut-churning heavy, sludgy, gleefully dark and aggressive music of The Melvins.
Their music is unique, heavy, dark, and weird. And luckily for Southern Californians, these adjectives and more will be on local display once again as they return to the Observatory/Santa Ana Jul. 12 and the Troubadour Jul. 13.
In the meantime, Buzz Osborne was kind enough to share some of his thoughts on making music, having weird hair, and staying out of the political fray.
Concert Guide Live: When you sit down to write a song, do you have any specific goals? Or do you just let it come out organically?
The Melvins
Buzz Osborne: You just kinda play, and hope something will come out of thin air (laughs).
CGL: So you’re not really into concept albums or anything like that?
BO: Maybe to some degree, but then sometimes you’ll just be playing some riffs and all of a sudden something’s really cool. But then you end up with a massive amount of that stuff. And you dig through it all, and most of it doesn’t get used at all. The vast majority of it, you know?
CGL: Your hair is very intriguing. What’s the story there? How do you feel it expresses who you are?
BO: I don’t know, I don’t mind looking freaky. I’m just like Little Richard; I don’t give a shit about any of that. It’s everybody else who cares about that. But I also understand, going out into the world looking like a freak, I’m gonna have to deal with a lot of stuff that normal people don’t. Fine with me. I made my bed, and I will lie in it.
CGL: So you don’t really view it as a way to live out your ideology of being true to yourself?
BO: I never really thought about it that much. I just wanna look like a weirdo.
CGL: Do you ever aspire to speak your personal opinions through your music?
BO: Well, I don’t like to go graphically into politics, because I don’t think it’s my place to do that. What I am, is an artist-musician who does what he wants to do, and maybe some people will care about it and it will make their lives a little better. Because it makes my life a little better. I mean, I feel the same way that people like Bob Dylan felt. Which is that they’re not “joiner-inners.” You got a protest; I don’t want nothing to do with it. I don’t feel good there. I don’t want to be a part of your club.
CGL: What advice would you give to younger musicians just starting out?
BO: Be as peculiar as possible. That always works. Don’t be a “joiner-inner.” Practice your instrument, but don’t practice things you’re never gonna play. I mean, beyond exercises, I never wanted to play Eddie Van Halen or Randy Rhoads type of solos, so I never learned them. Why should I bother? Try to figure out what bands the bands you’re into were into. I mean, clearly they were listening to something that inspired them. So, what was that, you know? Rehearse. Make records that you like. Don’t concern yourself with the outside world, in terms of, “Oh, I wonder what my fans can handle.” I figure my fans can handle whatever I do. And if they can’t, they clearly have no understanding of who I am. So be it.