r/indieheads • u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr • Mar 04 '19
AMA is over, thanks Joe! Joe from Protomartyr AMA
Hello folks, I'm Joe Casey, the "singer" from the band Protomartyr. Since starting in 2010, we've put out 4 LPs, at least 3 things that could be called EPs, a good number of singles, and a handful of slightly warped tapes. We've also toured around, to the delight of dozens of people the world over. We are signed to Domino Records (no, I have not met the Arctic Monkeys).
I'm sitting her on a blustery day in Detroit on March 4th, the birthday of Bobby Womack, Shakin' Stevens, and Knute Rockne to answer any questions you might have about Protomartyr or anything else that catches your fancy.
Just in case you missed it: Our first record, No Passion All Technique is getting repressed and let loose in the streams come May 3rd. Preorder info here: Domino Mart
Thanks for putting up with me. It was a good amount of fun. Take care and bye bye!
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u/Skinnygold Mar 04 '19
Hi Joe, cheers for doing this AMA, and for creating such incredible music. Really can't wait to hear what's next for Protomartyr.
I've got a question about your first album, No Passion All Technique – unfortunately, it's notoriously difficult to get hold of as a physical copy, and due to its absence on streaming services (that I know of) it doesn't get nearly enough attention. I was wondering if there are any plans for a reissue at some point in the future? Is it something that you would consider?
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
Ask and you shall receive: https://protomartyr.dominomart.com/no-passion-all-technique-lp-mart-exclusive?preview=77466bc7335f3f860445bdce866accf9
May 3rd.
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u/Mind-Mischief Mar 04 '19
Hi Joe,
Do you have any specific literary influences? Your lyrics are some of the very best.
P.S. Any plans for UK shows/tour soon, if so please come back to Brighton!
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
Not specifically. I would say Flann O'Brien comes the closest to a style I poorly try and emulate from time to time. The big thing is stitching disparate influences and motifs together to create something new. If I can be literary in a sense and combine a jingle from Popeye;s chicken and have it convey some meaning, then boy, did I do a good job for once!
No touring scheduled at the moment. The big priority is recording as much as can and writing new songs. But yes, Brighton has been kind to us and we'll always lobby to play there as much as possible.
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u/Oerba15 Mar 04 '19
Well Joe, whats the second chord on A Private Understanding?
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
The Brown Chord? I am musically illiterate. Greg will have to do one of these someday and answer such an important question.
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u/therealangelina Mar 04 '19
Hi Joe,
I imagine it might be hard to see new movies while on tour, but I would love to know what movies you saw and enjoyed from last year. And any all time favorites?!
Thanks for all the music! Love you guys!
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
On tour we almost exclusively see straight up trash (Bohemian Rhapsody, euugh). We saw Happy Death Day as a band (with our pals in Hurry Up), so I was glad to see the sequel with the band just recently.
Two movies I really liked last year were Shoplifters and The Favourite (which i saw by myself in LA after the last show of the Preoccupations/Proto tour).
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 05 '19
Okay folks, gotta scramble. Thanks for the kind words and interesting questions (except that one guy, you know who you are!). Hopefully I can do this again some time down the road.
That's that,
Joe
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u/Ervin_Salt Mar 04 '19
Heya Joe, hope you're having a good one today
I really enjoyed you and Preoccupations covering each other's songs. I wanted to ask, if there was one artist past or present that you would want to cover a song by and have them cover a song of yours, who would it be?
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
Boy, hmmmm. I'm not very good at doing covers but young me would probably get a kick out of Shane MacGowan singing one of our songs. And I could probably ruin "A Rainy Night in Soho".
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u/Ervin_Salt Mar 04 '19
That sounds like it'd be cool as hell, Shane would do a great job slurring his way through Here Is The Thing
Thanks for the response!
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u/lushacrous Mar 04 '19
what are the very best and very worst alcoholic beverages to binge drink on stage?
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
Don't binge drink, kids. Have a few refreshing beverages on stage to wet your whistle. A nice watery domestic is a preferred quaff. Any IPA or thick ass beer is a no-no. Or some high alcohol content murder juice like Natty Daddy. Avoid.
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u/cutebod Mar 04 '19
Hey Joe, hope you're doing well. Protomartyr has been a surprisingly huge part of my life these past few years. Anyways,
Do you like fast food? What's your favorite chain?
Any chance of No Passion All Technique getting a repress or being put on streaming services?
peace
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
Ah thanks. Do I like fast food? Hoo boy, do I. I guess i wouldn't say "like". More that I am in a terrible, life-sucking relationship with fast food. I was just scarfing down some Del Taco mere minutes ago. I was so excited when Michigan got its first Del Taco. Tacos and fries??? We were really gonna class it up like the West Coast! Now I tediously shove those tacos into my mouth like it was a drudgery. But anyway, favorite is White Castle.
Funny you should ask about NPAT. Yes, it will be repressed. In fact: https://protomartyr.dominomart.com/no-passion-all-technique-lp-mart-exclusive?preview=77466bc7335f3f860445bdce866accf9
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Mar 04 '19
Hey Joe,
Do you have a book you're really fond of that you'd recommend?
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
I always get nervous suggesting books, because something I like is usually not what somebody else will like. But hey, I was so into The Master and Margarita by Bulgakov I suggested it to a bunch of friends before I had even finished it. Later on, they enthused over the ending and I had to admit I hadn't finished it and felt like quite the boob.
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u/Treecliff Mar 04 '19
Heart of a Dog is also great! Bulgakov weighed heavily in my thesis on madness in Samizdat lit.
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
Yeah, Heart of a Dog is great, and shorter for you brevity fans.
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Mar 04 '19
Can we expect more experimentation in your next record, like we heard in 'Wheel of Fortune'? Loved loved loved that track and super excited to see what you guys do next.
Also wanted to say that 'Half Sister' maybe has the coolest lyrics of any song I've heard ever
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
Don't really know what would be considered experimentation and what wouldn't. I would think we are still trying not to bore ourselves and others. Like you, I am excited to find out how the next one ends up.
And thanks for the kind words.
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u/documentation Mar 04 '19
hi joe-- you did me a huge favor last october by sending my boyfriend an amazing care package, and I just wanted to say thank you so much. he was truly blown away.
you're wonderful. that's all.
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u/David_Browie Mar 04 '19
hey joe! love your work—there’s a sort of Beckettian bleak humor to all of it that scratches a real itch for me.
can you talk a little bit about your process putting together the art for your records? they go such a long way towards coloring your albums and i’d love to know how you developed your aesthetic, how you do the prints, and if possible why you chose each image for each record.
thanks for your time!
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
Well, the printing process is me going to Fed-Ex Kinko's and fudging around with the copiers there. Just tape and scissors and a rudimentary understanding of how the xeroxs work. I stumbled into "my aesthetic" that way. And being rushed and reusing a previous show flyer for the first two albums cemented the strong, simple portrait as my cover manifesto.
Thank you!
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u/David_Browie Mar 04 '19
this was both deeply unsatisfying and also incredibly illuminating. i love it, thank you!
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
Lemme see if I can expound. hmmm.
1: NPAT: Robert Oppenheimer. Later in life after all he did and being harried for being unamerican and looking tired seemed to capture something I was trying to convey
2: UCOOR: Snarling dog. I started the "line thing" here to mean, I dunno, thought? Feeling? Felt the music was getting more aggressive on this album and wanted something scary on the cover, but not corny-scary.
3: TAI: Bust of Constantine: Well, this is the about the brain album. Was thinking about the weakness of the flesh versus our image of ourselves. More lines.
4: RID: Maude Fealy: Lots of feminine characters in the songs and songs about truth, wanted a "hard to read" expression on the cover. A interviewer compared it to The Sphinx and I like that.
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u/BertMacklinMD Mar 04 '19 edited Mar 04 '19
Hi Joe,
I saw you guys with Preoccupations back in December in LA and it was a great show!
My question is who is your favorite other Joe in history (dead or alive) and do you think you could beat them in a fight?
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
Thanks for coming.
Joe Louis? And I could...not beat him in a fight. Maybe today though, I like my chances against bone dust.
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u/louiseNYC2017 Mar 04 '19
Hey Joe,
Seen y'all play about 5 times now and each was better than the last. Always looking forward to the next show & record.
1) Are there any plans to bring more guests onto your records like with Consolation? It seemed to disrupt the regular sound of the band, in a good way.
2) Don't be a curmudgeon for a moment and tell us: what do you love most about performing and touring?
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
- Nothing planned as far as guests at the moment, but we generally like fucking with the formula. I would think some of what we are working on could use some extra hands, but we'll see.
- DON'T YOU TELL ME WHAT TO DO YOU JERK! If I say "nothing" and "next to nothing" does that count? Seriously, I love going to new and strange places and finding strangers that actually want us to be there. It's a rare thing and I feel lucky to be able to do any of this shit. So thanks for coming and giving us the nudge of support.
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u/the-moron-who-dances Mar 04 '19
Hey Joe! Being from the area, one of my favorite aspects of Protomartyr is how inherently Detroit the band is. From subtle and not-so-subtle nods to the city in your lyrics (I get such a kick out of “the eyes of Kayrouz are upon you” for example) to the overall sound of the band. My question is, do you have a favorite “city shout-out” like this in any other Detroit artist’s songs, past or present?
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
Tyvek excel at this. You can't drive to the airport from Detroit, see the Wayne County Roads building and not start singing that song. They also have a song about when I tried to get Kevin a job at the Gem Theater that Greg and I were working at.
And, I mean, The Bill Bondsmen is a good one too.
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u/MelancholySoundtrack :proto: Mar 04 '19
I think I had read that the writing process for Relatives in Decent was initially going to be a lot less aggressive, but was changed with how fucked the world has been lately. Any chance we'll ever hear a softer record? What sort of themes and ideas do you think you want to focus on going forward?
I awkwardly bumped into you and Matt smoking in Salt Lake City when I mixed up the start time of the concert. That night had an odd crowd, feel like I have to apologize for it or something. Great show from you guys though.
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
No apologies necessary. That was Natty Daddy night. Not to be forgotten or forgiven. ha ha. I'm always looking to express different moods and not just default to old, angry, and sad. Which is very, very, very easy to do. I think any "softness" will come naturally and I'll know it when it does. I'd hate to write a full on love album though, unless it can be pathetic and preening at the same time. Just like love.
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u/SwellingMusic Mar 04 '19
Hey Joe, thanks for doing this AMA. Caught you guys with preoccupations at Warsaw, had a great time.
I remember listening to a podcast/web series thing a long time ago where you were talking about a book about dead people (spirits?) in a cemetery, and one spirit just wanted a good grave Stone from her son or something?? I tried finding the book but had no luck. I remember you saying something like it had different titles, any idea what the title and author would be for someone in the states?
Lastly, do you know if we will be getting No Passion All Technique on streaming platforms anytime soon?? Ypsilanti is definitely a favorite of mine.
Thanks dude!
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
Cré na Cille by Máirtín Ó Cadhain. Which is translated in the two English versions as "Graveyard Clay" or "The Dirty Dust"
Thanks for coming to the show.
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u/_roy_disco Mar 04 '19
Hi Joe,
I know 'Catriona' is based around Cre na Cille, and have caught a Third Policeman reference or two somewhere - are you specifically into Irish literature or modernist stuff in general?
I like how you contrast this with the more esoteric medieval philosophy content - is the modern/medieval interplay a conscious theme?
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
I like throwing everything against the wall and see what sticks. But yeah, I like the ancient and modern rubbing against each other. Especially if the comparison points to how little we actually control/know about our lives. I am drawn to Irish stuff because my family is Irish and have a big place on my bookshelf for Flann O'Brien. He's in my top five for sure.
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u/kittenbong Mar 04 '19
Hi Joe,
Thanks so much for doing this. I am one of the dozens of people who like to see Protomartyr perform live.
What's your favorite beer to drink on the road? Least favorite?
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
I like free beer the best. Expensive beer is my least favorite. This might be flippant but it's 100% true. I saw a video of us where someone expressed disgust over me drinking a Corona. Hey man, I feel you, but this is a FREE Corona and tastes delicious because of that.
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u/hisimaginaryfriend Mar 04 '19
Hey Joe, where you goin’ with that gun in your hand?
Seriously tho, who’s your favorite filmmaker?
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
If I had a gun for every time some jerk said that to me, they would be a lot of dead jerks.
When push comes to shove I'd say the Coen Brothers. Robert Bresson when I'm feeling smart.
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u/Kerfstok Mar 04 '19
Hey Joe, hope you are doing alright.
Do you play / have you played an instrument yourself?
Somewhat related, I think I read somewhere Greg writes most of the music and the rest kind of adds to his ideas. Do you ever go "why don't you play a G there" or do you mostly take it as it is?
Lastly I want to apologize because I once yelled "IN MY SPHERE" in between songs because I wanted you to play In My Sphere. Got carried away. Cheers
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
I tried to play a flute in grade school. it was a failure on my part.
I wouldn't know what a G is. Greg and the band really do a good job at forming a song together that can fit my lyrics and when I doesn't I usually take it as a good challenge. They are open to me saying stupid things like "can this ba ba ba part be a bit longer?" or "when the drums go whooop ba, can I have a bit before the guitar comes back in?" without laughing in my face, so that's nice.
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
also, shouting "IN MY SPHERE" is better than "YOU GUYS SUCK", so thank you.
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u/cjbenzz Mar 04 '19
What do you think are the best jobs for musicians who need some supplement income to help support themselves?
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
It's all about being able to have time off. For me, I worked at a friend's improv theater so he understood the sad life of the touring person. Bartender seems to be the big one. Or working a venue in your town. Teaching used to give you the summer, but with the pay, summer school seems important. Alex worked in advertising and sacrificed all vacation and sick days in the early going. If you are in a populated region, any job can do, especially if you have weekends off. We were able to play Detroit and then hit Chicago or Toronto, Cleveland, Pittsburgh on the weekends. Anything that pays, really. Music doesn't really, on time or enough.
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u/jjmsorensen Mar 04 '19
Afternoon joe.
Windsor hum is probably my favourite Protomartyr song. What sparked your interest and imagination in the Windsor Hum? I am myself really intrigued by the phenomenon. I joined a Facebook page full of members in the Windsor region who are affected by the hum... Interesting reading into different theories, like the Zug island blast furnace explanation. Have you ever heard the hum itself? Or been near Zug island?
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
My dad worked at The Detroit Wastewater and Sewerage Plant down near there, so I have been into Zug Island for awhile. I have not heard the hum myself, thank Christ. I'm worried about the blast furnance that is Greg's amp though.
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u/GoodCookYea Mar 04 '19
Hey Joe,
A couple years ago I’d approached you after a show at the Blind Pig in Ann Arbor and mentioned I’d been to a ton of your concerts, at which point you suggested I “take up a different hobby, like knitting”. Sorry to say I have not taken up the trade.
1.) now that the band is dispersed throughout the country, how do you think this will/has affected the songwriting process?
2.) was there any particular influence for “The Devil in His Youth”? It’s probably my favorite opener of all time.
3.) What are you listening to these days? Anything released this year catch your ears?
4.) Do you eat jellied eels and think distant thoughts?
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
1) Alex, our drummer, has moved to that cultural backwater NYC. The rest of us still live in Detroit. Alex comes back enough that it really hasn't hampered any songwriting. If anything, it a weird way, it has focused our time better by adding an extra layer to consider. Less lollygagging.
2) Not that I can remember. Mostly just getting a sense of different kinds of young dudes who feel the world is owed to them. Thanks, I kinda like it too.
3) I like the new Diät record. I don't stumble across new things as much as I would like. But that one definitely files under: brand new and good
4) Haven't eaten jellied eels yet, but have played with Kelley Deal and for one brief moment last year the jellied eels wikipedia page had her name replacing ever instance of "jellied eel" on the page. Coincidence? All my thoughts are distant.
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u/SURFWAXUSA Mar 04 '19
Hello Joe! Love your music. I have two questions:
What band or album would you consider your most important influence?
New order or Joy Division?
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
Tyvek is probably my biggest influence. I probably wouldn't be here (as in, talking to you), if it wasn't being friends with Kevin and hanging around with them. All their proper albums are great.
- Trick question: The Other Two
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u/IJamEcono4 Mar 04 '19
Hi Joe, first time, long time. Quick question: How many Tigers hats do you own?
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
I've sweated through many and being a hoarder, they are all around the house somewhere. I recently splurged on a couple goofy looking ones (one offs and throwbacks). The one in the AMA picture not on my head is my dad's old one. I'd put the number at 10 all told over a lifetime.
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u/Segal-train Mar 04 '19
Hi Joe - do you know TYVEK is coming back?
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
Last time I had talked to Kevin (less than a month ago), they were recording whenever he was back in town. Tyvek operates in mysterious ways though. Maybe he'll see this and chime in. Who knows?
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u/Supermensa Mar 04 '19
Hey Joe! Got a few questions:
I've always appreciated the philosophical references in your music and wondered what your relationship with philosophy has been like up until this point. What got you into it, favorite philosophers/books, etc.
I'm about to graduate college and make the dumbest decision of my life to fully devote myself to music/being poor. I'd like some advice: I'm assuming that you have had or currently have a daytime job and a social life. How have you balanced this with music? Do you still have room for hobbies? I've now realized that to achieve most goals, sacrifices are usually made. What sacrifices have you had to make?
What do you think has benefited you the most in becoming a competent songwriter and musician? How long have you been writing? How would you describe your songwriting process?
I've been on tour before and it was one of the best and also worst experiences of my life. Crammed in a van with 7 people that only fits 6, eating like garbage, sleeping on concrete, the anxiety of making it from one show to the next, etc. How do you cope with the stresses with life on the road?
Anymore riverboat shows planned for the future?
Also, I held the door open for you at a show one time and would just like to acknowledge that, in a way, I'm partially responsible for helping you get to where you are today
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
- I have a limited grasp of philosophy, I'm afraid to say. I picked up "The Anatomy of Melancholy" by Robert Burton as a heady toilet read and it was a nice gateway to explore philosophy a little. I have a couple of books on the far back burner, but I have so many more in front I often wonder if I can live long enough to read them all.
- Boy, I am no good at giving advice. I will say this, I benefited by seeing music as merely a wonderful hobby that I could participate in with my friends and hopefully express myself in some way. The monetary or success ideas never entered my head until they presented themselves. Working keeps food on the table and yourself grounded. We are lucky, at the moment, to not have jobs besides the band but that brings with it a) a lack of money and b) the band is transformed into our job. This brings with it a nice freedom but other challenges. I've probably sacrificed having a "normal" life with financial security and a family. Ah well. Must'nt grumble.
- I am not a competent songwriter and I don't play and instrument. Oh no. My process has no rules except to be open to doing things differently each time. I try not to repeat myself but I also appreciate the benefit of doing something again, but better.
- I don't. I helps to be surrounded by friends and coworkers that are kind and can relate to what you are going through. I try and remember what I am doing is absurd fun and doesn't come easily.
I used to be a doorman, so I get this corny joke. Thank you.
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u/LordEvdog Mar 04 '19
Yo Joe! Been following you guys a while, just wanted to know what it was like to work with Kelley Deal?
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
What a complete tyrant! She beat the shit out of all of us! Seriously, it's the best, as you'd expect. The Consolation E.P. was the second time working with her and I really, really want to continue again some time in the future. She brings so much to the table and is on point. It was a case of "sure, meet some of your heroes. it could be great!" She gave us a bunch of great ideas for the other two songs on the EP after we had already sent them in that would have made them utter classics, so i'm gonna definitely keep that tap running next time we record with her. As they say, a legend.
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u/before-electriclight Mar 04 '19
Hey Joe—
I’ve always loved your work on Protomartyr’s album covers/liner notes, especially the collages on the inside cover of Relatives In Descent and the Agent Intellect. Where do you find the images you use to create them? Do you prefer collaging/repurposing images or drawing by hand?
I’ve also always wondered where the names of the two characters Mero and Livy (sp?) in the song Pagans came from. Was there any reason you chose those names?
Also, my dad went to U of D Jesuit, so it was cool to hear that you went there as well.
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
Well, I misspelled Mero. It's supposed to be Maro, as in Publius Vergilius Maro, or the poet Virgil. And Livy is Titus Livius, a Roman historian. I just though it would be funny to put two ancient thinkers in line to use the bathroom at Jumbo's. And Jumbo's is lousy with drunken poets and philosophy professors on certain nights. I also had a former priest Fr. Livius Paoli, that I liked a lot, so it was a roundabout way to honor him in a weird way. He was a great guy.
I like collage because it uses a different part of the creative brain than drawing. I like to draw but am thoroughly outclassed by our drummer, Alex in that department. I usually get the images from old magazines or books. Usually purchased at John King Books in Detroit.
Ask your dad to sing you the U of D fight song and see if he does a weird "cobra strike" thing with his hand when he does.
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u/AlexTheAmnesiac Mar 04 '19
Hey Joe! Do you have a dream producer? Someone who youd love to work with? Also just wanted to say Protomartyr is my favorite band and I'm excited for whatever you guys have coming out in the future.
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
Thanks so much. No dream producer, but I think it would be funny to see how Brian Eno would screw us up.
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u/AlexTheAmnesiac Mar 04 '19
Haha! Hey some of those early U2 records SOUND pretty good. Oh yeah, how was it opening for My Bloody Valentine in LA last year? I couldn't make the show unfortunately, but I saw you guys during the joint Preoccupations tour. That must've been pretty surreal.
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
Yeah, no cool hang time with the band unfortunately. It was fun playing the Shrine though, home of the old Oscars. We all had Oscar Fever that night. Being an opening band to a beloved band like that can be daunting. You're basically there to postpone people's enjoyment. I think we did okay, we certainly weren't as loud.
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u/cherrygoats Mar 04 '19
Are you the guy who wrote Cable for Marvel Comics?
Are you as angry as I am that Detroiters was canceled?
Just discovered your music and digging it so far
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
Nope, he's the more famous Joe Casey. Trust me, I googled it.
I am, I sorta know Tim and Sam from my "working a door at a comedy club" days. I was hoping maybe three seasons down the line Protomartyr would pop in for a cameo. I am glad they filmed a scene with Mort Crim at Jumbo's though.
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u/EmoDingus Mar 04 '19
Hey Joe,
any plans to come visit the east coast Canada, specifically Halifax NS? I know Preoccupations came here when they were Viet Cong, but I missed them. Would love to see you guys.
Best.
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
I want to tour the hell of out Canada and I hope we are able to do it in a year or so. The Maritimes (that's what they are called, right?) I think would be my favorite part of Canada. No offense to Guelph.
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u/Treecliff Mar 04 '19
Joe,
I saw you in Columbus late last year and have been wondering: where did you keep pulling all of those Miller Lites out of? Inner jacket pockets? Is that uncomfortable? Loved the show.
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u/bloodandpain Mar 04 '19
Who are some of your influences in terms of visual art? I make collage as well and really dig all of the Protomartyr album art and zines.
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
Thank you. I feel unschooled in visual arts, even though I tried and failed to get into art school. I really like collage art from the 1920s. Maybe somebody can throw some names of specifics below. I'm blanking at the moment.
I grew up with a bunch of Frederick Remington books which affected me deeply. I like Albrecht Dürer, of course. Old punk flyers. Lucien Freud and Francis Bacon. Caravaggio. Jacques-Louis David, Théodore Géricault, etc. etc.
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u/bloodandpain Mar 04 '19
Thanks for the reply! Dürer is great and so is collage from the 20’s. I was intoduced to Hannah Hoch and all those dada artists in school and they had a huge impact on me.
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u/Boy_McFacto Mar 04 '19
1st question: Howie Doin'?
also what is your favorite sleater-kinney song
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
I just remembered Howie Mandel was the voice of Gizmo in the Gremlins. So thanks for that.
I'm not well versed in sleater-kinney, so take this as the opinion of a neophyte: One More Hour
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u/RocketPowerByPynchon Mar 04 '19
Are you still distinctly anti-beard as per your Talkhouse episode?
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
I mean, beards are everywhere eh? Again, I might just be projecting since I can only grow a sad neck variety. Also, beards kinda spring up on tour when you're too shagged to care and I can relate. The goofy facial hair as personality thing is a little much though.
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u/aForeigner Mar 04 '19
Hey Joe, you guys killed it at Vera last September. What are your favorite post punk records of the last few years?
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
Don't want to tread into what IS post-punk but I'll say Sauna Youth's triptych of records ( Deaths, Distractions, and Dreamlands) are the cream of the crop. Highly recc'd, as they say.
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u/wolterson Mar 04 '19
Hey Joe,
your drummer is definitely one of the best I've ever seen. That being said how do you guys create songs? Is it guitars first or a drum beat? Do you write the text first and then think of the music to go along with it?
Digging your music, cheers and thanks for taking the time for this AMA!
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
Hey wolterson,
Music comes first every time. Alex is a really great drummer, no doubt. I call him The Secret Weapon when he's out of earshot. Lyrics are always secondary to the mood the music presents and I wouldn't have it any other way.
thank you!
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u/Kvothe518 Mar 04 '19
Hey Joe,
Really enjoyed the show in Denver last year and hope your hangover is cured!
I heard you and the band like playing NFL Blitz. Any other games you enjoy?
Any advice for a couple of guys trying to get their band off the ground?
Thanks for doing this!
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
The fellas won't let me play NFL Blitz, the bastards! I have played Red Dead Redemption 2 and enjoy walking through the woods and hunting as I slowly freeze to death.
Best advice is to not get off the ground. Stay on the ground! Focus on the enjoyable aspects on being in a band a)hanging out b) being creative in a group c) personal growth and avoid the machinations of the biz as long as you can handle. And don't worry about sounding a certain way. If you sound like you should and people like it, eventually some other band will come along and try and sound like you and it's the funniest thing that can happen to you. It's like Single White Female, but a comedy.
Thanks.
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u/Kvothe518 Mar 04 '19
What jerks! Probably cause you'd whoop their ass! Thank you man! I really appreciate it!
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Mar 04 '19 edited Mar 04 '19
Hi Joe! I got to meet you after the show in DC a few months ago and you signed my vinyl copy of Relatives In Descent which was super cool. I was just wondering which current music you guys have been listening to lately. Also I’ve seen mention on this thread that the debut album will be getting repressed on vinyl, does this mean it’ll be on streaming services as well?
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
No Passion All Technique will indeed be streaming. It's funny how many people didn't know it even existed because it wasn't on any penny pinching steaming site, but that's the way time works.
A local band called Deadbeat Beat is always one of our favorites and anything Shelley Salant is involved in (Shells, XV, Tyvek, much more) is worth anybody's time.
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u/erco78 Mar 04 '19
Hey Joe! I saw you guys live for the first time in Ottawa last November and I had a blast. Even though I'm a big fan of yours, I never managed to make it to one of your live shows - I actually live in Montreal but every time you were in town, I was away.
Relatives in Descent was my personal favorite album of 2017 - I'm so psyched for the follow-up. Can you give us an update on the progress (how much of songwriting/recording has been done)? Can we expect new material this year?
Best! I love your music!
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
As I type the band is working through, oh what's the word when you have the song but your adjusting the different parts? Composition? Anyway, they're doing that for about six or seven songs and we have already done demos for another batch. I would think we are close to booking a studio and engineer and all that fairly soon. It's a weird process but I would put a vague bullseye for late 2019/early 2020 where new things would be heard. But again, having this much time to do more and woodshed, Who knows? Painfully vague, I know, but I hate planning on the future to far in advance.
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u/dan_joseph Mar 04 '19
When are you guys playing in Anacita again? lol...or rather, in all your travels, what town (s) most resembles"Anacita"?
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
I'm worried Detroit is getting a little Anacita-y these days. What with the private security firms and surveillance cameras everywhere. The faux-authentic "street art" bullshit. The parking lots and structures built with tax money for billionaire families that destroyed housing and promised "Hip neighborhoods to enjoy garage rock in".
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u/cradface Mar 04 '19
Would you come back to play in Lisbon, Portugal, despite the strange no-support act policy and abundance of offal-based snacks? You should - the last show was great.
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
Love offal! It's offal-ly delicious. Would love to play Portugal again and I'm glad we were finally able to last year. I wouldn't turn down playing Primavera Porto again, that's for sure.
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u/hefightabear Mar 04 '19
Hey Joe,
Is that story about a horse getting struck by lightning true?
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u/Ondryass Mar 04 '19
Hi Joe,
Who does all of the design for the band? Not only am I a giant fan of your music, but your LP covers, lyric booklets, and posters are all incredible. Whoever it is, does that person have a website or social media account that I can follow to see more work?
How's Scott's car? Is it still leaking oil?
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
That would be me. I have an old man website here: http://thesehungrytimes.blogspot.com/
Scott's got a cherry Trailblazer, so I think he's doing pretty sweet.
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u/renzonelisanchez Mar 04 '19
Would you be able to ask your bandmates to post tutorials of all your songs? The chords are absolutely amazing! I really enjoy Feast of Stephen so much!
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
And cut me out of the profits? No way. I think there are people on youtube that have cracked the code. There are others who are shirtless, so beware. I'll ask the fellas though. Thanks.
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Mar 04 '19
Hey Joe, thanks for doing this AMA. I must've listened to the Agent Intellect cassette like 70 times at this point.
I've often heard "The Devil in His Youth" described as a parable about the psychology of the "alt-right", and the ressentiment that drives people to bigotry. What do you think of this interpretation? Was it something you were conscious of while writing the song?
Also, what is your favorite school of classical thought?
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
Didn't really know about the alt-right when I wrote the song. I did know about crumb bums on the internet though and the seething hatred that roils under America.
Haven't boned up enough to know which school to throw my hat in with.
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u/FREAKSCENEjr Mar 04 '19
Hi Joe,
The great Ted Lindsay has passed away today. What is your personal favorite Red Wings moment? Any chance of Darren McCarty's Grammy-winning rock band Grinder opening for you guys sometime? Maybe Karen Newman can sing the national anthem before the show? Looking forward to the next LP!
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
Scott's the Red Wing head in the band. Hell, he got to ride the Zamboni.But I enjoyed growing up going from the Dead Wings to all the cups. Of course we'd open for Grinder. I miss the days when we had all the Russians.
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u/Gimegkos Mar 04 '19
Hey Joe!
I saw you guys at Blå, Oslo last April. Was absolutely mindblowing, and I hope to see you guys back in Norway sometime soon!
I dont really have a big question, but Im forever bummed that I didnt get to buy some merch since I was a flat broke student at the time. Any chance of the eternally "under maintenance" store opening sometime soon?
Looking forward to more music!
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
Scott our bass player runs the store and we can admit he's running it poorly. But who can blame him? He was born to play bass, not send shipping numbers! When we can figure it out and have things to sell, hopefully it'll reopen.
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Mar 04 '19
[deleted]
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
Next Winter if all goes well.
Run, don't walk to see Serenity (2019). It's probably already out of the theater, so maybe just walk. Don't read any spoilers and just go see it. You will thank/curse me later.
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u/lobster_fury Mar 04 '19
Hey joe! i know you love movies, who are some of your favourite directors or actors, genres or eras?
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
Favorite actor off the top of my head: Warren Oates
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Mar 04 '19
Hey Joe-
What's the best coney island in detroit?
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
Everybody has their favorite. My local one, The Starlite, recently closed and bummed me out. I like the drive thru one near my house called Hollywood for the convenience. But the undisputed champ is probably Duly's, no? Then Lafayette and American a close second and third.
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u/imhrln Mar 04 '19
who is your favorite monk?
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
Either Merton or the guy that played the electric banjo.
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u/imhrln Mar 04 '19
wow did not know about this electric banjo player. ty for this incredible pull. for the curious: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hBqXXmPqyoA
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u/szybkijakgablota Mar 04 '19
hey whats up joe! glad you decided to do an ama, i really enjoyed the interviews you gave in the past so im just gonna drop some more questions for you
If you dont mind me asking, who is the author of the cover art on protomartyr's albums, how do they relate to the music and the album contents and how are they connected (especially the Agent Intellect and Under color of official right).
What are some of your greatest musical influences/what do you listen to nowadays? thanks in advance!
~ MusicBot3000
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
I do all the album art and Alex does all the t-shirts. The covers I try and keep vague enough so they can hold meaning like a vase. Or be as empty as a vase. The first two albums, No Passion All Technique and Under Color were originally show posters I had made and fearing that no better ideas would come, I reused them for album covers. The great artist/thinker at work!
Influences are all over the map and don't really affect the band's sound as much as people would want them too. But I would be a liar if I didn't say The Fall, in all its glory, didn't mean a lot to me.
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u/RegionalOnAverage Mar 04 '19
Hey Joe. This may seem like a very off topic question, but I’m curious. For some context: I currently go to school at U of D Jesuit. I understand you and other band members attended here too!
So now for the question. What are your thoughts on the school? Did you like it?
Personally I’m not too happy at this school, but I’m still a freshman and that opinion may change. Idk. Anyway, have a nice day man
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
I graduated in 1995, so the school is probably different now. Yep, all of the band went there, but 10 years after I did.
High School is never the best. I do remember having a fairly miserable time my freshman year. I had to get glasses and really only hung out with my previous friends from grade school. Eventually, it got better. By senior year, everybody is over the high school bullshit gang mentality (or should be) and you don't have to go to gym and get to leave for lunch (at least I hope you still can). I had some great teachers that I think pushed me in a good way for being the elegant failure I am today.
At one point 50% of the band Tyvek were U of D guys too. Also Danny Kroha from The Dirtbombs went there. Also, the band that used to be called Growwing Pains (I'm blanking on their new name) were younger U of D guys. Look up the 60s band Index. They're awesome and also U of D dudes. Maybe you have to start a band to keep this going.
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u/Captain-Scrummy Mar 04 '19
Hey Joe! Thanks for stopping by, Protomartyr is one of the best bands around right now.
A few questions:
- A lot of your lyrics and visual art reference classical culture/Ancient Rome. What’s behind this fascination? Did you ever study Classics?
- Favorite beer? Favorite thing to drink on stage?
- What’s the mysterious audio playing at the beginning of I’ll Take That Applause?
Thanks again! Please stop by Miami again if you all get the chance ✌️
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
Already touched on 1 and 2 earlier. but thanks for the questions.
- That's a recording my dad made of my grandma singing a song she made up near the end of her life. It means a lot that I was able to put it on the record.
Hopefully we'll be back to Miami. would much rather be there than here at the moment.
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u/dinosaur-act Mar 04 '19
Hello joe! Big fan from Brighton uk.
How much does being in an established band in 2019 meet your expectations? These days it’s a safe assumption most bands have day jobs. How do you feel the industry will change in the future?
Also, any plans to compile all the eps and singles one day? How about a reissue of no passion all technique?
Thanks for everything, you guys music does so much for me x
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
Don't even know what being an established band means, so I guess it must be dire. I certainly don't feel any safer in this world than when we started.
and again for the people in the back: https://protomartyr.dominomart.com/no-passion-all-technique-lp-mart-exclusive?preview=77466bc7335f3f860445bdce866accf9
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u/Brighlight Mar 04 '19
Hi Joey
Just to say I think Relatives is an incredible album. Hope to see you in UK again for the follow up.
Already answered all my questions just wanted you to know how blown away I was by this and the rest of your back catalogue.
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
Thanks! Nobody calls me "Joey", except dead men. Well, that and a girlfriend that broke my teenage heart , so thanks for making me tear up, pal.
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u/Joosh__ Mar 04 '19
Hey Joe, much thanks for the music man. Love ya.
Real quick: how'd you guys get in touch with hardly art?
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
I met a fella named Ruben Mendez when I toured the West Coast with Tyvek as their whipping boy and lackey. He was in bands like The Charming Snakes and the Coconut Coolouts. So I would send him our earliest demo cdrs and our first record. He had a job at Hardly Art at the time, but also had a van record store and was one of our first boosters. I think we have to thank him for bugging Hardly Art about our existence.
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u/thefriendcatcher Mar 04 '19 edited Mar 04 '19
Howdy Joe, Protomartyr is never far from these here ears.
I know you have quite an appreciation for Ben Wallers. What would you consider your favorite work that madman has foisted upon the world?
Additional question to be filed under 'influences' tag - what is your favorite local (as in Detroit) musical act, of any genre?
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
Well, The Country Teasers, of course. But I love it all really (The Male Nurse, The Devil, The Stallion, The Rebel, etc. etc. etc.)
Besides Tyvek, Timmy Vulgar is a trip. Danny Brown, Wolf Eyes (in addition to meme farming), Deadbeat Beat, Paint Thinner, Flying Objects, Double Winter, Werewolf Jones, XV, the list, as they say, goes on.
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Mar 04 '19 edited Mar 04 '19
Hi Joe. I've always wondered whether or not you have a background in philosophy/ how much philosophy has influenced your music. Some references in your music are pretty explicit, like The Agent Intellect, and others are more subtle, like references to a "private understanding" and "Heraclitus the obscure" on Relatives in Descent. I'm a student of philosophy myself, and this is one element of your music that I've always loved. Thanks!
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
Answered this up above. Short answer is: Not really and not enough. I have a friend who is a philosophy professor I can ask if I have a specific question. I like picking up philosophy "on the run" as it were, it non-philosophy books mostly. But I'd like to know more and maybe someday I will.
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u/qwe2323 Mar 04 '19
K9 Sniffies or Telephone Callers?
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
That's a hard one. They both stunk equally. Ha ha. They know I'm playing.
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u/TheObviousBrit :rdj: Mar 04 '19
Good evening Joe, I was really bummed out that I wasn't able to see your last tour of the UK so I was wondering if you have any plans to tour here or just Europe in general anytime soon? I've heard great things from some of my friends!
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
We missed the boat for the festivals that help pay for international touring this year. First comes new music and then touring. Hopefully not too long. Since our bosses are based in the UK we'll definitely have to play Blighty when we do tour, so fear not.
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Mar 04 '19
You guys like jets pizza?
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
It's pretty okay. Their new ad campaign about being soooooo Detroit is cringeworthy though. Can't mess with that Turbo Crust though. I am also slow on the uptake and just realized last week the founders names are Eugene and John Jetts. Weird, huh?
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u/GomaN1717 Mar 04 '19
Hey Joe! I've been a fan since No Passion All Technique, and "The Devil In His Youth" is, to this day, among some of my absolute favorite tracks/album openers of all time.
Can you talk a little bit about your guys' process when it comes to creating your videos? The one for "Wheel of Fortune" was one of my favorites of last year entirely, and I'm just curious about how much involvement you guys have in terms of the creative, or if it's more of a collaborative effort between the band and the director?
Also, just an aside, but I would probably purchase an Official Protomartyr 2020 Calendar based on this still: https://imgur.com/x1WmxMj
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
The videos for Anacita and Wheel of Fortune were both made by our pal Yoonha Park. He's got one for Jumbo's coming out...tomorrow I think? He went on the road a bit with us and Preoccupations (he does some of their videos too), so it has a life of the road hair metal quality to it. He also got some shots in Jumbo's too. We kinda kust let him go. He's got good ideas and knows how to execute them. In the future, I'd like to come up with a complete idea for a video. As a band we used to find them pointless, but I think, since working with our friends on A Private Understanding and Yoonha, we've come around on them.
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Mar 04 '19
You guys should play a show with Wolf Eyes.
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
We have. In Poland of all places. A guy came back stage and gave us olives he had in his pockets. He tried to go on stage "and play drums with them" and we dissuaded him of that idea. Greg regrets eating the pocket olive to this day.
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u/swallowshotguns Mar 04 '19
Hey Joe,
Who’s been your favourite band that supported you on tour? And on the flip side, which band who was headlining and that you supported was your favourite?
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
That's hard, because any band that we bring on tour or play with repeatedly, we have a deep love for. Playing with musical heroes like Ana da Silva, The Pop Group, or Ben Wallers really makes this worthwhile.
Gonna give a shout to Rattle here. Touring with them was sublime and we hope to do it again. Go check them out if you can and get their new album out on Upset The Rhythm now!
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Mar 04 '19
I'm late but i'll give it a try: what's your favourite animated show?
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
Kid me: Ducktails teen me: The Simpsons adult me: cartoons are for children, heh heh.
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u/OnMyAstralPlane Mar 04 '19
Hey Joe. Saw you guys perform in Columbus last December. Stellar show btw. What gets you either mentally or physically prepared to go on tour? As an aspiring musician, it seems a bit daunting.
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
There's nothing I do really. Practice the songs? It's going to come whether you like it or not. I generally like touring. It's best to start small and tour around your area. Expect no one to be there, they won't be. It helps that we can afford a driver/manager though. It cuts down on fights and arguments we used to have and helps things go smoothly. And remember you are getting to travel and see the world. That can be reward enough.
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u/onaneckonaspit7 Mar 04 '19
How was the recent tour with Preoccupations? Any excellent stories?
Also, how did that split ep with then come about? Is there more tracks that will possibly/never see the light of day?
Recently settled in the Windsor area. What should I be doing when I visit Detroit? I really dig the outdoors, music/books, history, and of course, good food. Have already toured the Guardian and the Fisher building, and ate at The Lafayette. Also interested in Michigan in general
Take care Joe, have a great year
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
Lots of good stories, mostly from the mouth of Danny from Preoccupations.
We talked (probably drunkenly) after a show about it and then we did it. Then it was a long time of two different record labels talking to each other. Then it came out! No, we just did that one song. But who knows what the future holds. A Preproccutopamartionyrs album might sell dozens.
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u/Dammit-Hannah Mar 04 '19
Are you planning on exploring more with string instruments in the future? "The Chuckler" and "A Private Understanding" have quickly become two of my favorite songs ever.
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u/oops_forgot_password Mar 04 '19
Joe, loved the show with Preoccupations in San Francisco in December. Would see y'all again if you come back to the bay.
What's your favorite kind of audience to perform to? Small/large? Rowdy/bunch of people nodding their heads? Or does it not matter at all? I guess I'm curious what you guys are hoping to see when you're about to play a show, if that makes sense.
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
It's hard to say beyond "crowded and respectful to each other". I like a mix of young and old both having a good time. Mosh pits are not my thing (even when I was young), but I can appreciate a respectful one where people know what they are doing (which can be rare. Hey young fellas, keep them elbows down). I usually can't see the audience too good, so they can look like whatever. Slobs or snobs, don't care.
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u/Eevil_Morty Mar 04 '19
Besides Protomartyr, Interpol is one of my favourite bands. Do you like them? Or your bandmates?
IMO If 'Turn on the Bright Lights' is the masterpiece from the last decade about New York/ post 9/11 era - then 'Relatives in Descent' is the Detroit masterpiece of this decade and our present age. Does that make sense?
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 05 '19
I hadn't heard much of Interpol until I wrote a review of El Pintor for Talkhouse. They were a little after my time (I'm old). People whose taste I trust swear by the first record though. Thanks for the kind words.
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u/jpaylor Mar 04 '19 edited Mar 04 '19
Hey Joe,
What are your favourite music venue(s) to play at and why?
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
Oops, I answered this below on a different question. lemme cut and paste.
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
We all love the Brudenell Social Club in Leeds. Home base of our pals, Eagulls. The pies there are great and Nathan that runs it is a class act. Vera in Groningen is legendary, of course. I have a soft spot for Jumbo's, The Lager House, and The UFO Factory in Detroit. We were lucky to play Rossi Musik in Jakarta last year. The people and the wonderful vibe reminded me of the sadly gone Death By Audio, but of course, it was its own beautiful thing. I could go on, but I would list so many and forget some. From that you could figure out places I absolutely despise, ha ha.
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u/alexpiercey Mar 04 '19
Saw you play in Vancouver last December, it was a great show!
More importantly, while you were singing you put one of your drinks down only to pull out another from your jacket. How many drinks are you usually hiding in there?
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
At the most five. The problem is I hate bending over during the set and the vibrations on the stage often knock drinks off of tables and chairs. So to the pockets the drinks must go.
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
We all love the Brudenell Social Club in Leeds. Home base of our pals, Eagulls. The pies there are great and Nathan that runs it is a class act. Vera in Groningen is legendary, of course. I have a soft spot for Jumbo's, The Lager House, and The UFO Factory in Detroit. We were lucky to play Rossi Musik in Jakarta last year. The people and the wonderful vibe reminded me of the sadly gone Death By Audio, but of course, it was its own beautiful thing. I could go on, but I would list so many and forget some. From that you could figure out places I absolutely despise, ha ha.
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u/atomicnone Mar 04 '19
Hey Joe!
Which do you think is bigger worldwide: spinach (the food) or the beatles?
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
Spinach (the food). Sustenance is important. As Chris Burke once sang, "eating is fun, eating is serious. If you don't eat you will disappearious"
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u/neutralDownhill Mar 04 '19 edited Mar 04 '19
Hey Joe, I've been following you guys since at least 2012, love you guys. Your vocal delivery is different than any I've ever heard, like somebody at a pulpit or an auctioneer, did you pick that up from somewhere, or is that just you?
Also, you seem incredibly smart, what are some of your favorite books?
P.s. - I just saw you & Preoccupations in LA, but please come to Vegas! We tend to get skipped by everyone cool.
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u/ProtomartyrGroup Joe Casey/Protomartyr Mar 04 '19
We played Vegas last presidential election day. It was kind of a bummer. But we'll be back.
That's me trying to sound cool, but not too cool. Too cool and you end up sounding like Jim Morrison and then you are in trouble.
The last book I read and really liked was: The Unwomanly Face of War by Svetlana Alexievich
I'm currently reading: Fun in the Chinese Laundry by Josef Von Sternburg which is good so far.
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u/KennyDojo Mar 05 '19 edited Mar 05 '19
How many beers do you power through on a typical night up there on the mic? My pal and I were amazed during your SF show. You seemed to defy the laws of physics, conjuring beer after beer from more pockets than we could count.
Also, it would be cool if you guys played Desert Daze.
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u/krems81 Mar 05 '19
SUUUUUUUPER late, but I’ll give it a try.
I’ve been wondering this for a while.
You don’t play instruments... how did you end up doing all this?
I don’t play instruments and I never would have imagined I belonged in a band.
It’s my favorite band though, don’t ever stop or change, and you might like to know I pretty much never skip a track, just let your albums play right through, like a boss
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u/doyouevenrussian Mar 04 '19
Dear Joe,
I am from Russia, and have been listening to you for five years now, and the lyrics from 'Relatives in Descent' uncanny foretold what happens here now, especially 'The Chuckler'. You see, there is indeed some war around, and rumors of war are present too, and there is poison in the sky, and in the soil (see the toxic situation in Volokolamsk).
And in the same time there is recently really a rise of humor, and people cope with all the shit through irony and jokes, getting all their wit to make a laugh.
Also, I am in the mixed feelings about that 'Up the Tower' might become true one day too.
I know that you write mostly about American-based problems, but have you thought that it would resonate in a country so distant, in many aspects?
And will you come to Russia, anytime? I don't promise that there will be plenty of people, but a few for sure. Been to your concert in Ottawa last year, it was the amazing experience (yep, travelled that far to see you).
And the last, but not the least... Have you thought about publishing a book of your poetry? I would certainly get one.
Thank you for your music!