All One Song - "After the Gold Rush" with Simon Joyner
Pretty much every All One Song guest complains about one thing: having to pick just one Neil Young song. And yeah, it’s a catalog of such consistency and strength that it can feel virtually impossible to have a single favorite. So as a disclaimer, all of our guests could’ve chosen maybe a dozen other songs. Or more. We just cruelly forced them to whittle it down to one.
But I’ve often wondered ... what is Neil Young’s favorite Neil Young song? Maybe it’s always the newest song he’s written. But if you look at songs that Neil’s performed most over the years … well, maybe that’s a clue of some kind. “After the Gold Rush” is certainly up there in terms of live outings; the crucial Neil head website sugarmtn.org tells us that, as of today, he’s played it 698 times since its debut in the fall of 1970. I’m guessing it’ll make it to 700 in no time. He’s rarely left “Gold Rush” out of setlists for very long over the decades — it’s definitely a fan favorite. But hey, maybe Neil just really likes it too.
And why shouldn’t he? The title track to After the Gold Rush is a total classic. And it has so much packed into a relatively compact space. With just three verses and a couple of chords, it takes the listener on a kaleidoscopic trip through time: past, present, future. It’s an ecology song, a dream song, a myth song, a burnout song, a time-travel song, a sci-fi song, an apocalypse song. And no matter how many times I hear it, “After the Gold Rush” still seems to contain untold mysteries within.
So it was great to chat with Simon Joyner, our guest today, about "After the Gold Rush." The Omaha-based singer-songwriter has a career stretching back to the early 1990s; you might call him a songwriter’s songwriter — at least he’s got a ton of peer admiration. But even if he remains somewhat under the radar, trust me that if you pick up any one of Simon’s many albums, you’ll be rewarded with heartbreaking melodies, cut-to-the-quick lyrics and imaginative arrangements. Simon has a new one coming out — his 19th studio album! — on May 22. It’s called Tough Love, and it’s full of everything that makes Joyner one of our best voices. Don’t miss it.
But before that, don’t miss Simon’s very own beautiful cover of “After the Gold Rush,” which we’ll play for you at the end of our conversation. It’s part of a newly recorded Lagniappe Session from Simon and the Nervous Stars— and guess what? It’s all Neil Young songs. Head over to Aquarium Drunkard dot com to hear the whole thing.
Bonus Track: Since its debut, "After the Gold Rush" has stayed pretty much the same over the years — a solo piano song, occasionally a solo pump organ song. But in 2014, Neil and the Talbot-less Crazy Horse played an interesting full band arrangement of the tune. Check it out.
I heard Sucettes through the "surprise me" feature on Bandcamp. This is a wonderful 2 song 7" from an Omaha, Nebraska band. I immediately thought of Bailey's Nervous Kats, R.W. Hedges, and Marshall Crenshaw on "Pillow Dread" (the first song) and The Aislers Set on "Gisant de Lapin". The Bandcamp page states: "Maybe there’d be a word for it if Buddy Holly had lived to collaborate with Françoise Hardy."
Sucettes was made up of members of Box Elders (Jeremiah McIntyre) and Killer Blow (Genie Molkentine). I looked up Box Elders and thought the cover was familiar. I looked through my digital library and there it was - I'd gotten it way back in 2009.
This 7" was released on the short-lived label Ricordo. I can't believe no one has bought this on Bandcamp. According to Discogs, there's only one other release, another 7" from fellow Omaha musician Simon Joyner.
Walnut Brain is a Philadelphia noise/experimental duo made up of electric guitarist Steve Heise and diddley bow player Alina Josan. Their first full-length, Weird Wire, came out earlier this year on Petty Bunco records, full of jangling half-percussive, half-melodic metallic string vibrations that sounded like blues from outer space. In her review, Jennifer Kelly wrote, “The sounds that Heise and Josan make are far removed from the Delta tradition, consisting largely of staccato banging on strings, a rain of notes from both instruments that morphs and changes in the air, finding strange harmonies, dissonances and complementarities on the fly.” Here's what's in heavy rotation for them right now.
France — Destino Scifosi
We have been playing this one on repeat for many months. A live recording from the masters of the one chord jam with plenty of hurdy-gurdy screeching and shredding. The bass player and drummer show tremendous restraint and never stray from their initial simple groove.
Didona — PIZMA
This is a great Romanian noise pop group that sometimes reminds us of Fugazi in the best possible way. The cassette label it's released on, Beach Buddies, is putting out some really interesting and challenging music from Eastern Europe and beyond.
Nowhere Flower — Heat Dome
Really cool murky songs with distorted drum machines and twangy guitars. The lyrics are pretty much indecipherable which is how we prefer them.
De Vlaamse Primitieven — Lucht Van Een Andere Planeet
You can tell these guys are really good musicians. But they don't overplay. Instead, they use simple riffs and repetition to create these great hypnotic acoustic pieces.
Group Inerane — Marhajan Bianou
Many years ago, I (Steve) obsessed over live videos of Group Inerane on YouTube. Then a few months ago out of nowhere Sublime Frequencies released this album of live recordings from some of those very same live shows. Some of the best guitar rock jams out there.
Bohannon — Disco Stomp
A perfect song that's somehow both mellow and a foot stomper. We listened to it a lot this year. Heey, Philadelphia!
David Nance and Simon Joyner — Bedspring Symphony
David Nance has made a ton of great music since this one but it's hitting the spot these days. Originally released under a different name; one look at the art and you'll figure out what that was. Some of it sounds like soulful singing from the bottom of a well, some of it like raucous one-take rockers: perfect. Really looking forward to the return of his Astute Palate.
Marlen Haushofer — The Wall
This is a novel that we both read in turn this year and loved. Survival in the post cataclysm world while getting to better understand animals is going to be bittersweet.
Lale Westvind — Void Packer
Lale's phenomenal Grip is still one of the best comics I've ever laid eyes on along with her many others. Those beautiful drawings and stories have real power, electricity and humor. It's been a treat to wait for issues of Void Packer (what a great name!), now four in number, and see the main story take shape along with shorter ones that are dystopian and hopeful in turn.
Pat Finnerty — What Makes This Song Stink
Pat Finnerty videos are evergreen for us. We've watched each video many, many times. Pat is doing the real work of dissecting the worst music out there. We eagerly await the next episode.
I am absolutely feral for Simon, and Steve is 100% the kinda guy to have friends (well he doesn't think of them as friends because Steve doesn't have friends, but Danny is working on that with him) all over the world, and if they need help? He's got your back :)
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They all drive on the wrong side of the road here.
It's the first thing Simon thinks when he steps out of the airport, duffel bag readjusted as he scans the cars coming in and out of the pick up zone. The heat isn't as suffocating as it was back home, the Australian almost wondering if he was going to need some sort of sweater when a silver camaro pulls up just in front of him.
"Always on time eh?" The taller man who piles out of the car just chuckles, moving to help scoop up the other bags piled behind where Simon had been standing up and into the luggage rack attached on top.
"Pretty sure my commanding officer would appear from thin air if I wasn't."
"Probably not, but thanks all the same, McGarrett."
"Don't mention it. Come on, my place isn't far and you look like you need a day to just blackout."
"Tell me about it mate." Simon climbed into the passenger seat, sinking back with a relieved groan. "Forgot how much I hate flying."
"Well, you're not going anywhere anytime soon, so no more worries for now." The SEAL slipped back into the driver's seat after making sure everything was secured, and soon the duo were driving out and into the island after some minor traffic.
"Mate, the pictures you've sent don't do this place justice." Simon whistled, taking in the area while digging out his phone to take a short video. Steve just smiled to himself while turning on the radio, the occasional crow from the Aussie beside him breaking the amicable silence between them.
"Do you mind if I swing by work to grab something real quick?" Finally distracted with taking videos and pictures, Simon glanced over with a shrug.
“I’m not bitin’ to go anywhere, s’long as we can get some brekkie afterwards.”
“It’s 14:00, but I know a few people who can hook you up, my treat.”
“That’ll work.” Simon’s back popped a little bit as he stretched, eyeing some of the older buildings with an interested hum. The police department they pull up to is no different, Steve pausing for a moment when Simon got out alongside him. “Need to stretch is all.”
“C’mon, you can meet the gang.”
“Is your Danno bloke there?” Simon grinned, catching the way Steve’s head jerked in surprise. “What?”
“He’s not my Danno…” The SEAL grumbled as they headed up and into the building, the Aussie eyeing the station up and amused to find it wasn’t too different from his own once you stepped inside. Desks from 1975, coffee machines that barely ran as such, and desk chairs that probably needed to have been thrown out ages ago, Simon shakes his head in amusement as Steve takes him into an area that was finally part of modern times. He can see a small group huddled around some sort of central monitor station, a shorter blonde man waving his arms around while he explains something Simon can’t quite catch until they’re within range.
“Did I miss something?” Steve interrupted the blonde, who shot him an annoyed look before catching sight of Simon.
“Yes you did, and who is this?” The accent made Simon smile a bit, and he stepped forward with a wave.
“You’re Danno right?” The look Danno shot Steve would have sent just about anyone running, but the other just smiles a bit before heading for his office while pulling out his phone.
“Detective Danny Williams. So, c’mon, name.” Danny waved for Simon to speak, clearly sizing the Aussie up. Simon doesn’t get a chance to open his mouth before the woman beside Danny nudged his side hard enough to make the Jersey detective grunt.
"Before he hogs all the attention, I'm Officer Kono Kalakaua." Kono grinned, offering a hand to give Simon a firm handshake. "And that's my cuz Chin."
"Lieutenant Chin Ho Kelly." The men across the table gave a small wave, and Simon clocked him as probably one of the calmer team members. "Nice to meet you."
"Likewise, I've heard only good things about you lot." Simon waved back, aware that Danny was still staring at him. "Detective Senior Constable Simon Joyner, nice to meet ya.” Simon flashes his biggest smile, and the grumpy blonde softens just a fraction.
For a moment blonde hair turns black, pale skin sunkissed, and Simon can let himself be selfish for a moment before the familiar image fades in the blink of an eye.
“Fancy title, but nice to see another cop ‘round here. Four of us might finally outrank the super SEAL, which I’m curious to know exactly how you know him?” Danny crossed his arms as he leaned back against the monitor, the movement more relaxed rather than cautionary.
“Uh, well I nearly ran over ‘im when he and some of his buddies were celebratin’ something.” Simon let out a slightly embarrassed laugh, noting quite a few eyes looking over at Steve in his office, the man looking slightly confused at all the looks as he spoke on the phone. “Stevie remembered me, tracked me down somehow, and treated me to drinks as thanks for making sure he and his lot got back to their hotel.”
“Stevie? Since when can anyone call him Stevie, because I sure as hell can’t call him Stevie.” Danny complained, earning a few chuckles from the other two who had been watching most of this in amusement.
"Didn't know he was one of them fancy American soldiers, and we just kept in touch after that." Simon hummed, stretching a little bit with a slight wince.
"So are you visiting then?"
“Uh, sorta?” Simon shrugged, “Always been meanin’ to catch up with Stevie, and nows a time as any.”
“In the middle of the holiday season?” Chin asked, and luckily Steve exited his office before Simon could squirm in discomfort.
“Simon, I’m ready to head out if you are.” The Aussie nodded, noting some files tucked under Steve’s arm. “Call if you guys need me.”
“Will do, now off with you.” Danny made a shooing motion. “Poor kid looks like he’s about to drop.”
“‘M not a kid…” Simon groused, but gave a cheerful wave as he and Steve headed back to the car, fighting back a few yawns. The island state was beautiful enough to keep the Australian alert enough as they eventually pulled to the stop outside a modest little home, Simon pilling out and glancing around with a low whistle.
“You’re set up here mate.”
“It’s nothing special.” Steve shrugged, grabbing the carry-on luggage. “I’ve got the guest bed set up, room has an attached shower.”
“Don’t mind if I do.” Simon grabbed whatever was left before following Steve inside, figuring he’d get the rest of his stuff later. “You lot need to worry about spiders here?”
“Uh a little bit, not as bad as what you’re used to.” Steve watched as Simon set his shoes upside down by the door before scanning the floor, quietly glad they didn’t have as much deadly wildlife here at home. The guest room was a decent size, the queen bed dressed with fresh sheets and a newly assembled set of dressers tucked in the corner. “If we need more let me know, and I’ll go pick up an extra set.”
“Nah I can make it work, this is too much already mate.” Simon dumped his backpack on the bed, clearly blown away by the generosity.
“Hey, I get it.” The meaning hung heavy in the air as Simon kept his eyes on the floor, and was glad that Steve was not one to press. “Need a drink or anything?”
“No, I’m fine.” He manages to scrounge up a strangled thing of a smile, and Steve places the two suitcases he’d carried in by the door before vanishing without a sound, the door closing with a soft click. Simon wastes no time pulling out a fresh set out lounge clothes and his travel bag before retreating to the bathroom.
The warm water did it’s job washing away the weariness of travel, and for a good minute Simon looks out the window that slowly fogs up, the crashing waves a small comfort. It’s not like back home, not the same sounds of Bondi that had filled many a happy afternoon, not what he heard with a certain kis-
Simon curses and flicks the water so it’s cold, and the sea vanishes behind the condensation as he finishes his shower and shuts the water off. He’s trembling a little when he dries off and slips on his comfort clothes, throwing his phone to charge on the bedside table before crawling under the sheets.
The waves are the last thing he hears before exhaustion finally takes hold, a blinding smile flashing in his mind's eye before Simon drifts into a dreamless sleep.
That awkward moment when you figure out who the killer is, and let out a slightly to loud/distressed "Oh no!" and your everyone comes running into the room asking what's wrong 😆
