I’m a huge fan of Mark Eitzel and his band American Music Club, so to me this 1988 video interview of a beer swilling and hilariously self-deprecating Eitzel is manna from heaven. I’ve probably seen Mark Eitzel play solo about 40 times (seriously). I’ve also seen the twice reformed American Music club about 5 times. I lived in Eitzel’s hometown of San Francisco for six years, which partially accounts for these alarming numbers. But I’m also obsessed, to the point where I’m self conscious at his more intimate shows, since he probably recognizes me in the sparse crowd, and thinks I’m a stalker. I simply think he’s a songwriting genius, and a terrific (if wildly inconsistent) performer. That’s all.
This interview, filmed on the shores of the San Francisco Bay, discusses the recording process for California, their third album, and other ephemera probably only interesting to me and maybe 50 other people. Of course I’m being obvious when I urge you to listen to their music. Eitzel sings, in his rich baritone, an emotionally harrowing brand of gutter poetry. The lyrics are abstract, beautiful and sometimes funny. The band plays a seamless and utterly unique hybrid of rock, punk and country.
It’s a long seven part interview. It’s cool to see the afternoon shadows pass across Eitzel’s face as the interview progresses.
– Jon Chick is Coding Project Manager for Bridge City Legal, the Pacific Time Zone’s premier legal services company and the singer, songwriter and guitarist of Summer Ono.
Here’s part one of the interview:
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And here are parts 2-7.
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