It occurs to me too‚ that there's not a lot of bands out there that really have a lot of instrumental tunes‚ or that can go both ways that have a lot of instrumental tunes and tunes with lyrics. I don't know too many bands that do that‚ maybe you know of some that over the course of a night will play half and half.
MM: Yeah‚ there's probably a few... but that's one of the things that I think makes you guys so dynamic. It's funny‚ the first time I heard you guys I was on a road trip with a friend and he had a set from a live show‚ and the whole set was instrumental‚ you guys just jamming. I thought it was fantastic‚ and I later went out and picked up your albums. At that point‚ I never saw you live‚ and didn't even know that you guys sang (laughs). It was this pleasant surprise hearing these great tunes with great lyrics. You have those two different sides working. In terms of improvising‚ I think I read somewhere that you really lose yourself playing‚ kind of like the self is gone thing - through playing. That's some heavy stuff spiritually‚ and I believe on some level you've tapped into that‚ or got a hint of that through playing music. You might not be able to define it‚ but you know something is there that gets you in touch with something...
BB: Absolutely. It's the kind of thing that actually‚ the older I get the more I see as a whole lifelong application‚ or not lifelong‚ but it really translates to your whole life. Maybe it all started to click for me around '97 or '98‚ you know‚ if I want to be a good improviser I need to learn to let go. To have all this knowledge‚ ideas‚ and technical stuff‚ and to have all this stuff accessible but not in the front of my brain dictating what happens. There has to be an open flow between your empty mind‚ like not being self-aware‚ and have the link between that and everything you've accumulated. Just to be open‚ and it's led me to pursue a sober life‚ one where I can remain clear and healthy. As a mental exercise‚ be able to realize it takes practice. I probably don't do enough off stage‚ you know‚ if you get up there one night and it doesn't work‚ it's a frustrating thing. I had enough of those nights where I just didn't arrive and let go of myself. I'm trying to find the path that will lead me to consistently let go and surprise myself. That takes practice in your daily life‚ where you're relaxed‚ and you can meditate. Where you take 20 to 30 minutes for just clearing the mind with something as simple as just breathing. If I can do that on the road‚ I'm happy‚ it doesn't always happen‚ but it's something as simple as breathing that can get you in touch with that...
MM: Yeah‚ the practice of getting yourself in tune...
BB: You're right‚ it is very much a spiritual thing‚ music is an amazing teacher in so many ways. It teaches you about having things to say‚ about making a statement‚ not beating around the bush‚ and trying to be clear and communitive with what you say. It's a challenge...
MM: Yeah‚ absolutely. I think it's about bettering yourself. That's what I get from music‚ I use it as a tool‚ a spiritual tool. I don't know how to define that‚ but I take something I get from music and apply it to my daily life. Trying to make my own life better‚ and anything around me or I'm in touch with better. It's something you need to constantly practice‚ and you're not always going to win or do the right thing. It's definitely there as a tool‚ for me and I'm sure for you as well‚ as a tool to open up those doors and make life better‚ and hopefully better for someone else.
BB: Yeah man‚ maybe that's why music is what it is‚ you know‚ maybe that's why it's so necessary for people‚ because it does that just automatically. You hear this organization of sounds‚ you hear a beautiful arrangement of sound and vibrations and it reminds you that "maybe I can align my own life that way."
MM: Yeah‚ exactly... well‚ I know The Slip has played in Japan‚ and I'm curious about how you guys did your thing in front of a different culture‚ and what the perception was like. Music is universal language‚ and I think I have a good understanding on this culture's perception of it‚ you guys get up on stage and do your thing‚ connecting with the audience‚ it's a very communal celebration. So how was it playing in front of a different culture?
BB: From my perspective it was amazing. The Japanese audience is an amazing audience to play for‚ one of the best by far. They exemplify everything we love about playing music for people‚ they get so excited and flip out whenever there's an energetic shift in the music. Whether it's Andrew (Barr) bringing in his ride cymbal‚ or after a solo where everything is coming down‚ they just respond and freak. They're also super quiet‚ if we get quiet‚ they're quiet. We played in front of a bigger audience in a bigger room last time we were there‚ like 1200 people. When we would get quiet‚ or in between songs‚ they would be quiet‚ you couldn't hear anyone talking - it's incredible how much respect they have. So I don't actually know what their perception is of us‚ that's harder to say. They're getting it all the way over there‚ and have their own history of American music. It's a very stylish culture‚ and the younger generation really grab on to things quick over there‚ but there's also this appreciation for quality that I don't see in the United States. From food to clothing‚ to efficiency‚ everything is super high quality. It makes it even more of a honor to play over there when you know how they really pay attention to stuff. On the other hand‚ I've heard other people say‚ which isn't necessarily my opinion‚ I think I heard Skerik say "I never felt that rewarded playing for a Japanese audience because they just love everything‚ when it comes from over here they just flip out and love it."
MM: Like it's American‚ so this is great…
BB: Right‚ like all of these guys are American jazz musicians improvising‚ and it's great. Like it's much more rewarding to win over an audience in downtown NYC‚ basically‚ like the Japanese audience isn't as jaded or cynical maybe. That's not necessarily my thought‚ but after he said that I was like maybe that's true.
MM: (laughing) Yeah‚ it kind of diminishes that whole experience…
BB: (laughing) Yeah I know‚ like don't feel that good about winning over the Japanese audience‚ they love everything. But either way it's a great experience playing for them over there‚ I'd say‚ just the fact that they are that respectful‚ I would go over there and play for them as often as we could. To see the music cross that boundary‚ actually‚ or to see the fact that there is no boundary‚ is such an amazing thing when it comes to music. Playing music you kind of become this ambassador for your country.
Mike McKinley: Going back to what you were saying earlier about Japan - you mentioned how they are so efficient and how they really pay attention to everything. I know you're proactive in getting people to be socially aware of what's going on in this country. You mentioned the food situation in Japan‚ and I think in America over-consumption is being promoted. I think people are becoming aware of it‚ I don't know‚ what are some of your thoughts on it?
Brad Barr: I think bringing that awareness to people is the first step in trying to fulfill the dream of being able to have an effect on people. It occurred to me that this is a forum‚ whether it's playing live and people coming together at a show‚ or people coming together on the internet to talk about things‚ there's potential for education‚ to learn something and take something with you. Trying to merge the art with politics - it's more like personal politics - like how you can make a small change by the way you as a consumer impact the world. I try to increase my knowledge‚ and would like to learn more about it‚ but I'm not good with facts or statistics... that stuff leaves my brain quickly after I read it (laughs). I'm not good at retaining that stuff. But in terms of a philosophy about Americans or this Western consumer-based world‚ the economy has so many complexities. I feel a lot of times it could be really simplified if we had better options offered to us. That's where the politics come into play‚ where you can get people together to lobby for things like having sustainable resources available to us. That would be the ultimate for me in terms of the political side of my life.