On Sept. 5, 1982, the Dream Syndicate played a 2 a.m. gig at the studios of L.A.’s KPFK-FM. Broadcast live, the raw, ragged set documented on The Day Before Wine And Roses (Omnivore) found the quartet—singer/guitarist Steve Wynn, guitarist Karl Precoda, bassist Kendra Smith and drummer Dennis Duck—blazing and brooding its way through songs from its self-titled debut EP, covers and tracks that would end up on the seminal The Days Of Wine And Roses LP, released a month and a half later. A reconvened version of the Dream Syndicate has been playing shows since 2012. Wynn is also busy with his national pastime-themed band, the Baseball Project, whose third record, the aptly titled 3rd (Yep Roc), is due later this month. Wynn is also guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week. Read our brand new Q&A with him.
Wynn: Like many of you, I was a big Pavement fan. Unlike many of you, I was drawn into their music when I saw them compared to my own band. (I do see some similarities between Slanted And Enchanted and The Days Of Wine And Roses, but to be honest, both bands were slanted and enchanted by the early records of the Fall). But you know what? I actually prefer Malkmus’ solo records with the Jicks over the Pavement albums. You wanna talk classic rock? That’s what he’s been making—they seem to touch on every record I loved in the early ’70s, even though I can never put a finger on which records we both loved. His new one, Wig Out At Jagbags, might be the best one yet.
Full disclosure: Malkmus once ushered me and my then-girlfriend to the front of a long line at the Whitney Museum when he was a guard there in the pre-Pavement days (he has confirmed my memory on that), and we’re in a fantasy baseball league together. He seriously kicked my ass in his first year in the league, but I will seek my revenge this year—all the while listening to this great album.
