While the BoDeans have built a loyal fan base over the course of the 24 years since the release of their T Bone Burnett-produced debut, Love & Hope & Sex & Dreams, the duo—Kurt Neumann and Sam Llanas—is best known as the band whose “Closer To Free” became the theme song to ’90s TV show Party Of Five. But the BoDeans are fine with that and instead focus on making the kind of music they want to, then bringing it to their devoted followers. New album Mr. Sad Clown (429) features more of the duo’s trademark roots-based rock and intricate vocal harmonies. Neumann will be guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week. Read our new Q&A with him.
Neumann: I’ve never been able to leave well enough alone. It may appear pretty well put together. It probably feels just right. The weight. The wood. Sits in your hand like it was carved around it rather than the opposite. But there’s always something that could be just a little bit better. Maybe one string doesn’t come through as loud or round sounding as another string. Maybe one pickup is a little too light. Or bright. Or a little thin sounding. Or the knobs. Or the bridge. Or the caps. Or anything. I’ll find a reason to dig into it. Change something or two things until the instrument starts to transform into something different and unique. A bastard version of what it once was. Never again to be listed or sold as “all original.” It’s now mine for good. For better or worse. I recently found a guy who pieces together guitars from scratch. His name is Bill Nash, and his company is Nash Guitars. Every single guitar he makes is a bastard. A beautiful bastard made to look like a 40-year-old beater. ‘Course I had to change out that bridge pickup. Cuz when it comes to guitars, I’ve never been able to leave well enough alone.
Video after the jump.
