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: Lordy, Lordy, Lordy. Of all the great goodness that has now or forever been bestowed upon us by whatever great galactic superstar there floating up in the heavens above staring back at us with its whimsical sly little smirk. Certainly the greatest of all, you would agree with me, would be the unfettered meek little “joe bean” (a.k.a. coffee bean). The greatest gift mankind has ever known. You can talk about mankind’s internal drive to “go forth and prosper.” But it is the coffee that fueled any and all endeavors we have contemplated since, really, the beginning of time. And really, to do it right, we’re talking espresso. Recently, I had the pleasure of staying at the Ritz-Carlton in Denver. And in each room was a tiny little espresso machine by a company named Nespresso. You just drop in a little pod, hit the button, and angels begin to sing in their surreal heavenly song: “Yes, yes, yes!” Sometimes I shake my head and laugh at the pathetic notion of where humanity would be if it were not for the bean. The gift, as I like to call it. The gift that picks you up and never lets you down. Nonjudgmental, sweet, little bean, we thank you. Amen.
Video after the jump.
