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From The Desk Of Thao And The Get Down Stay Down: The Way Old People Just Keep Talking About Whatever They Want To Talk About

ThaoLogoThao Nguyen is a tireless performer. She’s been touring with her band, the Get Down Stay Down, since she graduated from college, and is used to the rigors of the road, including backhanded compliments like, “You play pretty good for a girl.” Anyone who has ever seen her live, or listened to one of her records, knows how far off the mark that comment is. Nguyen is one of the most innovative guitarists around, with a style that blends grinding power chords, the jittery fills of a funkateer, a dash of country twang, clanging rock guitar pyrotechnics and staccato single-note runs that add a skewed melodic feel to her songs that’s halfway between bluegrass and hip hop. After hearing her 2005 debut, Like The Linen, Laura Veirs took her on tour and helped get her signed to Kill Rock Stars for 2008’s We Brave Bee Stings And All and 2009’s Know Better Learn Faster. Between tours, she moved to San Francisco and took a year off to write the songs that became We The Common (Ribbon). Nguyen and bandmates Jason Slota, Adam Thompson and Johanna Kunin will be guest editing magnetmagazine.com all week. Read our brand new feature on them.

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Nguyen: I have been quite fortunate lately to spend quality time not just with my grandmother, but also with two other seniors of whom I have no relation. Given this depth of field, I am confident in declaring that old people just keep talking about what they want to talk about. It doesn’t matter what you have asked them, or who you are, or if you are hurt. They just wax on about cousin so and so and the turkey leg. And it’s so sweet and endearing and they can’t be stopped and no one would try. I think it is hilarious and beautiful. And the rapture is by no means a sign of declining facilities. They know fully well you are there and that you’d like to participate in the conversation, but they have worked so hard and endured so much and they have absolutely earned the right to gaze just a bit over your left shoulder and keep talking only about what they want to talk about.

Video after the jump.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=p6grfO7Q7iY