This interview took place sometime in the afternoon during the middle of
last November [1994]. Though very soft-spoken, the head Jew had quite a
bit to say.
normal type = Marc Hawthorne
italic type = David Berman
Who all is in the Silver Jews?
The core members are me, Bob Nastanovich and Malkmus. And we sometimes
play with [Pavement drummer] Steve West, so I guess in the end, the constant
member are me, and Malkmus and Nastanovich, but I'm actually doing a
recording with some other people under the name Silver Jews, so that doesn't
mean anything anymore anyway.
Who are you recording with?
It's a band up here that are this amazing band that I'm a really big
fan of, and I just want to record with them for the hell of it.
What are they called?
They're called the Scud Mountain Boys. They're this local band that is
just incredible.
So no matter who you record with, you're gonna call yourselves the Silver
Jews?
It's weird because, the Silver Jews, unlike a band that come together
just for the purpose of becoming a band and the members, may or may not
develop a friendship. The Silver Jews is always like a friendship first, and
the music is sort of an expression of the friendship. Just like talking,
or hanging out together would be another. I like playing with other
people. It's always been my project as much as Pavement is Steve's
project, and I guess I'm kind of burnt on all the Pavement talk and stuff
like that, and I'd like to do something on my own. I'm going to do
another project with Will Oldham [of the Palace Brothers] that's going to
be called the Silver Palace. So maybe just for now I'm going to play
with other people, but it will always come back to the original line-up
at the end.
When did the Silver Jews first get together?
We've been playing since the late '80's in college in Charlottesville
[The University of Virginia]. The first time we started calling it Silver
Jews was when we all moved up to New York together in 1989 right after
college.
So how did you guys first meet?
Bob and I met in the hallway of a dormitory, and Steve and I met on a
way to a concert. We both caught a ride with the same guy to go see the
Cure.
How did you come up with the name Silver Jews?
Silver Apple, Silver Beetles - you know - we wanted to be a Silver
band, and Silver Jews, we just liked the sound of it. Coincidentally, I
happen to be Jewish, but I don't think that had anything to do with it.
I can't even remember thinking of it when it came about, so it just goes
to show how it appeared one day. I don't think there was any thought
about it.
How did the process of creating Starlite Walker differ from your
previous stuff?
Most obviously because it was recorded in a 24-track studio and The
Arizona Record was recorded on a hand-held walkman, except for the last
song which was recorded on four track. Number two, all the other stuff I
wrote together with Steve, and this record I wrote by myself. Number
three, the songs were written out beforehand, and were worked on more.
It sounds like on the new album you are singing more of the lead vocals
and Steve is singing more of the background vocals, but sometimes it's
hard to tell you guys apart.
Yeah, on this record Steve's singing more background vocals. On the
other ones, some of the songs were 50/50, or 75/25, me/Steve. Some people
have a hard time telling the differences, wich always makes me laugh,
because Steve has a lot more versatility as a singer. But I think it just
comes from... well, probably you and your friends talk alike or sound alike.
That happens after hanging out with someone for many years.
This is not the entire article