Vic Chesnutt and Guy Picciotto discuss making At the Cut

Athen's grim folkie Chesnutt and former Fugazi vocalist/guitarist Picciotto weigh in on their latest record together

Photo credit:

?
“Flirted With You All My Life”

?
“Philip Guston”

?
“Chain”

?
"Chinaberry Tree"

?
In the liner notes to Vic Chesnutt's ’07 full-length, North Star Deserter, Jem Cohen writes, "I make films, I'm no record producer. But I needed to bring these particular people together in this particular place… I thought they might hit it off."

?
Cohen’s instincts served him well. North Star Deserter added wholly new dimensions to Chesnutt’s already vast body of songs, and by joining forces with Guy Picciotto (Fugazi) and members of A Silver Mt. Zion and God Speed You! Black Emperor, Chesnutt’s grim, avant-folk tendencies were pushed to maximum overdrive in squals of distortion and dramatic, symphonic majesty. But North Star Deserter was very much a construct of Jem Cohen — a personal vision of what Chesnutt’s albums should be, where songs, musicians and arrangements were put together like actors in a film. Chesnutt's latest album, At the Cut, finds the same players who made North Star Deserter so bold and beautiful returning, this time to operate as a band sans Cohen’s direction.

?
Chad Radford:  Was the lineup for North Star Deserter really all part of Jem Cohen’s grand plan, or were you playing together before the idea for the album came about?

?
Guy Picciotto: That’s really how it all came together. I’ve actually known Vic since 1988. He was playing bass in a band that opened for the band I used to play in, Fugazi, at The 40 Watt Club. And actually, the other three guys in Fugazi played with Vic — maybe 10 years ago. They did an Olivia Newton-John cover together for a tribute project. They played “Have You Ever Been Mellow,” but I was out of town at the time, so I wasn't part of that.

?
Before the North Star record I had never actually played with Vic, but I knew him and saw him every time we played in Athens. I was a huge fan of his records and always saw him when he came through town.





Comments

There are no comments at this time.
Vic Chesnutt and Guy Picciotto discuss making At the CutVic Chesnutt offers...Vic Chesnutt...Vic ChesnuttVic Chesnutt: At the...Sweet relief for Vic...Record Review - Vic...Chad Rad's picks for...Vic Chesnutt R.I.P....Guy Picciotto talks...Vic Chesnutt talks...Vic Chesnutt's At...Spin eulogizes Vic...Terry Rowlett talks...Jem Cohen & Matt...Content:_:Tracklist:...'Burn to Shine 6'...Burn to Shine 6:...Tracklist: Temple Of...Tracklist: OG Maco,...Tracklist: Ariana...Tracklist: Metallica...Dead Meadow brings...Tracklist: Ty...Tracklist: J....Tracklist: Sondre...Tracklist:...'The song is the...Tracklist: Putting...