T h e W re c k i n g C r e w
address the audience. The song “Are You Serious” is directed to that
issue—like, what if I came onstage, totally changed my persona, and I
I wanted this to be a disciplined record—not just like a “Let’s go into the
came out like Bono? [Laughs.] Just like high-fiving the front row! I never
studio and hash the songs out” record. It was a really rigorous process and
walk onstage thinking that I’ve got this worked out. And that’s where I
a lot of that has to do with the musicians; they raised the bar.
really relate to that comedian posture because it never helps them—or
me—to head out on stage and just think that I’m the shit.
What I [admired about the classic studio group] The Wrecking Crew
is that every part was really distinct; that’s why those songs worked
When I perform with Zach [Galifianakis], I feel like I pick up some of his
so well. I always think about old-school records [when] everyone had
mannerisms. I feel myself talking to the audience more. Comedians do
arrangers, producers, and a division of labor behind each song—then
that confessional medium so well—they can be deep and personal and
Sinatra or Elvis would just walk in and sing the song. That was really
create a religious experience in a way. I’m way more interested in that than
hard to do when I was wearing all the hats. So, maybe in a sense, having
being up on stage like, “Here’s my pain.”
more people in control and delegating allowed me to just walk in and
be a little more like Sinatra. It was like I was covering a song, even
though it was mine.
T ech nology
In “Truth Lies Low” I’m talking about how easy it is to humiliate
C o me d ia n s
yourself these days. Just with the click of a button, you could completely
compromise yourself in minutes! You used to have to walk through the
I think that the album’s title—Are You Serious—is really dealing with the
town and be yelled at by the elders, but now, the click of a button can
issue of sincerity in music. There’s this need to really put it all out there,
bring it all crashing down. [Laughs.] And there’s something so enticing
but that’s the one thing that I’ve never really been able to relate to. When
about that, thinking “I could totally fuck everything up right now. I can
I’d go to shows when I was living in Chicago, I’d see someone bleeding on
just hit send!” It’s so convenient.
the stage emotionally and I’d just think to myself, “Are you serious? You’re
going to finish here, go to another town tomorrow night, and do the same
[By the end of the track] I’m talking about Internet trolling to some
thing? Can you really back this up?”
degree. There are people out in the world who seek humiliation and some
attention as a sign of life. So, when I say, “At least they care enough to let
I feel more like a comedian when I’m onstage because I don’t want to
you know,” I’m addressing those people’s internal thoughts. Like, at least
bring all that darkness in. I often do shows with comedians because
there are people taking the time to actually call you a whore, you know?
I relate to them more than other bands, especially in the way they
[Laughs.] Really uplifting stuff here!