More than five questions with Damon Krukowski
Damon Krukowski is half of Damon and Naomi and of course Galaxie 500’s drummer. Most people who made it here probably know that, but you know, sometimes my family or co-workers end up here and need a bit of explanation. Damon also writes about various things in a newsletter / blog he calls Dada Drummer Almanach, which I enjoy reading on Substack. Those who listen to the blank mood mixtape know that I usually include a ‘90s nugget’ amongst the other, usually newer, songs. In thinking about music that I discovered in the early 90s which had actually been released at the end of the 80s (because things moved slower then) and the revival of cassettes (which I do not like) over the last couple of years, my memory of Galaxie 500’s album On Fire was jostled. It was one I had on cassette. I loved the album cover - the colours, Naomi’s spiral earrings! I remember all the songs. I went looking around online for it and ended up at a tribute to Galaxie 500 compilation released by Elefant Records in 2001. The compilation has some great names from the mid/late 90s college radio days in the US, like Orange Cake Mix. Seely’s rendition of “Plastic Bird” (from On Fire) struck me, so I included in in episode 21 of blank mood. I then decided to send Damon an email asking if I could bother him with some questions about it. I snuck in some other questions too. This is our exchange.
Is there a story about the song “Plastic Bird” that you can share?
It’s a knotty song, I think pretty ambitious for us musically and maybe a bit more demanding of the listener than some of our other tunes at the time. You can see where we positioned it on the LP, next to last on the B-side - last track of a side was reserved for something that would make you want to flip the record and keep listening, but next to last was a spot for something a bit tougher to swallow. I think we saw “Plastic Bird” that way. It was a blast to play that on the drums, I remember - we did it live quite a bit, I’m pretty sure. Or maybe I just relished when we did.
Was the band involved with the Elefant Records compilation Snowstorm: A tribute to Galaxie 500?
We weren’t involved. Elefant Records put it together so far as I know. Naomi and I have known the people at Elefant since they first started the label, they promoted our first tour of Spain and repressed our early Pierre Étoile EP in Spain. They were very young then, and very sweet.
This compilation has a lot of bands that were popular during 90s college radio days in the US. Was college radio supportive of Galaxie 500?
More or less - we had our fans among college radio DJs. But we also took a lot of flack from them for sounding “wimpy” “lame” etc etc - I know, because they would write comments on the covers of the LPs and we would see them when we visited college stations for promo! That’s maybe a lost art? It was a kind of social media of its day, those comment sheets taped to LP jackets. We never topped the college music charts, it was mostly louder and faster bands that did.
Yes! The commentary on radio station labels was a dark art. You learned people’s handwriting so you could quickly gauge what to take seriously or not. I’d love to compile a book a photos of it.
On Fire was an album I had on cassette. What do you think of the revival of the cassette format over the last few years?
I can’t say I’m into the cassette thing, it was never my favorite format although of course we relied on them for sharing music, and for taping our own rehearsals and shows. They’re bass heavy, which can be good for some music - but Naomi doesn’t play bass down where the cassette helps anyway! She always plays up the neck or on the higher strings, where her singing voice is.
The new Galaxie 500 outtakes and b-sides is available as a double cassette tape set! Blue and purple even!
Silver Current is making cassettes, but no one in the band has a working cassette player to hear them on!
In February 2024 you spoke to Derek Robertson for Politico’s The Future in Five Questions column. You identified trade unions as an underrated idea and AI as overhyped tech. Have your opinions changed at all about these?
I still agree with myself! See the UMAW website for what I’ve been doing with regard to union building. As for AI and music, here’s a recent piece I wrote for my newsletter Dada Drummer Almanach.
Is there an under-hyped technology at the moment?
I’m buying CDs at the Goodwill.
Latest CD finds?
The Best of Abida Parveen
Blade Runner soundtrack by Vangelis
Galaxie 500’s Uncollected Noise New York ‘88-‘90 comes out 20 September and is available via Bandcamp.