YOUR QUESTION

11/02/2020 Dylan

Hello Trevor! Been a massive fan of you and your playing for many, many years. Can say for certain I would never have picked up a bass if it weren't for your playing, and I was floored when I heard Sister Phantom Owl Fish. The synergy between you and Mary Halvorson is such a unique mood and sound, I find your strength as a band leader is a lack of ego or the urge to show-off, it really feels like the band breathes together, if that makes any sense. What helped you develop as such an excellent band leader?
Also, I know you're probably sick of questions about the Bowel of Chiley tape, but one thing I've always found puzzling about is the track "( )," which I'd consider an absolutely brilliant track, and stands out pretty dramatically. Was there any particular reason that song was dropped after that demo?

MY ANSWER

Being a side-man for the majority of my career and watching band leaders work —seeing what is successful or not in their modus operandi —has benefited me. Knowing, as a sideman, what I want or expect from a leader and trying to give my bandmates the same: clarity, direction, allowance, a balance of freedom and boundaries, a good paycheck.
That song (pronounced “parenthesis”) was a favorite of mine as well. Very cool Die Kruezen-esque writing from Trey. I think once we got into the material that eventually became our first record we dropped everything else. Most of our songs have a shelf-life.