Interview: Superchunk

Note: This interview was originally published in Fracture Compound, Vol. 1

Even if you’ve never heard them, you’ve seen the effects of their influence. Their aggressive pop songs — all buzzing guitars and instant sing-alongs — schooled a generation of rock fans, and their strident dedication to self-reliance helped shape the future of independent rock music in America.

I’m talking about the veteran indie-rock band Superchunk, the Chapel Hill band which, with its ‘slack motherfucker’ irreverence and record business savvy spawned Merge Records, as well as a lifetime’s worth of memorable songs.

But Superchunk was not without precedent.

The Misfits roared out of Lodi, N.J. in the late-70s with a singular take on punk rock, loaded with B-movie camp and greaser-rock melody. They self-released their albums and toured the country, becoming in the process, one of punk’s most enduring icons.

It seems only natural that Superchunk would choose to pay tribute to the ‘Fits — and on their brand new split with Coliseum, Superchunk (and their rendition of “Horror Business”) does exactly that.

Fracture Compound: First, what was the origin of this split? How’d you get linked up with Coliseum and why’d you decide to do Misfits covers?

Mac McCaughan: We first covered “Horror Business” a few years ago when we were The Misfits for a Halloween show in D.C., so we revived that cover around Halloween of this year, recorded it in my house and gave it away online for fun. Then we were contacted by Coliseum’s label, since they had a cover of “Bullet,” and we decided to do the split.

F.C.: How’d the band decide to do “Horror Business?” I know it’s not the only one Superchunk has covered, thanks to a searing “Where Eagles Dare” at Cat’s Cradle not too long ago.

Mac: Well we picked that for the Halloween theme, though there really are so many great Misfits songs it’s tough to pick. We also did “Where Eagles Dare.” as you say, and also “Children In Heat,” which has some of the funniest lyrics.

F.C.: What are your favorite Misfits songs? (If I had to pick just one, for the record, mine would be “London Dungeon.”)

Mac: Wow, so tough to pick… “Hybrid Moments” is right up there.

F.C.: It’s kind of amazing how this weird cult band from New Jersey has become such a cultural phenomenon. They’ve been covered by everyone from Coliseum and Superchunk to Lost In The Trees. What do you think is the attraction?

Mac: To me, what was so mind-blowing about the Misfits was exactly what you’re describing — beyond the makeup and funny stuff the songs are really quite universal/classic in their appeal, the melodies and structures, even when they’re paired with ridiculous words.

F.C.: Do you feel there’s any kinship between Superchunk and The Misfits, sonically, or in the DIY ethic?

Mac: Hmmm. Not sure what we have in common really, Except I imagine we are/were both interested in playing great live shows.

F.C.: Do you think — maybe looking at the reception of bands like OFF! and Fucked Up as an indicator — that indie rock might be getting back to its punk roots?

Mac: There definitely seems to be a little more hardcore in the mix these days, though some might say it’s always been there in the background, but just now people are paying more attention or something.

Double Negative from Raleigh are amazing and in their case, it seems like everyone kind of went on about their lives at a certain point and then got old enough to feel like, “I want to do this again,” and were probably rejuvenated by the time off.

F.C.: Both Superchunk and the Misfits are perhaps as well known for their singles and EPs as for their LPs. What is it about the short format that has appealed, and continues to appeal to you?

Mac: I always like artists that were quite prolific, like you had to try really hard to keep up with the output almost. Unrest was a band I think did that well, just kept the records coming. So that’s part of it. But also, when you write a song that you think is great, you don’t always want to wait until you have a whole album’s worth for people to hear it.

F.C.: The idea of this release kind of reminds me of the “Misfits and Mistakes” single, where the B-side reprised the song with Meatwad from “Aqua Teen Hunger Force” singing because both are fun, at least in part because they’re sort of unexpected. How do you feel these sort of one-off, novel releases fit — or don’t — into the Superchunk catalog?

Mac: I think it’s all part of the greater whole, and fun for fans that are interested in the stuff we do between “real” albums.

F.C.: Might the covers-split become a sort of Record Store Day tradition for Superchunk and/or Merge? Or am I just dreaming?

Mac: It’s all a crazy dream!

F.C.: How important was it for Superchunk to be participating in Record Store Day? And for Merge?

Mac: For Merge especially we love being involved in Record Store Day, though I think we also need to make sure people support their record stores the rest of the year. There’s so much stuff on RSD now, I think they could do it twice a year and spread out the releases a bit.

As far as Superchunk goes, obviously we love records and record stores, so not only is the Misfits covers split coming out but we thought it was a good day to reissue Here’s Where the Strings Come In, which has been out of print on vinyl for a long time.