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M. Ward has been releasing consistently brilliant albums since his debut, Duet for Guitars #2, in 2000. Ward's music is instantly recognizable: just listen for his smoky voice (though he doesn't smoke); lyrics that can move from deeply affecting to wisely humorous in the space of a song; and his quick work across a guitar's fretboard. End of Amnesia, Ward's sophomore album, appeared in 2001, followed by Transfiguration of Vincent, which landed on many critics' best-of lists for 2003. Transistor Radio—a tribute to the independent radio stations of yesteryear—came in 2005 and won Ward further praise from fans and critics. Ward's latest album, Post-War, is his first recorded with a full band and offers further proof that this indie folk singer/songwriter is among music's most gifted young artists.
Ticketmaster recently spoke with M. Ward about the new album, his upcoming U.S. tour and his many other musical projects.
Ticketmaster: Your
new album Post-War just came out on
August 22, and you have a U.S.
tour kicking off very soon in September. Are you excited to get out and play
these new songs for a live audience?
M. Ward: I am. You know, I've had a year's break from
traveling and my batteries are energized, so yeah, I feel ready to tour. I'm
especially excited about this one, ‘cause I get to tour with the band that I
made the record with. So, yeah, it's exciting. It's the biggest band I've ever
brought on tour. A bunch of novelties for me.
TM: You recorded the
new album with a full band, which is new for you. How do you think that has
affected the music?
MW: Well, I wanted a more grounded sound than the way that
the Transistor Radio record sounded,
which, to me, is a little bit floaty and maybe sentimental at times. So having
the drums as a foundation was part of the point for this new record...to go
against the record that came before it.
TM: Who were your
collaborators on the album and how did you get together with them?
MW: Uh, let's see. Well, Jim James came into town, because
he was playing a show with My Morning Jacket. We scheduled a few days so we
could just play around in the studio. He's always great to work with. I've been
working with him off and on for the last three years, I guess it is. And he's
just somebody I look up to, somebody who's capable of doing anything. He's incredible.
TM: Who else were you
playing with?
MW: Let's see. Adam Selzer, who engineered most of my first
couple of records and engineered a couple of these new songs. Mike Coykendall, who
engineered most of my last couple of records, engineered most of this one. Rachel
Blumberg, who's a great drummer that I've been working with off and on for the
last couple years. She just left The Decemberists. And there's a guy named Jordan
Hudson, who just recently left this band called The Thermals. They're all Portland bands. So I feel
really lucky to be able to have them on tour with me.
TM: The new album
deals with war, loss and change. What got you thinking about these themes?
MW: The headlines of the newspapers. Books that I've been
reading. Songs that I've been hearing - ever since I was a kid really. You
know, the biggest inspiration is and has always been older records and older
production ideas...songs that have some of the greatest production in the world,
by people like Phil Spector and Brian Wilson. And the records that came out of
Sun Studios were a huge inspiration.
TM: On past tours,
you've played both solo and with a backing band. You mentioned for the upcoming
tour you will be playing with a full band. How would you compare playing solo
versus playing with a full band?
MW: It's like apples and oranges really. They really don't
have anything in common.
TM: What are the pros
of playing solo?
MW: Well, the pros of playing solo are you don't really have
to worry about other people's schedules to rehearse, you don't have to worry
about waking up the neighbors, and you don't have to write a set list. But the
pros of having a band are the obvious ones. The camaraderie, I guess you could
say.
TM: I'm interested in
your early days as a musician. You're a phenomenal guitarist, so when did you
first pick up the guitar and become interested in playing?
MW: I picked up the guitar when I was about 14. And I
learned how to play by reading chord charts in Beatles books, and that was the
way I learned how to play really. That taught me every guitar chord that I will
ever need to learn. If you go through their catalog and you're a guitarist,
you'll be pretty hard pressed to find a chord that they didn't put into one of
their songs - except if you're getting way out there, and I don't really get
way out there that much. Thelonious Monk chords, you know, which are hard for
me to incorporate into (my songs)...you know, I've never tried to incorporate a Thelonious
Monk chord into an old folk song or something, but maybe one of these days. (laughs)
TM: I know you love
the Beatles, but who were some of your other early influences?
MW: Well, the first live band that I ever witnessed was Firehouse
in Los Angeles.
And Mike Watt's been a really big inspiration, and it's especially exciting for
this tour, because he's going to be supporting the California shows. So that just freaks me out
how great it is.
TM: I know you were
in a band before you went solo called Rodriguez. What kind of music was the
band playing?
MW: You know, we were ripping off fIREHOSE. It was a trio
and (we were) listening to fIREHOSE and Sonic Youth records and eventually more
country-influenced music.
TM: Is the Rodriguez
music available anywhere?
MW: No, but I don't think you're missing much. (laughs)
TM: Let's talk about
your songwriting process. Do you start with lyrics, a guitar riff?
MW: There's no formula. The only formulaic thing about it is
that it starts on the four track.
TM: Did the fact that
you were working with a full band for the new record affect the songwriting at
all?
MW: The composition I do alone with the four track, so I
bring in the band and the full arrangement when it's time to flesh the song
out. So that's how all songs start. Every record I've made is a combination of
old four track recordings with new four track recordings.
TM: Does writing a
new song come quickly for you or does it take shape over a long period of time?
MW: There's no formula for that one either. Sometimes they
come like a lightning bolt, and sometimes it takes years to finish.
TM: I really love
your cover songs. There's a Daniel Johnston song on the new album ("To Go
Home"), and you've done several other covers in the past. How do you choose
which songs to cover?
MW: You know, it's really as simple as you just like the
song and it gives you a certain joy playing the song. And that's about it, you
know. You try songs out and if they feel right then you continue to play them.
If it doesn't make you feel very good, then you stop right away.
TM: I also want to
talk about your production work. You co-produced Jenny Lewis' solo debut. Can
you describe what it was like working with her and how you two hooked up?
MW: We've known each other for a few years because Rilo
Kiley was my backing band on a tour back in 2002 or '03. And we've just been
friends ever since. She came into the recording process with her songs already
written and having some production ideas. We just batted ideas around and just
had fun in the studio. It was a blast.
TM: Has producing
another artist's work affected the production on your own album?
MW: Well, learning other people's songs always changes your own
understanding of music and that's the way I learned how to play, learning other
people's songs. Eventually everything that you learn turns into one big, giant
stew, and basically that's the stew that the records come out of. So it's hard
to put your finger on exactly what influenced what with any exact precision.
TM: Do you have plans
to produce more albums in the future?
MW: I'm producing a friend of mine. He was in a band called
For Stars. His name is Carlos Forster. And that should be out next year. I'm
really excited about that project.
TM: What kind of
music does he play?
MW: His songs remind me of a cross between Big Star and
Brian Wilson.
TM: Are you going to
be lending any guitar work to the album or just production?
MW: Yeah, a bunch of guitar on it. It's been a blast, and
it's almost done.
TM: You have a new,
animated video out for "Chinese Translation." I don't think I've seen a video
from you before. How did the video come about?
MW: A friend of a friend turned me on to this animator who
is from North Carolina,
and I always loved the idea of doing a music video where I don't have to do
anything. (laughs) So I was hooked, you know.
TM: So you're happy
with it?
MW: I love it. I love it. I didn't have to wear one ounce of
makeup, you know. (laughs)
TM: You recently played
The Late Show with David Letterman. I
found out too late and missed it. Maybe you can fill me in. How did it go?
MW: It was great. It was a blast. It's on YouTube. I just
got an email that it's on YouTube.
He played all of the hits, but also didn't hesitate to try new things with his songs i.e. new guitar solos, harder bass, etc. It was an incredible concert that anyone with an interest in country, rock, alternative rock, or easy listening guitar-based songs will enjoy!
Celebrate Brooklyn! has several benefit concerts every season and one of them was M Ward, an artist who I really enjoy seeing live. When the subway came above ground in Brooklyn my view was a huge orange sun directly behind the Statue of Liberty. I know there are many beautiful natural sights in this country but the Lady in the Harbor always takes my breath away. Walking into Prospect Park I could see an ambulance leaving with its lights blazing and sirens blaring. Scheduled to open were Wyatt Cenac and Yo La Tengo. I had some work that had to be taken care of in the office so by the time I met up with rtb and violaleeblue, I had missed Cenac and Yo La Tengo was on stage. rtb told me that bassist James McNew was not on stage because he’d had an attack of appendicitis. I was hoping that wasn’t him in the ambulance I just saw leave. It took me a while to settle into listening to music mode so Georgia Hubley (drums), Ira Kaplan (guitar) with Dave Schramm (guitar) and David Mansfield (violin) filling in for McNew played background music for me while I surfed the internet. I like this band and enjoyed them when I’d seen them live before and I hope to see them live again. M Ward will forever remind me of a little Bob Dylan. The little refers to stature and his voice. Not enough of either to make me see or hear Dylan but enough to remind me of Dylan. The stage set included “windows” on the back wall where the outdoor scene kept changing – blue sky, sunset, starry night sky, trees, plants, city skyline. I think he had a similar set up when we saw him at the Apollo. Ward is a great guitarist – he throws his entire body into it. He is also excellent at the keyboards. One of my favorite things is what he does to covers. “Rave On” was faster and harder than Ward’s original cover version. “Roll Over Beethoven” woke up Beethoven, Tchaikovsky, and a boatload of dead longhairs. John Fahey’s “Bean Vine Blues #2” was bluesy and fuzzy and respectful and loose. Ward deconstructed “I Get Ideas” so much that it was unrecognizable as a tango. For the first encore, Jolie Holland (The Be Good Tanyas) played violin for Ward on Daniel Johnston’s “Story of an Artist.” Ward’s own “Chinese Translation” is always a highlight and you can now add “Primitive Girl” to that list. After a very short set, Ward played two songs for the first encore and then two songs for the second encore. It was really much too short a set for such a great band. I didn’t catch the names of the bassist (who did this great fuzzy bass solo), guitarist/pedal steel, drummer, or keyboardist/horn player.
Absolutely phenomenal concert. I have been to many concerts, including many folk ones that are similar to M Ward. They all typically get too hippy-ish and jam out way too long (almost like they forgot we were even in the audience and were just testing their instruments). M Ward NEVER did that; everything was flawless and never boring. He and his band kept this amazing energy that sent you on a Roller Coaster (pun intended for any huge M Ward fans out there) of rock, folk, and beautiful slow songs. "Crawl After You" became my new favorite song after he sat at the piano to play. His only down fall may have been not enough audience interaction. He said how he liked playing in Portland, asked us how we were, etc, but maybe could have used a little more (this is a very minor complaint). This is definitely one of my favorite concerts I have ever seen.
Having been a fan from the his first release till now, "A Wasteland Companion" ranks as one of his best - so glad to have been able to have seen him at Webster Hall. Terrific performance and a great crowd, too!
He music is always perfect - never met an M.Ward song I didn't like. The show was definitely a mix of of the more rocking and upbeat songs. So great to finally see him live! Took a friend who did not know him before and is now a fan too!
M Ward was a great show! He played all the songs my wife and I wanted to hear.
M Ward played the Buckhead Theatre formally The Roxy. The venue is amazing since it renovation and the sound in there is stellar. This could not be a more perfect venue for an artist like M Ward. Setlist was excellent and he played flawlessly. Thanks for showing Atlanta a good time and come back real soon!
This was my first time at the Buckhead theater and I was immediately impressed. The decor is beautiful and reminiscent of an old movie theater. I was also most impressed by the view in the theater. The floor inclined so you had a good view of the performers from pretty much any angle. My boyfriend and I stood in the back and had a perfect view. On top of an awesome venue, M Ward put on a stellar show. The band was amazing including the steel guitarist. In the background of the show were false "windows" that had scenery projected onto it that was constantly changing. So at one point the windows showed a starry night sky and then a few minutes later there were trees with birds. A neat little extra that was not lost on me. Amazing venue and talent. Can't wait to go back.
Loved what I heard. The band was great and he sounded great, too. It rocked more than the more folky albums. Kind of rockabilly which sounded cool. But, and this is important, he only played for an hour. I was just getting warmed up. I felt shorted.
Good venue. Good show. Relaxed environment and crowd. All my favorites were performed, good mix of old and new.
Both M. Ward and the Fox Theater were unforgettable!!
First time to the Fox Theater in Oakland, and it was great. Its was very big and the sound matched perfectly. I love M. Ward's music. His ragtime style sounds amazing. All around great stuff.
First, is he "M Ward" or is the band M Ward? I'm confused. I found "M" an engaging and warm lead man. I'm a big fan of Post-War, though do think that the album's a little uneven and thought he/they were better live than I'd expected. I LOVE the Fox theatre and am heading back for Sonic Youth in August.
M. Ward is not to be missed! His voice is magic, his lyrics beautiful, and his guitar skills unbelievable. Grab every opportunity to see this man live, you won't be disappointed! (The Fox Theater is a stunningly over-the-top venue and the acoustics are perfect!)
man can that boy play geetar!!! I had no idea, extra long fingers, amazing sounds pulled outta that thing. one of the best shows i've ever seen. sang his heart out, pretty much broke mine. i love you matt.
Awesome performance, awesome venue. Set could have been a little longer. Sound was also a little washed out due to the mixing of the venue. Overall the show was really great
M. Ward: 5 stars Venue: 2 stars Average: 3.5 stars. M. Ward seemed to be in great form, but the Fox Theater just has to figure out how to get its act together! He opened with Chinese Translation (obviously a crowd favorite), but the sound quality was so bad that you could hardly understand the lyrics. It took me about a minute to realize what he was playing . . . and it was Chinese Translation, not a B-side from an old album. Things got a little better as the evening went on. Some really great covers in the set list, along with a reasonable mix of new and older material. Not really a lot of banter with the crowd, but you go to a concert for the music mostly, I guess. Disappointed there weren't any show posters (at all, not just sold out).
Great show, great venue, great night. Highly recommened.
It was my first visit to the Fox theatre in Oakland and I was excited to see one of my favorite artists, M. Ward. Unfortunately, it ended up being one of the most forgettable shows I have seen in years. I feel like M. Ward never stood out and blended in with his band members. The sound at the Fox was terrible, as I had heard it would be from friends having seen artists there earlier in the year. It did get a little better when M. Ward took the stage by himself in the middle of the how, as he really got to display his talents.
The venue, The Fox Theater in Oakland, was the first amazing thing I noticed while attending this show. The gold walls, hanging tapestries and sculptures of giants gave the feeling of being in a king's palace. As the show began, M. Ward owned the stage. He played soft songs and the lights dimmed. He played fast songs with a full band with dazzling light shows. He played a harmonica, a piano, and a guitar with passion that captured the viewer. Though I have seen many concerts, I have never truly felt a concert. My favorite songs brought tears to my eyes and songs I had not liked before became my favorites after seeing them at this show. I am thankful to have been able to attend such an amazing event.
