Magnolia Electric Co’s Pete Schreiner with Mike Conklin
by Mike Conklin
photo Dylan Long
Rock’n’roll group poses for handsome band photo
Led by the super-prolific Jason Molina, Songs: Ohia was one of the most underrated bands of the last decade. They recently completed a move from Chicago to Indiana, ditched their longtime band name, and released a fantastic new record called What Comes After the Blues. Magnolia Electric Co. bassist and former Songs: Ohia drummer Pete Schreiner answered some questions about the band’s recent changes.
The L Magazine: Why now, after seven years and as many records, have you decided to put the Songs: Ohia moniker to sleep?
Pete Schreiner: The line-up solidified and the guitar tunings changed. The tuning change meant that some Songs: Ohia songs weren’t playable. Sometimes the tuning on a particular album was only for that album. We weren’t playing the old stuff. We were doing new band songs that we were excited about, so the name change was in a way a clean break from the older catalog. The Electric Company is just trying to bring the lightning down.
The L: What were the circumstances that led to Jason’s decision to leave Chicago? Do you think it was hard for him to walk away from a city that’s traditionally been so supportive of independent music?
PS: I’m told he left because of the cost of living. It’s a great music city — and city in general. I’d refer you to the song ‘Leave the City.’
The L: How big a role has your new band played in the development of your sound? Have they changed your writing process at all?
PS: The sound is clearly more consistent now that the line-up is. So we can play in a known manner. Jason will still bring in a new song and play it for us on an acoustic, and it will sound complete just with his guitar and voice. Then we will play it as a band and make it sound great that way too — not “improving” it, but adapting it to a larger ensemble.
The L: While there’s always been a noticeable country-rock edge in your music, you seem to be leaning even more in that direction these days. Have any artists in particular inspired Jason to focus on that sound?
PS: I don’t know about specific artists, but Jason has told me that he didn’t think of people as “country rock” songwriters — just songwriters. He and the band are fans of all kinds of music that must influence us, but we just try to play good stuff that we like.
The L: Do you think Jason has grown as a guitarist in the past few years? And if so, do you think he made a concerted effort to learn new things or expand his horizons in any way?
PS: I’ve been a fan of Molina’s music and guitar playing for a while... it seems to me that he used to use almost exclusively open-tunings and those mandated a very personal style of playing. They weren’t necessarily the well-known tunings so there weren’t any clichéd parts to ape. Since the Magnolia band started he has made the concerted effort to learn — and write in — traditional standard EADGBE tuning using known chords. I think beyond that, his playing still has an incredibly unique slant — no clichés and original and spontaneous and beautiful ideas.
The L: What is your general impression of playing in New York? And how do you think it has changed over the years?
PS: New York is the most exciting proper city that I know of and I love being there. We’ve traditionally had good shows and good audiences — especially at the Knitting Factory. Jason’s known Oneida for a really long time and we all love their band. It’s always cool to be playing with them. •
Rock’n’roll group poses for handsome band photo
Led by the super-prolific Jason Molina, Songs: Ohia was one of the most underrated bands of the last decade. They recently completed a move from Chicago to Indiana, ditched their longtime band name, and released a fantastic new record called What Comes After the Blues. Magnolia Electric Co. bassist and former Songs: Ohia drummer Pete Schreiner answered some questions about the band’s recent changes.
The L Magazine: Why now, after seven years and as many records, have you decided to put the Songs: Ohia moniker to sleep?
Pete Schreiner: The line-up solidified and the guitar tunings changed. The tuning change meant that some Songs: Ohia songs weren’t playable. Sometimes the tuning on a particular album was only for that album. We weren’t playing the old stuff. We were doing new band songs that we were excited about, so the name change was in a way a clean break from the older catalog. The Electric Company is just trying to bring the lightning down.
The L: What were the circumstances that led to Jason’s decision to leave Chicago? Do you think it was hard for him to walk away from a city that’s traditionally been so supportive of independent music?
PS: I’m told he left because of the cost of living. It’s a great music city — and city in general. I’d refer you to the song ‘Leave the City.’
The L: How big a role has your new band played in the development of your sound? Have they changed your writing process at all?
PS: The sound is clearly more consistent now that the line-up is. So we can play in a known manner. Jason will still bring in a new song and play it for us on an acoustic, and it will sound complete just with his guitar and voice. Then we will play it as a band and make it sound great that way too — not “improving” it, but adapting it to a larger ensemble.
The L: While there’s always been a noticeable country-rock edge in your music, you seem to be leaning even more in that direction these days. Have any artists in particular inspired Jason to focus on that sound?
PS: I don’t know about specific artists, but Jason has told me that he didn’t think of people as “country rock” songwriters — just songwriters. He and the band are fans of all kinds of music that must influence us, but we just try to play good stuff that we like.
The L: Do you think Jason has grown as a guitarist in the past few years? And if so, do you think he made a concerted effort to learn new things or expand his horizons in any way?
PS: I’ve been a fan of Molina’s music and guitar playing for a while... it seems to me that he used to use almost exclusively open-tunings and those mandated a very personal style of playing. They weren’t necessarily the well-known tunings so there weren’t any clichéd parts to ape. Since the Magnolia band started he has made the concerted effort to learn — and write in — traditional standard EADGBE tuning using known chords. I think beyond that, his playing still has an incredibly unique slant — no clichés and original and spontaneous and beautiful ideas.
The L: What is your general impression of playing in New York? And how do you think it has changed over the years?
PS: New York is the most exciting proper city that I know of and I love being there. We’ve traditionally had good shows and good audiences — especially at the Knitting Factory. Jason’s known Oneida for a really long time and we all love their band. It’s always cool to be playing with them. •
