Joyce Manor perform a stripped-down set at The Current
by Mark Wheat
October 23, 2018
California band Joyce Manor have been around for 10 years now. They've released five albums, including the last three on esteemed label Epitaph Records. Joyce Manor's latest release, Million Dollars To Kill Me, has been lauded for its demonstration of the band's maturity. "I don't hear that much of a difference in the last three records, but every review and anyone who writes about it just talks about the leaps and bounds we've made and the emotional growth," says Joyce Manor's Barry Johnson. "I don't hear that much difference but apparently everyone else does."
In town for a show at the Cedar Cultural Center in Minneapolis, Joyce Manor — Johnson, along with Matt Ebert on bass, Chase Knobbe on electric guitar and Pat Ware on drums — stopped at The Current to perform a stripped-down set hosted by Mark Wheat.
The semi-acoustic setup is something that appeals to Johnson as something worth trying at a future live show. "I would actually enjoy that," he says. "I think we have a very high-energy live show and a responsive, enthusiastic shows, and I'm hooked on it. But I would love to have a three-piece string section and an acoustic guitar, and just do something you couldn't go crazy to, just to challenge myself to see if I could get onstage and not be able to hide behind that exuberance of the crowd."
In the meantime, however, Joyce Manor will stick to what they do best — playing high-energy originals and surprising covers. And when it comes to covers, Johnson shares a story about how he himself was surprised after covering the Buggles' "Video Killed the Radio Star" and meeting a friend of the original songwriter of the tune, Trevor Horn, who ultimately passed along his imprimatur.
Use the audio player above to listen to the complete in-studio session.
Songs Performed
"Million Dollars To Kill Me"
"Wildflowers"
"Think I'm Still In Love With You"
All songs from Joyce Manor's 2018 album, Million Dollars To Kill Me, available on Epitaph Records.
Hosted by Mark Wheat
Produced by Anna Weggel
Engineered by Michael DeMark
Visuals by Emmet Kowler
Web feature by Luke Taylor
External Link
Joyce Manor - official site
