Joel Silbersher
One of the most important figures in Australian music in the last thirty years, Joel Silbersher is an outright legend of Australian music. Hoss has recent done a run of shows, including Queens Birthday Eve at Cherry which was one of the gigs of the year. With an LP recorded and solo LP recorded too, looks like we’ll be hearing more from the great man soon.
Munster: How has 2016 treated you so far?
Joel: Thank you for arsksing. Like a gut-shot dog, pretty much. Mainly my own doing. My shitty-where-I-eaty, sodaspeak.
Munster: How does it feel getting Hoss back playing shows?
Joel: Great, but we’ve never breaked up and rarely have a severe quarrel so it’s no surprise that when we stumble up to play, we lovingly destroy people’s worlds/ears/eyes and slicken their genitals with our rockings. I broke my hand again, so this time Adam Coles has been playing guitar instead of me and sounds great and he’s nicer than me, so all the other Hoss cunts are saying ‘Oh Daddy, can we keep him? Please?’. I find it hurtful. He is very good though.
Munster: Any chance of new material popping up sometime soon?
Joel: Yeah, yeah, whole new Hoss album just about done. It’s awesome. New stuff from me too. Couple singles and a second solo album called ‘I came as soon as I heard’.
Munster: WHAT have you been up to in the period Hoss has taken a break?
Joel: Lying in bed, weeping, and sucking my thumb, as neither cock or neck are long enough to facilitate the obvious.
Munster: What’s the working process like with Tex Perkins when you work with him in the Dark Horses?
Joel: These days, him and Murray Paterson usually have a bunch of songish demos and we jam them out and quickly record them. Sometimes, me or Charlie come up with the basic tune. The rest, the live stuff is same as always. Great, weird bunch of blokes who are interesting and play good. Good mates. Me and Chuck are the only ones who’ve been there the whole time but, as I said, always a fascinating and sweet and talented bunch. Actually, Charlie would say that only he has been a Horse from the get go. Me and Tex laugh together at things our other friends don’t laugh at.
Munster: What’s it like playing bass in the dirty three? How do they come up with the magic they produce?
Joel: Um, not for me to say about said magic. Beautiful, highly individualistic fuckers who make a sweet, romantic din together. And way more orchestrated than it would seem on first listen. Great pleasure to play with them, particularly with Jim. Haven’t ever really done anything like it, before or since. Fantastic for me. They mostly don’t need anyone else to provide that bottom (‘Bottom’!) sound. They all cover that area when needs be.
Munster: Do you prefer playing bass or guitar?
Joel: Stoopid question. I respond to every job offer with Van Damme style intensity! I particularly loved playing bass in Dark Horses the first couple years I did it but I love singing, playing guitar, whatever…I’ll have a crack.
Munster: Who’s been the most interesting person you’ve collaborated with?
Joel: Everyone, almost. So many. Tex, Mick Weber, actually all the guitar players I’ve been involved with. Charlie, Jimmy, Scott Bailey, Tim Hemensley, Dean Muller, Murray, Skritch, Gus… actually I want to go back and delete all those because there are so many others but, fuggit. I’m tired. Most of them have been beyond good.
Munster: What’s it like playing solo as opposed to playing with a band?
Joel: Solo, it’s all my fault
Munster: What are your memories of working with Au Go Go and Dog Meat records?
Joel: Mostly good and David and Bruce put me on to half the records in my collection. I love them.
Munster: What music are you currently listening to? And books you’re currently reading too please
Joel: Get the new Lavender Flu album “Heavy Air”
Munster: What’s next?
Joel: I’m going to take a shit
Munster: Favourite Fall LP to end this please.
Joel: I like some of their stuff but I will say Hex-Enduction as it’s the only one I still have.
