Not so much a supergroup as a great fucking band, the Third Mind was assembled by Americana forefather Dave Alvin several years ago to reconcile his passion for a variety of genres, from rock, folk and blues to R&B, psychedelia and improvisational jazz. Aside from Alvin on guitar, the current lineup includes singer/guitarist Jesse Sykes, bassist Victor Krummenacher (Camper Van Beethoven), drummer Michael Jerome (Richard Thompson), guitarist Mark Karan (RatDog) and keyboardist Willie Aron.
Available February 14 on Yep Roc, Live Mind seems all but inevitable. Because while the Third Mind’s two studio efforts have ample revelatory moments, onstage is where its spontaneous mastery goes off the rails in the best way.
“The Third Mind was literally built on the idea that you go into a situation and hope that you can make something visceral happen in the moment,” says Krummenacher. “The fact that I’m lucky enough to work with these crazy-talented musicians—and that it actually works—is nothing short of amazing to me. There’s a setlist, sure. But none of the shows we’ve played have been remotely the same.”
Alvin and Sykes share their thoughts on Live Mind’s seven tracks below. Also check out the premiere of “Doralee (Live)” video.
—Hobart Rowland
1) “Sally Go Round The Roses”
Dave Alvin: “Even though it was written in the early 1960s as a girl-group pop/R&B song, ‘Sally Go Round The Roses’ is often mistaken for a timeless folk song. I’ve always been attracted to its seductive, almost spooky melody, mixing classic bluesy simplicity with ambiguity and dread. It also possesses a perfect loose structure for some adventurous, Third Mind-style open-ended improvisations. I love how Jesse’s vocal captures the plaintive, heart-wrenching warnings of the lyrics while the band’s performance captures the collage of wild emotions hidden in those simple yet powerful lyrics.”
2) “Doralee”
Jesse Sykes: “This was the first song I wrote for my band Jesse Sykes And the Sweet Hereafter. There’d been a huge flood in Skagit Valley, Wash., and I knew Doralee, who lived on the flood plains. She was a tough country woman, seemingly unfazed by the potential destruction of the coming waters. She seemed to understand how transitory everything is and had a knowingness that it was all part of a larger grand plan. I wanted her to be witnessed in this context—in the face of nature’s relentless violence and disconcerting solitude, where there was a quiet grace in facing imminent catastrophe. She left a deep impression on me, and I’m glad she lives on forever inside this song.”
3) “Groovin’ Is Easy”
Alvin: “I’ve loved this Electric Flag song since I first heard it as a preteen in 1968. The vocal by Nick Gravenites, along with Michael Bloomfield’s lyrical guitar work, add up to a sweet combination of ’60s optimism and earthy, bluesy R&B toughness. The song’s major-to-minor chord structure always struck me as an interesting progression to improvise on. With the Third Mind’s version, we’ve tried to create a moodier, darker sonic palette than the original, while still keeping the spirit of the Flag’s version. Jesse’s evocative vocal lends a compelling touch of sadness to the melody and lyrics, transforming it into a more ambiguous, world-wise lullaby.”
4) “Morning Dew”
Sykes: “I’m always concerned about trying to bring a unique and authentic take to the songs. ‘Morning Dew’ is sung so beautifully in its original version by its writer, Bonnie Dobson. I wanted to try and pay homage to her by singing it as you would a lullaby to a child: extra intimate and tender, but with the knowledge of something sinister brewing in the background.”
5) “East West”
Alvin: “With the Third Mind, it was my fantasy of using the Miles Davis technique of recording. No rehearsals or written musical arrangements—just decide on a key, start recording and see what happens. During the sessions, we simply sat in a circle and looked and listened closely to each other. Victor suggested ‘East West,’ and I loved the idea. I imagined it as our tribute to the open-minded music of that period.”
6) “A Little Bit Of Rain”
7) “Dark Star”
Alvin: “There’s a profound joy for me when we discover something new or unexpected while onstage. At one performance, we spontaneously segued from Fred Neil’s “Little Bit Of Rain” into the Grateful Dead’s “Dark Star” with no plan or discussion of doing so. It just happened there and then. Every member of the band was immediately able to travel down this unexpected new pathway without a map, thanks to their undeniable musical talents, sensitivities and smarts. This freedom and willingness to fall on our faces—or find a musical destination that we never expected—is a kick unlike any I’ve experienced before.”
See the Third Mind live.
