After a much needed month long holiday break that helped us (barely) escape burnouts and nervous breakdowns, The Thanks List is back to overwhelm you with our way too long / way too nerdy music interview! It is with immense pleasure that we come back with an interiew of former Kylesa and current Black Tusk bassist Corey Barhorst, who kindly accepted to discuss music with us just before playing a gig on the Metal Alliance Tour this past November. As you will discover, Corey is a true music nerd and record collector with very eclectic tastes! Read on to discoveer some good music and don’t forget to check out Black Tusk’s latest record, TCBT! It’s a banger!
What have you been listening to lately?
My music tastes, as far as the other members of the band go, is probably the most diverse. I’ll listen to anything. Really, anything. But a lot of the things that I keep coming back to definitely, I’ve been getting into a lot more punker stuff. Some of it is a little older, like I’ve recently gone back and started listening to REGULATIONS a lot. Maybe because I’m 41 and I’m going through a midlife crisis and I’ll go back to my teenage years stuff. A lot of the heavier, DIY punk stuff. A lot of the Dischord bands, like IGNITION, DAG NASTY. DEAD KENNEDYS too…and I have to clarify when I say Dead Kennedys…It’s Plastic Surgery Disasters ’cause that’s the best fuckin’ record in the world.
Like really, way on top of everything else?
Yeah, I will tell you exactly why PSD is the best one. First of all, all their records are great, but for me, PSD is like…when I was 17 or whatever, that record, when I heard it for the first time, was the truest of…it was punk as fuck. I can get the guys in it weren’t some dipshits that didn’t care. They cared about their tones. The producer who produced it, he understood punk stuff. You know, you listen to old BLACK FLAG stuff, you hear these stories about how amazing they were live, but the records, it’s just kind of squashed a little. I feel like PSD was not. It’s how that band sounded and it’s just a beautiful record, from start to finish. The way the guitar, drums and bass and even the vocals sound is just amazing. And that fury on the whole record. I’ve heard that record the last 20 years or so I still want to smash a window.
Would you say it’s the record that you’ve listened to the most in your life?
Definitely. Well, I’d say there’s a good tie and it’s that record and the EMBRACE record. I love that record. I wouldn’t even know what third would be. A hodgepodge of like, SLAYER – Seasons in the Abyss…uh, it’s so on the spot when you listen to a zillion things…DEAD KENNEDYS, EMBRACE and all the FUGAZI discography. I was lucky enough to grow up in the 90’s and that was like, my scene.
Do you remember the first time you really appreciated music? How have your music tastes evolved over time?
Okay, so the first record that I truly got into, and I’m gonna have to say I was probably six or seven, but it was the GREMLINS soundtrack. It’s like weird synthesizers. I remember my brother and I had this stereo, like something kids would have, but it had detachable speakers and I used to lay down on the floor and turn the speakers inwards towards my ears and listen to that record non stop when I was a little kid. I remember my dad caught me listening to it and he was like: “what are you doing!?” and my response was: “I’m practicing”. I don’t even know why I said that but I was practicing so they’re like, okay…
And it was probably just way too loud!
Oh yeah, it was fuckin’ loud and they would say: “you’re gonna blow out your hearing and blablabla”. As I got older, my dad was a huge fan of music and you know he listened to a lot of stuff your parents would, like BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN and that kind of shit. And he listened to a lot of other stuff so I always grew up listening to music and I think I got my love of music from him because he was always talking about bands. He also loved a lot of like 50’s, bubble gum kind of stuff; that was always being played around the house. Then, I was in 6th grade when NIRVANA came out and that changed everything. Like holy shit, this is amazing! From that, you get into like METALLICA and reading the liner notes and oh wow, they’re covering MISFITS. A buddy of mine had some Misfits records and made me a mix tape. One side was the Misfits collection and the other side was the MINOR THREAT discography and that was a game changer.
From there, it was like, Minor Threat were covering WIRE and so, I get into Wire and it’s like, you just keep morphing. I was lucky enough to grow up in an area where there’s a pretty good scene. There was a lot of good local bands and it was a very welcoming Punk and Metal scene. I got to see some cool bands like, HELLNATION and all that stuff. And those dudes would turn you on to stuff like, “Oh, you like Grindcore? Check this shit out!”. You move on. And then 40 years later, I’m still stuck. I can’t grow up.
You’ve mentioned your dad, is there any music that you share with your parents, that you both equally love?
Oh, yeah. And this is totally along the lines of my a guilty pleasure, but definitely late 70’s, early 80’s BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN. Not the Born in the USA stuff but more Born to Run. That record was one of my dad’s favorite. Growing up, my dad loved it so I hated it but as I got older, listening to him, I was like, these are good songs. It’s not Punk, it’s not Metal but it’s good songwriting. You have to enjoy it, you know? So, we talk about that stuff and there’s a few other bands but I’d say that Bruce Springsteen’s the one that we definitely share a connection on.
Talking about good songs. Do you have a few examples that you can give us of what you would consider perfect songs?
Wow, that’s a loaded question. There’s a lot! Okay, so since we’re talking about Bruce Springsteen, I think Thunder road is a good example because the way the song is built. It starts out subtle and it’s just a simple going song for the most part. It’s a storyline that a lot of people can probably relate to in a sense of like, looking back on what the song’s about. As it’s going with every instrument coming in and they do this breakdown at the ending and it’s the most powerful thing on that record.
There’s an OTIS REDDING song that does the exact same thing, Try a little tenderness. It’s this slow start and, at the end, it’s just getting stronger and every instruments just slowly rise in their volume and that Hammond organ comes, just crashing in. It’s just this beautiful fucking…you want to slam your fist because you can understand that power.
Going back to punk stuff, most of the DEAD KENNEDYS stuff, you just feel that power. I like a lot of the old punk stuff but there’s definitely some newer stuff that does that too…certainly drawing a blank here…I live two blocks from this record store called Graveface Records and, every Saturday morning, they put out like a plethora of records from their used bins and they make a post like: “Oh, we have records coming out” and they do a YouTube video and they’ll put it out a half hour before they open. I religiously watch that video and just rush down there and literally spend anywhere between like, $50 to $100 every weekend buying records. So then, I’ll come home and listen to them and I have a two-year old and I’m like, listen to this, listen to this and he’s getting into that shit too. So for me to talk about one song, it’s just like… it’s like a jello of a million things, because there’s a lot of good music out there.
What’s your favorite way of discovering new music? Is it going to that record store, flipping through the bins? Watching bands live?
Definitely watching bands live. I’m lucky, in our town, there’s still like a really big DIY punk scene where there’s a lot of house shows and stuff. They’ll bring in bands that are still starting out and you get to see that and you get to see the power that new bands have. Like, there’s a band, DARK THOUGHTS, that i saw a while ago that I really fucking love and I was stoked to find out that they’re still going because usually, these bands break up fast. But they’re still going and they’re a really good band. It’s kind of poppier punk stuff, but you could just see those dudes had the energy and it’s so great.
Yeah, there’s definitely going to the shows but also record bin diving. I’m a huge nerd to where I will read anything I can about a band I like. Getting the story and then you find out that, oh, this person played in this random band and I’ll go check that out. Then, you get into that rabbit hole where you go down and you discover an amazing fuckin’ band. That, or you know, liner notes where they thank this band and this band…
Well, of course! That’s exactly where the name of The Thanks List comes from!
Oh shit, perfect then. How much more battery life do you have? Haha
Also, there’s this podcast that I listen to, and it’s really cool, Turned Out A Punk. It’s the singer for FUCKED UP. Hearing those dudes’ stories, sometimes it’s like “I know that” but sometimes they’ll say some random shit and you go “what is that?” It’s super fucking awesome. If you’re seeing this Damian, I would love to do something! hahaha
Also, traveling with these bands (note: We met him on the Goatwhore-The Casualties-Black Tusk-Great American Ghost-Gozu tour), all very diverse, so talking to everybody and being like “Hey, what are you listening to?” They’ll be like “I love this, you should check this out” or vice versa. Dave, the singer from THE CASUALTIES gave me a list the other day and…I’m old enough now to where my memory is so bad that I make notes on my phone and right now, it’s 47 bands to listen to. Shit I’ve never heard of. We literally both took photos of our phones. To be a musician, and especially in punk or metal or whatever, you have to constantly be aware of what’s going on. Some people might think it’s competition but no, that’s bullshit. You have to hear what other people are doing because it is going to make any musician better. It’s not like you copy that or whatever, it’s getting that influence. That’s how we all started.
Do you listen to any rap?
Yes, I do.
Top 3 favorite rappers then and maybe one song that best examplifies their best work?
Definitely, my “favorite” favorite is gonna be A TRIBE CALLED QUEST. Their latest record is fuckin’ amazing. On my phone right now, I have Apple Music and all that shit but I only have five records on the phone and the latest ATCQ is still on there.
MR. LIF – I Phantom. I love that fucking record. I would suggest it to anyone who love stoner or psychedelic stuff, I Phantom is a fucking amazing record.
Who else? SAUL WILLIAMS. I don’t know how active he is now but I know a few years ago, his records were very good.
I don’t really like a lot of top 20 billboard stuff. Those guys, I got respect for what they do but I don’t really follow it.
Let’s dive into some of our most challenging questions now. What are your ten favorite albums of all time? Name a standout track on each of these albums.
Number one, which we already talked about, is DEAD KENNEDYS, Plastic Surgery Disasters. Standout track? Oh, there’s so many. Uh, I would have to say Well paid scientist because the energy you get from that is fucking amazing.
There’s another record I’ve been listening to for the last couple of years, it’s really good, it’s different, it’s DWIGHT YOAKAM – Swimmin’ Pools, Movie Stars…It’s kind of cool because it’s him playing all his old songs and hits but he has a Bluegrass band playing as backup and there’s just something about the recording that has this raw, kind of cool feeling where it brings more energy. A lot of his records kind of have this cheesy vibe to it and this record does a little too but it’s such a brilliant record. I love Country stuff.
Definitely, I have to say London Calling by THE CLASH. A beautiful record. Standout track: Clampdown. That record, I feel like they’re on the verge of being like a top pop band but they were still writing very politically charged kind of things.
RYAN ADAMS – 1984. I think it was a seven inch technically. To be honest, that record, I just discovered literally two weeks ago. I’m a huge fan, I love his self-titled, the one with Wrecking ball and all that stuff. I love that record but I was just going through some of his older stuff and I came across 1984 and holy shit, this is awesome. I don’t know what song stands out because they’re just all jammers.
BURNING SPEAR – Marcus Garvey. I really love a lot of Reggae Dub stuff. I don’t play any of it but I love listening to it, especially the older 70’s stuff. I get the same feeling than when I listen to older 70’s Punk music and that record is definitely charged. Those dudes and who they were singing to, everyone in Jamaica…you could tell that they were trying to set a new precedent about their stuff. They were playing three chord fast and you feel that power when you listen to it. Standout track, I don’t recall too many of the names because it’s a record that I listen to a lot if I have to ride my bike long distance or whatever. Marcus Garvey, the title track is really good one but I think that just sounds plain so I don’t know.
Well, there’s a reason why bands select a title track. It’s typically one of their better songs.
True. Definitely the EMBRACE self-titled. Growing up, I love Ian MacKaye’s stuff with MINOR THREAT and all that and I love the FAITH so the mixing of those two great entities to Embrace… It’s a shame they were short lived but it’s just such a great record. Standout track would be End of a year.
Next one, I’m gonna say it’s a tie because it’s the same band: BAD RELIGION Suffer and No Control. The standout tracks on those are just the entire record because you don’t just listen to one Bad Religion song, you listen to the record.
SLAYER – Seasons in the Abyss. Standout track would be the second one on the record, Blood red. That one, I remember, when I was in junior high and it was right before like NIRVANA and all that shit came out, all my music came from my older cousins and they were all total heshers. METALLICA had the Black album that came out around that time and I liked that. That was the heaviest thing I knew at the time and a cousin of mine was like “Ah man, fuck that record!” and he gave me a dub copy of Seasons in the Abyss and it blew my fuckin’ mind! I was like “Holy shit, this is so amazing”. I wore that fucking tape out. So that’s another nostalgia type of thing. I love that record and especially the title track.
BUZZCOCKS – Singles Going Steady. Compilation but in their case, I think it counts as an album. At that point, the Buzzcocks are fucking on fire. They’re writing great pop songs but they’re punk as fuck. You know, sure you got the songs that everyone knows but I think Lipstick is the standout track that I like the most ’cause it has this like feel, it reminds me of like a FUGAZI kind of thing.
Last one is GANG OF FOUR – Songs of the Free. I love Gang of Four, I love that late 70’s, early 80’s British, kinda hard Punk. There’s definitely a lot of great records in there but definitely Songs of the Free has that feel, to where it’s like, they’re trying to be pop but they just can’t. It can’t happen, they’re just like too against it. It’s their first record with Sara Lee, who went on to the INDIGO GIRLS and others. She’s an amazing bass player and she adds vocals too. Standout track is I Love a Man in a Uniform. It’s just so good because there’s this play in the chorus between like the male and the female vocals. “Time with my girl I spent it well – you must be joking, oh man you must be joking”. It’s fucking brilliant, they have an argument for vocals. That’s it, 10. I did it!
You did good! I guess we’ll break out a new question we’ve never asked before, I think you’ll be able to pull it off. What band do you think has produced the most flawless sequence of three records in a row?
Oh…(takes a long pause)
If you don’t have an answer, we can skip it, don’t worry.
No…I dooooo…so ok, it’s like such a guilty pleasure and the thing is I feel…Ok, I got to have a story before I answer it. Do you all know of the podcast “Your favorite band sucks”?
Ok, so it’s by the guy who also has another podcast called “Cocaine and rhinestones” and he does outlaw country stories. It’s David Mahan Coe’s son, Tyler Mahan Coe. Anyway, he has a podcast called “Your favorite band sucks” and he tears apart fucking bands. Him and this other dude, they just drink and talk shit on these bands. And of course, you get into it, to where I’ll be listening to the podcast and wondering, do I really like these bands? Literally, like, fucking with me. It sucks because there’s a band I love that put out two records in a row that I wish I could just say that but the record before and the record after are just dogshit! So I can’t say that. But…now I’ve lost… I don’t even know why I like…(pause). I am gonna scrap what I just said. I was going to say later BEATLES stuff but fuck those dudes, they did suck. They’ve ripping off their shit.
Ok, so three records…I mean, well, the early JUDAS PRIEST stuff for sure was just fucking rippers. I’m talking about Sad Wings of Destiny, Sin After Sin and Stained Class. That’s it.
What are some of your favorites lyrics? It can be a specific line or verse, or the general work of a particular lyricist.
You know, I have to be honest, I really can’t think of anything. I mean, there’s definitely strong lyrics and lyrics are often what pulls most people into music but, to be honest, for me, it was the actual music itself. I mean, I know the lyrics are definitely playing a role but…I hate saying that because I don’t want to put down lyrics. Actually, I do like a lot of the singing in a band but for me, the passion is that drive in the music. The instruments, the guitar player, the bass player, drummer, the keyboard player, whatever the fuck, you know?
Ok so how about that, what’s the first thing that strikes you when hearing new music?
Definitely the riffing. Like, the drums definitely are there but hearing what the guitar player and the bass player are doing and if it’s something fucking amazing that the bass line is doing, that’s going to grab my attention. Like later KILLING JOKE stuff, their 80’s stuff, that pounding and the bass driving and the chaotic guitar. I know that dude’s singing some great stuff, but I’m just listening to the music! haha! And if it’s a really cool synthesizer line, I really grab a hold of that.
It sucks now ’cause I keep thinking of other records that might have made the top 10. Oh, I like this record and this one. I think my choices are pretty good though.
Yeah, that’s it. It’s done, it’s frozen now!
I just need to throw away all those records. haha
What’s the most memorable show you’ve ever seen?
I don’t remember the exact year but the most memorable thing I’ve watched was the WHITE STRIPES and the DELTA 72. Probably 2000-2001? But it was the Delta 72 set which, I don’t know if you’re familiar with them, they were on Touch and Go and Dischord and they were kind of like a Dischord sounding band mixed with like R&B and the reason why it was memorable was it was in my hometown of Cincinnati and the guitar player/singer climbed up on this PA stack that was like, I don’t know how high it was but there was a balcony and the top was level with the balcony. So probably 15 feet or so. Anyway, he did this thing where there was a break in a song and he jumped off and landed in the middle of the stage to a complete split in the pause of the music. Then, he slid his legs to where he got upright and went into a guitar solo. It blew my fuckin’ mind. For years, I was like, how do you do that?
As far as stuff that maybe more people will know, all AVAIL shows were always jammers. These dudes fuckin’ threw it down and I’m lucky enugh to have one of my closest friends being the drummer from Avail, Erik Larson, but that band, as a young kid, was a game changer. They wrote a record- 4am Friday- that literally sounded like anybody could have done it, and that was the beauty of that band.
Now I’m, like, spewing out records left and right!
Is there any classic / universally acclaimed artist or that you missed out on when they first came out and discovered way later? Any artist that you didn’t like at first and learned to appreciate over time?
There’s definitely bands like that. A lot of those bands came more from tour experiences. Like CLUTCH for example. I’ve never been a fan of Clutch and to this day, I don’t really listen to the records much but I will see where those dudes are. It’s not a go-to thing but with the old band that I used to play in, we did a tour with them and watching those guys every night they were spot on. You get into it ’cause you’re just seeing it over and over and how they work and all that.
Is there any band that you always wanted to see but never got the chance?
Oh, yeah. There’s always bands every day. I’ve seen a lot of bands but there’s definitely always more to see. Like KILLING JOKE. I’ve never seen Killing Joke. I want to see them, even now, I hear they put on a really good show. ESBEN AND THE WITCH, which is a UK band, more electronic-y kind of stuff and there was one show I played in Berlin and the venue had multiple rooms and they were playing in the next room. I went and watched a smidgen of their soundcheck and I fell in love with them but I never got to see them actually play live so that’s another band.
I mean, I wish I had a time machine to go back. That could go on and on. But bands that are around today, there’s bands I’ve seen before that I would really love to see again, like FUCKED UP. Years ago, I used to play in KYLESA and we did a lot of touring and we did an Australian tour with Fucked Up and I saw them every night. It was so fuckin’ good. It was right before David Comes To Life came out. I got to hang out with those dudes and they were all amazing and I just fell in love with them. I would love to see them now. They played in Savannah-I think like a year and a half ago but I was on the road- in a totally DIY venue, like a warehouse. I’m sure it was awesome. Their first European tour, we played some shows with them and their singer didn’t even make it, I don’t know why, but they had a friend from Chicago doing vocals and that was like still when they were playing straight Hardcore/Punk. The next time we did play with them, was like Soundwave Festival and Australia and those dudes were awesome. We all stayed at the same hotel and we had to ride these buses from the hotel, so we always rode with them, smoked weed with them and hung out. There was like some side shows minus the festival that we went to watch and it was great. Now they have multiple records out that I’d like to see live but I live in a shitty town that never has good shows. Well no, there are some good shows but bigger bands don’t really come there and for some reason, when they do, I’m on the road.
Do you have an artist that you love in a genre that you don’t usually listen to? What makes them stand out?
I’ll listen to anything. I mean, like I’ve been getting into a lot of electronic-y stuff lately, like ULTRA PUNISHER, the kind of noisier, modular kind of stuff. Or like everyone knows NINE INCH NAILS, but there’s one record that they put out like two years ago, Add Violence, I really liked it, it was such a jammer. Then, there’s stuff that buddies of ours Sanford Parker and Scott Kelly of NEUROSIS put out, MIRRORS FOR PSYCHIC WARFARE. It’s interesting because, I don’t know, it’s different. I’ve also always been into synthesizer music and it’s a cool thing to hear, almost like a Punkier Metal take on that kind of thing.
Do you have any controversial/unpopular music related opinions that you would like to defend?
Well, when it comes to Black Tusk, any music is an argument. Those guys really have good tastes in music but they’re not so much like, record nerds. Like James, he likes a lot of records and a lot of music but his style, he likes a lot of 80’s Cock Rock stuff. And I like some of that but, you know… Andrew likes a lot of Country Western and you know, they’re just not as huge record nerds as I am. Actually, last night we had an argument, we were driving from Québec City overnight and they were listening to some Cock Rock compilation and there was a song that came on and James was like “who is this?” and I couldn’t really hear it but I was like “man, I don’t know, I think it’s RIOT” and he’s like “who’s Riot?”. I was like “you don’t know who the fuck Riot is!?” There’s shit like that. They’re used to me pulling some random shit like that. There’s times I will get behind the wheel on tour and I’ll put like a greatest hits of 80’s soundtracks ’cause you know, I just think it’s funny and it’s got a good beat.
I don’t know, I don’t like to say what records are really bad…Definitely, I think PRETTY THING’s S.F. Sorrow…I’ll get into argument with people because they want to say Parachutes is the better record but I’m like, no, S.F. Sorrow is better because it’s a weird psychedelic record that like, they’re using the same studios as the BEATLES and Sgt. Pepper’s was being recorded around the same time so the engineers are trying all the shit the Beatles want to do on the Pretty Things so you get this rawer thing. It’s also around the time Piper at the Gates of Dawn was recorded and the engineers are trying shit that Pink Floyd wanted to do but they’re like guinea pig. And they had a drummer that quit and they had a hire-on drummer. It’s a cool story you know and they write this amazing Rock opera and then the WHO stole the idea for Tommy and stuff. They even admitted it, Pete Townsend said he got the idea off S.F. Sorrow. And so at the some point in the argument, I’ll go, it’s fuckin’ S.F. Sorrow, I even have the tattoo!
You mentioned soundtracks before, do you have a favorite band or artist of yours that you discovered by accident on a soundtrack or in a movie?
Sure! Wow, there’s nothing in recent years but definitely 80’s stuff like PSYCHEDELIC FURS because they did that Pretty in Pink thing and they had that other hit but they have some really good songs. To be honest though, music-wise, when considering soundtracks it would have to be like the John Carpenter movies and his synthesizer work and also the David Lynch movies with that eerie, weirdness kind of stuff. I love that shit!
Any up and coming bands that the readers should check out?
Yeah! (Pause)
Hahaha
But oh, wow, who are these new bands? It’s tough, every band I can think of has already broken up. Like I was saying, these bands that are new often don’t last too long…DARK THOUGHTS, yes. Punky poppy but not bubblegum pop. There’s that shit…Oh! PLAQUE MARKS. They’re a Philadelphia band. Members of FIGHT AMP and ECSTATIC VISION, really good fucking bands.
Final thoughts?
It’s not like it’s that new but the new Black Tusk record, TCBT, which stands for Taking Care of Black Tusk. Please pick it up. We all worked insanely hard on that thing. Not that we see it as our swan song but…we didn’t name it…kinda after that for a reason.
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