One of the flag bearers of the California’s Skate-Punk sound from the 90’s, Ten Foot Pole released several records that are now considered classics of the genre, including Rev and Unleashed. Coming out of a 12 years hiatus in 2017, the band did not miss a beat, touring and recording new material. While 2019’s Escalating Quickly served the band’s fans with the trademark TFP sound (albeit with a few curveballs), Simmer Down, out on October 9th through People Of Punk Rock Records, is an entirely acoustic record. Going to the core of Punk Rock’s melody-driven songwriting, both long-time fans and acoustic music fans should enjoy it. The band’s pillar, singer-guitarist Dennis Jagard was kind enough to share his thoughts with us, let’s hear it!
Name five songs that you consider “perfect songs” and explain why or what they mean to you.
Lunatic Fringe by RED RIDER—just sounds so cool and has a defiant/uplifting message.
I Fall to Pieces by PATSY CLINE—so simple but cuts to my emotional self.
Just Like Heaven by THE CURE—such a great melody/lyric/emotional impact that makes me want to hear this over and over.
Chandelier by SIA—this is one of my misery songs, a celebration of suicidal thoughts, which seems to help me get past actual depressed or suicidal feelings (at first it seems like a celebration of drinking, until you get a less playful image of swinging from the chandelier).
Here Comes a Regular by THE REPLACEMENTS—just a great sound and a woeful acceptance of feeling insignificant and transitory.
What’s the album you’ve listened to the most in your life? Do you still listen to it?
Probably PINK FLOYD, The Wall, because one time when my band was on tour in 1985, our car and gear got stolen on the East Coast. We drove across the country in a truck that just had a cassette player, and the only good tapes we had were The Wall and BRYAN ADAMS (Summer of ’69)… so I listened to The Wall on repeat… and got hooked. I don’t regularly listen now, but when I hear Comfortably Numb it still takes me right back to being 16.
What are some of your favorite song lyrics? Lyrics that have been important to you or that had an impact on you?
The song Trust by SEVEN SECONDS showed me that a Punk band could write about positive and personal feelings, rather than the tough posturing of previous bands I had listened to up to that point. It goes something like “Hey now got this feeling, something that I never felt before I know it ain’t cool to say this now, but I can’t help the way I feel inside, around you I can be the way I feel, be happy pissed or sad…” I just thought it was cool to see grown tough guys sharing feelings about friendship and trust, which was, in my opinion, more real and or cool than the “I don’t care about you,” “Let’s start a war,” or “You shook me all night long” type of tough, nihilistic or bravado vibe lyrics.
What are your ten favourite albums of all time (all genres)? Name a standout track on each of these albums.
MY CHEMICAL ROMANCE, Three Cheers for Sweet Revenge, song I’m Not Ok;
RADIOHEAD, The Bends with the song Fake Plastic Trees;
JUDAS PRIEST, British Steel with the song Breaking the Law;
IRON MAIDEN, The Number of the Beast, with that song or Run to the Hills;
PINK FLOYD, Dark Side of the Moon, with Eclipse, which I just heard in the exciting trailer to Dune;
AC/DC, Back in Black, I love Hell’s Bells;
DAVID BOWIE, The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust, Rock n Roll Suicide;
BRITNEY SPEARS, Circus, song Womanizer;
AFI, Sing the Sorrow, song The Leaving Song Part II;
Soundtrack for Hedwig and the Angry Inch; Midnight Radio.
Do you remember the first time music had an impact on you?
I guess around age 3, I had a vinyl record player in my room and I remember playing cowboy records like FRANKIE LAINE’s Hell Bent for Leather album (Rawhide, Wanted Man, High Noon, etc.) and MARTY ROBBINS’ Gunfighter Ballads while I “rode” my spring suspended horse. Even at that age I used music to guide me on emotional rollercoasters, from the euphoria of “galloping” on my horse during the Rawhide type romps, to the safe misery of the ballads where I felt the pain of tragic love in songs like El Paso (“Out in the West Texas town of El Paso…”).
What were you listening to in elementary school? then in high school? (Your favorite bands/records back then?) How much of that music is still a part of your playlists today? How have your musical tastes evolved since?
Elementary, I listened to the radio from Dr. Demento silly songs to Pop to Classic Rock, and of course musicals. My favorite of my parents records included Westside Story, Grease, and even the classical music of Star Wars. My first record requests (my folks bought for me) were The BEATLES collections, ELO and Saturday Night Fever.
By Jr. High I started finding my own records, and I recall VAN HALEN I, JOURNEY, STYX and PINK FLOYD then gravitated to harder stuff like BLACK SABBATH, AC/DC, IRON MAIDEN, eventually discovering Punk with FEAR, SOCIAL DISTORTION, 7 SECONDS, MINOR THREAT, etc.
By high school I was also playing music, trying to write my own Punk songs, and listening to everything I could find.
What beloved music do you share with your children?
I occasionally rock the kitchen with my favorite songs, forcing my kids to join in…and possibly embarrass them a bit with some Dad style dancing. It could be any genre, the trick is it needs to be loud.
What are some of the most memorable shows you’ve ever seen? What makes them stand out?
I was the concert sound engineer for PRINCE in 2006-2007, and mixed his concerts, parties, rehearsals, etc. One strong memory I have is when Purple Rain starts and the crowd starts crying, and it builds up to his “Whooo hooo hooo hooo” moments and the giant guitar solo. I don’t think there’s any one element that puts it over the top, it is a combination of great song writing, an amazing artist, the context of the backstory of the film, and an audience that is completely invested in the moment.
Is there any band that you’ve always wanted to see live but never had the chance to catch them?
I discovered MINOR THREAT right after they played in my area… then they broke up, or whatever, to become FUGAZI. Also, of course, I wish I could have seen AC/DC with Bon Scott.
What is the most impressive band you’ve toured with? The one that you just had to watch every night? Did you learn anything from them/by watching them?
PRINCE was very impressive. I learned a lot doing sound at his shows and rehearsals, but one thing comes to mind was the way he directed everything—from the song arrangements, to the lights, set lists, band locations on stage, sound requests. Each show was his vision of what he wanted the audience to see and hear, and that full-scope approach created a powerful overall impact that would not have been possible if those aspects were left to random tech or musician’s decisions.
What are some of your all-time favorite music books and/or zines, documentaries, biopics?
I loved back in the 80’s when Maximum RocknRoll was THE source of Punk news—if we got tour dates in MRR, everyone cool knew where we were playing. Of course, if a show got changed or cancelled, there was no instant way to reach fans like today. But there was something charming about everyone getting that zine to find out what was happening.
Is there any classic / universally acclaimed artist 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?
When my sisters first started playing Phantom of the Opera and Les Miserables in the 80’s, I had no interest in that style of musical. Then they punished me with years of repetition and I came to enjoy the songs and stories.
Do you have an artist that you love in a genre that you don’t usually listen to? What makes them stand out?
I could listen to MILES DAVIS for hours, though generally I get bored with Jazz.
Do you have any unpopular music opinion that you would like to defend? Something that you love and yet can hardly find anyone to agree on how great it is?
In my band’s genre of 90’s Punk, I seem to be one of the few people that listen to Pop music—I love BILLIE EILLISH, BRITNEY, TAY TAY, SELENA, PINK… now looking at this list, I guess I prefer female Pop stars though I can hang with Justin but I don’t go as far as being a Belieber.
Do you enjoy live albums? What are some of your favorites? Can you think of a few examples where the live version of a song is better than the studio version?
I generally don’t love live albums. I’d rather hear the BEST thing an artist or band can do, not the best they could do with all of the compromises involved with a live show. That said, there are some epic live recordings like PINK FLOYD or the EAGLES, where they had a budget to go fix any problems or rerecord or pick the best take from many concerts. As far as a great live song, I Want You to Want Me by CHEAP TRICK is great—I guess it’s live since it has audience screams in it, and I don’t think I’ve ever heard a studio version.
Name one or several cover songs where the cover is better than the original? What makes them superior?
Hurt, as sung by JOHNNY CASH is amazing. I don’t hate the NINE INCH NAILS version, but the credibility and emotional impact of a damaged old guy like Johnny singing it is hard to beat.
What albums have been on heavy rotation lately?
LIZZO, BILLIE EILISH, MAN WITH A MISSION, BIFFY CLYRO, THE PIXIES, REPLACEMENTS. My favorite new driving song is 18 Wheels by FRED EAGLESMITH.
What are some up and coming artists that you would recommend?
I like the song Wash and Set by LEIKELY47, though I have no idea what the rest of her material sounds like. I love this song Lighthouse Spaceship by LICKERISH QUARTET—very ELO ‘70s vibe.
Is there a band that you’ve discovered live recently that blew you away?
MAN WITH A MISSION from Japan is amazing. I toured with them as a sound engineer and I was blown away every night with their energy and eclectic sound like RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE meets Alt-Rock and Dance music.
What are you listening to right now, while answering these questions?
MEATLOAF is playing Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad
Final thoughts? Is there anything (new album, tour) you would like to promote?
We made an acoustic record, a mix of brand new songs, and old songs driven by acoustic guitars (still has drums, bass and guest instruments)–Simmer Down, comes out Oct 9. Before the release some singles and videos are available, which you can find at http://www.tenfootpole.com
Also please keep in touch via that link as future projects include backyard acoustic show tours and a memorabilia/fundraiser page with guitars, amps, shirts, vinyl, etc for display and for sale.
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