Eli Kasan is the singer and guitarist for Pittsburgh Post Punk band The Gotobeds. Their sound balances melodic and noisy guitars with fast rhythms to create songs that are very energetic and highly danceable! Make sure to check out their upcoming album, Debt Begins At 30, out May 31st on Sub Pop and give the first single a listen, just below!
Name five songs that you consider “perfect songs” and explain why or what they mean to you.
WIRE – Outdoor Miner – not just an amazing song, but love the slyness of the content. Pretending to be a love song but really just being about a bug but still managing to pull on the heartstrings is an amazing feat. Also such a lodestar for us, especially the growth they showed from Pink Flag to Chairs Missing in such a short time.
TOM TOM CLUB – Genius of Love – simply irresistible. A ray of sunshine anytime I am down. I’ve owned that LP for probably 10 years but have never managed to listen to the rest of it cause I just keep rewinding it. Plus, MARIAH CAREY’s use of it was a career-high for her too. Love both.
PROTOMARTYR – Bad Advice – The Proto boys have been very kind to us and there’s about 70 of their songs that approach perfection but this is my recent fave. It is way too short but has all the hallmarks of their sound (staggered drums, drunken croons, reverb guitar) and the song doubles as a mini pointilist painting. Notebooks out, plagiarists!!!!
ARTHUR RUSSELL – That’s Us/Wild Combination – watched a doc about him several years ago and cried and cried, such a talent. This song is really tender and upbeat.
MAXINE FUNKE – Second Hand Store – a song that stops time when it plays. Creaky heartbreak from far corners of the world, she is an all-time favorite in my household and I am overjoyed that she is out of retirement and back to break hearts. Would listen to her tune a guitar and read the bible. And I fucking hate the bible!!!!
LOU REED – Perfect Day – adding a 6th cause it is a perfect song, only someone as perverted as Lou could do something so boy scout clean and still make it sound filthy. A truly gut-wrenching song.
Which music genre do you listen to the most? List your five favorite albums in that genre.
Rock Dad through and through.
5 modern classics:
TOTAL CONTROL – Henge Beat
TYVEK – Fast Metabolism
PROTOTMARTYR – Under Color of Official Right
DICK DIVER – Calendar Days
DARK BLUE – Start of the World
Your five favorite rappers of all time? Name one song that best exemplifies what makes them great. (If you’re not into rap feel free to answer one of these instead: *multiple other choices were presented*)
Who on earth doesn’t like rap???? I guess racists who don’t “like rap or country”
Missy Elliott
Gangstarr
De La Soul
Kanye (total guilty pleasure)
Eric B & Rakim
What’s the album you’ve listened to the most in your life? Do you still listen to it?
Either PIL – Second Edition (not rich enough for the metal box) or WIRE’s – Chairs Missing. Can listen to either in a heartbeat.
Do you have an absolute all time favorite band or musical artist? What makes them so special to you?
I’ve thought about this a lot and it always changes but there’s some continuity, so I’d like to shout out BELLE & SEBASTIAN as an all-time favorite for sure. Music I cannot make, but has brought me much comfort and joy.
Do you remember the first time you really appreciated an album or a song?
I do!!! I was 5, my sister owned a small Care-bear turntable and she had the song from Karate Kid on a 45 (had to google, PETER CETERA – Glory of Love) and i remember her going to school and i would play it over and over and jump on her bed. It was the first time I remember actively seeking out or being about to seek out a song to play over and over. I can still remember the feeling of hearing it whenever I wanted and can say that has not subsided in the following 30 years since.
What beloved music do you share with your parents (or children if you have kids)? Any specifics memories?
My dad is a music fanatic, growing up I wished he liked the “cool” Dad Rock bands like LED ZEP or THE WHO, but he was much more nuanced and loved Doo-Wop, ELO, ROY ORBISON and NEIL YOUNG. When I grew up and grew a brain I was able to fully appreciate all of the cool shit he liked.
I have a step-daughter and we listen to records and play blocks or dolls or Connect Four and I’ll never forget that we were listing to STEREOLAB and around 6 minutes into Anamorphose when the horns kick in, she says upright and asked me to rewind that melody. It was the first time I got to watch her react to something like that and I will never forget it (vs. the only time she’s asked me to turn something off and it was THE WIPERS of which she opined “turn this off, why is this guy yelling at me??” still very funny).
Most memorable show you’ve ever seen? What makes it stand out?
Watching THE EX play the terrible sounding Garfield Artworks in Pittsburgh and them leveling the crowd instantly with Frenzy.
Is there any band that you’ve always wanted to see live but never had the chance to catch them? Any classic show that you wish you could have experienced?
I was super bummed on two shows we were slated to open and both artists got sick and cancelled: First it was Westerberg going to the hospital and cancelling the Pittsburgh REPLACEMENTS reunion show (and breaking up again soon after). Second was us opening for THE FALL in NYC and MES being too sick and passing away. Two heros I did not want to meet, but wanted to see perform.
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?
Definitely PROTOMARTYR. Never seen them play a bad show. Learned absolutely nothing from them because we trade in spontaneity and they are a well-oiled machine. Aspirational for sure, but we’re mere pleebs.
Do you have any controversial/unpopular music related opinions that you would like to defend?
LED ZEPPELIN sucks.
What band or artist do you believe has achieved the most flawless sequence of 3 records in a row?
WIRE did it with the first three, but ENO did it with 4.
What albums have been on heavy rotation lately?
Chronophage – Prolog for Tomorrow
Diåt – Positive Disintergration
The Momes – Spiraling
What are you listening to right now, while answering these questions?
Stereolab – Mars Audiac Quintet
Is there anything (new album, tour) you would like to promote?
Please buy the new GOTOBEDS record ‘Debt Begins at 30’ on Sub Pop so we don’t get dropped b/w We love you!!! Come see us live, we’re really nice fellows under all this sass <3
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