Sport Fishin': The Lure of the Bait, The Luck of the Hook: An Interview with Don Pyle & Shows # 994, 993, 992

In 1993, Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet released their third full-length album titled Sport Fishin’: The Lure of the Bait, The Luck of the Hook. Prior to recording the album the band was quite busy. Whether it was touring, rehearsing, recording music for the Kids In The Hall TV Series or recording singles, it was a whirlwind of activity for the band. Before the recording of Sport Fishin’, SMOASP recorded some singles with Steve Albini at his home studio. Some of these tracks would wind up on a few different releases such as the Dog & Squeegie single released in 1992 on the Estrus label and the Take Outs single released on the Derivative label in August of 1993. Just before Christmas of 1992 however, they recorded and mixed over a five-day period with Steve Albini at the Chicago Recording Company studio. The results would be the Sport Fishin’ album.

The album starts off with the track “Unwatchable,” a short eleven-second reverb driven surf influenced track, but don’t let that description fool you, this album is many things at once. “Spend A Night, Not A Fortune” is a musical interplay with the lead bass rhythms of Reid Diamond, as Brian Connelly’s masterful guitar work floats in-between and Don Pyle holds down everything with sparse, inventive drumming. The band starts off here with a slow build before the rich tapestry and chemistry of the band is revealed. It doesn’t take long for that to take effect as “Three Piece Suit” comes in as track three on Sport Fishin’. With Connelly’s rolling reverb saturated guitar riffs that lead the song and bass that builds tension with the drums in the background, the pace slows down briefly before the chorus of the song arrives again. It evokes something that Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet do so well, suck you into their musical orbit. The combination of all this on this track (and throughout this record) has a familiar, nostalgic feeling, yet it is something all of its own. “Fortune Telling Chicken” arrives a cappella before fiery surf and 50s influenced instrumental riffs lead the way into “(Relax) You Will Think You Are A Chicken,” which begins with another introduction and a hypnotizing piano backing. Musically the song kicks in with slithery basslines, marching, yet steady drumbeats and intense guitar, blending surf and that unnamable chemistry. The song ends with Pyle playing a series of toms on the drums, driving bass and spirited guitars.

“Plastics For 500, Bob” features smooth, twangy bass, bold guitars and energetic drums. “That Wuz Ear Me Callin’ A Horse” an example of a loud song that captures what the band must have sound like live at the time with a song title that, like many of their song titles, plays into their own irreverent sense of humour. “Singing Cowboy” is a short countrified track featuring Diamond on lead vocals singing of “Wide open spaces/Wide open skies” that comes off as both tongue in cheek and heartfelt, “Farbs” features stabbing guitar swells, propelling bass and drums and several false endings before the song finally concludes, but far be it from me to criticize this. It sounds like the band are in their element here. “Spy School Graduation Theme” features plotting basslines, drums filled with intrigue and guitar from Brian Connelly that despite the lack of lyrics conjures up an ominous, yet peering narrative. “Cheese in the Fridge” is one of the longest tracks found on Sport Fishin’ featuring frosty basslines, chilling drums and atmospheric guitars, “Mecca” is track thirteen on the album. When originally released it was not listed on the album’s track list, with the clang of an elevator door opening and someone saying “thirteen” many assumed that was the name of the track, when it is actually a SMOASP version of Gene Pitney’s “Mecca.”

“Algoma Reflections” branches out into jazz, “We’re Not A Fucking Surf Band” splinters into jagged post punk, sounding influenced by The Minutemen, “Honey, You’re Wasting Ammo” is a Pixies informed, alternative rock sounding track, while one of the album singles “They Don’t Call Them Chihuahuas Anymore” moves its way into Latin rhythms. There are many great moments on this record where you can hear the band really lock in and play in that great in the pocket groove moment. This track also shows how versatile, subtle and effective Don Pyle’s drumming can be, Connelly’s guitar and Diamond’s bass also prosper at just the right moments here. “What I Like About Grease” features dirtier guitar as bass and drums burn the musical oil, “Memories of Gay Paree” is primarily driven by its 60s organ sounds mixing in garage rock elements, while “Babywetsitself” ends Sport Fishin’ in cinematic noir reverberations mixed with jazz. There is a gap of no sound before a hidden track appears, a brief live version of “Shakin’ All Over” followed by crowd noises.

When recording Sport Fishin’, it was the only time that the band recorded in an uninterrupted fashion for a record. Recorded and mixed over five days, all of their previous work was recorded at different times and then gradually pieced together. The results are cohesive here. The band is in top form and seamlessly jump genres on songs throughout the record. The sound is bolder with a heavier sound and combines elements of surf, jazz, rock, punk and western-styled music, in addition to their other influences. Albini captured Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet, very in-the-moment and there is a certain intensity found throughout the songs. With Sport Fishin’: The Lure of the Bait, The Luck of the Hook, Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet cast their musical net out into the water and come back with that elusive sound that they create so well.

Listen to an interview that Revolution Rock did with Don Pyle of Revolution Rock here:
 

Show 994 Sport Fishin' 30th Anniversary Playlist (Don Pyle of Shadowy Men On A Shadowy Planet Interview) (Originally Aired On July 1st, 2023) :

1.  Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet - Unwatchable (I)
2.  Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet - Spend A Night, Not A Fortune
3.  Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet - Three Piece Suit
4.  Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet - Fortune Tellin' Chicken
5.  Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet (Relax) You Will Think You Are A Chicken
6.  Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet - " Plastics For 500, Bob"
7.  Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet - That Wuz Ear Me Callin' A Horse

DON PYLE INTERVIEW PT. 1

8.  Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet - The Singing Cowboy
9.  Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet - Farbs
10. Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet - Spy School Graduation Theme
11. Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet - Cheese In The Fridge

DON PYLE INTERVIEW PT.2

12. Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet - Unwatchable (II)
13. Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet - Haig Earl
14. Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet - Algoma Reflections
15. Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet - We're Not A Fucking Surf Band
16. Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet - Peas Porridge Rock
17. Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet - Honey You're Wasting Ammo

DON PYLE INTERIVEW PT.3

18. Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet - They Don't Call Them Chihuahuas Anymore
19. Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet - Off Our Back Conrad Black
20. Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet - We'll Be Right Back!
21. Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet - What I Like About Grease
22. Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet - Memories Of Gay Paree
23. Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet - Babywetsitself

DON PYLE INTERVIEW PT.4

24. Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet (W/Fred Schneider) - Lick
25. Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet - Song of the Lobster
26. Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet - That Wuz Ear Me Callin' A Horse (Live)
27. Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet - (Relax) You Will Think You Are A Chicken (Live)
28. Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet - The Last of my Hiccups
29. Shadowy Men on a Shadowy Planet - The Jehrney

To hear this program, visit CJAM's schedule page for Revolution Rock and click the July 1 file to download/stream the episode. 

 
Show 993 Playlist (Liz Phair, Global Citizens, Yo La Tengo) (Originally Aired On June 24th, 2023):

1.  Water From Your Eyes - True Life 
2.  Model/Actriz - Mosquito 
3.  Swans - Los Angeles: City of Death 
4.  The Pop Group - Kiss the Book (1978 BBC Session) 
5.  Butthole Surfers - Ricky
6.  Spiderbite - Smashed Glass
7.  Psychic Void - The Man
8.  Liz Phair - 6’1” 
9.  Liz Phair - Soap Star Joe 
10. Liz Phair - Clean 
11. Packs - Laughing Till I Cry 
12. La Securite - Le Kick 
13. Joe Meek and The Blue Men - Orbit Around the Moon (Take 1) 
14. Global Citizens - Fireball 
15. Global Citizens - Happiness Ain’t Green Grass 
16. The Courettes Time is Ticking 
17. Tommy Stinson’s Cowboys in the Campfire - That’s It
18. Galen & Paul - Sea Shanty
19. Yo La Tengo - Tonight’s Episode 
20. Yo La Tengo - Moby Octopad 
21. Yo La Tengo - Serpentine
22. Yo La Tengo - Big Day Coming 
23. Teke::Teke - Hoppe 
24. Neither Could Dylan - Skeleton 
25. Wax Mannequin - Wrong About You
26. Tough Age - Paradise By Another Name 

To hear this program, visit CJAM's schedule page for Revolution Rock and click the June 24 file to download/stream the episode. 

Show 992 Playlist (John McGeoch, The Police Synchronicity, Violent Femmes) (Originally Aired On June 17th, 2023):

1.  Weird Nightmare - She’s the One
2.  Wrong War - The Call 
3.  Tricky Woo - Rock & Roll Vs. the World 
4.  Ex Ox - It’s Your Faul the World is Ending
5.  Universal Cleaner - Psychosocial Mother Matrix
6.  The Police - Synchronicity I 
7.  The Police - Miss Gradenko 
8.  Juliana Hatfield - Murder By Numbers
9.  Violent Femmes - Every Breath You Take 
10. Visage - Visage 
11. Gen X - Poison
12. The Armoury Show - Castles in Spain 
13. Public Image Ltd. - Seattle 
14. Bob Dylan - Wicked Messenger
15. Bonny Doon - Crooked Creek 
16. Deer Tick - Forgiving Ties 
17. Charlotte Cornfield - You and Me 
18. Shotgun Jimmie - Tumbleweed 
19. Love Interest - Midwinter, Violent Air 
20. Osees - Goon 
21. Zoon - Gaagige 
22. OMBIIGIZI - Back at Me 
23. Home Front - Real Eyes 
24. Frankiie - Cruel 
25. The Hives - Countdown to Shutdown
26. Jay Reatard - Paint It Shut

To hear this program, visit CJAM's schedule page for Revolution Rock and click the June 17 file to download/stream the episode.