Inside The Album: The Presidents of The United States of America (feat. Chris Ballew of PUSA)
My Weekly Mixtape: Music Discovery & Nostalgia · Brian Colburn
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Show Notes
This week, I’m joined by Chris Ballew of The Presidents of The United States of America as we celebrate the 30th anniversary of the band’s self-titled debut—an album that helped define what ‘90s alternative rock felt like. Chris and I get into everything: his run performing with Beck’s live band, the origins (and wonderfully weird design) of the basitar and guitbass, and how the Presidents carved out their own lane as “the alternative to the alternative.”
We dig into the stories behind the hits—“Lump,” “Kitty,” “Feather Pluckin’,” “Peaches”—and the unexpected chain of events that led to Weird Al Yankovic's parody “Gump.” Chris also shares why Wayne Kramer of MC5 initially shut down their “Kick Out the Jams” cover, how their version of “Video Killed the Radio Star” came to be, and the wild nu-metal detour that was Subset, his project with Sir Mix-A-Lot. And of course, we talk about his solo adventures, from Casper Babypants to the twice-a-year solo albums he continues to release.
From behind-the-scenes moments to genuine musical innovation, this episode is packed with the stories and spirit that made The Presidents so memorable. If you love ‘90s alt-rock, deep cuts, or just a great origin story, you’re in for a good one.
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