Nate Cross has become a powerful force behind the scenes of contemporary American music, onstage and on record as one of the key members of drone-rock ensemble Water Damage and as the proprietor of the respected creative-music label Astral Spirits. He discusses how music by Oneida, Jim O’Rourke, and The Necks shaped his course. Water Damage will be perform at the Big Ears Festival in Knoxville in March of 2025.

Nate Cross has become a powerful force behind the scenes of contemporary American music, onstage and on record as one of the key members of drone-rock ensemble Water Damage and as the proprietor of the respected creative-music label Astral Spirits. He discusses how music by Oneida, Jim O’Rourke, and The Necks shaped his course. Water Damage will be perform at the Big Ears Festival in Knoxville in March of 2025.

A show in which musicians and other creators talk about the songs that shaped who they are.

Essential Tremors

Nate Cross (Water Damage/Astral Spirits) (Big Ears Festival Performer)

Gregg Turkington, arguably more widely known from his guise as comedian Neil Hamburger, is possibly best described as a comic himself, but also as a cultural critic and commentator. Having spent his younger years as a zine publisher, a musician in multiple bands, and running a label, he has since risen to greater prominence as a collaborator with Tim Heidecker in On Cinema at the Cinema, a web series put out by Adult Swim, among many other endeavors. Hear how songs by Jimmy Webb, Leonard Cohen, and Frank Sinatra influenced his work, including his newest record, Neil Hamburger Presents: Seasonal Depression Suite, which is out now on Drag City.

Gregg Turkington, arguably more widely known from his guise as comedian Neil Hamburger, is possibly best described as a comic himself, but also as a cultural critic and commentator. Having spent his younger years as a zine publisher, a musician in multiple bands, and running a label, he has since risen to greater prominence as a collaborator with Tim Heidecker in On Cinema at the Cinema, a web series put out by Adult Swim, among many other endeavors. Hear how songs by Jimmy Webb, Leonard Cohen, and Frank Sinatra influenced his work, including his newest record, Neil Hamburger Presents: Seasonal Depression Suite, which is out now on Drag City.

Gregg Turkington (Neil Hamburger)

A household name for many decades amongst those with an interest in challenging, forward-thinking music, Fred Frith initially gained an audience through his work as the guitarist with 60’s group Henry Cow, and has since had a prolific career as a player on many recordings under his own name as well as collaborations with players ranging from Henry Kaiser, to The Residents, to Richard Thompson, to John Zorn. He has appeared on over 400 recordings and continues to push forward artistically with each new release. We spoke to Frith in front of a live audience at the Big Ears Festival in Kn0xville in March of 2024.

A household name for many decades amongst those with an interest in challenging, forward-thinking music, Fred Frith initially gained an audience through his work as the guitarist with 60’s group Henry Cow, and has since had a prolific career as a player on many recordings under his own name as well as collaborations with players ranging from Henry Kaiser, to The Residents, to Richard Thompson, to John Zorn. He has appeared on over 400 recordings and continues to push forward artistically with each new release. We spoke to Frith in front of a live audience at the Big Ears Festival in Kn0xville in March of 2024.

Fred Frith (Live at Big Ears Festival)

A household name for many decades amongst those with an interest in challenging, forward-thinking music, Fred Frith initially gained an audience through his work as the guitarist with 60’s group Henry Cow, and has since had a prolific career as a player on many recordings under his own name as well as collaborations with players ranging from Henry Kaiser, to The Residents, to Richard Thompson, to John Zorn. He has appeared on over 400 recordings and continues to push forward artistically with each new release. We spoke to Frith in front of a live audience at the Big Ears Festival in Kn0xville in March of 2024.

Nate Cross (Water Damage/Astral Spirits) (Big Ears Festival Performer)

Essential Tremors

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