The Same Place interview 2

Today we release Episode Two of our month-long celebration of The The Olivia Tremor Control brand-new record, The Same Place, on Don’t Bother Wearing Seatbelts.

Our friend Matthew Buckley joined Mathew Bell and I as we had a beautiful conversation with John Kiran Fernandes, who has been part of The Olivia Tremor Control for more than 30 years. Bass, violin, clarinet and countless other sounds... John has been such an integral part of this band, not only musically, but in the spirit and heart of what makes this music so special.

John is also just an incredibly sweet soul. From the first time I met him, I was struck by his kindness, his compassion and the way he talks about music.

Years ago, when Circulatory System came to Ames, Iowa, I was talking with John while the band was loading in to the venue... when he casually mentioned that he was born in Boone, Iowa.

I couldn't believe it, a member of my favorite band ever began his life in the same state where I began mine. I've joked ever since that someday I want to go to Boone, knock on doors and ask people, "Do you know one of the greatest musicians in the world was born here?"

Our conversation with John goes to some deeply emotional places. He speaks openly about living with schizophrenia, panic attacks, burning both ends of the candle, and his enormous heart for music, and the music he created alongside his brothers in The Olivia Tremor Control. I'm incredibly grateful for his openness and trust.

We were also joined by AJ Griffin, who told us the wonderful story of how he became part of the OTC family in the late 2000s. Apparently, Bill Doss more or less tricked him into coming over to record for a new Olivia Tremor Control record when what they really wanted was for A.J. to join the band as they began playing live again.

A.J. also shared memories of working with Bill on "Wings Away," one of my favorite songs from the final Apples In Stereo record. It made me think how amazing it would have been to have that have been an OTC song.. Even though I love the ELO-esque vibe the Apples brought to it. He talked about Bill showing up at his house with a growler of beer, ready to make music, always asking for A.J.'s ideas and genuinely wanting his collaborators to become part of the song.

And hearing that made me smile. Because that's exactly the Bill Doss I remember. Super kind. Generous. Curious. Collaborative. And completely in love with making music with his friends.

The Same Place arrives October 23 on Elephant 6, 27 years after Black Foliage. I still can't quite believe it! And somehow, our little podcast has been given the incredible privilege of sharing fragments of these new songs for the first time anywhere in the world.

Thank you, John and A.J., for helping make The Same Place a reality... and for trusting us with these stories.

Episode Two is out today.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/2siazb6v1F5kGdb1jHNS8s?si=wiLYJWwsSbqHZAVSyXaMyA

Don’t Bother Wearing Seat Belts Celebrating The Same Place all month long.

We will also announce today’s giveaway winner is just a few short hours!

Wow, possibly the best Bill Doss song.

Recently got transparent yellow vinyl of Music From the Unreleased Film Scrip: Dusk at Cubist Castle by the Olivia Tremor Control yesterday and have been enjoying it! Bought it off the Amoeba Records website last week. ( Personal fav tracks on album are the Green Typewriters Suite, NYC-25, and Holiday Surprise 1,2,3 )

Is it some obscure colloquial term in Athens or something??

I play in band called Secret Address in Philly and Elephant 6 means a lot to us. Since so many of these incredible songs will likely never be performed live again by the original groups, we wanted to do everything we can to give them the tribute they deserve.

We have put together a full cover set of E6 material that will be performed on October 30th in West Philly. Here is a clip of us performing OTC's "A Peculiar Noise Called "Train Director"" from a few weeks ago.

Expect the classics, some deep cuts, and maybe even something from the upcoming OTC album 👀

I'll leave the flyer info in the comments, would love for yall to come out! The other sets that night will also be really cool too.

IVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS MOMENT!!! Its so beautiful in person… now im trying to decide if i should listen to it right now or wait…

Love the buttons and stickers!!! 😸

From host Patrick Tape Fleming:

I don’t know if people understand how special this is to me.

If you love music the way I do, you know there are certain bands that become your life.

For me, that band is The Olivia Tremor Control.

In the mid 1990, I walked into Let It Be Records in downtown Minneapolis and bought Dusk at Cubist Castle because it was a staff recommendation. "IF YOUR LIKE THE BEATLES WHITE ALBUM AND BRIAN ENO, YOU WILL LOVE THIS.. A REAL TRIP" I had no idea what I was about to hear or how much it would change my life.

From that moment on, The Olivia Tremor Control became my favorite band, and Dusk at Cubist Castle became my favorite record of all time.

No album has ever moved me the way that record has. I’ve listened to it more than any other record. I’ve bought it for more people. I’ve probably annoyed more friends by telling them they HAVE to hear it.

Then Black Foliage. Somehow, they took everything that made Dusk magical and pushed it even further.. way further. I still don’t think I’ve ever heard another record that is as sonically pleasurable, strange, beautiful, deep, overwhelming and alive as Black Foliage.

And then the band broke up.... And then we waited... 5 years later a reunion show.. I was front row... and then... rufflings on the internet says... The band began working on a third record. Hell apparently they were supposed to tour with JEFF MANGUM and the Poison Control Center was to open the show at Maximum Ames Fest, but the band wanted to focus on recording and not touring... And then, we lost Bill Doss.

Bill was one of my musical heroes, and after he died, I assumed that whatever they had been working on would remain one of those great musical mysteries... something we might hear fragments of someday, while spending the rest of our lives wondering what it could have become.

But work continued. And then we lost Will Cullen Hart.

When the two primary creative forces and songwriters behind a band are gone, how do you possibly finish the story?

That’s what makes what happened next so extraordinary.

Derek Griffin Almstead, Jason NeSmith and Ron Kwasman took the pieces that remained and, while dealing with the grief of losing their friend Will, finished the final Olivia Tremor Control album.

Twenty-seven years after Black Foliage, we are getting a new Olivia Tremor Control record.

It’s called The Same Place.

To me, it feels like a musical miracle.

And somehow, unbelievably, Don’t Bother Wearing Seatbelts gets to be one of the places where people can hear pieces of this music for the first time anywhere.

I can’t adequately explain what that means to me.

Mathew and I, sat down with Derek, Ron and Jason to talk about finishing The Same Place, the music Bill and Will left behind, the enormous responsibility of putting these pieces together, and what it means to finally release this record into the world.

I want to thank Derek, Ron and Jason for trusting us with this conversation. I want to thank Kelly Hart for taking us along for this ride, and . And I want to thank every member of The Olivia Tremor Control who helped make this possible.

Thank you for giving those of us who have carried this music with us for decades one final gift.

The Same Place arrives October 23. on the Elephant 6 Recording Co.

But today, the brand-new episode of Don’t Bother Wearing Seatbelts is streaming everywhere.

And for the first time, you can hear never before heard songs from the Olivia Tremor Control final statement.

I still can’t believe I get to type that sentence.

Go listen. Wherever you listen to podcasts

This one means the world to me. Go dig in!

A candid Interview with Derek Almstead, Ron Kwasman, and Jason NeSmith about the creation of The Same Place.

Join us tomorrow as we reach back into the vault for another classic episode of Don’t Bother Wearing Seatbelts — and this one is an absolute blast.

We’re joined by the entire Pylon Reenactment Society for a conversation about carrying forward the legacy of Pylon, one of the most incredible, influential, and downright singular bands to ever emerge from the legendary Athens, Georgia music scene.

We talk about what it means to honor that music while creating something that stands on its own, the formation and evolution of Pylon Reenactment Society, their extensive touring, the records they’ve released, and what it’s been like bringing these songs to audiences around the world.

We will also be giving away one copy of the debut album by Pylon Reenactment Society on vinyl to one of our Patreon Subscribers! Remember, all you need to do to take part in our monthly giveaways is subscribe to the Patreon at the Reckless Driver ($1 monthly tier). Good luck!

https://pylonreenactmentsociety.bandcamp.com/merch

https://www.patreon.com/dontbotherwearingseatbelts?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dont-bother-wearing-seatbelts-an-elephant-6/id1840935867

Join us tomorrow as we sit down with J. Kirk Pleasant to discuss the beautiful and atmospheric Crystal Clear Mississippi by Calvin, Don’t Jump! Crystal Clear Mississippi is one of the early E6 albums that cemented the collective into all of our hearts. It’s stripped back and spare in its sound compared to much of the E6 releases of the time and it proved to us all that the movement was about the art and about the approach, never about simply achieving a sound or fitting into a slot, no matter how odd or interesting that slot may be. It’s a gorgeous album of lovely, heartfelt songs and you won’t want to miss our interview!

Mr. Pleasant has also graciously donated both a vinyl and cd copy of Crystal Clear Mississippi along with A Way With Birds on cd! One of our lucky Patreon subscribers will take home the whole package and we’re jealous! Remember, all you need to do to take part in our monthly giveaways is subscribe to the Patreon at the Reckless Driver ($1 monthly) tier. Good Luck!

https://calvindontjump.bandcamp.com/

https://www.patreon.com/dontbotherwearingseatbelts?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator

If anyone is looking...

Here are the bands involved:

• January 2000: My First Keyboard / Marshmallow Coast
• February 2000: Wolfie / Kincaid
• March 2000: Japancakes / I Am the World Trade Center
• April 2000: Chronicle Ape And The New Sound / Freedom Goose And The New Situationalists
• May 2000: Great Lakes / Elf Power
• June 2000: Vermont / The Mendoza Line
• July 2000: Dressy Bessy / The Four Corners
• August 2000: Étienne Charry / Babalu
• September 2000: of Montreal / The Ladybug Transistor 
• October 2000: Papas Fritas / Masters of the Hemisphere

This is a show by Elf Power, featuring Jeff Mangum as well which was at the Atomic Music Hall somewhere between 1997 and 1998. Is there any more surviving footage of this show besides this image that's on Wikipedia?

Tomorrow we will be releasing two classic first season episodes from behind the paywall, all smashed into one! First up we have Oliver Domingo on to talk about the incredible space disco of the debut album by Organically Programmed on Cloud Recordings. And immediately afterwards you get another dose of Great Lakes as we sit down with Ben Crum to discuss the album Contenders. Both amazing albums by incredible artists, and all in one episode!

To celebrate getting these out of their jail and into your ears we will be giving away one vinyl copy each of the Organically Programmed self titled album as well as the Great Lakes album Contenders to one lucky subscriber! Remember all you need to do take part in our monthly giveaways is subscribe to the Patreon at the Reckless Driver ($1 monthly) tier. Good luck!

https://hhbtm.bandcamp.com/

https://cloudrecordings.bandcamp.com/music

https://www.patreon.com/dontbotherwearingseatbelts?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator

Tune in tomorrow as Don’t Bother Wearing Seatbelts releases a new episode with show favorite Ben Crum discussing the brand new Great Lakes album, Fear of the Fear. To celebrate the release we will be giving away one vinyl copy of the new album to one of our Patreon subscribers! This is another album of heart rending Americana that you will not want to miss!

Remember, all you need to do to take part in our monthly giveaways is subscribe to the Patreon at the Reckless Driver ($1 monthly tier). Good luck, everyone!

https://hhbtm.bandcamp.com/

https://www.patreon.com/dontbotherwearingseatbelts?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator

-Giant Chocolate Think Tank Blues (2014 reissiue) - Always red society

-Science Fair Compilation (2016 version) - Apples

- anything from the HHBTM singles club collection

- Untitled - Calvin Dont Jump / the echo orbiter

-  Lara Whiskey 17-Calvin Don't Jump / Ooss

-Jumping Fences 12" single - OTC

There were a lot of bands inspired by NMH from 1999 to the early 2010s, but that seems to have tailed off after the NMH reunion tour ended in 2015. I know they were one of the influences on the stomp clap hey trend (and that Gen Z might have been turned off by the allegations against Julian), but has there been a second generation of bands who were influenced by NMH?

(For the record, I’m defining first-gen post Elephant 6/Neutral Milk Hotel as Arcade Fire, Beirut, Bon Iver, The Decemberists, and Elvis Perkins, as well as Wilco’s Summerteeth and All Hail West Texas-era Mountain Goats. I’m asking about bands who formed from 2025/16 until now.)

Robert Schneider majors in analytic number theory. The Same Place is Olivia Tremor Control's first album in 27 years. And it has 27 tracks that is the same as their first 2 albums. Is it coincidence?

NEW EPISODE — PART TWO WITH MIKE TURNER OF HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO ME RECORDS!

Can you imagine starting a record label without even realizing you were starting a record label?

That’s essentially what happened when Mike Turner put together the first Happy Happy Birthday to Me compilation—a DIY project featuring a ridiculous lineup of bands that would help define indie rock at the end of the ’90s and beginning of the 2000s.

We’re talking of Montreal. Elf Power. The Minders. Masters of the Hemisphere. @Marshmallow Coast. The Mendoza Line. Birddog—whose story even brings an Elliott Smith connection into the mixand so many more.

And that compilation? It became the beginning of Happy Happy Birthday to Me Records, a label that would go on to release more than 200 records over the next 30 years.

Pretty incredible for something that started with Mike simply wanting to put together a compilation of music he loved. And trying to stop doing a ZINE!

On this episode of Don’t Bother Wearing Seatbelts, we continue our epic conversation with Mike and go deep into the creation of that very first HHBTM compilation.

We talk about the completely DIY way it came together, how Mike connected with the bands, how he actually got the songs, and then we go track by track through the compilation, talking about the artists, the songs, the stories behind them, and why each one mattered.

It’s a snapshot of a very special moment in indie rock—and an incredible story about what can happen when somebody decides to just make something.

If you’ve ever wanted to start a record label, make a film, put out a record, book a show, start a zine, create a podcast—or do anything DIY—this is an episode for you.

Sometimes you don’t need a master plan.

You just need to start.

Happy Happy Birthday to Me Records (HHBTM) Michael Turner Don’t Bother Wearing Seatbelts

Huge thanks to Mike Turner for spending so much time with us and taking us inside the story of Happy Happy Birthday to Me Records.

Episode 2 of our conversation with Mike Turner is streaming NOW everywhere you listen to podcasts.

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1D9iSNWlIdo8HGqZE3bLgc?si=3syZX8IfRmKzRZXK0giyRA

Go check it out.

DON’T BOTHER WEARING SEATBELTS.

Tomorrow Don’t Bother Wearing Seatbelts will release into the world the epic second part of our interview with Michael Turner as we dig into the HHBtM volume one compilation as well as Athens Popfest! And to celebrate the release of part 2, we’re doing it again! Same giveaway as part one. You get Black Swan Network. You get The Tammy Shine. You get The Ladybug Transistor and a double dose of Great Lakes all on vinyl! We want to thank Michael again for his generosity in donating these amazing lp’s to the show!

And we can also announce the winners of the Bazooka! Fest tickets! Festival organizer Jake Whitener has donated two pairs of tickets to the fest, and here they are!

Jorge Diaz, you win two tickets to Bazooka! Fest!

Joe Castrianni, you also win two tickets to Bazooka! Fest!

Remember, all you need to do to take part in our monthly giveaways is subscribe to the Patreon at the Reckless Driver ($1 monthly) tier.

https://hhbtm.bandcamp.com/

https://kydlabs.com/e/EV0f94f120-b22a-453c-8eca-9e96a4bc71ca

Surprise episode!!! Join us as we sit down with Jake Whitener to talk about everything Bazooka! Fest and more! We talk about everything from the realities of putting together a kick ass indie festival that doesn’t rely on corporate sponsorship to his time with the legendary Matador Records.

Jake has also donated two pairs of Bazooka! Fest tickets to our listeners! Two winners! Four tickets! This one runs a bit different. This giveaway is not Patreon exclusive! Here’s how to win: Hidden inside the episode is a keyword (it isn’t really hidden, we say “this is the keyword” quite a bit). Once you know the keyword you will need to send us a message on either our Facebook or Instagram pages. All entries must be in by end of day August 17th. We will randomly draw from these entries, and then you, yes YOU could be going to Bazooka! Fest! Thanks for listening and good luck!

https://nyc-shows.brooklynvegan.com/events/2026/8/22/bazooka-fest-2026-tickets

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/dont-bother-wearing-seatbelts-an-elephant-6/id1840935867

https://open.spotify.com/episode/1KcecdyVe3DGBlMKRYuCqY?si=wFcqmxLeTjeJow3cL_7wBw&utm_source=copy-link

https://www.patreon.com/dontbotherwearingseatbelts?utm_campaign=creatorshare_creator

What are you hunting? For us it's "Pennsylvania Tongue"