Kyle Kinane and The Slow Death have a new record out via Stand Up Records, but it’s not new. Like the car you’re probably driving, it’s new to you.
A repress of a record put out 10 years ago by the once-awesome and now-defunct label Suburban Home, it features some timeless comedy and a cover by The Slow Death.
We asked the guys to chat with each other about life during lockdown, why the record is coming out now (do you know how long 10 years ago feels like?), and a general discussion of Midwestern quirks.
After a week, I heard back from The Slow Death’s Jesse Swan Thorson, who explained the lapse in communication: “I am a milkman, and I just got through the fog of war that is the Minnesota state fair. I mean, all the milk you can drink for a dollar. It’s a nightmare. Anyway, let’s do this. Shall we have an email conversation, or just send each other questions about regional cuisine?”
Did Kyle and Jesse talk about the split, or anything promoting it? No. Did they talk about eggnog uses and how they’ll die? Yes.
Jesse: Hey bud. So, Lisa says we still have time to knock this one out. I think you might be on the road or something but if ya think you will have time, maybe we can not let old Dan down.
Kyle: Yes! sorry man … what little organizational skills I had totally shit the bed in the palsy year. Emails about food? Was that the idea?
J: No problem at all, man. I am not on the ball in any sense either. I think the food thing was just an example or something. I think the idea is just to profile our charming personalities instead of asking us questions about this weird record we did. Besides, talking about food is kind of stepping on the boogie monster’s toes. That said, given the season, have you ever put a splash of eggnog in a rum and coke? It’s fucking amazing!
K: I was throwing this one out the other day–eggnog pancakes. More specifically, can you just throw eggnog in a pan and have it cook up like a pancake? Seems thick enough.
J: Hell yeah! You ever make french toast with melted vanilla ice cream?
K: Oh damn. This is the interview, btw. Haven’t done vanilla ice cream, but we’ve done banana bread french toast. I nod off like a junky the rest of the afternoon, though. No offense.
J: No offense? Do you think I’m a junkie? Or just a fat guy that falls asleep after he eats a lot?
Either is fine, really. No offense to either, but I’m more of a hobbyist when it comes to drugs.
When it comes to milk, however, I am very serious. I’m a milkman, ya know, and I gotta ask, do you drink milk?
K: I know more people who do drugs than drink milk. Mutually exclusive usually.
J: Yeah. Milk is not a popular beverage these days. I have a glass, like, once a year. It’s a weird thing to do. Is the interview over?
K: I don’t drink milk regularly, but it has its time and place. You working with cheese and other dairy products, or just milk? because I’ll get down with cheese. the nastier the better. I like the shit that tastes like sewage and smelling salts.
J: Oh, I fuck with all the angles of the dairy game. Cheese, ice cream, yogurt, you name it. The company I work for claims to have invented whip cream in a can, and it’s almost certainly a lie. But it’s a lie that makes us all feel better. If you wanna have a good time, though, use that Impossible burger stuff to make a Juicy Lucy, and put raw garlic, blue cheese, and goat cheese in the middle. I’m gonna have a heart attack soon, but oh well. How are you gonna die?
K: Probably heart attack. This fake meat shit isn’t any better for me. I’m gonna be the first dude to get Beyond Cancer. Impossible tumors.
Kyle Kinane is a comedian and actor who has appeared in Funny People, Workaholics, and Bob’s Burgers. He’s done standup on The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon and Last Call With Carson Daly, and he previously released his limited-edition vinyl Death of the Party”on Stand Up! Records.
The Slow Death, hailing from Minneapolis, Minnesota are a notorious punk rock super group of sorts boasting alumni from bands such as The Ergs, Dillinger Four, and The Soviettes. Fronted by the inimitable Jesse Swan Thorson, the band have carved out a name for themselves in the U.S. punk underground with hard touring, hard partying, and high-quality records.
Listen to the vinyl here: “Under the Table #2”
Pick it up from Amazon or Apple
For more from The Slow Death, find them on Facebook and Bandcamp.
Photo courtesy of Kyle Kinane
