Joe Pernice on Goodbye, Killer

Pernice Brothers
goodbye, killer
Joe Pernice on
Pernice Brothers’ Goodbye, Killer:
My brother Bob once said that he started playing guitar
when he was six, and 30 years later still played like a sixyear-old. How true, how true. He also engineers like a
six-year-old, which is seriously, a very, very good way to
engineer. In my opinion, he did a great job capturing the
sound of a band. And all hyperbole aside, recording great
musicians like James Walbourne and Ric Menck doesn’t
hurt. For Bob, recording someone like me definitely hurt.
I’m not the most relaxed guy alive. Apparently—and I have
no recollection of this—I berated Bob at every turn like he
was a redheaded step child. (I’m told some of the outtakes
are pretty funny. My business partner Joyce wants Ashmont to release them on a CD entitled “Unknowns at their
Worst.”)
It’s not all my fault. I can’t help myself, and Menck and
James did little to rope me in. I vaguely recall Menck saying, “Original Pernice (me) why do you treat Other Pernice
(Bob) like he’s the younger brother? Don’t be an ID-ee-it.
He’s working his ass off. And besides, look at him. He’d
crush you like a grape.” Then James would or wouldn’t
perk up from a state of constant transcontinental jet lag
and exclaim, “Did someone mention grapes? I’m famished.
I could murder a proper full English.” Strange, because in
my mind all we did was eat.
Photos: Mike Ritter (ritterbin.com)