Mark Lanegan is a man of few words. Or at least, that’s how the former Screaming Trees frontman appears in most interviews. Yet, despite his often terse statements to the press, Lanegan seems to have plenty to sing about.
In the past 10 years, he has made numerous guest appearances, released a solo record and collaborated on seven full-length albums with artists including Queens of the Stone Age (of which he was a member), Greg Dulli of The Afghan Whigs (recording as The Gutter Twins) and former Belle and Sebastian member Isobel Campbell.
Lanegan’s latest work is Blues Funeral – a solo venture under the name Mark Lanegan Band. He will perform at the 9:30 Club in Washington tomorrow night in support of the album.
Blues Funeral is Lanegan’s first solo LP since 2004’s Bubblegum. The new record is concerned lyrically with the same dour subjects, but musically, Lanegan experiments more with electronic textures.
The best of Blues Funeral‘s electronic and beat-driven tracks is “Ode To Sad Disco.” The nearly six-and-a-half minute dance track – an outlier on what’s best categorized as a rock album – features Lanegan’s gritty voice atop a steady dancefloor beat along with the fuzz of distortion and haunting slide guitar work.
Lanegan explains the song as “an homage” to one of his favorite films, Pusher II, specifically an instrumental piece from its soundtrack, “Sad Disco.”
The long delay between solo albums is due to Lanegan’s obligations with other artists to tour and record.
“There’s only so much time in the day,” he said. “At some point, I had nothing on the calendar and realized it had been a long time since I’d made one. So I went to work on that.”
Even with the many artistic opportunities Lanegan has been afforded because of his work in the music business, he still speaks first as a fan of music.
“That’s what I’m into: making records and touring, and that’s why I do it,” Lanegan said. “It’s hard to call it a career; it’s really just something I enjoy.”
In live performances, he usually appears stoic and stationary, delivering a powerful voice while gripping the microphone and its stand. Despite his appearance, Lanegan admits to enjoying live performances.
“[I enjoy] just the immediacy of it. It’s not something I’ve always enjoyed, but have grown to and appreciate as time has gone on,” Lanegan said. “I enjoy playing live because it’s sort of an exercise in being in the moment.”
Mark Lanegan Band will play at the 9:30 Club tomorrow. Doors open at 6 p.m. Tickets cost $20.
rhiggins@umdbk.com
