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Jeremy Messersmith is a singer/songwriter who is about to release his second CD, The Silver City. In this interview, he talks about his musical background, working with Dan Wilson and his CD release party at the Varsity Theater on Thursday, September 25.

 

Jeremy Messersmith: Music was a big part of my life growing up. My parents were both band geeks, playing trombone and clarinet, and the church I grew up in had a long tradition of musical participation. I grew up playing trumpet every Sunday along with 10 or so other people with different band instruments. We didn't play from charts, so most of it was improvised, almost like Dixieland. I eventually got braces and promptly quit the trumpet in favor of the guitar.

 

JM: I think Minneapolis is the Paris of the Midwest. We've got great music and art communities, but without the huge metro sprawl of someplace like Chicago. I've lived in the Twin Cities for almost 10 years now and I'd like to think I've absorbed some of the good qualities of the people here. Plus, no one here thinks it's strange if you have a beard year-round.

 

JM: I can't imagine feeling more welcomed by the local music community. I think that's part of the reason I wanted to make a Twin Cities record. A few years back, I made a list of all the bands in town that I'd like to play shows with and I'm happy to say I'll be scratching the last name off the list at my release show.

 

JM: The writing process for both was roughly the same, but the recording process was a little different for The Silver City. Most songs started with just me and acoustic guitar, then Dan [Wilson], Andy [Thompson] and I would sit around and talk about what ideas we had for the song. A lot of it depended on what instruments we had sitting around.

JM: Fantastic. He's extremely generous when listening to half-written songs and he has a very great sense of when something is working or not. Also, he does all of the mixing while perched on a giant rubber ball. He's a man of balance in all aspects of life.

HWTS: How did the line-up for your band come about?
JM: I first met Andy Thompson when I was over at Dan Wilson's house. Andy was teaching a piano lesson and Dan and I snuck down and listened for a few minutes. I quickly found that Andy can play any instrument you put in his hands—often several at the same time. I met my cellist, Dan Lawonn, in college. He was a few years behind me in college, but he was in some of the same ensembles as me.

JM: “Welcome to Suburbia” is probably the most important song thematically. I originally wanted it to be the last track on the record; a sort of ascent to suburban heaven, but it just didn't work. As the album opener though, it gives kind of tongue-in-cheek preview of the rest of the record.

JM: Crazy rock and roll debauchery. Also, The Owls are going to be playing and they don't play live all that much, so you should catch them while you can. From Chicago, my friend Rachel Ries will be playing a set. I really look up to her as a songwriter and performer. She was even kind enough to stop by and sing on my record. Special note to songwriters out there —if you want to see someone who knows how to write a song around their voice, don't miss her set.

HWTS: What touring plans do you have for the rest of the year?
JM: I'm still working on getting a tour set up, but I'm planning on hitting the road in November and then again in the spring.

 

 

JM: All my friends are going to see Sigur Ros, but if you can't get or can't afford tickets you should come out to the Varsity for what should be a cool CD release show.