(*both laugh*) Episode 42: Jeff Ament (Pearl Jam) on his new solo album, "I Should Be Outside"

If you've watched previous episodes of (*both laugh*) or if you've heard me guest on other podcasts or if you know me personally, you know that Pearl Jam has been a huge part of my musical journey. "Ten," which turns thirty years old this time next month, struck at exactly the right time in my formative years. The shockwave is still being felt, to say the least. Pearl Jam were very honestly the band that really ushered in my love of punk rock, in part through their very public love of bands like Dead Kennedys and Bad Religion and Social D and Dead Boys and obviously The Clash and Ramones. As I one-time aspiring bass player, it was Jeff Ament whose style got me to buy my first bass when I was a teenager (an Alvarez Dana bass, if you're interested).

I've not only followed Pearl Jam far and wide over the last three decades, but I've followed Jeff's solo career and side projects (Three Fish, Tres Mts., RNDM, etc) along the way. His songs are always intricate and textured and unique and pull from a variety of influences. Next month, Ament will release a new solo full length. Entitled "I Should Be Outside," it was written and recorded entirely during COVID-related quarantine. But it's also not the only material he's put out during this time, as it follows last year's blistering "American Death Squad" EP and a new project called Deaf Charlie that features Fitz and the Tantrums' John Wicks on drums.

This was immensely entertaining and meaningful for me, and I hope that came across. I was lucky enough to meet Jeff once in passing at an RNDM show on a snowy November night in Boston (there's a picture of that meeting in the intro and over my right shoulder during our chat here) and I thought that was one of the coolest things that had ever happened to me that didn't involve marriage or the birth of my kid. This was cooler. Thanks Jeff. And yes, don't worry Pearl Jam fans...we talked a lot about PJ and songwriting history and all the "how the sausage is made" stuff!

Jeff Ament - "I Hear Ya" video: https://youtu.be/8g0YYt13Ir8

Jeff Ament new solo album pre-order: https://shop.pearljam.com/collections/music/products/2021-ament-i-hear-ya-b-w-bandwidth-7

Montana Pool Service info: https://montanapoolservice.com/

Deaf Charlie (Jeff Ament and John Wick): - "Something Real" video: https://youtu.be/BrKlmL4gNeA

Jeff Ament as American Death Squad: https://youtu.be/jWfzwf2dDyg

Deranged Diction (Jeff's early hardcore band): https://youtu.be/IHmwk3f6n0E

Intro Music as always: "Hurts To Laugh" by Kali Masi.