This is quite an honor to be able to ask Scott McCaughey a few questions. Scott is a music veteran who has played with REM, The Minus 5, The Young Fresh Fellows, The Venus 3, and others. He is also apart of The Baseball Project with Peter Buck, Steve Wynn, and Linda Pitmon.
Please tell us more about yourself.
I’m an elder statesman of rock’n’roll, a paragon of poor taste, and a burrito enthusiast.
How did The Baseball Project start?
Steve Wynn and I hatched the plan, and surprisingly, followed through on it. It had been incubating for us both individually for years – put two favorite things together: baseball and music. What can I say, we are geniuses.
What team or teams are you a fan of?
This is all explained in our song “Fair Weather Fans” – about the fact that I follow the fates of the SF Giants, Oakland A’s, and Seattle Mariners, and not only in fair weather.
Who were your influences growing up?
The Beatles and Willie Mays. Jefferson Airplane and Reggie Jackson. John Wayne and KLIV radio in San Jose. Lon Simmons, Russ Hodges, and Bill King. Woody Allen and Neil Young. I’m still growing up.
You have spent some time in Portland, Oregon. Did you ever make it to any Portland Beaver games?
Yes, I’d go to a few Beavers games every year, seeing studs like Xavier Nady and Jack Cust schlepping their way to the bigs. We lost the Beavers to the MLS. Sad. A couple lower minor league teams are coming soon to the suburbs.
How does the song writing process work?
Not very well sometimes, and too well at other times. Suffice to say not a day has gone by since I was 17, that I didn’t think about writing a song. Everything around me is fodder for a song, and sometimes words form out of thin air. Melodies not so much!
Do you know of any player that uses your music as a walk-up song?
No – and that would truly be amazing! Imagine seeing Justin Smoak stride to the plate to the strains of “The Disembowelers” … Or Sergio Romo coming in from the bullpen with “Taco Wagon” blasting through the stadium. Actually that would be conceivable, and I have in fact heard “Taco Wagon” between innings over the Safeco Field loudspeakers.
Who do you like watching in the game today?
The aforementioned Sergio Romo, the Panda and the Freak, Buster Posey, Ichiro (always)… Mike Trout is amazing. I hate the Dodgers but listening to Vin Scully is still one of the greatest joys in baseball.
Do you have a favorite place you’ve played?
Many! Lounge Ax (RIP) in Chicago, the old Crocodile in Seattle, the Fillmore in SanFrancisco, anywhere in Madrid, Spain. Stirling Castle in Scotland. We sang the national anthem at Fenway Park, does that count?
Which song of The Baseball Project is your favorite?
The next great one we write! Too hard to choose really, but I’ll just say “Phenom” for now.
“Madonna of the Wasps” is one of my favorite songs. What is it like working with Robyn Hitchcock?
Always interesting, always inspiring, fun. I feel unbelievably fortunate to be in a band with one of my all-time favorite artists.
Do you have a favorite stadium?
So many nice ones now, that I truly love. I’d have to put AT&T Park in San Francisco #1, despite the shit name. Past favorites, now history, would be Tiger Stadium and the old Comiskey Park.
What advice would you give a aspiring musician or a young ball player?
For a musician: Please yourself. For a ballplayer: Eat lots of beans and keep your head in the game.
Scott, once again, thanks for taking some time. If your ever in the Salem/Keizer area during baseball season, stop by a take in a Volcanoes baseball game. You’ll find me down the 3rd base line at the Lava Lodge.
I’ve been meaning to catch a game there for years!! Maybe this summer…