There aren’t a lot of guys in punk rock (or rock & roll, period) who appear to have their feet more squarely on the ground than Mike Watt, who in his own regular-guy way has been the heart, soul and conscience of the music ever since his days playing bass in the Minutemen. A musical team player who lives by the notion of “jamming econo” (living and touring frugally, with an eye on the music rather than the trappings), Watt took some time out to converse with DJ Jim G about bass, Pedro, D Boon, The Stooges, opera and his latest project, with fellow musicians Stefano Pilia and Andrea Belfi, the more experimental post-rock power trio Il Sogno Del Marinaio.

Playlist:

Base King by Minutemen from The Politics of Time (1984)
Cut by Minutemen from Buzz or Howl Under the Influence of Heat (1983)
Against the 70’s by Mike Watt (featuring Eddie Vedder) from Ball-Hog or Tug Boat (1995)
Baby-Cradling-Tree-Man by Mike Watt from Hyphenated-man (2011)
Mud Puddle by Il Sogno Del Marinaro from 7″ single (2014)
Pedro Bound! by Mike Watt from Contemplating the Engine Room (1997)
We’ve Come to Learn by Il Sogno Del Marinaro from 7″ single (2014)

Watt spiels . . .

Job by Iggy & The Stooges from Ready to Die (2013)
Liberty Calls! by Mike Watt from Contemplating the Engine Room (1997)

Watt spiels some more . . .

Funanori Jig by Il Sogno Del Marinaro from La Busta Gialla (2013)
More spiel . . .
Il sogno del fienile by Il Sogno Del Marinaro from Canto Secondo (2014)

Watt spielin’
Fascist by Minutemen from Paranoid Time (1980)
More spielin’
Boilin’ Blazes by Mike Watt from The Secondman’s Middle Stand (2004)
Heavy spiel
Breaking the Choke Hold by Mike Watt from Contemplating the Engine Room (1997)

Tour spiel . . .

What Gets Heard by fIREHOSE from Live Totem Pole EP (1993)
Tour Spiel by Minutemen from Ballot Results (1986)

Punk rock spiel . . .

Tony Gets Wasted In Pedro by The Reactionaries from The Politics of Time (1979/1984)
D Boon spiel
Validation by Minutemen from Paranoid Time (1980)
This Road by Minutemen from What Makes A Man Starts Fires (1983)
This Ain’t No Picnic by Minutemen from Double Nickels On The Dime (1984)
Bob Dylan Wrote Propaganda Songs by Minutemen from What Makes A Man Start Fires (1983)
Shit You Hear at Parties by Minutemen from The Politics of Time (1984)
History Lesson (part II) by Minutemen from Double Nickels On The Dime (1984)
Do You Want New Wave or Do You Want the Truth? by Dos from Our Band Could Be Your Life: A Tribute to D Boon and The Minutemen (1994)
Forever – One Reporter’s Opinion by Mike Watt (featuring Nels Cline & Pat Smear) from Ball-Hog or Tug Boat (1995)
Rebel Girl by Mike Watt and The Black Gang from 7″single (1998/2013)

Last spiel . . .

Flyin’ the Flannel by fIREHOSE from Flyin’ the Flannel (1991)
The Softest Hammer by fIREHOSE from fROMOHIO (1989)
Chemical Wire by fIREHOSE from Ragin’ Full On (1986)
Me & You, Remembering by fIREHOSE from If’n (1987)
Badges by Minutemen from The Politics of Time (1984)