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Most bands are gonna get eye rolls when they tell you, “We’re a mix of genres,” but Albuquerque’s Train Conductor truly wanders off the tracks stylistically. Despite getting a well-deserved pass on the genre explanation, they are kind enough to simplify things by calling themselves “psych rock,” which is a good description of what core members Austin Morrell (bass), Stuart Cole (drums), Nolan Seidler (lead guitar) and Will Byrne (rhythm guitar and vocals) produce. Byrne says the name Train Conductor originally came about when he wanted to start his own solo project, but these days he chills in the engine compartment of a band whose sound ranges from alternative pop to dark psychedelic rock. From quiet to loud, distorted to clean. At times the band sounds like they’d be at home in a dingy country blues bar, but let their discography run wild and you’ll think your playlist shuffled to an electronic party mix. When joined by Sol Roybal (trombone), Jess Mills (saxophone) and Chris Leap (trumpet) — known as “The Brasstronauts” — the sludge breaks up a bit, and a mosaic of lighter tones pierces through the band’s heavy rock ‘n’ roll shell. It’s probably best to meander their body of work, hunt for an elusive “Arroyo Butterfly,” do some “Sun Groovin,” and find your own interpretation of the experience.
Will you describe your sound for us?
Train Conductor’s music is transformative psych rock that features driving beats, fuzzy and improvised guitars, ethereal vocals, sludgy bass and occasionally incorporates a brass section for added color. Adding horns to a song takes the experience to a different level, especially when the song is composed of fuzzed-out guitars. It makes a song more dynamic and brightens up the mix.
I actually stole the word “transformative” from other people describing our music. The band creates a certain sound, then a moment later it’s something completely different. A great example of this is the song “Arroyo Butterfly.” We start out with this dark, Black Sabbath-style fuzzy power chord verse, and then we switch it up to a driving riff that has backing vocalists, then [the song] goes into a noise part. Going from one sound design to the next transforms the listening experience.
What are your favorite venues to play and why?
The band enjoys house shows for their fun atmosphere but acknowledges the scarcity of opportunities lately. Sister Bar resonates with us due to its shared dark ethos and the bands and crowds [the venue] attracts, while Insideout is appealing for its unique indoor-outdoor vibe.
What are your lyrics about?
Our lyrics explore heavy themes such as addiction, death, the beauty of life and the complexities of being human. “Darlin” from Tongue Blanket is about a relationship. No matter what the two went through, they were always there for each other. To me that is love, and it’s a beautiful thing in life. We all have our experiences, but I believe our songs speak for themselves in exploring these themes, and I hope our audience can find connection and meaning in them.
What bands or genres inspire your music?
The band draws inspiration from iconic bands and genres including T. Rex, Velvet Underground, A Place to Bury Strangers, Osees and the Elephant Six Recording Company psych scene. These bands all have a unique tonality, great songwriting skills and probably used similar analog recording methods to the ones we use.
What is the best show you have ever played and why?
A standout performance was a sold-out show at Sister Bar with Of Montreal and Tele Novela as it combined one of my favorite bands and a supportive Albuquerque audience.
For a psychedelic viewing experience, watch one of Byrne’s favorite Train Conductor music videos entitled “Let Me Be” here.
This concert video is worth some attention for the name and the venue alone. Watch the “Mass at the Spirit Ditch” here.
The band really does have a diverse catalogue. Watch a more traditional, slightly bluesy psych-rock performance of “It’s All The Same” live at New Scotland Yard Pub in L.A. here.
The band has a bunch of content. Hit up the Train Conductor bandcamp page to purchase or jam one of about 19 different releases, and if you click here, you’ll find a YouTube playlist with all of the band’s music videos.
Open Mic Mondays: Train Conductor is a story from The Paper.. Publishing from New Mexico’s largest city, The Paper is your source for local, independent news, covering politics, arts, culture, and events.