Episode 32: Mac McCaughan – Superchunk, Portastatic, Merge Records

If you’re someone with a fondness for indie music, then the chances are good that your life has been touched in some way by Mac McCaughan. On one hand, he’s known as the vocalist for the likes of North Carolina band Superchunk, whose very output feels like the blueprint for any aspiring indie rock band of the ‘90s. Then, he’s been the head of groups like Portastatic, and played in the likes of Bricks, Seam, Go Back Snowball, and much, much more. However, if none of those names seem familiar, then you might know Mac because of his role as a co-founder of the great Merge Records alongside Superchunk bandmate Laura Ballance. Together, they helped make Merge into one of the greatest record labels to have ever existed. I can’t even begin to tell you how many iconic bands are part of the Merge stable.  Arcade Fire, Caribou, Lambchop, The Magnetic Fields, the Mountain Goats, Spoon, Sugar, Archers Of Loaf, and the great Neutral Milk Hotel. I'm not even scratching the surface here, by the way.  In fact, one of the greatest live experiences I've ever had was a Merge records lineup, when M. Ward and Superchunk performed in Melbourne in support of Neutral Milk Hotel. I'll never forget that night as long as I live. On that topic though, this December sees Superchunk returning to Australia for the first time since that aforementioned tour back in 2013, and celebrating 30 years of the ‘Foolish’ album. Since that last tour, they’ve released records like ‘What A Time To Be Alive’, and ‘Wild Loneliness’, and needless to say, fans like me couldn't be more excited to see them on our shores again. If you can’t tell, the wonderful Mac McCaughan is my guest this week, and I’m immensely grateful to be able to say that sentence. Anyway, check out Superchunk’s ‘Wild Loneliness’ as a reminder of their recent efforts (then check out their wider discography), grab a ticket to catch them live, and once you’re done, have a listen to our chat, and I’ll see you at the end of the episode for some general housekeeping.