WAIM #156: Scott McCaughey

Scott McCaughey is a man about town in the world of indie rock. He first leapt on to the scene as leader of the Young Fresh Fellows in the early 1980’s, but that has been far from his sole musical pursuit. Over the intervening four decades, McCaughey has also led The Minus 5 and is a founding member of The Baseball Project along with recent guest Steve Wynn. In addition to that trio of terrific bands, McCaughey has also toured and recorded with REM, Wilco, and Robyn Hitchcock just to name a few.In November of 2017, McCaughey suffered a stroke and wondered if his days of music making might be behind him. Peter Buck of R.E.M. brought a guitar to McCaughey while he was still recovering in the ICU. McCaughey remembers being able to make a D chord or an A minor and feeling as though recovery and rehabilitation might be possible. Thankfully, McCaughey has recovered significantly from the stroke and has returned to recording, playing live, and even performing solo, a task that still leaves him a bit uneasy.During our terrific conversation, Scott and I talked about his reticence to playing as a solo performer as he gets ready to play alone and unadorned at Wilco’s vaunted Solid Sound Festival this summer. We talked about the rhythms and rituals that make baseball feel like home, and we grapple with the gross reality of being inundated with sports betting propaganda while trying to simply watch a baseball game. Scott also shared the difficult story of losing his little sister while out on a recent tour, which leads to ruminations on the cycle of work, death, life, and play, and so much more.Let’s get into it.Cheers,Matty C-------------------------End CreditsThanks so much to Scott for joining me. Be sure to check out his work in The Young Fresh Fellow, The Minus Five, and The Baseball Project wherever you get your music. The What Am I Making podcast is hosted, written, and produced by me, Matty C.Our theme music was written and recorded by David J. Baldwin.You can subscribe to our show wherever you get your podcasts. Please be sure to like, rate and review the show if you enjoy it.Our work is solely sponsored by listeners and readers like you. Please lend your support today with a paid subscription at whatamimaking.substack.com/. Now is a crucial time for new paid subscribers. Please step up and support the show.You can email the show anytime at [email protected]. You can also leave us a voicemail with your questions or concerns at speakpipe.com/whatamimaking Get full access to What Am I Making at whatamimaking.substack.com/subscribe