Jimmy Bauer of Down Talks New Album, Musical Diversity and Festival Vibes at Aftershock 2026

0:05 Hey, you're listening to Adventure on W4CY Radio. This is Pipe Man here on the Adventure's Pipe Man W4CY Radio, and I'm here with... Jimmy Bauer. From down here at Aftershock, man. Yeah. Oh, my God. Is this like one of the best festivals you guys have ever played? It's killer, man. I mean, the lineup alone is insane. It is. You know? And, yeah, it's just good to see old friends, you know, and have a good little jam session. That's what's cool about Aftershock. Like, I do all the Wimmer festivals, and I do a bunch throughout the world, but this is the one that, like, the whole vibe here is, like, we're just a family, old friends getting together, hanging out for great music. Yeah, man. So... First thing I want to ask you, since it's a Danny Wimmer Festival and you've done others, how do you feel that Danny Wimmer treats the artists?

1:08 Like gold, dude. Yeah, right? Yeah, man. Yeah, top-notch shit, man. I think it's important because you as an artist, if you're stressed out because loading is horrible, catering is horrible, soundcheck is horrible... You're not going to be in the zone when you're on stage doing the show. Shit runs downhill, right? No doubt. Yeah. And right to us, the listeners. So, like, when you do a Danny Wimmer Festival, you can give us the best show possible, and then we're fucking thrilled. Yes, sir. So, what's your favorite part of doing festivals? Uh....

1:50 Seeing friends and stuff you know it's like it because it's kind of a all-encompassing everybody in one place kind of thing and I mean some bands you tour with them you know for months but you don't see them in years you know because everybody's so busy so I would have to say. That you know yeah there you go and. The you know and the fans obviously man you're having a good show and you know everything rolling. Absolutely So tell the listeners a little bit about how you first decided music was a thing you needed to do. Oh, well, being from New Orleans, you know, seeing Mardi Gras every year and like, you know, just feeling the vibe of that and just the whole general vibe of music in New Orleans in the city. You know, I was around 12 and I started playing drums, you know, and then later on became a guitar player. But New Orleans is really important to us because it's a He's just the breeding ground for creativity, dark atmosphere, and just good music.

2:49 It's where a lot of music started. Absolutely. Actually, my main radio studios are in southern Florida, but I actually have studios in Hammond. Oh, yeah, yeah. I know where Hammond is. Right? Yeah, dude. I figured you would. That's why I didn't say Louisiana, because if you're from there, you usually know where Hammond is. I know where Hammond is. And so it is interesting, too. I did an interview earlier. And we were talking about the festival that is in Louisiana that I think is badass, where you guys are playing and COC is playing. Great Southern Trend Kill, I think it's called. There it is. There it is. It's going to be an amazing festival. It's the first year, you know, and just Pantera hasn't played New Orleans.

3:34 In 30 years or something like that. That's wild. It's too long, man. No doubt. It's too long, you know, so. Get them in there with all good friends and stuff and two days of just absolute chaos and music, man. Oh, yeah. And, like, when they were telling me a lineup, which is obviously everybody's, the whole family, you know. Yeah. I'm like, oh, my God, that's an insane lineup. Yeah, it's going to be sweet, man. I'm going to have to look into going to that one because that's how I'd kill her. Pipe man needs to be there, son. Pipe man definitely needs to be there. How do you feel about, you know, like, as a musician, switching, like, roles by playing in different bands and stuff like that? Like, I always think, like, I have mad respect for musicians that can do multiple different things.

4:24 Right, right. And still be able to do it great. It's something that got better with time, obviously. But, you know, I play guitar and I hate God, too. Right. So, just. I don't know, drums and guitar are completely different ball games. So, you know, down doesn't do as much because we're a side project. Right. So when we do get, you know, I'm just happy to be playing drums, you know. So it's the opportunity that we're talking about doesn't come much. But when it does, you know, it's a little. Rough, man. It's just a lot more to think about. I have mad respect because I started off playing drums and played for nine years and I sucked. And then I went to guitar, and I sucked at that. And then I sang thrash metal, and I sucked at that.

5:13 So now I'm good at this. Yeah, there you go. But, like, playing drums and playing guitar, that's mad respect for that. Thank you, man. Thank you. I don't think people realize how hard it would be to... Like, it's hard enough just drums. It's almost like sometimes you're rubbing your belly and your head at the same time. Like the coronation that's needed. I kind of play drums on guitar. See, that's cool. So I always have just a real, that kind of approach to it, you know. And I only have four strings on my guitar. It's not a big deal. So I'm more of a bass player, actually. Well, you know what's funny about that? Trivia question for you. Do you know who's one of the most famous bass players?

5:54 It was originally a guitar player, but the band now had three guitars and no bassist, so he drew the short straw and became the bassist of the band. One of the biggest bands ever. Three guitar, Linus Kenner? Well, they weren't three guitar originally, but... Oh, okay. But... uh that's why you had to you. Got me who paul mccartney oh no yeah he was oh wow so now if you go listen to like beatles stuff he's amazing you'll hear he's playing the bass like a guitar i. Bought a honer bass just to just because of paul mccartney you know really oh yeah yeah because i do a lot of four track stuff at home studio stuff so uh yeah i had that he. He's an amazing bass player man you.

6:35 Know i didn't i knew he was a guitar player but i didn't know To that extent. Yeah, so when Stu left the band, he had to become the bassist. Wow. That's an amazing story. Right? You know, and so I kind of look at you the same way, like doing these different things. And I've actually, we might have met before because I covered one of your shows in West Palm Beach, the I Hate God show. Oh, okay. That was a badass show. Do you remember who else was on the bill or? I don't fucking... It was at Respectable Street in West Palm Beach. Oh, okay. It was a few years back. Probably pre-COVID. Right. Gotcha. And that's another thing, too, that I love is...

7:17 I think people don't realize that metal bands, punk bands, or people into that music, that's not the only music they like. So doing something like you're doing... It's almost exciting to do a side project that's different. Absolutely. You know? Absolutely. I mean, because you want to explore, as a musician, all your different sides. Get better at your craft, and sometimes that is from playing different types of music. Yeah, I mean, I had a, in the late 90s, early 2000s, played in a really different kind of prog band.

7:57 It was called Clearlight, Mystic Crew of Clearlight. And that band took on more of like traditional New Orleans bands like The Meters. And stuff like that, you know. And we didn't have a singer, but what you're saying is exactly true, you know. It's like you've got to step out of your comfort zone sometimes. Yeah. And, you know, if you want to, like, improve your craft, like you're saying. You know. And do you also think that when you do those other projects that they make you better at doing the main project? Tell me why you feel. Well, you become more well-rounded, you know. It's like you. You know, like say you're doing a country project and then you come back to do down. You know, for me, it's, you know, to me, country is just reformed blues.

8:43 Right. You know, so it's like. You know, you can take that same feel from a country band and put it in down. It's easy to get that in the pocket, behind the beat kind of feel that you would have in country. Yeah. And it's funny you said that because I mostly listen to old outlaw country. Nice. And Skinner and shit, but decided to play heavier music. But bring that aspect into what we do. What made you decide to play heavier music? Kiss, probably. When I was a kid. Kissing the Melvins. The Melvins. Yeah. They're badass. They're one of the greatest bands on the planet. No doubt. And Kiss. Okay, so my first album I ever had in my life, I won at the Jersey Shore on the boardwalk. Oh, cool. At a Kearney game.

9:29 And I looked up and there was this album up there with these four guys with makeup on. And I was like, that's fucking cool. Yeah. It was the original Kiss album when it first came out. You can't top the Melvins, dude. You can try. Yeah. I don't think you can top down either. You guys are badass. Thank you. Thank you. You know, and we don't get together much. So when we do get together, you know, we just finished doing our new record and which comes out in November. Nice. It's just it's just good to have down back in the game again. You know, I totally I think I know not without sounding egotistical.

10:10 I think down is like a band's band, you know? Yeah. It's a side project, you know, so everybody's usually pretty busy. But when we do get together, it's like great, dude. It's awesome. There you go. And so tell me about the new album. It's incredible, man. It really came out good and comes out November 19th, I believe. It's Down 5. And I know. We already got Blood Oath out, a single from that. We're going to drop another one. We did a video with that. We're going to drop another one. And it's just cool, man, because it's like down and done a record in so many years. Right. And to get everybody back in the room together. Really, it flowed well and everything, just like it should.

10:55 For me, to jam with the guys in Down is just the biggest opportunity that's ever happened in my life, and I don't take it lightly. I love all those guys to death. It just proves you're just having so much fun doing what you love. Because if you don't love doing this part of it, The industry is a shit job to have, you know? If you're not having fun playing and creating music, what are you doing? Exactly. Get out of the game. What do you find the most fun about being in Down opposed to other projects you do? The mutual respect of everybody's different... Well, what we all bring to the plate, you know?

11:36 Yeah. It's like differently in all our own perspective bands, we do what we do. But when it comes to down, everybody brings all that in together. It's powerful, man. See, I think it's powerful, you know? Because you are bringing a lot of different things into it, but then creating something totally different from all of what you all do individually. Right. So that's what's cool about it. It feels like home, dude. Down feels like home. It's like all the guys that I've played with the longest in my life. I'm blessed to be in the band, man. I've said that forever. Well, I think they're blessed to have you in the band. Oh, well, thank you. Anything else you want to share with the listeners we haven't covered already?

12:17 No, just ready to sweat and make some noise, man. All right. Sweating's already started. Yeah. It's a hot day here in Sacramento. It is. I think you guys brought the hotness here because you're such a badass band. Don't blame us. Well, thank you, man. I appreciate it, Dean. Hey, thank you for being on the Adventures of Pipe Man. Yes, sir, man. Appreciate you, brother. Thank you for listening to the Adventures of Pipe Man on W4CY radio.