Pavement's Spiral Stairs and Steve West - "Kennel District"

This week in a very special episode of The Story Behind the Song, host Peter Csathy welcomes indie rock icons Spiral Stairs and Steve West of Pavement to break down “Kennel District” on the 30th anniversary of the album Wowee Zowee.

Discover the inspiration behind the song, one of only a handful of Pavement songs written and sung by Spiral Stairs. They discuss the recording process of Wowee Zowee and offer insight into the ethos and creative philosophy behind the band, and also reflect on their involvement with the Lollapalooza tour in 1995, including the infamous mud-slinging incident.

Also in this episode, the duo discuss Alex Ross Perry’s Pavements movie based on the band. Part biopic, part documentary, and part musical, the film carves a unique identity for itself through creativity, experimentation, and authenticity, just like the band itself. 

Later in the episode, Stairs and West talk about their ongoing reunion tour and plans for the future, as well as the legacy of the band. They touch on their recent viral popularity on TikTok and what it’s like seeing a new generation of young fans showing up to their shows.

Listen to Spiral Stairs and Steve West talk about “Kennel District” and more, and then be sure to follow The Story Behind the Song and rate and review on Apple Podcasts. Fans can also check out the new TSBTS merch -- including a killer poster and jigsaw puzzle -- available now at the Consequence Shop or via the buy now buttons below!

You can keep an eye on the Consequence Podcast Network for updates on all our series, and follow host Peter Csathy on Threads at @pcsathy and at Deep Cuts Media.

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