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Dave Pirner is still running at full throttle with Soul Asylum, and their latest record, Slowly But Shirley, proves that their musical engine has plenty of mileage left. Speaking with Kyle Meredith, Pirner discusses the band’s new album, their upcoming tour with The Juliana Hatfield Three (get tickets here!), and what it takes to keep the creative fire burning 40 years into a career, so listen above or wherever you get your podcasts.
Pirner may not have a secret formula, but he’s got something just as good: love for what he does. “I enjoy it. That’s the thing,” he says, reflecting on Soul Asylum’s longevity. “You work so hard to get somewhere, and then this is what I do. It’s what I’ve been doing my whole life, and I love it.” That passion shines through on Slowly But Shirley, an album that sees Pirner reunite with producer Steve Jordan, who last worked with the band on 1990’s And the Horse They Rode In On. Jordan, who’s been drumming for The Rolling Stones since 2021, helped the band strip back their sound to its raw essence. “Steve was very adamant about making the band play in a way that… you just get a real honest recording of four people playing together.”
Slowly But Shirley also draws inspiration from an unexpected source: Shirley “Cha Cha” Muldowney, a pioneering female drag racer who defied a male-dominated sport in the 1970s. Pirner explains his admiration for her audacity and determination, saying, “She’s always been kind of an idol of mine.” Noting that as an avid Hot Wheels collector, he adds, “I finally got a Shirley Muldowney Hot Wheels, and that was a very special day for me.”
Pirner also shows his reflective side with narrative-driven tracks like “Waiting on the Lord,” a song that taps into socio-political frustration. “Look at how terrible people can be treated by their own government or the king or whoever it is,” Pirner says, channeling an age-old conflict with a modern edge. Meanwhile, the infectious “High Road” drives with a raw energy that Pirner admits he “toiled over” for a long time, arranging and rearranging parts until it clicked. When the band finally played it live, the magic was undeniable. “It surprised me even more that it feels like it does when I hear it,” Pirner says of the track’s immediacy.
Listen to Dave Pirner discuss Slowly But Shirley and all this above, or watch the interview below. Keep up on all the latest episodes by following Kyle Meredith With… on your favorite podcast platform; plus, check out all the series on the Consequence Podcast Network.