Q&A Hole: Music for First Contact

What song would you play for a lost tribe?

Okay guys, in the country that I'm from this is an important artistic work: It's called Slayer's "Angel of Death" – I think you'll really like the intro.

Despite the temptation to try to make friends with everyone on the planet, it’s wholly inadvisable to approach uncontacted populations. Just last fall, a young Christian missionary was bow-and-arrowed to death when he rowed up to a remote island in the Andaman sea.

Nevertheless, if you did get a chance to hang out with people completely cutoff from all modern civilization, making a good first impression would be important. We explore that theme on this week’s Q&A Hole. I surprised five Austin musicians – Jackie Venson, Topaz McGarrigle of Golden Dawn Arkestra, Riverboat Gamblers and Drakulas frontman Mike Wiebe, Kalu James, and Walker Lukens – with this question:

“If you were introduced to an uncontacted tribe that had never heard recorded music and you could play them just one song, what would it be?”

Q&A Hole is edited by John Anderson, produced by Tamar Price, and thought up by myself, Austin Chronicle music and cannabis reporter Kevin Curtin. Jana Birchum records the audio, and the theme song is by myself, Jonas Wilson, and Timothy Abdnour.

A note to readers: Bold and uncensored, The Austin Chronicle has been Austin’s independent news source for over 40 years, expressing the community’s political and environmental concerns and supporting its active cultural scene. Now more than ever, we need your support to continue supplying Austin with independent, free press. If real news is important to you, please consider making a donation of $5, $10 or whatever you can afford, to help keep our journalism on stands.

Support the Chronicle  

READ MORE
More Q&A Hole
Q&A Hole: You Can Be Reincarnated into Anything
Q&A Hole: You Can Be Reincarnated into Anything
…except a human

Kevin Curtin, May 18, 2020

Q&A Hole: My Time-Traveling Future Self Wants Me to Do What?
Q&A Hole: My Time-Traveling Future Self Wants Me to Do What?
Insane theoretical positions musicians as would-be assassins

Kevin Curtin, May 4, 2020

More by Kevin Curtin
Crucial Concerts for the Coming Week
Crucial Concerts for the Coming Week
The Linda Lindas, Momma, Caramelo Haze, JaRon Marshall, and more highlight our recommended shows for the week

Jan. 13, 2023

Crucial Concerts for the Coming Week
Crucial Concerts for the Coming Week
Jackie Venson, Curtis Roush, Tim Kasher, and more local shows to see this week

Jan. 6, 2023

KEYWORDS FOR THIS POST

Q&A Hole, Jackie Venson, Topaz McGarrigle, Golden Dawn Arkestra, Riverboat Gamblers, Drakulas, Mike Wiebe, Kalu James, Walker Lukens, Chronicle Video

MORE IN THE ARCHIVES
NEWSLETTERS
One click gets you all the newsletters listed below

Breaking news, arts coverage, and daily events

Can't keep up with happenings around town? We can help.

Austin's queerest news and events

Eric Goodman's Austin FC column, other soccer news

Behind the scenes at The Austin Chronicle

Information is power. Support the free press, so we can support Austin.   Support the Chronicle