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In 1997, I received a copy of the “(don’t forget to) breathe” compilation on Crank! Records. A perfect emo snapshot of the time that featured The Promise Ring, Christie Front Drive, Hot Water Music, Boys Life, Mineral, and twelve other tracks. The second song on that compilation spent many repeat rotations on my CD player… over and over and over. “Pumpkin Eyes” by Silver Scooter was the amazing, gushy, heartfelt song on track two, which incidentally still ranks as one of my favorite songs to this day.

Later that year, my roommate gave me a copy of Silver Scooter’s debut album, “The Other Palm Springs” (Peek-A-Boo) and also a copy of a Super XX Man 7”. I quickly learned about the endearing songwriting of Scott Garred – the lead singer of Silver Scooter, who recorded his solo works under the name of Super XX Man. His early solo recordings had such a delicate, stripped down approach (but not acoustic-folk focused) that was reminiscent of East River Pipe, the Mountain Goats, Neil Young, and even hints of Yo La Tengo. Six years later, I found myself releasing Super XX Man’s album (Vol. VI, “Collecting Rocks”) on my label, and became friends with a person who had recorded songs I had listened to countless times.

Now at VEOBA, I again have the opportunity to work with Scott Garred and his Super XX Man moniker, still going strong on its fifteenth year. Through VEOBA’s digital distribution services, we are pleased to announce for the first time, Super XX Man’s first two albums, the live album, and the covers EP are available digitally on over 100 sites!  We have also digitally released the two albums that Lelp Recordings released in the mid-2000’s. VEOBA is also working with Super XX Man on his upcoming full-length album and digital only single due out this Autumn.

And if you’re in Oregon this summer, be sure to catch Super XX Man perform at the Whole Foods Summer Concert Series through the next two months in Portland (July 31st & August 14th – see details here).

Recently I shot Super XX Man a few questions. He responded with answers that touched up his affection for friends, where he exactly got his moniker (pronounced with a double X), and a tour story that he’ll never forget.

Traveling all over the world, what’s your worst or best tour story?

I think this is not the worst or the best. While on tour with Silver Scooter in Japan, Super XX Man had the opportunity to perform at a small bar with friends. I was with Eric Metronome, taking a break from the smoke in the alleyway the bar opened up to. It was late there and we noticed an old black and white TV that was turned on (strange enough to see a TV turned on late at night outside in Tokyo). We looked closer and could see airplanes flying into buildings and it seemed so sci-fi at the time. At the same time all of our friends were getting news on their phones of the events of 9/11/2001. The translations included President Bush has started WWIII and airplanes are flying into the skyscrapers in downtown NYC. During this trip I snapped a self-portrait of me in a mud puddle for Vol. VII.

How did you decide upon the name Super XX Man?

Super XX was an old b/w film made by Kodak. I was a lab technician in Austin, TX at the time (around summer 1995). We use the film a lot to make copies of b/w photos for people looking to reproduce a print. We ran out one day. I remember it being a big deal. The film was discontinued. A music legend was born.

Where do you pull your inspiration from?

I pull inspiration from a black Les Paul that is so violently loud that it shakes the windows in my house forcing my family to evacuate to safety. I can feel the instrument vibrating my hands, arms, torso as if I’m holding a jack hammer… that and my life, people I work with, live with, love, and cherish.

If you could collaborate with one person, who would it be and why?

Super XX Man would love to collaborate with all the people we have in the past – Ali Wesley, John Vecchiarelli, my buddies from Silver Scooter, producer Dave McNair. In a dream though I think making music with Neil Young, Willie Nelson, Portastatic, Antietam, East River Pipe would be super fun. All the great musicians I know of don’t seem like the collaborating type though so it would be an incredible thing I’m sure.

What methods do you use to promote your band? Are you satisfied with the results?

Super XX Man uses a small mailing list, Facebook, Twitter, and word-of-mouth mostly. We rely on our passionate fans to help spread the word. We try and make our concerts special in some way.

Volume I

Volume II

Vol. VI, “Collecting Rocks”

Vol. VII, “My Usual Way”