After two records with legendary rock band Weezer, Matt Sharp quit as Weezer's bassist. He wanted his next project to be less a traditional rock band and more a chance to collaborate with all the musicians he admired, so he formed The Rentals. Even if he couldn't get his collaborators to leave his or her band permanently, Matt could rent them for enough time to make some music together.

As you can imagine, after three full length albums, Matt Sharp has ended up being the only constant in The Rentals project. He assembles a new set of collaborators each time he records an album or goes on tour. Fun fact: actor Maya Rudolph, of Saturday Night Live and Bridesmaids fame, also handled keyboard and backing vocals for the group's first tours in support of the debut album, Return of the Rentals. (Check out The Rentals 1996 video for "Waiting" to see Maya in action.)

I hung out with Matt Sharp one nice afternoon in the alley behind Vancouver's now closed Electric Owl. Matt was in town to promote the newest Rentals record, Lost in Alphaville. The new record includes collaborations with Jess Wolfe and Holly Laessig of Lucius, Ryen Slegr of Ozma, and Patrick Carney of The Black Keys.

Listen to this episode! You'll discover the answers to all these questions: Which Hollywood film director did Matt nearly get to make a video for The Rentals? How would Matt compare The Rentals with his old band Weezer? Which public figure would Matt want to work with--but he's too scared to send the email? Which Matt Sharp record does one of Matt's friends use to get his kids to sleep? You'll find out all this and more! Press play.

Tracks played on the show...

1) The Rentals, Lost in Alphaville (2014) "1000 Seasons" (mp3)
2) The Rentals, Lost in Alphaville (2014) "Thought of Sound"
3) The Rentals, Lost in Alphaville (2014) "The Future" (background)
4) The Rentals, Seven More Minutes (1999) "The Man With Two Brains"
5) The Rentals, Lost in Alphaville (2014) "It’s Time to Come Home" (mp3)

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The Interview Show

The Interview Show with The Rentals (radio version) #211

The Interview Show producer and host Scott Wood climbs into the tour van to hang out with your favorite indie bands. This podcast covers all kinds of music--anything from electronic to hip hop to indie to punk to metal. Listen!

The Interview Show with The Rentals (radio version) #211

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