Q&A with Hutch from the Thermals

Intro

1. Learn Vocabulary - Learn some new vocabulary before you start the lesson.

• catchy
• the thing is
• stoked
• the last minute

• lesser of two evils
• pop punk
• fascist
• jump on it

• dodge a bullet
• pick up

2. Read and Prepare - Read the introduction and prepare to hear the audio.

The Thermals are an American pop punk trio, and as catchy as their music is, the world portrayed in the lyrics of their last album, The Body, the Blood, the Machine, is pretty dark. Vocalist Hutch Harris sings about an America run by Christian fascists. The songs were inspired by how much power conservatives had in the country at the time.

But now that Barack Obama has been elected, does Hutch see the world differently? Just before he left for a European tour, Jason talked to him about the election and performing abroad.

Dialog

1. Listen and Read - Listen to the audio and read the dialog at the same time.

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2. Study - Read the dialog again to see how the vocab words are used.

Jason

Hutch

Jason:  So you do a lot of touring internationally, and I wonder, what’s your favorite country to play in?

Hutch:  It’s got to be Germany. Like, even before we were getting successful here and in the UK and other countries, Germany and the Netherlands jumped on it just right away…

Jason:  Have you picked up any German from your shows there?

Hutch:  I know a little bit. I know some short words…I was talking to a German band one time because most German bands that we play with are all singing in English. And of course they speak English. They grew up…I mean, their English is better than ours.

Jason:  Wow.

Hutch:  It’s more grammatically correct. They say “months” instead of “munts.” They say “second” instead of “sekind.” But anyway, I was talking a German man and he was saying that the English language, the thing is you have so many more words to choose from than in German that you can be way more expressive.

Jason:  I just wanted to ask you about how you feel about Obama’s victory and if it’s affected your world view.

Hutch:  Dude, I’m stoked. So stoked. I was scared until the last minute, really. I didn’t even have a drink. I wasn’t gonna, like, get drunk at some Obama party and then have it turned around and have McCain steal it. So yeah, it totally changes my world view. Choosing Obama wasn’t choosing the lesser of two evils. We also dodged a bullet with those other two.

Grammar Point

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Quizzes

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Lesson MP3

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