I MIGHT HAVE TO FIGHT MY WAY OUT OF THIS ROOM

I met John Dwyer in 1997, when he was a supporting player in the Fort Thunder warehouse scene of Providence. Dwyer was the scariest member of the scariest band, Landed. In a group of fabulous and unique weirdos, he clearly played the role of designated lunatic. And then, at some point in this century, Dwyer made the jump from the lumpen ranks of Pauper Journeyman Musician to the rarefied strata of Successful Independent Musician. For those of us who’ve known him over the years, Dwyer’s rise announced itself in many different unexpected moments. Mine came from hearing his current band, Thee Oh Sees, on Breaking Bad, not merely on the soundtrack, but as in-universe music, as a band high-ranking Mexican cartel members might actually enjoy (and then die to). My first, visceral reaction still holds up: This band has no right being as good as it is.

Did we meet at that fucking strip club?