A `Wreck' in the making.

Byline: Lewis Taylor The Register-Guard

Trainwreck, aka "the Wreck," is the Southern rock pet project of guitarist and vocalist Gass Calhoun (Kyle Gass) and lead singer and trainwhistle specialist Reed Donald (JR Reed).

In addition to its floor-shaking live performances, the band is known for its stylish leather vests and shag carpet hairstyles. It's not unusual for band members to resort to petty violence on stage; keyboard player Lance Branson (Chris Darienzo) has been known to pass out in mid-performance.

Gass is best known as Jack Black's partner in the ferociously funny rock band Tenacious D; Reed, too, has been featured on Tenacious D's HBO special. They're not the only multi-talent in the group. Drummer Kevin Weisman (aka Kenny Bob Thornton) plays Marshall on the TV series "Alias," and Darienzo wrote the screenplay "kickassicus." Guitarist Shreddy Krueger (John Konesky) and bassist Boy Johnny (John Spiker) round out the sextet.

We caught up with Gass and Reed by phone in Los Angeles before the start of the group's West Coast Girls and Hippies tour. Here's what they had to say:

Question: I think you played the Wild Duck last time you were here?

Reed: We played the Wild Duck and school was out of session. It wasn't very wild.

Question: Unfortunately, the Wild Duck is closed now.

Gass: Were we partially responsible?

Question: I'm not sure. Any stories from the road?

Reed: We went on a 27-city tour last year.

Gass: And before the tour (Daryl) says, "I want to bring my girlfriend she's going to sell T-shirts, it's going to be great." I said, "Dude it's going to be a disaster, you're going to start fighting and she's not going to make it the whole way."

The first day on the road they're fighting, two weeks later she's sleeping with a guitar tech, it's disastrous.

Question: What's the worst on-stage injury you guys have sustained?

Gass: I've got to say that's the first time anyone has posed that question. I've done over 1,000 interviews and no one's ever asked me.

Reed: I barfed in my mouth a couple of times.

Gass: This may sound a little trivial but sometimes, I'll be rocking so hard early in the set that my left hand starts cramping. It's extremely painful, and the truth is I really feel like just not playing for the next hour. It may appear like I'm playing, but I'm just relaxing my hand.

Question: I guess you got a little more fill in this band than you do in Tenacious D?

Gass: Lot of fill. In fact, the reality is I don't even have to be in this group anymore. You can't really hear me much of the time. I'm along for the chicks.

Question: I hear Daryl has some Oregon roots?

Reed: I was born in Corvallis and I have family in Bend and Roseburg.

Gass: And I've been to Oregon.

Question: What do people need to know about Trainwreck?

Gass: All they really need to know is, if they're looking for pure entertainment, music and extra flavor, they best be coming down. It's exciting, it's rocking and it's strangely spicy.

Reed: I'm going to have to add that it's the reinvention of Southern rock.

Question: You guys probably draw pretty heavily from college campuses?

Gass: Well, we're just guys who are approaching middle age and looking for one last chance to recapture lost youth. That's what, really, the music business is all about. We encourage all young girls, possibly with a daddy complex, to come to the show.

Question: So are you sowing your wild oats?

Gass: I'm trying. I went out with a 19-year-old last night and it was kind of tripping me out cause I go, "I'm 25 years older than you, I could have been 25 years old watching you be born and say I'm going to dig you some day."

Question: Where are your biggest pockets of fans?

Gass: My house.

Reed: Definitely L.A., but we do have quite a pocket of fans in the Midwest and the South, we drew really well in Austin and Oklahoma City. It's a little surprising. We thought maybe they'd think we were making fun of them.

Question: What Southern rock artists do you admire?

Gass: Some people say Southern rock is redundant because rock did start in the South. Hello, Elvis and Bill Haley. ... I will say Thin Lizzy, Grand Funk Railroad, ZZ Top.

Reed: I've never heard of those bands (only one of which is from the South).

Question: What do you think of the whole alt-country thing that happened a few years back?

Gass: I think we blow all those wannabe posers away.

Reed: We remember that you got to have a hook in the song.

Gass: And we don't stare at our shoes. We're up there dancing. It's a little more presentational.

Question: Have you been writing any new songs?

Reed: Our keyboardist, Lance Branson, is a very prolific songwriter.

Gass: He fancies himself a Brian Wilson-type genius.

Reed: He's batting about .225.

Gass: I think Lance is going to read this, so I'll say, you know what, he is a genius.

Question: Is Lance still passing out on his keyboard?

Reed: He's got some issues with intoxicants.

Gass: Let me tell you that didn't just happen once; it's been happening every show at the same time in the song, it's almost like we rehearsed it.

Reed: I hope it doesn't happen in Eugene.

Question: You've got a song on your album called "American Trainwreck Idol?" Have you been watching the show?

Gass: Every chance I get. I love to see those youngsters out there.

Question: Do you have a favorite?

Reed: I do like the red-headed Sinatra guy.

Question: What kind of venues do you guys like to play?

Gass: I like the intimate sort of roadhouse with chicken wire sort of situation.

Reed: I think one of our favorite venues has been the Tractor Tavern in Seattle, because it matches our outfits.

Question: You should consider Sam Bond's Garage next time.

Gass: That's good to know. JR, make a note of that: Sam Bond's Pancake House. James Bond's Movie Career.

Question: Why do you guys tour so much?

Gass: Touring's just kind of fun; it's a great way to travel and a good excuse to go to places you never would go to.

Question: Like Eugene?

Gass: Actually, that's a beautiful place to go.

Reed: I just remembered I got a tattoo in Eugene by some woman named, like, Betty Jean. She was a huge biker.

Question: What's the tattoo?

Reed: It's a big hawk.

Gass: Oh yeah, I like that one.

Question: Your latest release is a live bootleg?

Gass: We do have a very rare single, which I think is not in print anymore. But if you have one, hold onto it.

Question: It's going to be worth something?

Gass: Yeah. We're working with John King, my Dust Brother friend, on studio versions of a lot of our songs, and hopefully that's going to cause a sensation.

Question: I've heard the expression, "Like a trainwreck waiting to happen." Is that the origin of your name?

Gass: It's just like a disaster beyond a disaster. An extra special disaster.

Reed: And you have to look at.

Question: Are any of your extra members going to be with you? Will Tuffy McFukelbee be there?

Gass: You never know when Tuffy is going to make it. There's a rumor that he might appear in Eugene. There's always a shot. Tuffy's like water though; you can't get a grip on him. You can drink him, but you can't handle him.

Question: Any misconceptions that you'd like to clear up about Trainwreck?

Gass: That it's my personal vanity project that I use only to advance my own agenda. That JR is simply riding on my coattails, riding behind me and picking up loose change. I'm going to squash that rumor as well.

Reed: I'm going to squash the idea that we're a shadow band of Tenacious D. Here's the thing, and I've been taking a personal poll: "Pound for pound" I ask people, "Where do you get more music for your dollar, the Wreck or the D?" And they all say, "The Wreck."

Gass: Jack (Black) said something very profound. He said, "If you love Tenacious D, you'll like Trainwreck."

CONCERT PREVIEW

Trainwreck

When: 7 p.m. Sunday

Where: The Jungle, 23 W. Sixth Ave.

Tickets: $8 at the door