Third Man Walking No. 44: Mixed Games, Poker Culture & Rock Music, With Steve Albini

Your correspondent speaks with iconic rock guitarist and recording engineer Steve Albini, who has recorded Nirvana, the Pixies and PJ Harvey, and who recently won his second WSOP bracelet.

0:16 Introduction

2:16 Steve Albini joins

3:10 Albini discusses his job as a recording engineer

5:04 What kinds of sounds Albini is known for

7:31 How Albini became a serious poker player

8:35 Mixed games

10:03 Adjusting to new constraints in poker

14:42 What Albini likes about poker

16:40 Stylized sociopathy in poker and music (excerpt: Shellac, "Crow," used with permission)

18:58 Machismo in poker (excerpt: Shellac, "Watch Song," used with permission)

21:55 Scamming in poker and independent music

24:36 Why Albini doesn't like Las Vegas

26:10 Other musicians who are good poker players

28:30 Why Albini isn't playing the Main Event

29:40 Albini's thoughts on recording sessions with the Breeders

32:30 Joanna Newsom

34:11 Melt-Banana

37:05 Recap of your correspondent's recent trip to Las Vegas

39:30 Hand from the Mini Main Event: KK all-in preflop

41:56 Hand from Venetian bounty event: KK all-in preflop

Steve Albini, "The Problem with Music"

Shellac, "Crow"

"Douchebags in sunglasses ..." quote:

Shellac, "Watch Song"

Breeders, "Doe"

Joanna Newsom, "Only Skin"

Melt-Banana, "Scratch or Stitch"

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