What happens when you gather a Grammy-winning guitarist, a veteran bassist from the alternative rock scene, a Seattle chanteuse, and a cast of virtuoso players in a studio without a script? You get The Third Mind—a supergroup defying conventions and blending psychedelic improvisation, blues, and post-punk influences into something unique.
For this interview, Victor Krummenacher, co-founder of Camper Van Beethoven and The Third Mind, joined Steven Roby to discuss the band’s genesis, their upcoming live album Live Mind, and what it means to create music that’s as unpredictable as it is transcendent.
The Birth of a Musical Experiment
It all started with a beer-fueled idea. “Dave Alvin had this concept of putting together wildly different bands to cover songs 
like ‘Truckin’ by the Grateful Dead,” Krummenacher shared, laughing. Alvin’s residency idea at San Francisco’s Slim’s never materialized, but the seed for The Third Mind was planted. “When I moved to LA, I pitched Dave the idea of assembling a group of extraordinary musicians for an unscripted studio session—and things just clicked.”
The result? A debut album recorded in a day and a band lineup that reads like a who’s who of musical mastery. With David Immerglück (Counting Crows), Michael Jerome (Richard Thompson), and Jesse Sykes (Jesse Sykes and the Sweet Hereafter) rounding out the core, The Third Mind took shape. Their philosophy was simple yet bold: throw caution to the wind and let the music unfold naturally.
On Stage: Chaos Meets Magic
For The Third Mind, live performance is less about replication and more about exploration. “We don’t play the same set the same way twice,” Krummenacher explained. “There’s a lot of listening on the spot, and that volatility makes the magic happen. When it works—and it usually does—it’s incredible.”
Their new concert album, Live Mind, showcases this ethos. Recorded across two iconic venues, the Ventura Music Hall and the Troubadour, tracks like “Sally Go Round the Roses” and “Morning Dew” take on new dimensions in the live setting. Of the hauntingly powerful “Morning Dew,” Krummenacher reflected, “The song’s weight has only grown heavier with the state of the world. It’s a protest song—a dialogue about survival—and its relevance feels sharper than ever.”
Improvisation as Freedom
The Third Mind’s music thrives on improvisation, a philosophy Krummenacher likens to Miles Davis’ studio experiments in the late ’60s and early 
’70s. “Improvisation is an artistic statement about freedom,” he noted. “When you’re not on script, you’re truly communicating musically. That’s what we aim for—freedom and connection.”
This approach was front and center when the band tackled their cover of “East West” by Michael Bloomfield. “We didn’t overthink it,” Krummenacher said. “The song was an experiment to see how we’d play as improvisers together—and it worked. It’s 14 minutes of pure dialogue.”
Looking Ahead: New Music and Milestones
With Live Mind set to release in February and a series of California shows in March, The Third Mind is gearing up for another prolific year. For Krummenacher, 2025 also marks a milestone with Camper Van Beethoven’s 40th-anniversary shows at the Fillmore in San Francisco in April 2025.
Fans attending The Third Mind’s upcoming concerts at the Sebastiani Theatre in Sonoma (December 20), and The Chapel in San Francisco (December 21), can expect a mix of fan favorites, unexpected covers, and possibly even new material. “We’ll be throwing a bunch of new songs on the floor during rehearsals,” Krummenacher teased. “Anything can happen, and that’s the beauty of it.”
Conclusion
Whether you’re a fan of psychedelic rock, deep improvisation, or simply music that pushes boundaries, The Third Mind is a project that demands attention. Their blend of seasoned musicianship and fearless experimentation offers a reminder of why live music remains such a vital art form.
Listen to the interview here:
https://www.sebastianitheatre.com
Top image: Eric Overstreet
Image in Article: Leslie Campbell Photography
