[Editor's note: A Conversation is a HN series that features two disparate members Nebraska's music scene interviewing each other about what they do best. This is part one of two. We hope you learn a little.]

words by Michael Todd | photo by Ben Semisch

Dan McCarthy knew it was getting worse. Before long, it would take up considerable real estate on his upper lip, and the mustache would be worth more than the music.

Then again, Dan McCarthy was making a move into ragtime territory, as he still is. He admits the bushier, more curled at the corners kind would afford him an appearance fit for ragtime. But it was never about the mustache, so he trimmed it down but kept his admiration for the music of a bygone era.

McCarthy has finished recording his forthcoming McCarthy Trenching album, Plays the Piano, due out in October, which includes both original piano songs with ragtime influences and note-for-note covers of Scott Joplin tunes. Eric Nyffeler, an obvious fan of McCarthy but self-admittedly uninformed about ragtime, interviewed McCarthy as part of a series that pairs two disparate members of the Nebraska music scene. Along with playing guitar in Masses and Bus Gas, Nyffeler creates posters, album art, T-shirts and more at his Doe Eyed design studio, and has created many of Hear Nebraska’s aesthetics including our logo.

Here, Nyffeler asks McCarthy what ragtime music is and how McCarthy fell in love with it:

Michael Todd is Hear Nebraska's managing editor. He once wore a mustache for about a day, and there is proof online somewhere. Go forth, folks. Reach him at michaeltodd@hearnebraska.org.