The following questions are meant to elicit a sense of your rock ‘n roll values and experiences. As you know, not all questions are directly related to rock ‘n roll or even music. Your candid answers to them may open new avenues of rock dialog. Let’s get it on!
When you think Still photograph from a rock concert, what’s the first photograph that comes to mind?
What’s the most recent band you’ve had to consider you may have dismissed for the wrong reasons (eg, Look, their legion of numbskull fans, a particular fan in middle school who kicked your ass while wearing their three-quarter sleeve concert t-shirt)?
Have you ever been at a concert and then, as the band too the stage, been immediately turned off by one of the musician’s choice in gear only to find that the aesthetically offensive piece of gear was played beautifully by said musician?
Cobra or mongoose?
Example: Too much of Tom Waits’ vocal schtick annoys me, but when listening to his music I imagine the satisfying possibilities membership in his band would afford me as a supporting musician (guitar, in my case). Question: Is there an artist you don’t fully embrace that you imagine might nevertheless afford you a satisfying role as a supporting musician?
Is any constantly praised musician less interesting than Sade?
I look forward to your responses.
1. When you think Still photograph from a rock concert, what’s the first photograph that comes to mind?
Probably that great photo of ZZ Top on tour with all the animals on stage that I saw once in a dream.
2. What’s the most recent band you’ve had to consider you may have dismissed for the wrong reasons?
Not so recent anymore, but probably Nirvana. Probably blamed them for the horrific overexposure and hype for the whole Seattle/grunge hype after Nevermind (which, that said, I am still not a big fan of) as well as for the sucky bands they carried in their wake. Did an about face after seeing them live on the In Utero tour, ’cause they were tremendous.
3. Have you ever been at a concert and then, as the band too the stage, been immediately turned off by one of the musician’s choice in gear only to find that the aesthetically offensive piece of gear was played beautifully by said musician?
No. Not a gear-head.
4. Cobra or mongoose?
Are we talking animals here or are we talking Don Prudhomme vs. Tom McEwen? Did anyone else have the Hot Wheels set with the snake and the mongoose cars. Very cool. Can’t remember now which was which. So, cobra.
5. No.
6. Is any constantly praised musician less interesting than Sade?
Dunno. If this were 20 years ago, sure. Surely there are bigger targets and more sacred cows, though, no? Sonic Youth, anyone?
When you think Still photograph from a rock concert, what’s the first photograph that comes to mind?
I’ve got this cool B&W shot of The Stones in Chicago in 72 from backstage. Only Keith is facing the camera, and as one of my friends put it, “Man, that dude is facing down his demons, isn’t he?”
What’s the most recent band you’ve had to consider you may have dismissed for the wrong reasons (eg, Look, their legion of numbskull fans, a particular fan in middle school who kicked your ass while wearing their three-quarter sleeve concert t-shirt)?
I gave Lynyrd Skynyrd, J Geils and Aerosmith a second chance this year, and so far, I kind of wonder why I disliked them as much as I did. Skynyrd has been particularly fun to check out. When they’re not doing hoe down music, that is.
Have you ever been at a concert and then, as the band too the stage, been immediately turned off by one of the musician’s choice in gear only to find that the aesthetically offensive piece of gear was played beautifully by said musician?
Nope. I have seen gear that made me excited that turned out to be more of a prop than anything else.
Cobra or mongoose?
The Snake. Don Prudhomme was awesome!
Example: Too much of Tom Waits’ vocal schtick annoys me, but when listening to his music I imagine the satisfying possibilities membership in his band would afford me as a supporting musician (guitar, in my case). Question: Is there an artist you don’t fully embrace that you imagine might nevertheless afford you a satisfying role as a supporting musician?
I can’t play music, but if I could, I can’t see playing anything I didn’t really like.
Is any constantly praised musician less interesting than Sade?
Eric Clapton.
1. When you think Still photograph from a rock concert, what’s the first photograph that comes to mind?
Iggy in his gold lamé suit staring out at the audience.
2. What’s the most recent band you’ve had to consider you may have dismissed for the wrong reasons?
Joanna Newsom. I just didn´t get it, until it finally clicked one night.
3. Have you ever been at a concert and then, as the band too the stage, been immediately turned off by one of the musician’s choice in gear only to find that the aesthetically offensive piece of gear was played beautifully by said musician?
No, but seeing Dylan´s guitar on its rack on prominent display only to find he wouldn´t touch it all night is a bit frustrating.
4. Cobra or mongoose?
Got a cobra snake for a necktie.
5. Is there an artist you don’t fully embrace that you imagine might nevertheless afford you a satisfying role as a supporting musician?
Alas, no.
6. Is any constantly praised musician less interesting than Sade?
Bono.
1. When you think Still photograph from a rock concert, what’s the first photograph that comes to mind?
Mick Jones on the back of London calling. What’s he getting ready to do with his guitar? Something cool, I’ll bet.
3. Have you ever been at a concert and then, as the band too the stage, been immediately turned off by one of the musician’s choice in gear only to find that the aesthetically offensive piece of gear was played beautifully by said musician?
No because I’m very shallow and intolerant about gear. But I saw Leaving Trains once and the bass player had a Stienberger canoe paddle bass. I immediately formed an unfavorable opinion about him. Later in the set, he took off his shirt. Someone in the crowd yelled, “Put your shirt back on.” He gave an annoyed look and then stripped completely naked and stayed that way for the rest of the set. (He had the bass slung kind of high up leaving precious little to the imagination.) That when I realized that the Steinberger wasn’t about tone or performance, it was about putting a bug up the butt of sanctimonious equipment snobs like me, and suddenly, I was no longer offended by it.
4. Cobra or mongoose?
Probably mongoose. They seem like the underdog.
5. Is there an artist you don’t fully embrace that you imagine might nevertheless afford you a satisfying role as a supporting musician?
Any number of the current faceless Indie bands
When you think Still photograph from a rock concert, what’s the first photograph that comes to mind?
this one:
http://media.photobucket.com/image/the%20clash/beardofbees77/clash.jpg
What’s the most recent band you’ve had to consider you may have dismissed for the wrong reasons (eg, Look, their legion of numbskull fans, a particular fan in middle school who kicked your ass while wearing their three-quarter sleeve concert t-shirt)?
The Blake Babies (who I dismissed for their prep-school appeal)
Have you ever been at a concert and then, as the band too the stage, been immediately turned off by one of the musician’s choice in gear only to find that the aesthetically offensive piece of gear was played beautifully by said musician?
no.
Cobra or mongoose?
Diamond Back
Example: Too much of Tom Waits’ vocal schtick annoys me, but when listening to his music I imagine the satisfying possibilities membership in his band would afford me as a supporting musician (guitar, in my case). Question: Is there an artist you don’t fully embrace that you imagine might nevertheless afford you a satisfying role as a supporting musician?
wow. esoteric dugout chatter! I feel I could bring so much to Leonard Cohen’s percussion section.
Is any constantly praised musician less interesting than Sade?
Jeff Tweedy
First still photograph that comes to mind is the one of the policemen standing in a row in front of the stage at a Beatles concert at Shea Stadium.
Most recent band… for me is Sparks. About a year ago, somebody I respect told me he loved that band. I thought I only knew one of their songs, “Cool Places With You,” which I think is crap (still). Turns out, I also knew “I Predict,” but didn’t know it was them, and I do like that one. Anyway, started with Kimono My House and moved on to Indiscreet and other early albums. I know they get ripped on this board from time to time. Recently the words “soul-less shit” were associated with XTC, I also like Jellyfish and generally a lot of bands that are apparently called “prock.” So why don’t I like Steely Dan?
My wife cannot stand Sparks at all, though my daughter took to it right away (she’s 5). One night I was putting her to bed and began singing “Twinkle twinkle.” She cuts me off, no, not that song! Ok… “You are my sunshine…” No! “Baa baa black…” No! “Clementine?” NO! “Alright, what song do you want?” There is a pause and then… “Hospitality On Parade.”
Concert question: Can’t say that I’ve had that experience.
As a drummer, there are loads of people who might be fun to play with, though I hate their music. I can’t stand the guy from DMB, but I guess it would be a trip to be able to completely overplay like that. Also, as a drummer, you’re always in the back of the group, so just playing with any singer who looks good from behind could be good. Sorry.
Sade’s album “Stronger Than Pride” once received one of JD Considine’s three word reviews in Musician Magazine. It read: “Faster Than Sominex.”
Great answers, cher (and others – I see that lone teardrop welling up, kilroy). Good to know that some critic has actually called bullshit on Sade. She has a new album coming out, the first one in like 82 years, and I see she’s still got her hair pulled back tight and is generating critical anticipation for…lord knows what. Maybe the critics need a good night’s sleep.
May I suggest that it is as simple as 1) the music is basically inoffensive (if also uninteresting) and passes for “sophisticated” and 2) she is strikingly attractive.
When you think still photograph from a rock concert, what’s the first photograph that comes to mind?
*Townshend loading up the human windmill with his hand at 12 o’clock ready to subject his digits to the possibilty of a guitar guillotine.
What’s the most recent band you’ve had to consider you may have dismissed for the wrong reasons (eg, Look, their legion of numbskull fans, a particular fan in middle school who kicked your ass while wearing their three-quarter sleeve concert t-shirt)?
*I see the loophole here. I used to dismiss Pere Ubu because of how they were described, now I dimiss them because I’ve heard something.
Have you ever been at a concert and then, as the band took the stage, been immediately turned off by one of the musician’s choice in gear only to find that the aesthetically offensive piece of gear was played beautifully by said musician?
*Nah. I usually can barely see the gear.
Cobra or mongoose?
*Cobra. A mongoose seems like a fast weasel. Cobras seem up front about how nasty they are, Jungle Book notwithstanding.
Example: Too much of Tom Waits’ vocal schtick annoys me, but when listening to his music I imagine the satisfying possibilities membership in his band would afford me as a supporting musician (guitar, in my case). Question: Is there an artist you don’t fully embrace that you imagine might nevertheless afford you a satisfying role as a supporting musician?
*First one I thought of was Prince. The bass parts would be interesting, and there would be hot women all over the stage. I don’t play in that style at all though, so I’ll say Neil Young. I bet I could be lazy some nights, and busy others as long as it rocked, and I might be the youngest one on stage.
Is any constantly praised musician less interesting than Sade
Eno.
Dudes, I was totally at this concert and Jerry pulled out his synth guitar, like it was like a keytar but a guitar you know? And I was like man this will NOT be good dude, right? And then he took this solo and it was like he was this crazy saxaphone from outer space, and then it was a flute and then it was like a screaming monkey. And I said to my girlfriend moonbeam I said… dude.
I’ll play.
1. Springsteen and the E Street Band’s Rock ‘n Roll Iwo Jima shot.
2. I’ve dismissed so many bands over the years for the wrong reasons, even if it was right to do so. I have seen the light on some of them, though, over the last half dozen years. It’s been a while, so I’m not sure what the most recent one was, but last weekend I was listening to my Guided By Voices 30-song “hits” collection and feeling like I needed to apologize to them for all the wrong reasons I did not like them. I still don’t like those 3:00 am drunken song snippets that Pollard felt the need to include on every album, but I was wrong to not give their best stuff all the credit it deserved thanks to old-fashioned jealousy. Of all the negative reactions we can have, jealousy may be the least productive. The Clash never sang “Jealousy can be power!” for good reason.
3. The first thing I recall is seeing Pere Ubu appear onstage in NYC right after bassist Tony Maimone, drummer Scott Kraus, and synth player Allen Ravenstine left the band. A young rhythm section and a guy playing one of those electric cellos, kind of like Sting’s electric stand-up bass, were in their stead. I was really steamed that my favorite Pere Ubu members were no longer in the band, and I was terrified of the body-less electric cello. It turned out the cellist was Garo Yellin, whose work I’d known from David Thomas’ solo albums. He was excellent in the “wildcard” role. I still missed Maimone and Kraus, but Yellin made that space-age instrument add all the dynamics that Ravenstine’s synth used to add.
4. DEFINITELY mongoose! You know a mongoose can give a cobra a run for its money. I saw a documentary on them fighting when I was a kid. The mongoose won. It made a big impression on me.
5. I answered this one already. It would be fun playing guitar for Tom Waits, even though I’d have to tune him out now and then.
6. No, Sade is the least interesting critically praised artist I can think of.
1. The cover of London Calling
2. Beastie Boys
3. King Crimson in the 80s. Bill Bruford had this wall of those electronic drum pads behind him. I think The Cars made those big. Anyhoo, he stood up at one point and played the shit out of the wall during the song “Discipline” and others.
4. Schwinn
5. I’d play theremin for anyone.
6. Anyone in the Top 40.
1. The first one that came to mind is the one inside the gatefold cover of Live/Dead — shot from behind and above the band as they play some kind of free concert in the middle of (I think) Haight Street.
2. I had resisted the charms of Animal Collective. The hipster consensus put me off. To be honest, I still go back and forth on them. I’ll put on one of their albums and suddenly a part comes on and I’ll think ‘this is great!’ and then the music changes and I think ‘this is totally ridiculous.’
3. Not in real time, but I’ve been reading (still) John Cale’s autobiography, and there’s a photo in there of him fronting his band in the 80s playing an unbelievably pointy Explorer-type Hamer guitar. I saw him play during that era, and he and the band were awesome. He’s John Cale and I’m not, and the guy can play whatever he wants. (I really recommend that book btw.)
4. I don’t understand the question. I’ll say hedgehog.
5. I liked Sade, especially Sweetest Taboo. I could listen to that drum machine pattern all day. Seriously. Kind of a one trick pony, but I like soothing music sometimes. And I don’t think she’s “constantly praised.”
Funny you should mention John Cale playing a bad guitar, BigSteve. The one time I saw him, solo and opening for Pere Ubu, he switched back and forth between an electric piano and – here’s the offending piece of gear – a dreaded Ovation roundback acoustic. The acoustic guitar was black, at least, matching Cale’s clothes, but still…those roundback guitars give me the willies. The guitar and his simple playing did not get in the way of a very good performance.
When you think Still photograph from a rock concert, what’s the first photograph that comes to mind?
The cover of Kiss Alive!
What’s the most recent band you’ve had to consider you may have dismissed for the wrong reasons (eg, Look, their legion of numbskull fans, a particular fan in middle school who kicked your ass while wearing their three-quarter sleeve concert t-shirt)?
David Byrne?
Have you ever been at a concert and then, as the band too the stage, been immediately turned off by one of the musician’s choice in gear only to find that the aesthetically offensive piece of gear was played beautifully by said musician?
Frippertronics, though I’m not dure that was the most recent.
Cobra or mongoose?
Tough one! Mongoose, I think.
Example: Too much of Tom Waits’ vocal schtick annoys me, but when listening to his music I imagine the satisfying possibilities membership in his band would afford me as a supporting musician (guitar, in my case). Question: Is there an artist you don’t fully embrace that you imagine might nevertheless afford you a satisfying role as a supporting musician?
Is any constantly praised musician less interesting than Sade?
Yes.