Kelly Hogan with The Drive by Truckers

Two of my favorites.

Simply Six: American Anodyne

Erick Jones (lead vocals, rhythm guitar) and Chris Thacker (lead guitar, backing vocals) respond 

1. For many artists, they cite a defining moment for themselves when they knew
they wanted  to   be a singer.  For many it was the appearance of Elvis on the Ed
Sullivan show,  to   another generation it was the Beatles’ appearance on Sullivan
half a decade later.  Is there  such  a defining moment for you? 

(Erick Jones)  In elementary school a group of high schoolers were allowed to bring their rock band to perform for the little kiddies (of which I was one).  Now, I had grown up around acoustic music all my life but I was in 5th grade the first time I heard a rock show.  The guys weren't overly good as I remember, and I can't tell you to this day what the songs were that they were playing, but the interplay between the instruments and the loud amplifiers left an impression on, and I can still vividly remember that feeling of sheer awe.  I went right out and demanded guitar lessons.  I got piano lessons instead and quit immediately.

(Chris Thacker)  My mother gave me her record collection when I was about 13 years old along with an old record player.  The moment I realized I wanted to be a guitar player was the moment I set the needle to Jimi Hendrix Experience 'Smash Hits' album.  My brother and I had began learning to play guitar, but when the first notes of "Purple Haze" rang through the speakers I was sold!  I remember thinking, "Holy shit, I want to be able to do that!".  I listened to that record non-stop for months and still have it in my collection.  I revisit it from time to time to grab that youthful feeling of curiosity.

2 . When you’re not creating music what are you listening to?  Who are some of

your favorites? 

(Erick Jones) Steve Earle, Bruce Springsteen, Kathleen Edwards, Kasey Chambers, Ryan Adams/Whiskeytown, Uncle Tupelo, Son Volt, Wilco, My Morning Jacket, R.L. Burnside, John Lee Hooker, B.B. King, The Allman Brothers, Doc Watson, Shovels and Rope, The Band, The Black Keys, Bob Dylan, Gillian Welch/Dave Rawlings, etc...

(Chris Thacker)  I've been stuck on four records the last couple of months; Drive-By Truckers 'Decoration Day', Son Volt's 'Trace', Cary Ann Hearst and Michael Trent's 'Shovels and Rope' and Jason Isbell and the 400 Unit's 'Here We Rest' (no particular order).  Four amazing albums that I just can't seem to get enough of.  I can always listen to Paul Simon's 'Graceland' and have a huge smile on my face; definitely one of my all-time favorite records.  Tony Rice's 'Church Street Blues' is one of my all-time favorite acoustic guitar records and reminds me of my childhood.  I also love the entire Outkast catalouge from start to finish. 

3. What would you say is your greatest moment so far as an artist, either on record

or live? 

(Erick Jones)  I saw a young lady start getting a little weepy the other night while listening to me sing a song that I wrote.  Not that I like to make girls cry, but anytime you can touch someone emotionally like that has to be a great moment

 (Chris Thacker)  I don't know that I can choose one shining moment that has been the apex for me so far.  Each experience is exciting and unique.  I love to play music, whether in the studio or in front of an audience, and I've had some wonderful experiences with bands that I have been in, and sitting in with others bands that I love.  Each musical encounter has the potential to be the greatest one you've had to date; you just have to be open to the opportunity.

4.  Do you believe music can change the world or is just something to listen to?

How much can music influence current events? 

(Erick Jones)  People change the world and nothing else does.  That's the way is always has been and I believe that's the way it always will be.  Music can be instrumental in facilitating change in that it can help bring together like-minded individuals and serve as a rallying cry.  In that sense I believe music can be very influential in bringing about change, but only if the music itself speaks to the basic truths of the human condition.

 (Chris Thacker)  Music does have the ability to change the world and is always influencing culture both directly and indirectly.  The enigmatic beauty of music is that it’s on the listener to allow it to affect them.  Music is like the setting sun: it happens every day around us, but it is our responsibility to take the time to appreciate the beauty.  We choose how much we listen and let music affect us.

5. How has technology affected the music industry?  How has technology affected

your career as a musician? 

(Erick Jones)  Technology has constantly been affecting music since the dawn of man (make a better mousetrap and someone will try to play a d minor on it), but the recent advances in the retail delivery of music to the consumer (and subsequently the ease of piracy on large and small scales) has really been a game changer.  I personally witnessed the demise of the record store from the inside working for a smaller chain based out of Atlanta.  It's heartbreaking to think that our generation is probably the last that will ever know what it feels like to walk into a room of like-minded music lovers and hear that great new band/song/style of music etc..  blaring a little too loud over the speakers and be changed, just a little bit, forever by it.

    Now, as the piece of the pie gets smaller due to piracy and lower cost to consumers I feel like the days of large all-powerful labels is in a free-fall slide and the rise of smaller, boutique artist-driven labels is on the rise.  As the business models continue to change, I think we're all just scrambling to find our place in it.  Whether this is a good thing or a bad thing is yet to be determined.

(Chris Thacker)  Technology has obviously turned the music industry up-side-down and people are still trying to find the next working 'business model'.  There are no longer 'dream deals' available to artist and we use television and popular vote to determine who has the next shot at being a 'star'.  That being said, technology allows independent artist to make a living and retain more of their earning.  We can reach out to a larger fan base through social media, we can have our music available for sale through multiple outlets on a global scale, and we can connect with our audiences on a personal level that has never been available in the past. 

6.  Now for my Barbara Walters question:  If you were a pair of shoes what type of

shoes would you be? 

(Erick Jones) A pair of well-worn cowboy boots

(Chris Thacker)  I'd be the pair of Durango boots I've got on my feet.  These boots have traveled the world with me from Seattle to Prague (and literally everywhere in between), seen some dingy clubs, and stood on the stages of stadiums.  There's nothing in this world like a good pair of boots.

Spotlight: American Anodyne

Music Promotion via MusicSubmit.com

Webpage: http://www.AmericanAnodyne.com
Location: Atlanta, GA, United States
Description: "So, You Want To Be A Bullfighter is written and performed well. It is highly recommended to anyone that wants to be on the cutting edge of the alt country scene." - Dan MacIntosh
Biography: Soaked in moonshine and forged from gold, American Anodyne is a band melded in the furnace of Appalachia. These truly southern gentlemen are creating a brand of Americana reminiscent of ‘70’s outlaw country while embracing the sentiments of modern times. American Anodyne’s music convey tales of small town life and portrays the hardship of living in the ‘new depression'. With songs depicting a lust for the open road, heartbreaks, and handguns their no-holds-bar style of portraying life in the south is honest and authentic. Members: Erick Jones (Vocals, Guitar, Harmonica), Chris Thacker (Lead Guitar, BGVs), Justin Minchew (Bass), Kevin Rainwater (Drums, Percussion, BGVs) Similar Artist: The Band, Son Volt, The Byrds, Drive-by Truckers, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Wilco, Bruce Springsteen Influences: Steve Earle, Gillian Welch, Ryan Adams, Bruce Springsteen, Willie Nelson, Merle Haggard, Uncle Tupelo, Wilco, The Byrds
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SONG OF THE DAY

Today we feature Patterson Hood of the Drive-by Truckers from his solo album Murdering Oscar (And Other Love Songs.)  The song is "Back of a Bible."

Interview: Brian Stoltz

Brian Stoltz is a singer/songerwriter from New Orleans. He has worked with such artists as Bob Dyaln, Neville Brothers, Dr. John, the Meters and Aaron Neville. He has released three solo albums on his own.

1) For many artists, they cite a defining moment for themselves when they knew they wanted to be a singer. For many it was the appearance of Elvis on the Ed Sullivan show, to another generation it was The Beatles’ appearance on Sullivan half a decade later. Is there such a defining moment for you?

It was 1963. I was eight years old when I first heard The Beatles sing "She Loves You" on WTIX-AM in New Orleans. I was launched into a transcendent, joyous state. I had entered a whole new paradigm. The world made more sense. Around the same time, the radio was also playing "I Want To Hold Your Hand". That’s when music changed for me. Until then the radio was just something in the background. I listened to my mother’s records like the "Sheik Of Arabi" and some old Fats Domino records. I was attracted to music – interested in hearing new sounds – but hearing The Beatles for the first time was a powerful, emotional experience. By the time they appeared on Ed Sullivan’s Sunday night television show I was, in my mind, a musician. There was never a time in my life when I thought otherwise. Providence just handed it to me.
In September 1964, The Beatles came to New Orleans to play City Park Stadium. I begged my mother to take me, but she would have none of it. Looking back, she was probably in fear of getting crushed by the manic crowd, but being refused, I was very upset. Things calmed down when on the day of the show she came home from work with a copy of "Meet The Beatles" for me. I was ecstatic! This was my initiation into the art of album-listening. I was nine years old telling people that I was going to be a musician like The Beatles. They would laugh and say, “You are? What instrument do you play?” They would laugh even harder when I told them, “I don’t play anything - but I will”.
There have been many defining moments like when I first heard Hendrix - and when I got Dylan for the first time. But hearing The Beatles on the radio for the first time is the all time defining moment.

2)When you are not creating music what are you listening to? Who are some of your favorites?

Currently, I am listening to a few new things - The Raconteurs CD, "Consolers Of The Lonely", Radiohead’s "Rainbows" and probably my favorite new release, Drive By Truckers', "Brighter Than Creation’s Dark". I saw them on one of the late night shows. They did a song called "Two Daughters And A Beautiful Wife" - one of the most beautiful songs that I’ve heard in a long time. I bought the record and found that there are a lot of good songs on there. I am also listening to the latest Neil Young record, "Chrome Dreams 2", a Chris Whitley "Anthology 1991 – 2001" and a Curtis Mayfield & The Impressions "Anthology 1961-1977". I am still listening to Tom Waits’ "Orphans" and his "Real Gone" albums.
There are a lot of records that have held up over the years that I keep in rotation like the entire Dylan catalog, most of the Hendrix releases, including many bootlegs that I have, the Beatles catalog and an assortment of old local records like "Best of Lee Dorsey", Earl King (The Imperial Years), Dr. John’s "Desitively Bonnaroo" and assorted Allen Toussaint.

3)What would you say is your greatest moment so far as an artist, either on record or live?

There have been so many great moments like finding myself on The Rolling Stones’ "Tattoo You" tour with The Neville Brothers, after being out of work for six months recovering from carpel tunnel surgery. Another tour that I hold fond memories of was the first Amnesty International “Conspiracy Of Hope” tour. We were on the road with U2, Peter Gabriel, Lou Reed, The Police and a host of luminaries, raising awareness of the plight of political prisoners around the world.
But the memories that remain the clearest are of being in the studio with Bob Dylan, working on his "Oh Mercy" album (1989). The producer, Dan Lanois, set up the recording gear in an old house in uptown New Orleans. This was a quiet, but intense time. I was open to taking in as much as possible from the situation. Having the opportunity to watch Bob work was a real education and inspiration for me. There was no pomp or real pressure to perform – just a few guys sitting around in a tight circle playing real music. These more quiet moments are burned into my memory with more intensity than any of the hoopla that accompanies big tours.

4)Do you believe music can change the world or is just something to listen to? How can music influence current events?

Everything affects every thing. I don’t feel that music by itself can change much, but the ideas in songs can make a difference. The thoughts we have and the things we say can make a difference. Every thing affects everything. We are living in an age where it is important for us to explore the things we have in common – the things that link us as human. It is time to forgive shortcomings and differences and face life in a fearless manner. Music can influence current events when artists speak fearlessly – and we are living in a time where we just can’t fake it. Songs can inspire individuals to change, but it is individuals who must bring about change.

5)How has technology affected the music industry? How has technology affected your career as a musician?

Technology has certainly changed things – some for the better, some for the worse. I have mixed feelings about it all since I am a bit challenged in the technical department. I am still trying to master e-mail. But on the upside I think it is great that, with good quality recording gear becoming more affordable, songwriters and musicians can pull up a drum loop and instantly have a foundation to create over - or that they can lay down that 3 o’clock in the morning idea in an instant. In this regard, it saves time and money. Digital editing has also given us some time-saving features when you compare it to the old days when tape was spliced with a razor blade. But the question is “does all this technology really save us time in the long run?” No, because we now have too many options – and it is within boundaries and limitation that creativity occurs. Having so many options has watered down the creative process. There is a lot of the same crap out there.
There was a time when an artist had to perform because a mic was placed before him and his performance was simply captured. The engineer used his ear to find the sweet spot and then placed his mic. It was about capturing sounds in a way that did not require much manipulation after the fact. Of course there are still many artists and engineers who record this way in the digital world, but it seems to me that as the technological bar gets raised it takes more of an effort to make things sound good because of the range of options.
My recording engineer George Cureau and I recently experienced this when George installed Pro Tools in his studio. We were already recording with an automated digital console and a 24 track HD recorder. This system is functionally old school. It allows us to record in an analog fashion, but with the time saving feature of not having to rewind tape. The console has good EQ’s in it so he can tweak sounds fast. When we transfered songs to Pro Tools to mix we discovered that the overall sound was wider and more expanded, but with no punch – and it lacked depth. It takes more plug-ins to get the same effect that we used to get with a quick adjustment on the board. So in this regard it is not faster.
I find some of the music recorded today unlistenable. My ears get fatigued listening to some CD’s. A lot of new releases are just mastered too hot. Some CD’s, even at a moderate listening level, hurt to the point that I have to turn it off. I can rarely get through a whole CD. When I listen to older records on vinyl or on cassette, the music even at a loud level, just washes over me. It is easy to be absorbed by the music. When I listen to some CD’s I feel like I am being attacked and I have to listen at a lower level. Neil Young summed it up nicely when he said that “Digital could be weaponized.” The albums that I own on CD do not sound as musical as those same records I have on vinyl or cassette. And now we listen to mp3’s which sounds smaller to me than any of those other formats. So, it’s not really getting better in quality. And people don’t care. I recently read a story about a record that Trent Reznor did. Inspired by Radiohead’s decision to let fans pay what they want for the record, Trent decided to give away a lo-fi mp3 version of the music, and I believe charge full price for the good quality, full CD version. A lot of the freebies got downloaded, but he did not sell many quality versions. Sadly, I don’t think many people know the difference anymore.
In the download age, the CD stores have become extinct. I guess this is good for the environment, but I like to hold the record (or CD) in my hand. I like to read the credits. What about the artwork and the lyrics on the inside? Sure you can download that too, but it seems that people have lost interest in that, or they don’t have time for it any more. And we are back to the days of the single. A lot of people just buy the song they want to hear as opposed to the whole album. This could be good as it forces artists to be more discriminative and write better songs, but what about the album-oriented artist who’s in-between songs are just as important as the hits that stand out?
Also, recording analog on magnetic tape allows more mystery and magic to occur. Digital recording is cleaner, but there is such a thing as too clean. That’s why they have tape saturation plug-ins to dirty things up to sound like tape. It doesn’t really, and the whole concept doesn’t make much sense to me. With things so clean, it’s harder to get sounds to mesh. The colors do not blend like they used to. The lines are too clear-cut. Not just in the music world either. Video doesn’t look better than film. Digital photos do not look better than film. When you look at concert footage shot today, it has no mystery to it. Old performances shot on film have a mystique and magical quality that lacks in today’s digital world. But like everything else in our consumer-driven age, we are slaves to the drive to produce, with little regard for what lies in essence or for the future.

6)Now for my Barbara Walters question: If you were a pair of shoes what type of shoes would you be?

Well, if I had to be shoes, I’d like to be a pair of Prada boots (which I happen to own). They are not for everybody. Some may find them pretentious, but fact is, they are very comfortable, the older they get the better they look and they are very well made and will last me the rest of my life. A true classic!

More From 2007

1. Arcade Fire "Neon Bible"

This was one of those albums that probably appeared on almost every critic's list. It's a good album. It's one of those albums I find myself liking the more I listen to it. I think this is one of those albums that get such a build up that it's almost impossible to be disappointed in it at first listen. But listen to it without thinking of how "great" it's supposed to be.



2. Bettye LaVette "Scene of the Crime"

This is one of my favorites from the last year. Produced by Patterson Hood of the Drive By Truckers and using most of his band as the backing band, along with studio greats like Spooner Oldham, this is an album that will be regarded as a classic. This woman is one of the greatest singers out there. I thought her previous album was good, but she just keeps getting better.



3. Jason Isbell "Sirens of the Ditch"

Speaking of the Drive by Truckers. Jason was a former member of the group and contibuted some of its best material in my opinion. Saying that I was somewhat disappointed with this album. It didn't quite measure up to his best Trucker songs, but I think it needs a few more listens to get a good sample of it.



4. Kings of Leon "Because of the Times"

A great rocker from this Southern group. Not much more to be said about this one.



5. Lucinda Williams "West"

One of the best out there today. This album continues her string of great albums. Some of the material on here deals with her Mother's death and funeral, hitting close to home for me this year with the death of my Dad.

Coming Soon

Drive By Truckers: Brighter Than Creation's Dark
This album should actually by out now. It's release date was Jan 22, but when I went to the store today I couldn't find it. Which isn't unusual, sometimes the Big Box stores don't get the less than superstar releases right away. This is a 17 track disc, their first one since Jason Isbell left the band. Jason has written some of the best songs on recent Trucker albums, so his departure hurts, but there is enough talent in the band to make up for his loss I think. Patterson Hood, the leader of the Truckers, helped produce Bettye Lavette's newest album with most of the Truckers acting as her backing band. In fact, Jason's ex-wife, who is still with the band, has stepped up and written a few tunes and actually sings lead on them. The Truckers are a great band and I am looking forward to this one.

Shelby Lynne: Just A Little Lovin'

This one has a Jan 29 street date, which is next Tuesday. Shelby re-does songs by Dusty Sprinfield. Evidently she's been working on this one for awhile, go to her My Space page and read some of the history behind it. Instead of just copying the songs from Dusty Shelby has taken the songs and stripped them to their basics. Shelby is a powerful singer and this is one I am eagerly awaiting for.