Simply Six: Dave Gunning

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? 

 Seeing Stan Rogers and John Allan Cameron live was that moment for me.

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

Shawn Colvin, John Haitt, Alison Krauss, The Waterboys, Tim O'Brien, Gordon Lightfoot, Indigo Girls, Mark Knopfler .......

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

There's been a hundred little bursts of light that sort of connect like dots to make me feel like I'm on the right path.

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

The world would be far different without music so it seems fair to conclude that it can change the world.  I think that artists, fans and media all play a role in influencing current events and hopefully we can find ways to direct this energy for positive changes.

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

Technology has made it more cost effective to record and distribute music as well as spread the word through the various social media sites.  But it has also put many of the retailers of music out of business and made it more socially acceptable to download the music without paying the artists.  Technology is sort of like the serpent eating it's own tail.

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

I'd be a pair of Blundstones ready for whatever comes my way.

SIMPLY SIX: Johnny Polidano

Johnny Polidano is a Canadian musician playing and recording in Hungary.

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?

I am fortunate to have been playing the guitar at an early age so I don't think there was a defining moment, but when I bough my 1st acoustic guitar, it had an instant connection and I wanted to do so much more than just play a few cords. While I was working at Yuk Yuks in Vanouver back in 1989, I would go to the microphone when we were closed and play a few chords and sing a couple of verses and it sounded good. Unfortunately, I could not sing more than just a few notes and it took alot of years to get the sound I wanted out of my voice.

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

I listen to alot of different styles but never when I am writing. Its always in the car driving, this week its John Hiatt, 70's classics(Eddie Money, Nick Lowe, Redbone) and a little Black Sabbath Volume

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

My greatest moment in music is getting the new cd finished, 13 songs done in Budapest studio, a Canadian guy who does not speak Hungarian well and getting this project completed with some great Hungarian musicians.

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

For sure music can change the world, music can gather so many people together to share a common goal.

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

Technology is a great thing for musicians, I was concerned years ago that it would make people lazy but it has had the opposite effect, it is so easy for artists to make music now and communicate.

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

Boots, ready to take on the road ahead or can I borrow John Hiatts shoes for a day?

Will Hoge at Bonnaroo

This review originally appeared on my blog altrjiranga mitjina on July 1, 2005:


Most people have heard of the famous quote about Bruce Springsteen...."I have seen the future of rock and roll and its name is Bruce Springsteen." Now I'm not going to argue that point. But I will say that if there is a future for rock and roll it will be due to people like Will Hoge.

Will played what they called the cafe tents at Bonnaroo. These were small tents set up that sold beer or coffee. They had tables set up and probably held a hundred people if everyone was jammed together. From what I gather this was the first year they did this. The state of Tennessee was pushing Bonnaroo to feature more local acts. So Bonnaroo decided to use these cafe tents to showcase some of the local acts. Will is from Nashville and got the call to come play. He played two shows at the fest.

Will played the first show like his life depended on it. He played as if this was going to be the last show he ever played and decided to go out in a blaze of glory. This was the third time I've seen Will play and all times he's given a great show, but there was something about this one that was more intense. He played with an intensity that most performers never exhibit.

All the shows I saw at Bonnaroo were great, but Will played more with his soul and heart than almost anyone else there. (I have to say Joss Stone gave a soulful show also.) It's hard to decribe, but you know what it is when you've been to one of those shows. You can walk out of a show and think it's great, but than every now and than if you get lucky you walk out of a show and feel like you've been beat up, as exhausted as the singer, like the singer has taken your life and just looked inside it and told you secrets that you never imagined. That was what this show was.

Will knows his rock history. He dedicated Bye Bye Johnny to Johnnie Johnson, the pianist that played with Chuck Berry and helped shape the future of rock and roll. He always throws in a few covers that work great. My only complaint is that normally he ends his show with no instruments or backups at all. He steps away from the microphone and just sings, with nothing but his voice powering the lyrics. It's a great ending, this time he didn't. But it still was a great show.

The first time I saw Will he opened for John Hiatt, during John's acoustic tour. Will perfomed with just his guitar and no band. Normally opening acts aren't worth listening to, but he was great. After his show he stayed around selling copies of his cds and signing autographs and talking to anyone that wanted to talk.

Will and his band travel all over performing. They've released a couple cds, their newest one is a live cd. Go to WillHoge.com and check him out.

It's nice to know that there is still a future for rock and roll.