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| MSJ:
So, we haven’t interviewed you, Alan, since last year. Beyond the new Spock’s Beard album, which we’ll get to in a moment, what have you been up to? |
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| Oh, the usual stuff people do. Just spent a weekend in Big Sur ocean kayaking and hanging out at Esalen Institute. That was pretty epic. We're doing some gigs here and there, whatever we can work out... |
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| MSJ: So, now that new album – what would you see as the differences in the sound and the recording experience now that you’ve got new personnel? |
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| Well, it wasn't really all that different, though Ted and Jimmy did bring a fresh energy to the process. They're amazing! But the process of making a record is pretty much the same: we just try to make the best record we can! It's a long process, a lot of work. But ultimately it's worth it when you hear the end result! |
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| MSJ: Did the album meet your expectations or was it sort of a “this isn’t quite the album I thought we’d make, but it’s the album we needed to make” or something like that? |
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| I love this record. Love, love, lovelovelove this record! Definitely one of my favorites, and I'm not just saying that. It's just got a lot of really great stuff on it, if I may say so! |
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| MSJ: Are you guys going to be doing any touring? |
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| We did a European tour earlier in the year, and we've done a few scattered dates here in the US and other places. |
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| MSJ: How is the group gelling in terms of playing together as a live band? |
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| It's like we've been together for years! Of course Jimmy has been joining us on the road for many years, so that's easy, but Ted has just slotted right in as well. He's a great guy, and crazy talented. |
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| MSJ: If you weren't involved in music what do you think you'd be doing? |
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| Drooling in a corner somewhere! I'm practically doing that anyway... |
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| MSJ: What's ahead for you? |
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| We're going to do the ProgNation cruise next February, really looking forward to it, a bunch of great bands on that! Working on booking some gigs into next year, trying to see what we can work out. We'll probably want to start making another record again soon... |
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| MSJ: Are there musicians with whom you would like to play with in the future? |
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| Sure! I'll play with anybody! Most of my favorites are gone now, sad to say. But maybe if Paul McCartney's not busy we could do something. (chuckles) |
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| MSJ: What was the last CD you bought and/or what have you been listening to lately? |
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| The last music I bought was Frank Zappa and the Mothers, Just Another Band From LA! “Billy the Mountain,” dude, that really holds up! Other than that, I'm into Rammstein, Foo Fighters, The Ramones, mostly loud guitar music. |
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| MSJ: Have you read any good books lately? |
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| That's an interesting question - lately I liked an obscure book somebody gave to me, Cost of Living by Rob Roberge - very dark, but really cool. I recommend it! I read Moby Dick this year. |
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| MSJ: What about the last concert you attended for your enjoyment? |
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| Went to see Tony Bennett! Man, that guy's amazing, what a talent. And his band killed too! Really fun. |
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| MSJ: Are there any closing thoughts you would like to get out there? |
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| Thanks again to all our fans and friends out there, we couldn't do it without you! |
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| MSJ: This interview is available in book format (hardcover and paperback) in Music Street Journal: 2013 Volume 5 at lulu.com/strangesound. |
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