1. Tell us about your craziest touring experience?
When I was younger, I broke my leg jumping up on to a loading dock before a show. I’ve never had any health insurance, and the band I was in at the time didn’t have any money for hospital bills, so I actually wasn’t sure at first if I had a break… but by the time the elevator made it up to the show floor, a fairly large bump had formed on my leg and I couldn’t put any weight on it. The best I could do was call my brother, who was an EMT at the time, and ask for his opinion. I told him the bottom of my foot was black and blue, and he told me it was most likely a break of some nature.
So I put an ace bandage on it and finished the tour, and now I have a little ridge in the bones of my left shin.
2. What type of college class would you’d most want to take and why?
I would take course in arrangement or orchestration most likely- to better understand that level of musicality.
3. What city in America is the most fun to visit and why?
Recently I had the most fun in Milwaukee. Aside from having great friends there, it is also a spot that I had never really explored, and spending a couple days there exposed me to a lot of really wonderful things. That being said, if you search hard enough, every city has something wonderful to offer.
4. What’s some of the best advice you were ever given?
Never cross the streams.
5. What’s in heavy rotation in your MP3/CD player right now?
Rufus Wainwrights “Out of the Game”
6. The last good book you read or TV show you’re addicted to?
The last good book I read was ‘Ishmael’ by Daniel Quinn
7. What’s the first concert you ever saw – how was it?
The first concert I saw was Joe Satriani when I was 11 or 12 with my father. His guitar was a mirror.
8. What are three items you can’t live without on tour?
Water, Air, Food.
9. Who are your major musical influences?
Jimi Hendrix, Beatles, Beach Boys, Bjork, Mr Bungle, Mondo Cane, Weather Report, Return to Forever, Pedro the Lion, Elbow, Rufus Wainwright.
Any random messages or tips you’d like to give to mtvU watchers?
Here is a great tip for cleaning any pan. When you let pans sit for a while, the food that was cooked in the pan can become really hard to clean off- almost impossible. The easiest way to clean the pan is put about an inch of water in it, place it back on the stove, and let the water boil for about 2 minutes… then you should be able to wipe out the insides fairly easy.
Don’t do this with a seasoned pan.
