Abandoned at a young age by a pack of wild dogs, I was raised by parents in the suburbs.
2.) How did you start playing guitar?
I bought a cheap acoustic guitar for $50 and taught myself how to play using the chord charts in the back of a Christmas carol book.
3.) How did you market yourself and start playing?
When I first started playing, "marketing" myself was the furthest thing from my mind. I just wanted to get in front of people - ANY people.
4.) How did you meet Jimi Haha and get with the local scene?
The first time I saw Jimi, the Shack were playing the basement of a house on the outskirts of Annapolis.
5.)Was it difficult to get gigs at first?
Absolutely - especially considering I didn't have a clue how to go about it. I told everyone who'd listen that I was a big famous rock star and that they should book me. That didn't work.
6.) Were you well known before appearing on Lou Brutis' "Mornings" show on WHFS?
My pre-Brutus notoriety was mostly limited to the Annapolis music community and the many venue owners I'd pissed off. Lou's show raised my profile beyond my wildest dreams.
7.) How did you get that gig?
A total shot in the dark. When "Blue Skies Over Dundalk" came out, I sent copies to WHFS, DC 101 and 98 Rock, just to see if anything would happen. Within a month my manager[at the time] got a call from WHFS saying they'd like to have me as a guest on their morning show.
Sometimes the long shots DO pay off.
8.) What inspired you to write "Tits and Whisky?"
I came up with the title before the song. I wanted to write a balls-out take-no-prisoners rock anthem.
9.)I heard you say on the Lou Brutis show that you were banned from Annapolis: is this true?
100% true. The saddest thing to come out of all that air play he gave me, was that as soon as the bar owners thought they could make a buck off having me play, they all changed their tune and I started getting booking requests. Doesn't that just break your heart?
10.) What do you think of the fact that some people have problem with certain words, namely the word "fuck?"
I think it's silly.
11.) I think I have seen your parents at shows (or two older people who look like you!) What do they think of some of your lyrics and song concepts?
They're down with whatever. They're pretty hip.
12.) Songs like "New Tricks" and "Student Loan" make me wonder, how long and where did you go to school?
I went to school long enough to mortgage most of my youth away but not long enough to impress anyone. I went to a small liberal arts college full of drunk
obnoxious teenagers. That should narrow it down.
13.) Have you always wanted to be a musician?
No - just a celebrity.
14.)Who are your greatest musical influences?
I don't really have any. There are a lot of SONGS I like, but not that many bands. I think it's hard for any artist to hit all the time - in your average artistic lifespan there are usually as many hits as misses.
15.) When did you all meet and start playing as a band?
We were introduced about two years ago by the rhythm section from the Martians (a truly great no-longer-existant Baltimore band), hit it off and started playing together.
16.) What do you hope to accomplish as a band - tour nationally? Make kick ass albums?
All of the above. And maybe have our own action figures.
17.) It must be tough being a band with full time jobs on the side. Besides sleeping, what would you do if you had more free time?
I'd further explore my sexuality. And maybe learn to skateboard.
18.) How do you see yourself on the local scene - typical? Unusual? Do you relate to any "D.C. and Maryland" bands?
I have absolutely no idea how we're perceived on this or any scene. If I had to guess, I'd say we're the "quiet loner who keeps to himself" of local music.
Relate? Hell yes! The Mid-Atlantic has a music scene full of really smart, interesting people. One of the best things about playing music is the opportunity to meet other bands and see what their experience has been like.
If I can name-check for a moment, some bands really worth checking out: The Martini Bros. (Harrisburg, PA), Lake Trout (Baltimore), Colouring Lesson (get their CDs from Fowl NOW before they sell out and there aren't anymore ever), Sumack (Los Angeles, CA), Hot Piss (Toronto, Canada), The Joiners (Baltimore, MD) - the list goes on and on. Not to mention all the Fowl bands who are like a second family.
19.) How often do you guys practice?
Not nearly enough.
1.) What kind of family life and musical environment did you grow up with? Did you play any instruments before you started playing guitar?
Before the guitar I played the violin, saxophone and piano. Poorly.
There were about forty people, a keg and a guy selling nitrus balloons crammed into this tiny little space that had a home-made stage and no lighting.
If you ask him, he'll tell you the first time we MET was when I played the grand opening party for this coffee shop in Annapolis. I, however, was completely plowed and don't remember a thing.
The first time I REMEMBER meeting Jimi was after I returned to Annapolis from an extended cross-country trip, playing coffee shops and bars pretty aimlessly
across the U.S. I'd written some new stuff and a friend of mine got me in touch with one of Jimi's housemates who had a home studio set up.
Jimi heard some of the songs I'd recorded and told me about the record label he wanted to start and wondered if I'd be interested in being a part of it. We've
been friends ever since.
Eventually I was fortunate enough to meet Chris Keith, who was booking the Shack at the time. He loved the material - loved the attitude - loved the whole
concept. He'd send home-made tapes of mine along with the professional CDs and press kits of the other acts he handled, just to see how club owners would react.
When I'd actually get gigs, in the early days, nine times out of ten the venue owners would absolutely hate me. Chris used to go into work Monday morning
and find furious phone messages from the owners of the places I'd played that weekend, yelling at him for having sent me to their clubs and going on and on
about how I'd offended their patrons.
No matter what, though - he stuck by me. He laughed off all of that nonsense and continued to book me wherever he could, which wasn't easy considering I'd
been banned from all the live music venues in Annapolis.
It all came together one night at a party after an Underfoot show in Annapolis. Brian Wagoner picked up a guitar, I bullied him into playing power chords, and people started shouting out lines, some of which ended
up in the lyrics. A good time was had by all.