Interviews |
|
March
31, 2012 |
|
The
first time my wife and I met was during the period
where I was singing as others and DJing. That first
night she listened to me perform Engelbert Humperdinck,
Barry Manilow, Neil Diamond, Frank Sinatra and a few
others. She later confessed that during the first
few weeks of dating she was determined to learn how
the “trick microphone” worked because she didn’t believe
that any one singer could sound “so much like all
those great singers.” We still laugh about that trick
microphone.
|
|
March
28, 2012 |
|
I’d
love to own authentic models of some of his guitars,
but I don’t think I’d use them on stage that often
if I did have them. Maybe at a one-night event with
the most hard-core of Elvis fans. The truth is, if
you could see the back of that guitar, you’d probably
be stunned by how beat up it is. Those belts do not
treat guitars kindly. The thing is, I know I don’t
look exactly like Elvis. I don’t think anyone really
does. And what that means is I have to do all of the
little things I can to create an illusion. I’ve got
nine different jumpsuits. I’ve got the guitar and
the decal on it. Put a live band out there with me,
and all of it sets the atmosphere up just right. Everything
I can do helps. There are three elements any tribute
artist has to get right, and those are the look, the
voice and the stage presence. And for Elvis it’s even
tougher, because he is so identifiable in each of
those areas.
|
|
March
27, 2012 |
|
And
that’s really the joy of a great band. Even today,
just like then. It’s not the same every night, and
I don’t think good music is supposed to be exactly
the same every night. Let them play. I love listening
to them. To the piano, the sax, the trombone. I love
seeing them take some room in the middle of the songs
and explore it, fill it in, and bring it together.
That’s real talent at work, it makes for a great show,
and it’s exciting to be a part of it. I know it’s
made me a better singer.
|
|
March
19, 2012 |
|
It’s
funny, because you’re wondering if it’s hard to perform
as someone else, but I actually find it to be easier.
Shania scared me when I began working with her material.
As you mention, my normal voice is much closer to
how she normally sings, and I never wear a wig as
Shania.
It
comes back to confidence I suppose, and the acting
as another person is a part of it. If we tried to
dig deep we might find some connection, that in the
same way I wanted people to turn around on the school
bus I enjoyed a bit of the extra layer brought about
by changing my voice and putting on a wig or costume.
|
|
November
10, 2011 |
|
I
absolutely hated the Epilogue. In fact… “hated” isn’t
a strong enough word. I think the Harry Potter legacy
is weaker for it being there. My basic feeling is that
it gives us absolutely nothing new. If the book had
ended fifteen pages earlier, and you had asked people
that read the books what happened next, just about every
one of them would have included the basics… Harry with
Ginny… Ron with Hermione… their children going to Hogwarts…
blah… blah… blah. Heck, most would have some uncomfortable
moments for Harry and Draco! Maybe Rowling was trying
to block off someone else coming along and trying to
take over the tale (now she’s told us that everything
was fine for years after Voldemort was killed, so no
one should be plotting a work of their own about his
return). Perhaps she was giving in to some emotional
feeling (if she didn’t write that Harry and Ginny had
children, then they didn’t… must be written to be true,
so she did). Maybe it was just to offer a rapid-fire
finish to where everyone went. Whatever. I have read
that she had a more detailed version of the chapter
written, but she felt like it contained way too much.
I can understand that too. But… trying to bring this
around to a question… my point is that I felt let down
by it. I wish I had skipped it. After navigating the
waters very impressively to bring this behemoth of a
story around to a satisfying conclusion, for me she
let go of her focus. How do you feel about the Epilogue?
|
From
the Backpack ~ Originally posted June 2, 2008 |
|
November
10, 2011 |
|
My
favorite book so far is book 1. This is the book that
got me hooked and left me wanting more. There was some
really great fantasy and imagination entwined in this
book from the characters to the buildings. I loved the
school and all its occupants from the ghosts to the
caretaker to the sorting hat. The Weasleys were a fun
family and you just loved to hate Draco Malfoy.
|
From
the Backpack ~ Originally posted November 20, 2005 |
|
March
24, 2011 |
|
I
immediately starting relating to the instrument as
a melodic instrument as opposed to an instrument only
concerned with the foundation of the music. I later
got more of the idea that the instrument is also extremely
rhythmic and connected to the drums as well. Putting
the two together was a revelation and growing up on
a healthy dosage of Latin Salsa music, rhythm was
inherited through my family and our culture. (Another
reason for choosing the trumpet as a youngster.) So,
even if you don’t start off playing horn first, I
think it is good advice to study horn players no matter
what instrument you play. Melodically, the horn players
have so much information to offer as a single line
instrument.
|
|
October
1, 2009 |
|
It’s
funny, because right now I have several songs written
that are just instrumental pieces. I don’t know if
they’re instrumental pieces or not though. You know
what I mean? They’re completed as far as the music,
but I’m not sure they’re finished. They simply don’t
have any lyrics right now. I
do find it’s important to have something to start
with though, some hook of a melody. Gives me something
to hang my hat on and I can write a lyric after that.
I
will say that for me, I think the music and how it
feels is the most important part of the song. No lyric,
no matter how good it is, is going to save it if the
music is bad and it feels wrong.
|
|
September
24, 2009 |
|
The
people that have been the least enthusiastic about my
songs are the Boston fans when I wrote the “Shady Brady”
song. I received many, many emails from them making
sure I had a “day job”… and those were the nice ones!
I also received a lot of negative emails from Kentucky
fans earlier this year when I wrote a song describing
how awful they were doing at the start of the season.
I had written nothing but positive songs about Kentucky
before so people didn’t appreciate me “turning
on the team”, although I didn’t see it that way. I was
just being honest. For the most part, though, I
have received much more positive email regarding the
songs than negative… even from Boston fans.
|
From
the Backpack ~ Originally posted March 2, 2008 |
|
September
20, 2009 |
|
Whenever
I write about the smallest, tiniest detail, it’s a way
of checking out whether I’m the only one who has experienced
these things/felt these things. The answer is
almost always “no.” I am one of many. This establishes
an instant connection for me with people that I’d not
be able to connect with otherwise, as my abilities
at small talk are not as polished as I would like them
to be.
|
From
the Backpack ~ Originally posted June 1, 2006 |
|
March
19, 2009 |
|
Most
journalists “look” for book ideas because, well, we
like the idea of writing books, and also like the idea
of fantasizing about a best-seller. But unless you have
the words “Harry'” and “Potter” in your title, it’s
unlikely you’re going to make much money off a book.
If you spent the same amount of hours at a job where
you say, “Do you want fries with that” you’d often make
more money.
|
From
the Backpack ~ Originally posted July 9, 2006 |
|
February
24, 2009 |
|
Years
ago, if you had asked, I would have immediately told
you I had no desire to look into television. Then about
six or seven years ago, the Craft brand began to consider
reaching out beyond New York. I still can recall in
season one of Top Chef we were getting feedback
like “Who’s Colicchio?” and comments about how they
had never seen me on the Food Network.
|
|
February
9, 2009 |
|
They
had the script for Leather for a long time… couldn’t
find the girl. She had to be tough/vulnerable,
and could sing and act. The casting lady went into her
daughter’s bedroom and saw my picture on the cover of
Rolling Stone and went crazy. I got a call
while on tour in Japan to fly to America and audition.
Never heard of the show, as it hadn’t reached England
yet. Wore my leathers of course (Garry Marshall thought
I dressed in the part!)… and got the part… which turned
into 3 years.
|
From
the Backpack ~ Originally posted March 10, 2008 |
|
January
5, 2009 |
|
One
of the fun things is showing people that it isn’t just
the gear. People will say things like “look at the equipment
you get to use” as if that’s what it’s all about. So
we’ll set up the full rig and say “ok, here’s the gear,
show us.” Music is internal as much as external. It’s
the phrasing and the tone… a complete package.
|
From
the Backpack ~ Originally posted April 5, 2006 |
|
|