Very Short Interviews, Part I - Daniel Markham (One Wolf)

I am starting a new segment, that unlike other segments on this blog, will actually be a recurring item. The idea is that I will conduct a (very) short email interview with various musicians of my choosing or of your suggestion. There are no rules here, but they will generally be longer than a "sec" but shorter than a "like forever."

For the very first installment, I had the brief distinguished honor of talking with Daniel Markham, brain extraordinaire behind One Wolf, a.k.a Un Lobo, not to be confused with Los Lobos, or any other lupine-related band. Quite recently, he put out an outstanding new CD you can check out here.

In the interest of not letting the intro be longer than the interview, let's get started.

wf: You just went on a tour to the west coast. Tell us something about how bad it smells when 26 guys ride in a van for 2 weeks. Or maybe something else about that trip that is more interesting than dude funk.

dm: it's funny. i packed clothes for every day of the tour just because i don't like smelling bad. but, i was the one being made fun of for being clean? that didn't make a lot of sense to me. i guess being dirty for two weeks is some kind of rite of passage for musicians. i don't get it.

there were so many things that happened that were interesting. but since this is a short interview, i'll keep it short. visiting the town where twin peaks was filmed was pretty surreal for me. i couldn't believe i was there, and then some people at the diner asked if i was related to peter fonda. i guess i did look pretty "easy rider" at the time.


wf: What are your current plans for One Wolf? and when I say current plans, I mean future plans, because obviously you are at your computer right now.

dm: i'm working on a small texas tour right now for july, then hopefully another in the fall with my favorite band of all time, sf59. then, i'll be moving to denton in august with charlie shafter and the gnomes. i'm writing a lot of songs lately, and i'm looking at next summer to record a new album. i'm just really looking forward to moving to a new community that seems so alive with music. i was super inspired by mount righteous. so hopefully it will be the right thing for us.


wf: Discuss 3 of your current musical influences in 2 words or less (feel free to cheat).

dm: queens of the stone age-BAD ASS!
sf59-so underrated
pj harvey-always exciting

wf: Am I forgetting to ask anything?

dm: what was your favorite series on 90's nickelodeon? PETE & PETE!


wf: Did you grow up hearing that using condiments could help prevent STDs?

dm: i grew up in rotan, so anything's possible. they do make some really strong mustard these days, though.


wf: Now you ask me a question (make it a good one).

dm: do you really hate it when people make grilled cheese sandwiches in your house without your permission?

wf: I live for that, and sadly it just doesn't happen enough.

DeVotchKa on Conan

In case you missed it:

Albums I still just can't help but like, Part I

• Red Headed Stranger - Willie Nelson.  You've all heard "Blue Eyes Crying in the Rain," no doubt, but if you haven't listened to this entire album all the way through, then you are most definitely missing out.  If at all possible, I would recommend listening to this album on vinyl.  After all, that's how it was intended.
  

• ¡Viva Terlingua! - Jerry Jeff Walker.  All of Jerry Jeff's more recent work aside, this one really is a classic.  No matter how much the Texas country scene has bastardized this whole style of music, Jerry Jeff doing "Desperados" and "London Homesick Blues" is simply spot-on.  No, he didn't write either of those songs, but the ambiance of the recording is just so incredible.  Sure, he may have influenced some horrible Texas country folks down the line, but don't blame him, he was just having a good time.
  

Songs that still get me (if you know what I mean), Part I

• Fort Worth Blues - Steve Earle - I still remember hearing this song for the first time when he played the Townes Van Zandt tribute show on Austin City Limits.
  

• Star in My Heart - Billy Joe Shaver - A song he wrote for his son, who passed away shortly after. Now he dedicates the song to Eddy when he sings it.
  

Funny

So I just found a guy blogging about my hometown.  Kind of funny to read someone else's interpretation of what goes on in such a place.  I can imagine it is so foreign to almost anyone that would go through.  

It is also interesting how people are so inclined to ask questions like "Why do people live here?"   I don't know that many people who live in Gail ever ask that question, other than maybe the angsty high school kids, but there are so many value judgments inherent in a statement that would ask why people would live in the middle of nowhere as opposed to a much more important "somewhere."  Maybe I'm reading too much into it.  

Here's the link.

Visioneers

Just watched the trailer for the new Zach Galifianakis movie Visioneers.

It is really hard to tell what the movie is like, that is, whether it will be super funny, or more quirky, but I'm going to go ahead and set my sights high and say it looks amazing.  Mainly just because Zach Galifianakis is pretty much on top of his game right now.

His show at the Boulder Theater earlier this year was probably the funniest hour and half I've ever witnessed.  So funny in fact that I can't even remember any of the jokes. 

That's funny,

haha