Thursday, June 24, 2010

Pheaturing Les Dudek


Hello, welcome to another entry of the Phile. I hope you're having a good Summer. The Phile is a proud sponsor of...

Two weeks in a row there was a Foghat reference so it's now my all-new favorite TV show, which pretty much means it'll be cancelled in no time. If you haven't seen it, check it out on Monday nights on Fox. So, this is the first time that two women have been on the International Space Station at the same time. That can only mean one thing: zero-gravity pillow fight. NASA says that there may be 100 times more water on the moon than they thought. There’s so much water that BP is planning to go there and ruin it. Sarah Palin called marijuana a “minimal problem” in America. She admitted that she herself has tried pot, which could explain some of the things she has said over the years. It’s all baked Alaska talk. There’s so much going on in sports right now from Wimbledon to the World Cup, it seems like there’s something for everyone to not care about. I’ve said this before, but tennis is just waving with equipment. I like listening to tennis. It’s calming, like listening to the ocean, but without the sound of bubbling oil. Hundreds of people are already camping out for the premiere of the new Twilight movie. And most of them are teenage girls. It’s what Roman Polanski counts to fall asleep every night.
U2 was supposed to play at Glastonbury this year but they had to cancel because lead singer Bono hurt his back. I think it’s because he carries the weight of the world on his tiny leprechaun shoulders. Every country in the world has music festivals now. In Afghanistan, they have al-Qaida-palooza. President Obama and General Stanley McChrystal are calling it quits. According to the general, they haven’t been intimate in months. So, with the Twilight craze happening all over again there's a new Twilight theme inspirational poster out right now.



Speaking of movies, have you seen Toy Story 3 yet? I cried like a big fat baby. If youu thought it was sad with the ending they have now in the movie you should see what the original ending was supposed to be. I think I have a still from it, kids.




Andy is going off to college and his toys realize that with the death of childhood could come the breakup of their toy family. The army men bail out first but the rest stick around and await their fate. Should they hope he brings them to college? Will they be happier stored in the attic? Or will they get to experience new life as the playthings at a daycare center? Only when the third option becomes a reality do they realize that being stuffed in a box might not have been such a bad thing after all. It's literally redundant to say this because I'm just part of a chorus of yay-sayers, but this fantastic Pixar film is not only perfectly animated but also perfectly emotionally on point. Like last year's Up, but in an entirely different direction, this series of films aims right for the sadness and ache that comes along as life shifts around you. And it distinguishes itself from other sentimental kid-aimed movies in that it gets the universal sense of loss that comes with growing up and moving along, unafraid to confront the fears of the people (or in this case, anthropomorphic non-people) left behind. It's so moving you're probably made of rock if you don't shed at least a few tears before the credits roll. Like I said, I cried like a big fat baby. Attention All Grown Men, Let This Be A Warning To You: You might bring a handkerchief along. Or some tissue. Whatever you have. A long-sleeved shirt will do. You're going to need it. And yes, I'll say it again, I openly sobbed during the entire final five minutes. Oh, one more thing, Miyazaki fans, get ready to squeal with joy: Totoro. He's in it. From 1 to 10, it gets a 10, and I will buy it on blu-ray.


Manute Bol
October 16, 1962 - June 19, 2010
So that makes up for Gary Coleman then, right?


1374
In a sudden outbreak of Dancing Mania (aka "St. John's Dance"), people in the streets of Aix-la-Chapelle experience terrible hallucinations and begin to jump and twitch uncontrollably until they collapse from exhaustion. Many of the sufferers are afflicted with frothing at the mouth, diabolical screaming, and sexual frenzy. The phenomenon lasts well into the month of July. Nowadays, ergot madness is suspected as being the ultimate cause of the disorder.
1947
Businessman pilot Kenneth Arnold encounters a formation of nine flying saucers near Mt. Ranier, Washington, exhibiting unusual movements and velocities of 1,700 mph. No explanation is found for this first report of flying saucers in the recent era, but it does earn Mr. Arnold legions of skeptics and an eventual IRS tax audit.
1948
East Germany blockades the city of West Berlin.
1957
The U.S. Supreme Court rules that obscenity is not protected by the First Amendment, though a dissenting opinion included with the ruling notes the issue of prior restraint renders this a terrible decision.
1993
Yale computer science professor Dr. David Gelernter opens a padded envelope in his office when it suddenly explodes. Gelernter loses the sight in one eye, the hearing in one ear, and part of his right hand. In this condition he manages to walk down five flights of stairs and over to the university hospital a block away. It is the handiwork of the Unabomber.
2004
Rapper DMX is arrested at New York's JFK Airport after he and a partner were trying to steal a car. While attempting to flee, DMX plows his SUV into a security gate while claiming to be an undercover federal agent. He later pleads guilty, blames Valium and receives jail time.




Today's guest is an American guitarist who recently re-released all his albums on CD finally. Tonight he'll be playing at Fishlips in Bakersfield, California and on July 16th he'll be in concert here in Orlando at the Rockin' Lake Eola Concert Series. Let's do this... please welcome to the Phile... Les Dudek.


Me: Hey, Les, welcome to the Phile. Let's do this interview, sir. So, how are you?

Les: Thanks for inviting me, Phile. I'm so, so, getting over a cold, let's just say I've been better.

Me: I met you a few times over the years. The first being at the FBI club in Winter Park where you played with Foghat and Pat Travers in the early 90's. Do you remember that?

Les: Yeah, I do vaguely remember that show. It's been a while. Was I any good? I've done a lot of shows with Travers.

Me: Congrats on having all your albums out now on CD, sir. What album are you most proud of?

Les: Yeah, you can get all of my CDs now at www.lesdudek.com. Well thanks, Phile, it took many, many years to finally get the interest to get all my records out on CDs. You asked which album am I most proud of? Well hell, Phile, I'm most proud of all of them. People just don't realize how hard it is to give birth to a record or CD. I mean technically it may be easier to record these days, but, business wise, it's a pain in the neck to get any interest from so called, (real record companies). That is, if there's any real record companies still out there.

Me: I read somewhere that you build your own guitars, is that true? Also, you are an avid biker. How many of each do you have?

Les: No, I didn't build my guitars, Phile. But I did design the two new Strats that I play now, of which I call (Mom & Dad), to my specific specifications. But I didn't actually build them, and Fender guitars didn't have anything to do with them either. Rather, I gathered all the components and coordinated their birth. I had Billy Fels assembled them for me. And they are bad to the bone. You won't find these Strats off the rack. Yes, I've been a biker all my life, and will always be a biker. I was 16 years old when we built my first bike. It was a 1957 FLH Panhead Harley-Davidson. I hope you realize that there is only one real motorcycle, and it's called a Harley-Davidson. I ride a Harley-Davidson Wide Glide right now. You can see it at my Myspace site, myspace.com/lesdudek.

Me: So, Les, do you still live in Orlando? Were you born here, or did you move here when you were a kid?

Les: I never lived in Orlando, and I wasn't born there either. I live in Polk County, Florida. I was born on NAS Quonset Point, RI. A US naval air station that was near Wickford, Rhode Island. My Dad did 30 years in the US Navy. He was a radioman who flew on PBY's during WWII, mostly in the Atlantic theater, and was stationed in Quonset Point RI when I was born. We moved to Polk County Florida seven years later in 1959. So I grew up and went to school in Polk County where I live today.

Me: When did you start playing guitar and was the Allman Brothers Band your first real musicians job?

Les: I started playing guitar when I was 10 years old. I started playing out in teen centers and bars, throughout Florida in 1965. The Florida bands that I played with were, The Steppin' Stones, The United Sounds, Kayle Payne Blues Band, Blue Truth and Power. I already had studio experience recording with Blue Truth and Power before I hooked up with The Allman Brothers. So no, the Allman Brothers were not my first rodeo.

Me: How did they find you and hire you and how many records of their did you play on? You played on "Ramblin' Man", right?

Les: Right after Duane Allman died in a motorcycle accident at the end of October 1971, my keyboard player in Power (Peter Schless), heard that Dickey Betts was putting together his own band. Peter and Dickey knew each other from their Sarasota, FL days, before there was an Allman Brothers Band. Dickey didn't know if ABB was gonna stay together or not after Duane died. He was already thinking about the future, and was looking for new players. So, Peter and I drove up to Macon, Ga one weekend to hang and jam with Dickey. Pete and I went back to Florida, and a couple weeks later I got the call to come back to Macon. I recall many incredible jams we had in Macon, Ga. I lived there for a little over two years before moving to California.
While in Macon, all of a sudden, I found myself signed to Phil Walden and Capricorn Records. Next thing I know I'm in the studio standing where Duane would have been standing, and I'm playing lead guitar on a tune called "Ramblin Man" with Dickey and the rest of the original Allman Brothers Band. I was the first guitar player to record with ABB after Duane died. I played half of all those guitar parts on that tune. It was a very magical moment to say the least.
I remember Phil Walden was pushing hard for me to be in ABB, but after Berry Oakley (original ABB bass player) died in another motorcyle accident almost a year later from Duane's accident, the tone changed with the band. Dickey desided he didn't want another guitar player at that time. We still hadn't finished what would later become "The Brothers & Sisters" album yet. One snowy night in Macon, Dickey and I got together with our acoustic guitars. Dickey said we need an instrumental tune for the new ABB record. So he played me the verse section of a new tune he had started. We kicked it around for a while and Dickey got frustrated and went in the other room. I stayed with it, and came up with the bridge section for the tune, or where it goes to "G". It happens twice in the song. I showed it to Dickey, and he loved it so much that we threw our guitars in the back of his truck and went to play it for everybody. Dickey now had all the main parts to the instrumental, everytning else was just solos and arrangement. So, that snowy night in Macon we gave birth to the song called "Jessica". It took us an entire week to record that song in the studio. That's a live recording from the original session, no overdubs.
Dickey said he didn't want me to play the guitar harmonies with him on "Jessica", even though I helped him write it. Because he didn't want the critics to think I was gonna be in the band. He said "Ramblin Man" was enough guitar harmonies for the record. So I played the acoustic guitar on "Jessica" and Chuck Leavell played all of what would have been the guitar harmonies on piano. And they also desided to add another keyboard player, (Chuck) instead of a guitar player, me. I remember Dickey marching me into Phil Walden's office to advise him that I co-wrote "Jessica" and I deserve to get co-writers credit and royalties from it. To this day I've never been credited for co-writting "Jessica" and I've never received one penny in royalties.
Last time I spoke with Dickey in 2000 he told me he felt real bad about the whole "Jessica" issue with me not getting any credit and royalties. I told Dickey, "You don't have to feel bad about it anymore", he said, "really why?" I said, "you can just cut me a check for what you owe me." Dickey said, "Oh, I don't feel that bad about it." I said, "Well after over 30 years of not paying me my royalties, I didn't think you felt bad about it." That's the last time we spoke. Funny thing is, he's all mad at me cause I asked him to cut me a check, for what he knows he owes me. So go figure... For the record, I still love Dickey, I always will, but I'm very disappointed that he let a brother down. Because that song is a part of my heritage too. Bet you didn't know you were gonna open up that can of worms did ya, Phile? To finish answering that question, yes, I played lead guitar on "Ramblin' Man" & acoustic guitar on "Jessica", and those two songs were originally on ABB's "Brothers & Sisters" album. But they have also been on countless compilation ABB albums and a few major movies, like "The Exorcist" to name one.

Me: How long did you play with Boz Scaggs? I would love to interview him, that would be cool.

Les: I hooked up with Boz Scaggs right after I found out that ABB was gonna hire Chuck Leavell instead of me. I was with Boz for a little over four years mostly touring and I appeard in several of his videos. I also appeared on Boz' biggest record "Silk Degrees". And Boz produced my first Columbia Records solo album. But oddly enough, for as long as I played with Scaggs, I appeared on more of his old band mates records then I did with Boz. I'm talking about Steve Miller. Boz played guitar with The Steve Miller Band in the very beginning. After the Joker tour in 1974, of which I play with Boz and Miller, Steve invited me for a short stay with his band. We went to Seattle to record. Those recordings appear on the "Fly Like An Eagle", "The Book Of Dreams", "Living In The Twentieth Century" and "Wide River" albums.

Me: Speaking of interviews, I interviewed an old friend of yours... Mike Finnigan. Did you read that interview? Are you and he good friends still? Now if I can only interview Jim Krueger...

Les: No, I haven't read your interview with Mike Finnigan. I love Mike Finnigan no matter what, but, I don't know how he feels about me, ask him some day. I know he's one soulful cat, and I have nothing but respect for the Finns. And it's a damn shame that the DFK band didn't take off and make it big. Cause that band would have lasted a very long time. We had four major singers and four major song writers in that band, so we had tunes by the truck load. And everybody played their ass off on their axes. Two drummers, two keyboard players, two guitar players and a bass player. What a band! We openned for Kansas "Dust In The Wind" tour in 1978, they turned on the house lights right after our last song every night, because we smoked them so bad, they didn't won't us to do an encore. Yeah, when it comes to DFK, the world missed a damn good band there, boy howdy. Get the CD while you can at my web site.
Phile, you obviously didn't do your home work, you'll never get the chance to interview Jim Krueger, the "K" of DFK. He died back in the early 90's. He was one hot bad ass guitar player. I was very honored and proud to play in a band with "The Bruiser", that was his nick name. And you talk about a song writer, he wrote that song that Dave Mason got a hit with, "We Just Disagree". We played that song in DFK, and when I play out now if I have my acoustic guitar with me, I'll play that song in Krueger's memory. God bless you, Bruiser.

Me: You, Mike and Jim had one album out together... is there any chance you would do a reunion?

Les: Yes, DFK as we called it, put out one studio record together. And it took a long time, but it finally came out on CD. I fought hard and got two bonus tracks added to that CD release that weren't on the original release. They were two original songs we recored for the album, that were cut because of vinyl time restrictions. I felt it was important to put those to bonus songs on the CD since there never will be another DFK CD. I even wanted to include the DVD that we made with the CD set. I thought it would have been a great touch to include the DVD & CD with two bonus tracks, but the record company didn't want to do the DVD part. What can I say, most record people just don't get it. Unbelievable... So, to answer part two of this question, since Jim Krueger died, there will never be a DFK reuion. But you can buy the DFK CD at my web site for now, so get it while you can. It's worthy of a spot in anyone's CD collection.

Me: You were almost in Journey, Les. You dodged that bullet. How did that almost happen, and are you glad or do you regret not being in that band?

Les: I was invited to the very first Journey rehearsal by their manager Herbie Herbert, I hope I spelled his name right. He said he was starting a new super band and he wanted the two guitar heros of the Bay area to be in it, Neil and myself. I had already recorded a few demos and was shopping around for a record deal. As it turns out, the same day I was going down to S.I.R. in San Francisco, which was a rehearsal hall, I was invited to a meeting at Columbia Studios right across the street. I went to S.I.R. first and hung with the Jounrney people for a while and when it came time for my meeting with Columbia I took a brake and walked across the street.
I had no idea what so ever, what Columbia wanted with me. To my surprise, I was greeted by the President and Vice President of Columbia Records and they offered me a solo record deal on the spot. The rest is history, I started my solo career with Columbia Records. Do I have any regrets about not being in Journey? Well yeah, I have some regrets about all the bands I've turned down over the years. Ask me who all they were some day. But I think if Journey had the musical direction and Steve Perry in the very beginning, of which they didn't have yet, I would have stuck it out with Journey. So yeah there's a little regret there. It was a timing thing. Steve didn't join the band until over a year later.

Me: Did you prefer a solo career?

Les: As it turns out, yes I do prefer a solo career. It's much easier to make decisions when your solo, but it was never an ego thing with me to be solo. I just felt that since I was already offered a solo deal with Columbia, oh and by the way, that same week I was offered a solo deal with Capital Records too, I would have more say as to what direction I wanted to go musically.
And I must say, even though DFK was probably the best band I was ever in, that project distroyed my solo career with Columbia Records. If I wasn't coerced by my manager at the time to be in DFK, I would have had a much greater success with my own solo career. It was a stupid move for me to go from solo to joining another band, when I already had three solo records to my credit and I was on the verge of a hit album. The promotion on my third album "Ghost Town Parade" got lost behind the whole DFK thing.

Me: Congrats I guess on going out with Cher! How long did that relationship last? You were in a movie with Cher called "Mask". Was that before or during your relationship? Greg Allman went out with her before you I believe.

Les: Yeah well, as it turns out, that was my second big mistake. I think at that point my record company was throwing darts at my pictures. Even though I have no regrets what so ever about being with Cher, in fact I have nothing but fond memories of her, it was a bad mistake for my music career. I was still licking my wounds from the DFK fiasco, when I was approached by Cher to do an album project with her. "Black Rose" was the name of that monster. I figured what can it hurt, I wasn't doing anything, and artists play on other artists records all the time, what's the big deal, so I agreed to help her. Well boy, I caught total hell from my record company over that one. She was with a different record company then me and my record company was pissed. Most likely, that "Black Rose" project sealed my fate with my record company. It really was a good band, but nobody cared after Neil Bogart died. He was the President of Cher' record label. So when he passed, that was the end of that. She literally moved me in with her for three years. I totally lost my idenity. Had a great time. But lost everything as a result. My musical credibility got shot all to hell. I did manage to squeeze out one more record with Columbia Records at that time, "Gypsy Ride", it came out and took top picks in all the trades Cash Box, Record World and Billboard marked it for huge success. But by then my record company lost interest and didn't care anymore so they just let it die. That was a real shame, because there was some hits on that record. Cher even co-wrote a tune with me, which is kind of eerie now when I think of it, called, "Don't Trust That Woman". Yeah freaky ain't it? But ya know, it's a damn good tune. Elton John even did a different version of it on his "Leather Jackets" album. After we broke up, she was kind enough to try and get me envolved in a movie project, so that was very nice of her and I really needed the work at the time. The movie was "Mask", I was a biker. Boy that was a stretch wasn't it? Oh well, it was a great experience to be in an Oscar winning major motion picture and I'm very thankful for that. So to hell with all you pissed off record companies that have fallen along the way side since 1984, I did an album and a movie with Cher and I'm proud of it, so there. Hey honey if your reading this, give me a call. I'll be happy to do another movie with ya any time. I need the work. Greg Allman was married to Cher a few years before I was with her. Greg and I don't talk anymore. I have absolutely nothing against Greg Allman what so ever. In fact, I'd love to play some more music with him before we leave this big rock. But sadly, for what ever reason, his ego won't let us be friends... I still love him though, there I said it. What ever it is Greg, please get over it, I miss ya.

Me: When was your last album out, Les? I know you kept busy writing music for TV shows such as "Friends". Is that something you like doing? Do you still write for TV?

Les: My latest CD came out as a private release on my little record label Eflat Productions in 2002. Titled "Freestyle". It's what I call my archive album. I heard people were bootlegging old radio simulcasts I did years ago. So I thought, I bet I have enough tunes recorded in the can that I can create another CD, and put it out. Sure enough, I did. These are songs that I never released before, because some nimrod in a record company didn't like them. But that doesn't mean they're not good tunes. I have two songs that the late Jeff Porcaro drummer of ToTo played on. Jeff played drums on five of my CDs. The song "Freestyle" was co-writen by Stevie Nicks and myself. So the "Freestyle" CD really is a treat. You can listen to 20 second sound bytes of all my tunes from all my records at my official web site www.lesdudek.com just click on the album covers. As for the TV music. It's what we call mail box money. I haven't done that in a while but it's fun stuff to do at home, and you can make some great royalties from it. But I don't have any plans for that in the future. Rather, I'm ready to do a new CD with new songs. I just need the money to do it.

Me: You still play live across the States I know. Who is in your band?

Les: Yes, I still do shows when it makes sense to do them. I'm always looking for great players. I use Dan Walters a lot on bass guitar/vocals. I've been talking with Bobby Caldwell about playing drums with me. Don't know if that will happen or not. I've used Billy Carter and Bryan Hawkins on drums a lot over the years.

Me: Les, go ahead and plug your website and anything else you would love to plug. I hope to see you again one day. I wish you all the luck, and take care.

Les: Well, thank you, Phile. I hope to see you again soon and good luck to you as well.
Yes for the first time ever, you can get all seven of my albums now available on CDs at my official web site www.lesdudek.com at the "STORE" page. When ordering, at your request in the comment window, I will personally autograph your CDs to you. Just ask! My store takes all major credit cards and it's safe and secure. And we guarantee all orders. Let's face it folks, there are no more CD stores like there use to be, so if you want Les Dudek CDs go right to the source, go to my web site and get them there. Also it looks like a new Les Dudek DVD is in the works, so be on the lookout for that, it will also be available at my web site, www.lesdudek.com. For concert information we invite everyone to plaese visit the "Dates" page. All confirmed dates will be posted there, so stop by often for concert updates. If you see no dates, it's because there is no dates, but when we have dates they will be posted there and on my Myspace site. Thaks again.



There you go, another entry done. Thanks to Les for a really great interview, Wikipedia, and my son Logan for letting me use his computer keyboard as mine was working. The Phile will be back next week with musician Wishnefsky and the announcement of the 10th book in the Peverett Phile Book Club. So, until then, spread the word, not the turd, don't let snakes and alligators bite you. Bye love you bye.






Thursday, June 17, 2010

Pheaturing Kimberly Raiser


Hello there, welcome to the Most Phantastic Summer Ever on the Phile. So, how are you? Thanks for stopping by. Good news: the chain-smoking toddler from Indonesia has cut down to 15 cigarettes per day. You know what would get him to stop smoking for good? It’s a lesser-known treatment called, “Don’t give him any.” So, have you been watching the World Cup?
In the U.S., soccer’s popularity ranges somewhere between Jon Gosselin and people that give out raisins on Halloween. The reason Americans don’t get into soccer is because the scores are too low. They should make each goal worth two points, and then maybe let the players use their hands, and then maybe add some hoops and a basketball. Americans would watch that.
It’s estimated that a billion people watch the World Cup. To give you an idea of how many people that is, take the readers who read this blog, and add one billion to it. I’ve refrained from commenting on the oil spill, because I have nothing funny to say about it. But that hasn’t stopped me with anything else. You know it’s a real catastrophe when the biggest hope of getting something done is Kevin Costner. The polls say Americans want the President to show more emotion. He said that when he finds out who’s responsible for the oil spill mess, he’s going to stick a containment cap up their blowout valve. The World Cup as you know this year is in South Africa and they have this cool logo for it. That is I thought it was cool until I got a better look at it. Check it out, Phile phans.

This Sunday is Father's Day and I was hoping they'd be a nice touchy Father's Day inspirational poster out there, but instead I found this:





Jimmy Dean
August 10, 1928 - June 13, 2010
Let me guess. High cholesterol?




Someone stole some money-printing plates. Counterfeiters! And then there are some bad Blackwatery guys and even badder CIA guys. The A-Team has, of course, been framed for the theft and held responsible for the death of a miltary general. They have to clear their names and find the people responsible. Could it be someone who's right under their big collective nose? That would just be crazy. Anyway, the part you'll care about most is when they wind up flying a tank that's plummeting to earth under a parachute that was designed specifically to hold a tank. Later a giant shipping tanker explodes and everyone is shooting guns. And most of the time, even in between the noisiest parts, people are still yelling about this and that. It doesn't really matter what. If, unlike me, it's not your job to point out the flaws in a movie, you'll be happy to know that all of the machines in this film do their job impeccably. The vehicles go vroom, the guns go bang, the rocket launchers incinerate lots of people collateral damage unfortunate enough to stumble across their path, helicopters fly upside down the way they do sometimes and bombs burst in air. And on the sea. And in the desert, turning sand into glass. Pretend most of the people aren't in it and you'll have no good reason not to fully enjoy yourself. Someone was too in love with the sound of Liam Neeson's voice to let him ruin it by puffing on cigars as much as his character should. Bradley Cooper's good looks are not the same thing as putting in the work to direct him to a charismatic performance and he just comes off as grating and entitled. Sharlto Copley's accents are fun but once they establish him as the "crazy one" he's got nothing to do but re-enact scenes from Braveheart and One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. And Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, for all his physical presence, comes off as threatening as a bowl of Mr. T cereal. With skim milk. What I'm trying to say is that I blame the director. The best scene was when Jackson and Neeson sit around talking about Gandhi. No joke. It happens. And Neeson reasons that if Gandhi were here he want them to START KILLING EVERYONE. Not long before or after this moment--honestly, I forget where--he also says, "Overkill is underrated." Right on, Schindler's List Guy. And stay through the credits and you'll see Dirk Benedict, who played the Cooper role in the original TV series. He doesn't have much to do but there he is, on camera, bestowing what I assume is a blessing on the proceedings and counting every penny of the paycheck. Y'know, he once turned down being interviewed for the Phile. From 1 to 10, it gets a 7, and I probably will end up getting it on blu-ray. I like the original show a lot better.

1939
In Versailles, Eugene Weidmann becomes the last person to be publicly guillotined.
1968
Ohio Express' "Yummy Yummy Yummy (I've got love in my tummy)" goes gold.
1972
The "plumbers" break into Democratic National Committee Headquarters in the Watergate complex, in the course of what President Nixon will later describe as a "third rate burglary." In actuality, it is an attempt by the Republican Party to illegally wiretap the opposition.
1974
The IRA explodes a bomb in Houses of Parliament. An hour before the explosion, the IRA calls to warn of the threat but officers fail to clear the building in time and 11 are killed.
1994
O.J. Simpson fails to turn himself in to the LAPD at a prearranged time and is later spotted in a white Ford Bronco on a Los Angeles expressway. After a low-speed pursuit through the freeways and streets of Brentwood, O.J. is finally arrested live on television in the driveway of his mansion. According to one of the defense attorneys who served on O.J.'s "Dream Team," Simpson tried to kill himself in the car, but the gun misfired. The Juice allegedly told him: "I pulled the trigger and it didn't go off."


Today's guest is the 9th Peverett Phile Book club author to be pheatured on the Phile. Her book "Family Bones" is available right now on Amazon.com and she'll be appearing at the 5th Annual Galax Book Festival in Grayson St. Galax, VA on June 11th and 12th. Please welcome to the Phile... Kimberly Raiser.


Me: Hello, Kimberly, welcome to the Peverett Phile. So, how are you?

Kimberly: I'm doing pretty darned good!

Me: Do you prefer to be called Kimberly or Kim?

Kimberly: I prefer Kimberly, thank you for asking.

Me: Congrats, your book "Family Bones" is the 9th book to be pheatured on the Phile. Thanks for sending me a copy, I really enjoyed it. Explain briefly what the book is about.

Kimberly: This question is always difficult for me. It's a very cross genre piece of work. It's been falling under the Horror genre on Amazon, and doing quite well in the top 100 on Kindle recently. It also comes up in Action and Adventure. I would say it's a mystery thriller with Sci-fi and supernatural elements. The story follows the Weaver family as they visit Steven's family home that they have recently inherited. There are dark secrets from the Weaver family that reside on the property. There are passageways and hidden rooms. The couple's young son gets separated from them while the family investigates the property. Strangers appear. There are twists and turns throughout the story. I enjoy a good twist in my stories, and unpredictability.

Me: It takes place in Pennsylvania, but you are not from there, right?

Kimberly: No I'm not, but I did live in Pensylvania for a few years as a young child. I love it there, and there is so much history.

Me: You currently live in St. Augestine, Kimberly. What made you decide to move there? As a matter of fact I just moved to the Richmond area of Virginia but we have kept our home in St. Augustine. My husband and I actually met in St. Augustine eleven years ago. We both love the history and oldness of the area. We also were married downtown... the oldest city in our nation!

Me: Have you ever done any of those ghost tours there?

Kimberly: We tend to do our own ghost tours! But I have had a number of ghostly experiences in St. Augustine. There is definitely something here and there.

Me: When did "Family Bones" originally get published? It's your first novel, is that right?

Kimberly: It was actually first published as a serial on www.silverthought.com titled "Astral Plains", then I decided to finish it as a novel "The Family Bones".

Me: Speaking of 'family'... what does your family think of your writing? You have children, right?

Kimberly: I drive them crazy with my short stories. My daughter doesn't like the scary ones. I tend to give her nightmares so she won't let me read them to her. All in all my family is very supportive of my writing. My husband is my technical adviser; he's been just incredible.

Me: You were a poetry writer originally, is that right? What made you become a novelist? Do you still write poetry?

Kimberly: I've written poetry since I was a young child. I actually had a great deal of poetry published before I started writing seriously in the fiction genre. I used to always say I would write a novel someday, but I just never finished anything. I finally decided a few summers ago to work on short stories and getting them published just to get my name out there. After much success I finally finished "The Family Bones". I do also have a book of my published short stories out there titled "Stranded: Stories from the edge of infinity..." It's got some great sci-fi, horror, and just plain quirky stories in it.

Me: I still remember my first poem I wrote in grade school, Kimberly. "Cindy Windy flew away, flying over the USA. She got popped, and down she fell, splashing in an old man's well"
What do you think?

Kimberly: She got popped huh? Sounds like someone had a warped sense of humor. My kinda kid!!!

Me: Let's talk about "Pepper Fink". That's a children's book you are working on, am I right? What is the premise, and is it aimed at boys or girls or both?

Kimberly: Pepper Fink is actually the pen name I use for my children's stories. I am currently awaiting word from a publisher about the series, the first being "A Little town called Plink". This story is for both girls and boys and also meant to be enjoyed by adults that are reading it out loud. It's smart and funny and features a young girl who is curious and bright and ventures out in Plink to find out why the sky has changed colors. She comes across some unusual characters and visits Mr. Godfrey who is a quite inventive chap who helps she and Charlie to their discovery. I always throw in some humor, I can't help myself!

Me: I also read your book on short stories called "Stranded Stories From the Edge of Infinity" thanks to you sending me a copy of that book as well. What do you like better, writing short stories or novels? I enjoy all of it. It's hard for me to stay on task. Life has been a bit busy the last year, although I must say, I really enjoy short stories. I love being goofy, and scary.

Kimberly: Do you have any favorite authors that you admire? I have two... Douglas Adams and Alan Dean Foster. I interviewed Foster here on the Phile, but unfortunately I won't be interviewing Adams.

Kimberly: I love Douglas Adams, he is my hero!!! I also had the opportunity to sit on a panel with Brian Keene in Nashville last year, and now I am addicted to his books. I just consumed four of them in the last six months. Great Zombie writer!!! I always liked Chrichton and Asimov and Heinlein as a kid.

Me: What do you think of the "Twilight" craze? I have no intention of reading those books. I heard they make good movies though. Would you ever want "Family Bones" to be turned into a movie?

Kimberly: I probably feel the same as you about the craze. Don't want to really read the books, haven't seen the movies. It would be cool to see any work turned into a movie. I've actually had a few inquiries from big movie companies about the rights to it!

Me: I have to ask you about your grandfather Henry Kunicki. I googled him, Kimberly. Tell the Phile readers who he was.

Kimberly: My grandfather grew up with physicist David Bohm. I never knew this until he was much older. My father had sent me and article about David Bohm's biography. I bought a copy of the book and there was my grandfather mentioned in it as his childhood friend that used to talk about space travel and such. It was very exciting. My grandfather was an electrical engineer and used to tell us stories of strange things that happened to him as a young man and with the government where he worked. He also love science fiction and used to save all the books he read for me when I would come to visit he and my grandmother in the summers. I wish he would have been around to see my work published.

Me: Did he ever tell you any Einstein stories?

Kimberly: Not really. David Bohm worked with Einstein but that was after they had lost touch with each other.

Me: We briefly met at MegaCon a few months ago, Kimberly. Do you like doing conventions?

Kimberly: I actually have a blast doing them. I get to meet so many fascinating and fun people. I actually keep in touch with alot of them, including Felix Silla who played Cousin It on "The Adams Family" He was a hoot at last year's MegaCon.

Me: Will you be at FX?

Kimberly: Not this year. I went last year and had a blast, got to meet Leonard Nimoy!!!!

Me: What are you working on now, Kimberly? You are busy editing a magazine as well, right?

Kimberly: The magazine is on hold. I'm working on a trilogy titled "Children of Roen". It's about the descendents of the lost colony of Roanoke and how they have been cursed. The main character is a young woman who starts to grow wings every other month or so. They tear through her flesh for days and after being confined for a week at home they fall off and she has to go through it over and over again until one day she finally cannot resist the temptation to fly. She will come in contact with others similar to herself that do not know about the curse. She will also have to deal with the descendents of the hunters who are charged to destroy them. The legend says that the descendents shall rise and then battle until good or evil prevails. Part One of Book One is available on Kindle right now!!!

Me: Thanks for being on the Phile and letting "Family Bones" be on the book club. I wish you lots of luck, nd in your next book, if you want to add a character based on me I wouldn't object. LOL. All the best, and thanks for the books. I really enjoyed them. Keep up the good work.

Kimberly: Thanks so much. I'll have to throw a book reviewer in there as a character somewhere. I'll have to do some research on you!!!! I'll be looking forword to our next chat!!!!






That's it for the Phile this week. Thanks to Wikipedia, and of course Kimberly Raiser. Next Thursday: Les Dudek. Spread the word, not the turd and don't let alligators and snakes bite you. Bye love you, bye. Now I am gonna go swimming with the fam.




Thursday, June 10, 2010

Pheaturing Ricky Raymi From The Brian Jonestown Massacre


Hello, welcome to another entry of the Phile, where we're celebrating The Most Phantastic Summer Ever! The Phile is a proud sponsor of...

Check it out at http://www.ustream.tv/channel/coolwaters-live. So, who's reading this on the new iPhone 4? So, Rush Limbaugh was married this past weekend. Sorry ladies, he’s off the market. This was his fourth marriage. He blames the first three breakups on Obama. Elton John sang at Rush Limbaugh’s wedding. According to Rush, gay people can sing at other peoples’ weddings, just not at their own. Did you hear, with e-mail and text messaging, we’ve become a paperless society? Except maybe in Arizona. President Obama pitched his healthcare bill to a group of seniors. According to a poll, half of the seniors thought the president was convincing, 30 percent thought he was unconvincing, and the rest thought he was Will Smith. The finale of “Glee” was on the other night. The Fox network is the home of “Glee,” while Fox News is the home of people who don’t like people who watch “Glee.” I would make jokes about the oil spill, but cannot think of any. If the oil reaches Clearwater though, the town would have to change its name. The spill has lasted longer, cost more, and destroyed more wildlife than Sarah Palin. I cannot believe there's actual inspirational posters about the spill. Check it out.



I think the new ad for bp is kinda weird as well. Have you seen it?





I would like to tell you the detailed plot of this movie but I've forgotten what it is. I remember that Jake is adopted by a king and the king's brother is bad and Jake and his boys invade a sovereign land under false pretenses but they didn't know it was all lies so you can't blame them for doing it. Then there's a sassy princess who loves Jake but is being headstrong about it until the last part when they make out as the sands of time swirl all around them. There's also a dagger that operates with magic sand and you can turn back the clock with it. Everybody wants that dagger but Jake's going to keep it tucked right into his belt at crotch level so the princess can stare at it for the whole movie. The reason I forgot most of what happens in this film isn't because it's too dumb to remember. I like dumb movies. I soak in them like a hot bath. But when you're going out of your way to make a dumb movie then you'd better be extra fun, extra bold, extra exciting and extra rule-busting with your dumbness. You want to make people remember how uniquely, entertainingly dumb you were. And if you can't do that, or if you're too lazy to do that, then you're going to attract one-time filmgoers looking for air conditioning instead of repeat customers who take the movie to their heart, identify with that special brand of dumbness and then clamor for an even dumber sequel. The tagline for the movie should of been Featuring A Cast Of Extremely Talented Persian Actors: And when I say that, what I mean is that the films of acclaimed director Abbas Kiarostami regularly feature talented Persians. This movie stars exactly one paleface American and several paler-faced Brits in almost all the supporting roles. The bronzer budget must have been a major line item. As idiot moves go it's not quite in the league of Mickey Rooney playing Japanese in Breakfast at Tiffanys, but it's the 2010 equivalent. I was promised parkour, the insane acrobatic jumping-around battle move that made a variety of soft drink commercials so darn entertaining. In fact, all I heard as the buzz for this movie built up was that Mr. G was doing lots of the stunts and it was going to be so exciting to watch all that jumping around. But mostly what happens is the camera comes in close on his furry man-teats and lingers there for a bit. Then, when it's time for action, they haphazardly slow it down and speed it up Matrix-style and not one single stunt gets a beginning, middle and end without at least three edits tossed in to diminish whatever physical thrill the shot was going for in the first place. You never know what's being done, by whom or how digitized it is. That ain't parkour and if I had paid to see this I'd have asked for my money back. From 1 to 10, it gets a four. I wouldn't buy it on DVD or blu-ray but Logan loved it so we probably will.

Marvin Isley
August 18, 1953 - June 7, 2010
A little bit softer now.
John Wooden
October 14, 1910 - June 4, 2010
The commissioner attended UCLA. But we'll try and write something mean anyway. He was a terrible surfer.
Rue McClanahan
February 21, 1934 - June 3, 2010
3 down, 1 to go.


1692
Bridget Bishop is hanged at Gallows Hill near Salem, Massachusetts after having been convicted of "certaine Detestable Arts called Witchcraft & Sorceries." Bishop is just the first casualty of what will come to be known as the Salem Witch Trials.
1942
The town of Lidice (Loditz) is liquidated by the Nazis as penalty for the assassination of Adolf Hitler's favorite general, Reinhard Heydrich. Every adult male is killed, the women sent to the camps, and the town bulldozed.
1973
The 17-year-old grandson of J. Paul Getty is abducted in Rome. When the kidnappers demand a $17 million ransom, the billionaire refuses. "I have 14 other grandchildren, and if I pay one penny now, then I will have 14 kidnapped grandchildren." After the grandson's severed ear arrives in the mail, Getty finally coughs up the money.
1980
Percy Wood, president of United Airlines, receives a parcel at his home in Lake Forest, Illinois. Inside is a copy of the book "Ice Brothers" by Sloan Wilson. When he opens the book, it suddenly explodes, throwing shrapnel into Wood's hands, face, and thigh. The book turns out to be a present from the Unabomber.
1999
Outside on the front lawn of his Miami home, Russell Cameron is covered with trash and doused with gasoline. Then his lunatic nephew, Thomas Pellechio, sets the pile on fire and runs away. When police arrive, they discover a 12.5 inch Oriental sword in Cameron's rectum, rammed in all the way up to the hilt.



The 9th book in the P.P.B.C. is...

It's available from Amazon.com and Kimberly Raiser will be next week's guest here on the Phile.


Today's guest is a multi-instrumentalist from San Francisco, California. He is most famous for his work with the neo-psychedelic rock band, The Brian Jonestown Massacre. They're new album "Who Killed Sgt. Pepper" is now available on iTunes. You can see them tonight at Mad Hatter in Cincinnati, Ohio and tomorrow they'll be appearing at Off Broadway in St. Louis, Missouri. Please welcome to the Phile... Ricky Raymi.


Me: Hello, Ricky, welcome to the Phile. How are you?

Ricky: Alright, very busy.

Me: Did you know I put the ass in massacre?

Ricky: No.

Me: Okay, seriously, I admit, I am not the smartest guy on the block, so you have to explain a few things to me... what does surrealist technique of pastiche mean? And what is UK shoegazing genre? Those are some of the descriptions I read the band is.

Ricky: The Brian Jonestown Massacre don't really fit that description. Perhaps The Imajinary Friends EP "Come out to Play" does...? The band Tipsy definitely does... Travis Threlkel (original BJMer) is in both Imajinary Friends and Tipsy. I believe UK shoegaze is fairly well defined and documented...

Me: Let's talk about the band name. Is it a combination of Brian Jones from the Stones and the cult suicide in Jonestown? Who came up with the name?

Ricky: Yes, it is... An acid head on Haight St. named Brian came up with the name.

Me: Are you guys Stones fans? I am guessing with the album title "The Satanic Majestie's Second Request".

Ricky: Not particularly.

Me: What other bands did you grow up listening to?

Ricky: Beatles, Kinks, all British invasion groups as well... also The Tubes, Bauhaus, David Bowie, Television, Roxy Music, The Damned and The Sex Pistols...

Me: Where is the band based? California, right? You guys have been together for a while.

Ricky: We are based around the world... I live in Australia, Anton in Europe. The rest are all over America.

Me: Explain to the readers of the Phile what is the Committee to Keep Music Evil about.

Ricky: It is an indie label that was started by Anton and (un)appropriated by Rob Campanella... It has no money so please don't send your demos...

Me: Ricky, you are also part of a shit load of other bands, right? What are they? You are also a founding member of BJM, am I correct?

Ricky: I started this shit with Anton, that' s right... I play with Steve Kilbey (The Church), The Triffids, The Wild Swans, GB3, The Imajinary Friends, Mellow Drunk, Freelovebabies and sometimes with Koolaid Electric Co. and I also work with lots of people in and around Europe, Australia and the US.

Me: You started off playing drums in the band, but moved to guitar which is very unusual. What made you change instruments? I don't even like changing fonts.

Ricky: I wanted to make a louder noise... I play everything still to this day. I play guitar, bass, drums, etc... I produce, provide creative direction and guidance, etc...

Me: I didn't know to much about BJM so my sister Leila and her husband Ben (who are HUGE fans) gave me a crash course. They leant me a bunch of your CD's and your film DiG. How did that project come about and was it fun to do, or were those cameras a pain? Is BJM still friends with the guys in the Dandy Warhols?

Ricky: We DO NOT like the movie... thankfully, it was made at a time when I was away from the band. We are friends with the Dandy's, yes.

Me: Speaking of films, your music has been in a bunch, right, and a bunch of TV shows. Is that something that you try to do, get your music out there that way? What is your favorite film or TV show your music was in?

Ricky: Hate it all... it's all down to decisions made by publishers and management.

Me: Ricky, is their a website or anything you would like to plug? What is the year gonna hold for you? Any new projects?

Ricky: I have a lot of records coming out this year. The Wild Swans, Steve Kilbey, GB3 (Glenn Bennie from the underground LOVERS with Steve Kilbey) and others...

Me: Ricky, I hope this was worth you while, and tell the other fellas I said hello. By the way, give a shout out to the current members of the band. Who are they?

Ricky: Myself, Anton, Dan, Joel, Frankie, Collin, Rob, Matt.


Okay, that's it for another entry of the Phile. Leila, I hope this interview didn't disappoint you. It wasn't my best. Thanks to Ricky Raymi from BJM. Check them out on the road. Also, thanks to Wikipedia and of course you, the readers. The Phile will be back next Thursday with Peverett Phile Book Club author Kimberly Raiser and then the Thursday after that legendary guitarist Les Dudek. Spread the word, not the turd, don't let snakes and alligators bite you. Bye love you bye.






Thursday, June 3, 2010

Pheaturing Meaghan Smith



Hello, welcome to the Phile, kids. I bet you are glad to be out of school. So, what do you think of the new logo? It will be used all the way through August. I have a lot to fit into this entry, so let's get started. A major airport in Greece has closed because they have a plague of frogs. Too bad it didn’t happen in France — they could have just eaten them. I’d like to let everyone know that you don’t have to worry. I’ve been pumped with music, plugged with cement, and the leaking has stopped. The Gulf oil spill is now the worst spill in U.S. history, so... Congratulations, I guess. Prince of Persia was the big movie for Memorial Day weekend. It’s based on an old Atari game which — how can I put this delicately — sucked. Persia is actually modern-day Iran, whose president has declared that there are no gays in his country. That’s impossible — who plans the parades? The other day was Italian Republic Day. Italians were running through the streets waving their arms — and then they remembered it’s a holiday. I love Italian food. Or as it’s known in Italy, “food.” Roman culture is still with us today. We use Roman numerals, we light Roman candles, we... hide our daughters from Roman Polanski. I am so glad Summer here, and this year it's gonna be the most phantastic summer ever. Anyway, I was so happy when I found a Summer motivational poster.


Speaking of Summer, guess who is on the box for Summer's Eve Douche? You're not gonna believe it.


LOL. 2009 joke!


Dennis Hopper
May 17, 1936 - May 29, 2010
Pop quiz, hotshot. There's a cancer on my prostate. Once the prostate goes above 50mph, the cancer is armed. If it drops below 50, your ex-wife takes all your money. What do you do? What do you do?
Gary Coleman
February 8, 1968 - May 28, 2010
Ah, the intracranial hemorrhage. Those kooky little episodes that doctors sometimes refer to as "different strokes."


1791
The French Assembly passes a resolution bringing decapitation to the common criminal: "Every person condemned to the death penalty shall have his head severed."
1943
Three days after a sailor had been badly injured in a brawl with a group of Hispanics, a mob of 60 servicemen leaves the Los Angeles Naval Reserve Armory and bludgeons anybody wearing a zoot suit. The first two victims are a couple of boys, aged 12 and 13, who were just sitting in the Carmen Theater watching a movie. Thus begins a week-long race riot.
1968
Valerie Solanas, author of the SCUM Manifesto, arrives at the art studio of Andy Warhol and shoots him three times in the torso. Warhol barely survives the attempt on his life. Solanas is later jailed and institutionalized.
1989
Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini dies after 11 days in a hospital, recovering from surgery to stop internal hemorrhaging.
1991
Students throw eggs at South Korean Prime Minister Chung Won Shik. Nobody is injured in the incident at Hankuk University in Seoul.
1998
15-year-old teen idol Brad Renfro is arrested in Knoxville, Tennessee and charged with possession of marijuana and cocaine.
1998
The world's first fatal high-speed rail accident occurs when a train near Eschede, Germany derails and 101 people are killed.



Shrek is feeling domestically tamed, his wild ogre id tamped down, his life a tourist attraction, his roar turned limp and his three monster babies sleeping in between him and Fiona, guaranteeing no Shrek-sex. In the middle of all this weird PG emasculation that no child in the audience will understand enters evil trickster Rumplestiltskin. Little R, still angry that Shrek ruined his earlier takeover bid for the land of Far Far Away, snookers the big green guy into signing a contract that will give him one--and only one--full day of life "the way it used to be." In exchange Shrek owes Rump a day in return. Rumplestiltskin takes the day Shrek was born and returns him to a world where he never existed. He and Donkey are strangers, Puss in Boots is a fat housecat and Fiona is the leader of a literally underground ogre resistance movement. Also there's Jar Jar Binks. Usually by the fourth installment of a franchise whose name doesn't rhyme with Schmarry Schmotter, the needle on the gauge has already sunk down to "E." Now, this series, having truly exhausted its narrative by the end of the second film (still the best one of the bunch), spent its third chapter trying to move in a million distracting directions, doing its best dazzle camouflage act to convince you something was happening. Well, something is happening in part four: they dressed up the first movie in new clothes and 3D and told it again. And the weird part is I didn't mind that much. And I made up the part about Jar Jar Binks. You can breathe again. Except for a few Donkey sing-alongs, all the pop culture riffing is gone. And good riddance to it. The snark and already dated gags that sunk that first film--as well as the bawdy adult lines that made it a harrowing ride for parents who weren't particularly interested in explaining what "Snow White lives with seven guys but she's not easy" meant to their six year olds--has been replaced by an earnestly straightforward heartwarmth. That is, except for the moment when Eddie Murphy calls the Gingerbread Man "cracker." Race humor, everyone!
I don't think this one will be the final chapter. The last one made over $320 million dollars. This one will likely perform similarly. It's not like negative or positive reviews are going to matter. And why wouldn't Mike Myers want to keep cashing checks and coasting on that unScottish Scottish accent? There's no Love Guru 2 on the horizon. You'd do the same thing. I give it a seven and probably won't buy it.




This is the 9th book to be pheatured on the P.P.B.C. It's available on Amazon.com and Kimberly Raiser will be a guest on the Phile in two weeks.


I am so excited about today's guest. She is a singer-songwriter and guitarist. While her independently-recorded debut album, "The Cricket's Orchestra" was picked up by Sire Records/Warner Music Canada and released in early 2010, she received a great deal of exposure by contributing a cover of alternative rock group Pixies' "Here Comes Your Man" to the soundtrack of 2009's (500) Days of Summer. On June 27th and 28th she'll be playing at the Jazz Fest in Montral. Please welcome to the Phile... the beautiful Meaghan Smith!

Me: Hello, Meaghan, how are you? Are you on tour right now?

Meaghan: Hey! I'm good.

Me: I have to kiss ass and be honest, your are my favorite female singer right now. Even more then Kelly Clarkson, and I love Kelly Clarkson.

Meaghan: Wow! Thanks so much! Kelly can sure write a hit and rip it up. Thanks for the compliment:)

Me: I read that you draw as well as sing. I draw as well as write blogs. What kind of stuff do you draw?

Meaghan: I love drawing people. I find them the most interesting when it comes to subjects.

Me: Have you ever played Florida? Are you going to come down here?

Meaghan: Oh, I would LOVE to come to Florida! It's freezing cold up here!! Or maybe that's just the flu. No, I'm pretty sure it's the snow on the ground. :)

Me: You play an instrument on stage called an omnichord, right? What is that exactly? Did I spell it right?

Meaghan: You did spell it right. An Omnichord is basically like an auto harp from the 1980's.

Me: Do you play any other instruments?

Meaghan: I also play guitar.

Me: Who is in your band, Meaghan?

Meaghan: My husband Jason Mingo plays guitar and our friend Austin Nicholson plays upright bass. Hopefully we'll get more people involved, like a drummer, soon!

Me: Let's talk about your album called "The Cricket's Orchestra". Is that your first album?

Meaghan: This is my first full length album! I'm so excited about it! Right now I have an EP called "The Cricket's Quartet" which has four songs off the album and four videos too!

Me: Where does the name come from, "The Cricket's Orchestra"?

Meaghan: "The Cricket's Orchestra" is a line from my song called "Five More Minutes". I felt like it really summed up the vibe of the album which is very warm, summery and orchestral.

Me: I downloaded all your music as well as your videos off iTunes. What is your favorite video and who comes up with the concepts? They are all so different and clever.

Meaghan: Thanks! Again, I'm so glad you enjoy. I worked with the director of the videos to come up with the concept. It really helps when you work with such talented people! It's hard to pick a favorite video.... But I love the animated bird in "I Know", I loved having a love affair with a broom in "If You Asked Me", I love the animated Koala bear in "A Little Love", and it was so fun to be kidnapped by a swarm of fireflies and carried away in "Drifted Apart". They were all so fun!

Me: I love that you put animation into them, especially "A Little Love." Do you love old cartoons?

Meaghan: I totally do! I worked as an animator before and some of my favorite shows are those old Disney pieces. I love the rubber hose style and the organic artform that was.

Me: Are you planning any more videos?

Meaghan: Not right away, I've got four videos out there right now and another one coming out with the album with a song named Poor, so I think I'm good for videos for now!

Me: What is your favorite one you did and would you like to act?

Meaghan: I really enjoyed doing them all and would like to try acting.

Me: Some of your music has been in TV shows, right? What shows and is that thrilling for you?

Meaghan: I've had a few songs in "One Tree Hill" and also "Grey's Anatomy". It was so super cool to hear my songs on these shows! It was totally surreal!

Me: You signed to Nettwerk management who also managed the Barenaked Ladies. Are you fans of them? Have you met them yet?

Meaghan: I am fans of them but I haven't met them. Nettwerk also manages Sarah McLaughlan who I'm a big fan of. I've met her a few times and that was totally exciting!

Me: Who else do you listen to, Meaghan?

Meaghan: My play list changes constantly but recently I've been listening to Leon Redbone, the new Bird and Bee album and Coldplay. Still. Yes, I love that album!

Me: Do you have a website? If so, go ahead and plug it, my dear.

Meaghan: I will! meaghansmith.com. I'm also on Twitter, Myspace, and Facebook.

Me: I wish you luck and hope I can interview you again one day. Was this fun?

Meaghan: Totally! Thanks very much for reaching out!




That's it for another great entry of the Phile. Thanks for reading. Thanks also to Meaghan Smith and Wikipedia and Ron Mena for the phantastic new logo. Next week it's Ricky Rayne Mebi, guitarist for the band The Brian Jones Massacre. Spread the word, not the turd, and don't let snakes and alligators bite you. Bye love you bye.







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