Pheaturing Ragnar Vikse From Spirits of the Dead

Hello, and welcome yet to yet another entry of the Phile. So, how do you like it here's been two entries a week? How has your Summer been? A new survey found that 87 percent of high school seniors are less than proficient in U.S. history. Not me. In fact, when I was a senior, I did a 10-page paper on my favorite president, George Jefferson. A man in Minnesota paid $230,000 for his new dog. But here’s the thing you have to understand: That guy is a moron. It turns out that 70 percent of guns found in Mexico actually come from the U.S. Meanwhile, 70 percent of people found in the U.S. actually come from Mexico. Chris Hansen, the host of “To Catch a Predator,” was caught cheating on his wife with a woman 20 years younger than him. Hansen knew something was up when he walked into his kitchen and he was already there waiting for himself. They say that if you break a mirror, you get seven years of bad luck. I broke a mirror once and all I got was seven stitches. I don’t put any faith in numerology — especially in an odd-numbered month like this. Hey, kids, it's the Philosoraptor!

So, you know I am a big fan of the app game "Angry Birds", right? I mentioned it when I interviewed Dax Norman the other day. Anyway, I was playing it the other day and it dawned on me where they got the ideas for the characters. Take a look at this and you'll see what I mean.

See? Crazy, eh? Okay, last week I had a guest on the Phile, a character named Pat Riot, who seems was very popular with you Phile Phans, so I thought I would bring him back and have him explain the American way. I have loved in the States for most of my life and I still don't know what the American way is. So, once again, please welcome to the Phile...

Pat Riot: Let me tell you about the American way, my half foriegner friend. The Cadee antoni quitteral is a good damm thing, I'll tell you why... now they can charge the parents, and we can get a two for one fry night. Won't that be sweet. Lissen to me pal, in this economy you got dig deep for the ratings whatever it takes. Lissen, he touched his daughters private parts, he committed suicide, the mother got falsies you can tell, and that family... hey, fry em. So it's a good thing, the main thing is somebody gotta pay, thats the American way. Do you know how much money they spent on gas, and toilet paper and what have you? American ingenuity, that's the ticket, Romeo, you like to box, come on, lets shadow dance. One, two... Hey, you gotta duck, Mince Meat, ha ha ha. I didn't hurt you did I? The American way, yessiree bob's yer uncle. Yeehaw! Fry em fry em both, gimme a bucket of KFC. Fry em! This is almost as good as napalm on those gooks in Vietnam! Yeehaw! Boss! Fry em! One more thing now that the South's leading this country with real principals and what you call, unbiased leadership and vision, lets get some more ammo in the high schools. Say boy, you like these boots, boy? Yee haw, son of Sam g-damm! Fry the parents! Yee haw. Grab my gun, gonna have some fun on the Bayou tonight. Yee haw!

Ummmm. That's not exactly what I expected. I don't know either to laugh or cry. I apologize to anyone who Pat offended. Thanks so much, Pat. Pat Riot, everybody. Now, let's laugh again.

And now from the home office in Port Jefferson, New York, here is...

Top Ten Signs You're Watching a Bad Super Hero Movie
10. The X-Men on screen are really ex-men.
9. Mode of travel is a bus touring America.
8. When he takes off his mask he still has shoe polish around his eyes.
7. The superhero's motto is "I'll get you next time!"
6. The movie is almost over before the superhero finds a phone booth where he can change.
5. Superhero's alter ego, "Bruce Wayne Gacy".

4. The superhero's only power is the ability to consider running for President.

3. Two hours of Iron Man going through airport security.

2. The hero wears a cape... just a cape.

And the number one sign you're watching a bad super hero movie...

1. Superpower: Empathy.

The second artist for the P.P.A.G. is ChrisRWK, and here is one of his pieces.

Chris will be a guest on the Phile next Sunday, kids.

Today's guest is the lead singer for the Norwegian rock band The Spirits of the Dead, who have a new album out called "The Great God Pan" that came out on July 5th and is available on iTunes. Please welcome to the Phile... Ragnar Vikse.

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

Ragnar: Thanks for having me, I am well, thank you, hope you are too.

Me: Apart from having to go out later to get my haircut I am fine. So, I believe you are the second singer from I had here on the Phile from Norway. The first was the lead singer of Peter and the Penguins, have you heard from them?

Ragnar: I have heard of a Peter and I have seen penguins once, but never of this band.

Me: I asked them about a tradition Norweigan men have where they go out once a week and drink and get pissed, and there's no women and they never heard of a such a thing. Do you guys know what I am talking about?

Ragnar: We go out at least once a week and get pissed, but where we go there are tons of beautiful women. So no, I do not know what you are talking about :-)

Me: They have a Norway pavilion in Epcot here in Orlando, y'know. They talk about trolls and vikings a lot. Do people in Norway talk about such things?

Ragnar: We are not allowed to talk about such things by our parents, if we do they might come to our farm and eat all our food. No seriously, we have viking blod in our vains and I guess we are influenced by that. We like to travel and conquer, feast and drink. The swords and the axes are changed to instruments. That's the only difference.

Me: Anyway, let's talk about your music, I like your band 'cause you sound like something straight out of the 70's. Are you fans of music from that era?

Ragnar: Yes, thank you. Yes,we love the sixties and the seventies, but we also love the future, so we try to land somewhere in between.

Me: What bands did you grow up listening to in Norway? Any Foghat?

Ragnar: I actually got one Foghat record from my brother in law when I was younger, and some Kiss and Deep Purple on vinyl. Led Zeppelin of course, Blue Öyster Cult, Black Sabbath, King Crimson... the list goes on. But we are still growing you know, so Black Mountain, Joanna Newsom, Tame Impala, Dungen etc, etc.

Me: Tell the readers who is in the band and what you guys do. And where did the band name Spirits of the Dead come from? That's a depressing band name.

Ragnar: We are a psychedelic-stoner-folk-rock band from the west-coast of Norway, now located in Oslo.We have been a band since 2007 and have released now our second album "The Great God Pan". The band consists of Ole Øvstedal (guitars), Geir Thorstensen (drums), Deadly Nightshade (Bass) and me, Ragnar Vikse (vocals) on "The Great God Pan". However is it Kristian Hultgren who plays bass in the band now. Spirits of the Dead is only depressing if you are feeling depressive. To me it symbolize that the spirits of the dead are still among us. We can have a huge impact on life and our spirit can live forever through our actions. Who stood once in life are here still. Hopefully we can do some good that inspires others even after we are gone. Can't see any depressing about that? :-)

Me: I noticed there is a song on the self titled first album called "Spirits of the Dead"... what came first, album title, song or band name?

Ragnar: The lyrics to the song and the band name came at the same time only that we did not know until we decided the band name that the song also should be named that. The album title came as a natural first introduction.

Me: There is a song on that album called "T.I.T (Traveller In Time)". That would of been a good name as well, guys. T.I.T.

Ragnar: I don't think everyone would get it. Although it feels kinda sexy.

Me: Your first album was mixed by George Marino who worked with Zeppelin and Hendrix. That must've been a cool experience for you. Did he tell you any good stories?

Ragnar: We promised not to tell anyone about his experience with Jimi.

Me: That album was one of the 50 finest albums in Classic Rock magazine. What did you guys think about that? You're not classic rock yet, but you sound like it.

Ragnar: We were very honored of that, we have a good hint of the old times, but I think we do it in our own style. Listen to our drummer, he does not do it classic, he plays very modern.
And I could go on about details, but I agree the vibe you get out of it is Classic, but with a freshness to it, and hopefully thats why we were picked by them.

Me: Let's talk about your latest release "The Great God Pan". How does that album compare with the first self-titled one?

Ragnar: Recording is pretty much the same. Drums and bass recorded live all the way through in studio. All on analouge equipment in Grand Sport Studios in Oslo with Christian Engfeldt recording and mixing with Ole Øvstedal as the producer. Mastered by George Marino as last time. We had some parts very well planned before entering the studio, but we had also intentionally left some "open holes" in most of the songs until we entered studio, so that we would get that organic feel to it as these parts were jammed to their results. "The Great God Pan" is a much more folk, psychedelic and jazzy record. It's a journey through deep forests, over high mountains, where beautiful landscapes opens up and sometimes tricks you into the darkest (and brightest) corners of Pan's Kingdom.

Me: How did that song title get to be the album title?

Ragnar: The album was titled long before we had any songs written. This song is lyrically about what The Great God Pan is about (for us). And that is about following your dream no matter how hard the travel might seem. Sometimes the road is joyful and lovely and sometimes you feel like you are in a nightmare. Then it is very easy to fall back and think this was not for you, and give up. If you really want something you must go your full length to get there, even if it kills you for the small glimpse of what we think of as The Great God Pan!

Me: I imagine you play and tour all over Europe. Ever been to America yet? Are you planning on coming over here?

Ragnar: Canada is the nearest so far, but finally we have a proper release on the End Records. We love to conquer as I said, U.S. is no exception.

Me: So, what's next for the band? Any new music you guys are working on?

Ragnar: We just recorded our third album, which will be titled " Rumours of a Presence". We are really excited about that one.

Me: Thanks so much for being here. Come to America. Good luck, you guys.

Ragnar: Thanks for having me! Take care.

That about does it for another week's worth of entries. Thanks to Jeff Cameron and Ragnar Vikse. Like I said, the Phile will be back next Sunday with ChrisRWK. Spread the word, not the turd. Don't let snakes and alligators bite you. Bye, love you, bye.

Pheaturing Oh, Hush!

Hello, and welcome to another entry of the Phile, kids. How are you? Well, according to a new study, our email is not as safe as we thought. How do they know this? They’ve been reading my email. I’ve never understood why they call junk mail “spam,” because spam is delicious and junk mail is annoying. But you can still find both under my couch. I’m hooked on email. That’s right, kids, I’m one of you. In California, they passed a law against texting while driving. But there’s no law preventing you from writing a letter while driving. Bookstore company Borders announced that it expects to find a buyer by the end of July. Not a buyer for the company, but just anyone willing to pay them for a book. Experts say New York’s new gay marriage bill could bring $210 million into the state’s economy. Even more surprising: All of that would be from one crazy bachelor party. Anthony Weiner is reportedly involved in choosing his successor. The first question he asked his potential replacements is, “What’s the difference between ‘reply’ and ‘reply all?’” A senior al-Qaida leader was arrested in Afghanistan and he was disguised as a woman. Police became suspicious after he was seen stoning himself. Well, the last space shuttle went up two days ago, and I was too lazy to poke my head out the door to see it. Actually, I was working, but still forgot about it. I never did go see a shuttle lift off at the Cape, just watched the little bright orange spark go up for a few seconds. Anyway, I was excited when NASA put out an inspirational poster.

I don't get it though. Harry Potter Finally Ends or whatever it is called comes out in a few days. Are you nerds sad? I have never seen a Harry Potter film or read the books I will watch the movies now after I saw these screen shots from the Potter films.

Man, he likes those breasts. Derek Jeter hit 3,000 home runs and is now a record holder I think. I actually don't understand baseball too much, much from England, and not really into sports, so I thought once again I would invite one of my best friends who knows of such things to the Phile who could explain to me what Jeter did and keep me updated on all things sports. So, once again, it's time to...

Me: Welcome back to the Phile, Jeff. What's this that Derek Jeter hit 3000 home runs? Did I get that right?

Jeff: First off, Derek Jeter didn't hit 3000 home runs. He did get the 3000th hit of his career though and it was a home run.

Me: Okay, but did he break a record?

Jeff: It's not a record but it is a great achievement in his career. He is only the 28th man in major league baseball history to collect that many hits. If you think about the 100,000's of people who have played since baseball started, to be one of 28 is amazing in of it self. Jeter isn't a home run hitter, he only has 236 home runs which is far from the record. But due to his high level of consistency an argument could be made that he is one of the best hitters in history. Shockingly with all the great Yankees of the past, he is the first one in the organization with 3000 hits.

Me: I see, well, while I have you here, what's the latest on the NFL?

Jeff: From all reports, by the end of next Friday hopefully there will be football again in the United States. The sides are getting closer to lifting the lock out allowing players to report to their teams and free agents to sign with new teams. We may get a full season in after all.

Me: When is football season supposed to start?

Jeff: The first preseason game is scheduled for mid August with the regular season starting in September.

Me: But there'll no basketball, right?

Jeff: Because last week the NBA locked out their players too, and chances are their lock out will cost them games next season, possibly even the entire season. The two sides are not even close on agreeing. So after a great season where the Dallas Mavericks won their first NBA championship, and LeBron kept losing... we may not have basketball for a very long time. I am on strike myself, refusing to wear anything football or basketball related until the lock outs are lifted.

Me: Hey, maybe with no football and no basketball soccer has a chance.

Jeff: I hate to tell you this, Jason. Soccer has no chance in America. If bringing over David Beckham can't get us interested in soccer, pretty much nothing can.

Me: Hmmmm. Thanks, Jeff. You are always the most helpful. You can check out Jeff's own blog at entertainmentgurunews.blogspot.com where he just posted his 50th entry. Well done, Jeff.

And now for some sad news...

Betty Ford
April 8, 1918 - July 8, 2011
Say what you want about American cars, but you have to be impressed with a Ford that runs for 93 years.
Dick Williams
May 7, 1929 - July 7, 2011
In baseball parlance, he took a beanball.

The second artist to be pheatured in the P.P.A.G. is ChrisRWK, and this is one of his pieces of work.

Chris will be a guest on the Phile next Sunday.

Today's guests are a band that I have been wanting to get on the Phile for years. They don;t normally do interviews, but with a stack of pop-rock songs, thousands of merchandise items and records sold, approximately 15 film, TV, and media placements they are doing pretty well. Please welcome to the Phile... Oh, Hush!


Me: Hello, welcome to the Phile. I have no idea who I am interviewing, as I cannot find out any information about you guys on-line. So, my first question is, who are you guys?

Oh, Hush!: That's a secret!! Ya know, it's not so much about keeping our identities secret as it is just focusing on the MUSIC!! When we started this project we didn't have much of a plan other than to make it about two things: 1) the MUSIC and 2) the FANS!! That's all that was really important to us. We wanted people to give the music a shot without any kind of expectations or pre-conceived notions about the band. We didn't want people's opinions of the music to be swayed at all by who was or was not in the band, what we looked like, or anything else. Love us or hate us, but do it entirely based on the music!!

Me: I love the album cover for "The Yellow Album". Who did your work, it's very retro looking.

Oh, Hush!: We held a contest giving a few very general rules... we had about 250 entries... and the cover that won was designed by a girl year old girl named Casey! Simply an amazing piece of artwork!! She's amazing!!

Me: Speaking of the album, which I downloaded from iTunes, where did the title "The Yellow Album" come from? The Simpsons had an album with the same name.

Oh, Hush!: Yeah, it wasn't until after we released it that we saw the Simpsons did an album with the same name! I think Spongebob Square Pants did a "Yellow Album" as well. Haha. Ultimately, from the beginning, we've always had this ugly yellow logo! And I think it just kinda stuck and YELLOW became the "official color" of Oh, Hush! And then I read a fashion article that says YELLOW was going to be the most prominent color of 2009! Looks like we must be setting trends that are bigger than just music! :-)

Me: Are you guys Beatles fans?

Oh, Hush!: Beatles = best.band.ever.

Me: What music are you kids in to?

Oh, Hush!: Lots! All of us are not only musicians but really really big fans of good music!! We all listen to a lot of everything. Some of my personal biggest influences are all things Butch Walker (solo stuff, Marvelous 3, Southgang, 1969, etc); Keith Urban is pretty much the best entertainer in music today!! I realize he's "country music" but again, this isn't about genres, it's about good music - and that he is!! I know it's cliche to talk about Fallout Boy being an influence but those guys are really fantastic songwriters and just a killer rock band!! Cobra Starship's first record was groundbreaking and fantastico! Justin Timberlake is probably the best pop artist in the past 20 years!! I'm also starting to get into really cool bands like Bloc Party and The Ting Tings from the UK. Lately I'm heavily into the new Academy Is… record. Katy Perry's record is a pop masterpiece!! Tokio Hotel has something really cool happening!! I can't wait for the new Killers record. I'm also heavily into a lot of the Radio Disney stuff. Not sure why but the songs are usually a lot of fun!!

Me: Let's talk about the name of the band... Oh, Hush! That's something my wife would say, but then the band would be called Shut The Fuck Up. Where did the name come from?

Oh, Hush!: Legend has it that we were working on one of our very first songs in my studio at my parents' house and we were making an awful lot of noise late into the night. My mother (aka MamaHush) came downstairs repeatedly telling us to turn the music down and finally just yelled out "Oh, Hush!" And thus the project was born. This may or may not be entirely true!!?!

Me: Do you guys do concerts? If so, do you hide i.e. The Gorillaz?

Oh, Hush!: We haven't given a ton of thought to tours and concerts just yet! We wanted to fully launch this thing as a "virtual band" that is truly ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC and see how far we could take that! So far, it's gone pretty far and we still have a few hundred million people to reach with the idea and concept of Oh, Hush! Though, I believe we are holding out for the 2012 VMAs!!

Me: Proceeds from your album go to Make-A-Wish, which is very cool. How did that organization get picked by you guys?

Oh, Hush!: We knew that we had been greatly blessed by this project! when we started it, we never imagined we'd have this many fans and this many people actually care about the silly songs we were making! We really felt compelled to share this blessing with other people who may not be as fortunate! Make-A-Wish is an amazing organization that I'm sure most of your readers are familiar with! We love kids and we want to be able to give back to kids who might be facing an incredibly tough challenge! We wish we could give them more... but all the same, we just wanted to give back to the world in our own small way!!

Me: You're based in Forks, California, right? Where is Forks located, and how is the music scene there?

Oh, Hush!: Haha. Well... we like to move around a lot. Not even sure if there's a city in California called "Forks." Suffice it to say we don't offer up much informaton about our location (or our band members, pictures, etc).

Me: I noticed looking at your Myspace site you have one of the biggest fan bases I ever knew. All that just from your music! How did that happen?

Oh, Hush!: I think its because we have really amazing fans who really truly GET what we're all about! We're doing something different and unique from pretty much every other band in the world! I can't think of another band out there who can say that they are truly ALL ABOUT THE MUSIC! We can!!! And I think that resonates with lots of people and creates a loyal fanbase!! I'm sure there's other factors that contribute that I can't even begin to understand or analyze, but I think the core of what this is is something that our fans get, support, and share with all of their friends!!

Me: So, are you going to list this interview on your site?

Oh, Hush!: Of course!

Me: Are you ever going to reveal yourselves? I just want to know if you have a hot chick in your band.

Oh, Hush!: We definitely do have a hott chick in our band!! By "reveal" do you mean like... take our clothes off???!?! Cuz we're not superly into that idea… even though it seems lots of people do it to sell records these days. For the few e-mails we get from people once in a while asking us to reveal ourselves, we literally receive 100s and 100s of e-mails from people telling us to NEVER reveal ourselves!! Which is actually kinda interesting I think! That said, I know at some point we'll let everyone know who we are. We don't really plan things out too far in advance so I don't know exactly when that will happen. I know that we're not quite ready to reveal the band yet. But I'm confident that when the time is right, we'll know, we'll reveal it, and it will ideally be worth every bit the anticipation!! But for right now, we're still holding out to reveal on the VMAs next year!!

Me: Finally, is there anything else you would like to tell the phans of the Phile?

Oh, Hush!: Thanks for interviewing us and thanks for all of your phans who give us a shot and check out the music!! We hope you enjoy what you hear!!

Me: Thanks for taking part, guys. I love your CD and wish you all the luck in the world.

Well, that about does it for another entry of the Phile. Thanks to Jeff for answering a few questions, and of course to Oh, Hush! who I want to have back on the Phile. The Phile will be back tomorrow for a Monday entry with Ragnar Vikse, the lead singer for the Norwegian rock band Spirits of the Dead and then again next Sunday with artist ChrisRWK. Hopefully for the rest of the Summer I will be posting two entries a week. Until then, spread the word, not the turd. Don't let snakes and alligators bite you. Bye, love you, bye.

Pheaturing The 200th Interview Toots From Toots & The Maytals

Happy Independence Day! Wait, I shouldn't say that, I'm British. Anyway, welcome to the July 4th entry of the Phile with the 200th interview, which happens to be a guy from Jamaica. Man, I really thought this through. The 100th interview you might remember was my sister Leila, but when I checked back, I was wrong. Sorry, Leila. Even though she was billed as the 100th interview it was actually Kevin Presbrey from the band Painkiller Hotel. Leila was actually the 90th. Yep, I was ten off. I am an idiot. Well, Anthony Weiner is back in the private sector now. When he was a congressman from New York, I think it was his private sector that got him in trouble. Chris Wallace at Fox News asked Michele Bachmann if she is a flake. I think that’s an insult to the fine folks at Kellogg’s. Rod Blagojevich was charged with corruption — and unlawful imprisonment of a badger. Have you seen his hair? Blagojevich said he was stunned by the verdict. Apparently, he wasn’t paying attention during the trial. The Pope is now on Twitter. The church is really trying to connect with young people — in a way that doesn’t involve hush money. So, you're celebrating your independence from the British today. I hope that in a couple years, we’ll be able to celebrate our independence from the Chinese. They’ve found a link between chemicals in shampoo and obesity. If you’re eating shampoo, your weight is the least of your concerns. The royal couple will be visiting eight major cities during their nine days in Canada. That’s amazing to me. Canada has eight major cities? The Senate canceled their vacation to work on the budget. Either they really can’t agree or they’re looking for an excuse to not go on vacation with their families. Okay, kids, it's the Philosoraptor.

Did you see the Independence Day poster that came out? I was very confused.

Well, I didn’t pay much attention to history when I was in school. I try to put it all in the past. Every year I am amazed at how a lot of people don't know what Independence Day is, so this year I thought I would invite someone to the Phile that is as American as you can get, someone who loves America, and who can explain Indepedence Day. So, here is a new pheature to the Phile, kids. Please welcome...

Me: LMAO. What's with the CB things on his shirt? Oh, he's a bike courier or something. Okay, Pat, explain Independence Day.

Pat Riot: It's a holiday where Americans, drink beer, watch violent sports and char dead animal flesh while extolling the virtues of our great Nation. Then later when things begin to wind down, you get your instant mini-cam, to record all the blackmail worthy, faux pas that you encounter around the hot tub. Particularly with Trisha and Sandi, the one who works at that department store... and if you are in Texas or anywhere in the south, shout, "Jesus Christ, Jesus Christ, that bastards a Jew", and point at the man with spectacles who lives next door, see which of your friends is the first to light a cross on his lawn. Finally turn eastward, shake your fist in the sky and say take that you Commie bastards, this is the USA! And then before bed, write down the colonostopy appointment on the refrigerator calender. And that, my half English friend, is the fourth of July.

Me: Hmmmm, thanks, Pat, that wasn't what I thought, and I am fully, but thanks. Ladies and gentlemen, Pat Riot, the man who loves America!

So the Decepticons want these pillars that can reshape the universe and it'll help them kill off the Autobots and enslave all the people on Earth but the government doesn't believe this because they forgot that the root word of Decepticon is "deceive" so they're dumb and then Shia and Not Megan Fox have to go rogue and jump start the next robot war but it might be too late because all the big businesses are now run by Decepticon lackeys and so the robots trash Chicago and then comes the part where Shia screams "OPTIMUHHHHSSSS!!!" in the middle of a huge battle. That's always the funniest scene in these movies and it happens in every one of them. Like that guy can even hear you, dummy. A friend at work told me a few days ago that liking these movies is the same thing as liking Limp Bizkit and hot dogs from AM/PM convenience stores. Then some other people I know told me that liking these movies means I'm not a real film critic anymore, if I ever was. Then Optimus Prime himself came to me in a dream and said, "Thank you, Jason, for liking these films means that you understand our true awesome nature and the beauty of loud idiot garbage about nothing." And I said, "You're welcome, Optimus Prime. Now go make me a sandwich made of metal." If you hated the last two movies for their relentless assault of spinning gears and twisted bot-on-bot visual confusion, then you should know that not a single thing has changed, the 3D this one is in will only amplify your agony and you will be way happier choosing that nice Tom Hanks and Julia Roberts movie instead. If, on the other hand, your favorite element of these films is precisely their refusal to comply with your eyeballs' need for stuff to just stop for a minute every once in a while so you can focus and not get sick to your stomach, then yeah, lots more of that. It's sort of impossible to know if Shia LaBeouf is a good actor or not because he's found a yelling niche that he doesn't seem all that eager to shake. But subtle acting tricks are not what you need from a star in these films. You need somebody who's down for whatever, who doesn't bother asking what the day on set is going to hold, who just stands in front of that green screen and reacts to the spot on the wall and understands that, when you're acting opposite cars and air, you're just a dutiful cog in the machine. He's now a brand you can trust. Replacing the smart-mouthed Megan Fox in this chapter is Victoria's Secret model Rosie Huntington-Whiteley. Her job is to run across robot destruction wreckage in super-high heels, get thrown around a toppling building (in the movie's greatest, craziest action sequence to date) without soiling or tearing her pristine white jacket, stare blankly at possible end-of-the-world chaos and be less, as in "not at all'', of a contrarian than her predecessor. She's an expert at all that stuff. From one to ten, it gets a 10, and yes, I will be buying it when it comes out.

The second artist to be pheatured in the P.P.A.G. is ChrisRWK, and this is one of his works of art.

Chris will be a guest on the Phile in a few weeks.

This is so friggin' cool. Today's guest is a ska and roots reggae singer and leader of the reggae band Toots & the Maytals whose new album "Flip & Twist" is now available at stores and on iTunes. He is also the 200th interview on the Phile, and will be appearing today at Washington Park Rose Garden in Portland, Oregon. Please welcome to the Phile... the one and only Toots.

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

Toots: All good.

Me: It is such a thrill to have a legend like you here, sir. Do I call you Toots or Frederick? Come to think of it, I am guessing no one has called you Frederick or Fred in a long time, right?

Toots: My friends call me Nyah.

Me: Nyah, how did you get the nickname Toots, sir?

Toots: From my family when I was young.

Me: I have purchased a lot of your music over the years as you were always my favorite reggae singer in the world. I just downloaded your latest album called "Flip & Twist" and thinks it's some of your finest work yet. Do you still like recording after all these years, or do you prefer to play live?

Toots: I like both and spend a lot of time on both. Glad you like "Flip & Twist"... I put a lot into that record and it is a little different than usual.

Me: Is there any song or album that you recorded that really means the world to you?

Toots: "Flip & Twist" is a good one.

Me: I have to tell you, my dad was Lonesome Dave, lead singer of Foghat, and was a fan as well. I first heard about you ion the late 70's when he played The Specials and The Clash a lot, and explained that they covered your songs. Did you think it was cool back then when those English white boys dug your music so much that they covered your songs?

Toots: I love when other artists cover my songs and I cover other artists songs as well.

Me: I liked it you played on the Radiohead cover album. Were you aware of the band and their music when you were asked to be on it?

Toots: Not really, but I loved the song "Let Down" when I was asked to do it.

Me: A few years ago your album "True Love" won a Grammy. That album had your band doing songs with a bunch of very cool group of people. No Doubt, Bonnie Raitt, and Eric Clapton to name a few. With that alum , did you approach the guest artists, or did they approach you?

Toots: They are all friends and I am their fan and they are my fan... it went both ways.

Me: By the way, did you watch the Grammy's this year? What do you think of today's artists?

Toots: I did and love some of the new artists and hope to work with some of them in the future.

Me: Let's talk about your band: The Maytals. What exactly is a Maytal?

Toots: Maytals comes from Maypen, Jamaica where I was born.

Me: The band broke up once and got back together, right? Does the band still have its original members?

Toots: We never broke up and most of my members have been with me since the beginning or for many years.

Me: I said earlier you are my favorite reggae artist, but most people say Bob Marley or Peter Tosh are there's. The people I know say that anyway. Did you know those gentlemen well?

Toots: Yes, we started together at the same time.

Me: Were you ever jealous that Marley would become just an icon?

Toots: No, we were friends and I ams till close with his family.

Me: Well, no matter what anybody says, you had the most number one hits in Jamaica. Speaking of, do you still live over there?

Toots: That is true... I live in Kingston, Jamaica.

Me: I have to mention this, there's a BBC documentary coming out about Toots and the Maytals, right? When was that filmed?

Toots: It recently aired on BBC 4 in the U.K.... it was filmed over the last 2 years and includes archival footage from throughout my career.

Me: Do you know if it'll be shown over here in America?

Toots: Yes, we are working on a deal for the U.S. and are putting together a DVD box set for sale.

Me: Your new album is on your own label... D & F. What do the initials stand for?

Toots: Doreen my wife and Frederick myself.

Me: When you formed that label was it to just release your own music, or do you work with other musicians?

Toots: I am also producing other artists and just finished an album with Chantell Hernandez coming out soon.

Me: Toots, thanks so much for being on the Phile. I hope it was fun, and that you'd come back one day. Go ahead and mention your website and anything else you wanna mantion, sir.

Toots: I would like to mention my foundation The Toots Foundation, we help children and the sick mostly in Jamaica and take $1.00 from most concert tickets sold in the U.S. to raise money. We are working on building a youth center and school in Jamaica in the future. To donate or check out my website go to tootsandthemaytals.com.

Me: Is there anything you wanna tell the readers of the Phile?

Toots: Yes, I love them and hope they come see my shows and listen to my music.

Me: Thanks again, and take care, my friend.

Toots: Blessings.

That about does it for another entry. Thanks for Toots for taking time out to be on the Phile. And special thanks to Jeff Cameron as well. The Phile will be back next Sunday with a cool pop band from California called Oh. Hush! who I have been wanting on the Phile for awhile, and they don't normally do interviews. So, until then, spread the word, not the turd. Don't let snakes and alligators bite you. And have a safe July 4th. Bye, love you, bye.

Pheaturing Richard Nelson

Hello, welcome to the little blog I like to call the Peverett Phile. How are you? So, Anthony Weiner was photographed this weekend dining with his wife and texting from his cell phone. Maybe he should put the phone away for a few years. Another politician, Rod Blagojevich, was convicted of extortion, wire fraud, bribery, and criminal abuse of styling mousse. Some of the counts Blagojevich was convicted of carry 10- to 20-year sentences, so he could be facing up to 300 years in prison. That’s a long time, even for a leprechaun. A hot dog company in Chicago is suing a rival for stealing its secret recipe. Just what we need — another weiner scandal. A first-edition Charles Darwin book was returned to a library in Australia, 122 years late. You could tell it was a Darwin book because it actually evolved into an iPad. A new study found that 10 percent of toddlers are overweight. That explains the most popular new stroller on the market: a wheelbarrow. The author of “The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants” is releasing a new book that takes place 10 years later. You can tell the characters are getting older because now, the traveling pants have an elastic waistband. So, what do you think of this Michele Bachmann? She is kind of like Sarah Palin but without the charisma — or marksmanship. Bachmann didn’t know John Wayne Gacy was from her hometown of Waterloo, Iowa. The town is about the size of the Wayans family. The next-most famous person from that town is the guy that grew the biggest pumpkin at the town fair. Apparently, a pipe with marijuana in it was found buried in Shakespeare’s garden. That’s amazing. Shakespeare had a garden? If they dig up Shakespeare and he’s buried in a tie-dye shirt with a pint of Chunky Monkey, we’ll know it’s true. If Shakespeare knew this was going on, he’d be rolling in his grave — rolling a huge joint. The Pope tweeted a few days ago. If you had told me the Pope tweeted five years ago, I would have said, “Why? Does he think he’s a bird?” Sarah Palin says she should be ready to make a decision on running for president by December 2012. The new Transformer's movie came out this week, and I was excited when I saw the Transformers themed inspirational poster. here it is.

And here is a new pheature on the Phile, kids, it's the Philosoraptor!

And it's Sunday, so here is my wife's least favorite thing about the Phile.

That's a very good point, isn't it?

Okay, let's introduce the second artist to be pheatured in the P.P.A.G. It's ChrisRWK and this is one of his pieces of work.

Chris will be a guest on the Phile in a few weeks.

Today's guest is a jazz musician and composer whose new album "Pursuit" is now available on iTunes. He'll be appearing next at on October 14th at Colby College, Waterville, Maine where he'll premiere the performance of Deep River suite by Aardvark Jazz Orchestra. Please welcome to the Phile... Richard Nelson.

Me: Hello, Richard, welcome to the Phile. So, did you know there's a playwright name Richard Nelson?

Richard: Hi! Nice to be with you. I am indeed aware of that Richard Nelson, hope to meet him someday! And there was another Richard (Ricky) Nelson in music, I think... had a hit or two... "Garden Party", etc. It's actually kind of a tricky name for a guitarist.

Me: Anyway, how are you, sir?

Richard: I am well, thank you. Another crazy-busy day in beautiful summertime Maine.

Me: You've been in the music business for a long time, right? How old were you when you started to play guitar?

Richard: Started playing in fifth grade, never looked back. Beatles, Hendrix, you know. And on from there.

Me: Do you play any other instruments, or sing?

Richard: For fun, I sing a bit, play some keyboards and bass. But professionally, I'm wise enough to stick to playing guitar and writing music.

Me: Did you grow up listening to jazz, sir, or did you get into other genres as well?

Richard: Like a lot of jazz musicians, I started out playing and listening to popular music, in my case, rock and blues. Then the web just kept getting bigger: jazz of all kinds, plus traditional and modern classical music. I still love recent creative rock music... Pavement, Dirty Projectors, Sonic Youth, "Foxtrot"-era Wilco. I think what distinguishes me as a musician and composer is that I have substantial experience in all of these genres and I'm able to blend them effectively, without watering them down.

Me: Let's talk about your new album "Pursuit". It's described as having a five-movement work. For the readers that don't know what that means, I am not sure I know what that means, can you explain what a five-movement work is?

Richard: Sure! Basically, "Pursuit" is kind of like a jazz symphony. It's made up of five separate pieces that all go together to make up the whole thing. The five pieces relate to each other, but they also each have their own identities. They express different perspectives on contemporary jazz.

Me: You recorded the album with a 13 piece band, is that right? Do you tour with 13 people?

Richard: I wish! Unfortunately, kind of impractical. We did do several concerts here in Maine.

Me: Is this the same band that's in The Richard Nelson Imaginary Ensemble?

Richard: The Imaginary Ensemble is a smaller version of the group on the CD. The instrumentation can vary, that's part of what's "imaginary" about it. Right now it's guitar, saxophone, bass, drums and a guest vocalist on some jazz-meets-folk numbers.

Me: That's a great name for a band by the way, but not easy to remember. Did you come up with it?

Richard: Indeed I did, looking for something I could use that would flexible for creative gigs of all sorts. And I like to think of music as existing in a sort of imaginary world, transporting us from our constant commonplace preoccupations.

Me: I read you play John Lennon songs in concert. Have you ever recorded any? You said you listened to the Beatles, are a you a big fan?

Richard: I got started on the Beatles and I continue to be amazed to this day by the brilliance of their creativity. I haven't recorded any Beatles songs yet, but my drummer, Steve Grover, has a very nice album of jazz takes on Beatles songs titled "Flying."

Me: Richard, where are you from originally, sir? Do you still live there?

Richard: I grew up just outside of Berkeley, California and I lived in the Bay Area for quite a while. Now I live in Maine, and I teach music composition and jazz improvisation at the University of Maine at Augusta.

Me: I thought Augusta was in Georgia. Where abouts is Augusta, Maine?

Richard: We've got everything in here Maine: China, Mexico, Rome. Augusta is the state capitol, about three hours north of Boston.

Me: I have to ask you about the band the Aardvark Jazz Orchestra... that's another group or band you played and recorded with, right?

Richard: Yeah... Aardvark is a wonderful 18-piece jazz band led by Mark Harvey which is based in Boston. I've played with them for over 20 years. We run the gamut from very progressive, experimental improvisations to the music of Duke Ellington and it all fits together very nicely. A wonderful family of musicians.

Me: What a great name, and an odd and obscure animal to name yourself under. Do you prefer to play with this band or do your own thing?

Richard: The two are a great balance. Of course I like to put my own vision and creations out there... but it's also nice to just be "part of the band" with Aardvark and let someone else worry about the production and the big picture. The two experiences reinforce each other in positive ways.

Me: I have to ask you what make of guitar you play. If I had to guess I would say... Fender. What do you play?

Richard: Well, you are half right... almost! One of my guitars is a Suhr, which is closely modeled after the Fender Stratocaster. But my main axe is a mid-70s sunburst Gibson ES-335. I've been playing that guitar almost my entire career.

Me: Richard, thanks so much for being here, sir. I hope you will come back again soon. Go ahead and mention your website and take care.

Richard: Thanks for the invitation! Great to talk with you. And you can find me on the web at richardnelsonmusic.com.

Well that about does it for another entry of the Phile. Thanks to Richard for a great interview and to Ann Braithwaite for hooking it up. The Phile will be back tomorrow for a special Independence Day entry which will have the 200th interview with reggae legend Toots from Toots and the Maytals. And then again next Sunday with a band I have been wanting to be on the Phile for 2 years... Oh, Hush! Until then, spread the word, not the turd. Don't let snakes and alligators bite you. Bye, love you, bye.

Pheaturing Dax Norman

Hello, welcome to another entry of the Phile, the second for this week. What the hell, right? Man, I don't know about where you live, but here in Central Florida it's hot. It's so hot, they are landing planes in Lake Eola just to cool off. So hot today that the crack dealers in Orlando switched to Klondike Bars. Do you know who is in a lot of trouble? No, not me. I’ll tell you who’s in a lot of trouble: Mitt Romney. He’s supposedly the Republican presidential contender front-runner. Here’s what happened: He created a successful healthcare plan in Massachusetts. Are you kidding me? Come on! What a dope. Former governor of Utah, Jon Huntsman, is running for president. He's one of those guys that can do everything — he speaks Chinese. In a couple of years we’ll all be speaking Chinese, so who cares? In a short period of time the Republicans have come quite a long way. The last Republican president wasn’t even fluent in English. This is big news, I guess, New York City legalized same-sex marriage. Until it becomes official, the only place in New York City where gay couples could actually marry was backstage at the Tony Awards. Newt Gingrich announced he was running for president. His top advisers quit, and then his campaign fundraisers all quit. Newt was thinking, “I don’t need this, I’ll just put it all on my Tiffany’s credit card.” A postcard originally mailed in 1912 was finally delivered last week. On the back it was signed “Can’t wait to get on the Titanic!” No, that wasn’t it, it was actually signed, “Best Wishes, thanks for watching. Regis.” There’s a light bulb in Livermore, Calif., at a fire station that’s been burning constantly day and night, for 110 years. Isn’t that crazy? First turned on in 1901 — coincidentally I think that’s when Barbara Walters was first turned on. Okay, I mentioned the gay marriage law being out through in New York, right? The whole city is going gay nuts. Even the Empire State Building turned gay. Take a look.

Then there was this chalkboard outside a restaurant.

This is weird, did anybody see the new Facebook ad that was put out?

So, I had a great idea for a movie, and I want to tell you what is is, get your opinion. It's about a rat who dreams of becoming a chef in Paris. What do you think? It'll be called Ratatoing and here's what the DVD cover would look like. LOL, that is so stupid.

And now, from the home office in Port Jefferson, New York, here is this week's...

Top Ten Newt Gingrich Presidential Campaign Slogans
10. Isn't It Time For An Old, White President?
9. A Perfect Fit The For The Oval Office, Literally.
8. Troubled Times Demand A Truly Troubled Man.
7. Someone Get Me A Double Cheeseburger.
6. A Vote For Me Is A Vote For An Ethics-Violating, Religion-Switching, Sanctimonious Gas Bag Working On His Third Marriage.
5. At Least My Name Isn't Mitt.

4. If There Was Anything Positive To Say, We'd Put It In This Slogan.

3. National Debt? We'll Charge It To Tiffany!

2. Please, I'm Not Getting Any Younger.

And the number one Newt Presidential campaign slogan is...

1. Hey, Where'd Everybody Go?

Lightning McQueen and his best friend Mater are back to address all of your unanswered questions from the first Cars movie. Oh, what? There were no unanswered questions from the first one? Well, you're getting another movie anyway. This time, Lightning McQueen is taunted into participating in a race that's meant to showcase the wonders of natural fuel sources. Obviously, that's only a front and the car entrusted with bringing the whole facade to a crashing halt is the super spy Mater. Wait, you mean the wacky tow truck who can't seem to get anything right? I LOVED this movie but... uh… nothing about this movie was understandable except Disney's desire for more Cars merchandise revenue. I get uncomfortable when I am left scrambling to comprehend the plot of an animated movie, so I have a bad taste in my mouth over this flick. If I had to guess, I would say that people criticized the original film for being too simplistic, so for this one, they hired the entire staff of MIT and some quantum physicists to make the script as convoluted as possible. The movie does have tons of cool gimmicks. The 3D looks amazing, the races are pretty fun, cars fly, and have the usual impressive spy tools that help them achieve their missions. After the film was over, there were plenty of hyper kids bouncing around the lobby calling this the coolest movie they had ever seen. And I was one of them, and so was Logan. I politely refrained from asking any of them or my son what it was actually about, though. My favorite part of these movies is seeing cars doing normal human things ("Oh look, he thinks he's people!"). There are some good laughs in here about bidets and wasabi. Of course the cars have fun names like Holly Shiftwell and Brett Mustangburger. But now that I have typed that sentence I just realized I am praising a movie for "fun names." Unless you have a kid in tow who wants to see about 75 new cars that you'll later have to buy for them in toy form, this movie isn't a must-see. Showing before the film is Pixar short Toy Story: Hawaiian Vacation, which created a longing in my heart that can only be satisfied by watching all three Toy Story movies again. From 1 to 10, it gets a 10 anyway, and yeah, I will buy it when it comes out.

Today's is a contemporary artist who primarily works in painting and animation. He is the first artist to be pheatured in the Peverett Phile Art Gallery as well. Please welcome to the Phile... Dax Norman.

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

Dax: Hi, Jason, so glad to be here. Thanks so much.

Me: I have to say, I love it when I get to interview different artists, as that is what I wanted to be when I was a kid. I still love to doodle to this day. Anyway, did you always want to be an artist?

Dax: Without a doubt. The best thing about being an artist is, you don't need anyone's permission for it. If you make art, then you are one.

Me: Did you used to doodle in your school books like I used to do? I used to get in trouble with that all the time.

Dax: I did that as well, but never got in trouble for it, though. At least that I can remember, anyway.

Me: Where are you from, Dax? You went to school in Florida to study art, is that right?

Dax: Originally, I am from Houston, TX, but now I reside in Austin. I went to Art School at Ringling College of Art and Design in Sarasota, Florida.

Me: All I can say about your art work is WOW! Your brain must work like a millions times over. When you start to work on a painting, do you know what you are gonna paint or draw, or does that all come as you are doing it?

Dax: Thank you. When I start a painting, I like to create unexpected things, letting my subconscious take control. Part of the fun for me is not knowing what will happen next. Mostly I am on auto pilot when I create. Whether it be in coming up with the design, or using color.
I do, however, usually start out with a distinct image, which becomes buried beneath many layers of personal iconography. My goal in doing this, is to create images that can be a new experience upon each. Multiple worlds existing on one plane.

Me: You also do animation as well, right? What do you prefer, painting or animation?

Dax: Currently, painting and animation are equal forms of expression for me. When I began to learn animation, one of the main goals I had was to be able to create the vision I had in my paintings, but in motion. They very much are related, as now, as my animation skills have grown, I find that no longer do I just do animations that are rooted in ideas from my paintings, but I create paintings based on animations I have done, as well. They feed and grow from one another, making me a much more assured artist in the process. Drawing things at 24 frames per second doesn't hurt my draftsmanship skills, either.

Me: Are there any cartoons you watch now, or any forms of animation you like best?

Dax: I love to watch others' independent animations on the internet, they are a big source of inspiration for me. My favorite animated movie of all time is The Tripletts of Belville, and historically, I love the animations by Fleisher Studios, ie: old Popeye cartoons. There is an inherent sense of fun and surrealism in those old cartoons. I also find inspiration by the DIY ethos of animators like Ralph Bakshi and Bill Plympton.

Me: On the Phile most of the people I interview are musicians, Dax. You have worked with some bands and musicians on music videos. Do you get to do what you want for the videos, or does the music artist have an idea and direction to go?

Dax: I do what I want for the videos. Creative freedom is an absolute for me. I am very hesitant to do a project if someone is barking orders at me for what they want visually. Often times, musicians will approach me online, asking If I'll do them a video. If I like their music, I gladly do it. I find that music videos are a great place for me to explore experimental animation ideas that I have. Also, hopefully, the musicians enjoy what I create for their song. I enjoy the process the most when there is a back and forth between myself and the musician/band I am collaborating with, where each of us is free to build upon what the others work inspires.

Me: Do you like to do that kinda thing, or would you rather do your own thing?

Dax: I see it the music videos as genuine collaborations, ans as a way of doing my own thing, and hopefully, also helping to get some music out there in a creative way, in the process.

Me: I noticed you also have some apps out as well on iTunes. I have to tell you, I always downloaded my guests music from iTunes so I downloaded your apps. For the readers that haven't yet, but will as soon as they read this, explain what each app is. I want to call them games, but there's more to them, right?

Dax: Thanks. Yes, I like to call them "interactive art pieces," as all of them are based in some way off of one of my paintings or animations. Like I said before, I aim to create a cohesive visual identity through multiple media, and these games are a part of that. The four iPod and iPad games are called "Daxterpieces", "Daxterpieces II", "Jigsaw Kiss", and "Puzz". "Daxterpieces", and "Daxterpieces II": these are unique puzzle games, where each touch of different parts of the screen reveals a new image, if you touch the different interlocking pieces in the right combination, you reveal a hidden image, and little animation loop plays. There are 15 levels in each of these games. Most of the fun, however is not about solving the puzzles, but exploring unique image combinations that you can create. The imagery in these games was originally based on my 2004 painting, "The Cunning Linguist." (it is a hidden portrait of Shakespeare, get it?) "Daxterpieces" is recently free to download now, by the way. "Jigsaw Kiss": This game uses the accelerometer. There are 2 puzzles, that you can either move pieces into place, or rotate the iPhone/iPad to move them. When they are finished, a longer animation plays, basically bringing the puzzle that you solved to life. The imagery is based on animation that appears in the "Juicy" music video. "Puzz": This one is probably my most straight forward game, but also the most challenging to play. Here, here you try to order the numbered tiles into place, then revealing an image at the end. The imagery in this game is based upon my classic 2005 painting: "The Courtship, by Satan, of a Fire Breathing Poodle."

Me: When did you get the idea to do an app, and will you be coming out with more, Dax?

Dax: I wanted to do an app whenever I first heard about the open development platform for the app store. Although, believe me, I have plenty more ideas for them, and originally intended on expanding into more complex territory, I will not be coming out with any new games for the forseeable future. I made these at a point when I was unemployed, and had high hopes of success. For anyone that has made an app, they can probably attest to how easy it is to get lost in the shuffle. I do feel terrible, however, for the people who collaborated with me, that these games were such a commercial failure. They are some of the coolest, albeit least downloaded, games out there.

Me: Speaking of apps, are you addicted like I am to "Angry Birds". Damn the Finnish.

Dax: I've never played that one. I'll have to check it out. My favorite is "Line Rider".

Me: Your artwork has been featured in different galleries and shows, which must be cool for any artist to have their artwork shown in a gallery. One of the galleries was in Switzerland I think, right. Is your work popular in Europe?

Dax: I love trying to get my art out there however I can. It's a quite a struggle. Currently, my paintings are exhibited in San Francisco at Gallery 444 in Union Square. I have been talking to a gallery in Switzerland, which shows some posters of my work, but an official show of my paintings hasn't materialized there yet. Ringling College purchased 3 of my paintings, which are on display in Florida, including the 9 foot wide "Daxterpiece". Also, I am supposed to meet tomorrow with a gallery here in Austin about showing my work. I'd love to get my work shown somewhere locally. Animation wise, though, my toons have been shown the world over many times at film and animation festivals, many times in Europe. Last year alone, my animations showed publicly in over 20 countries worldwide. Two weeks ago, I rented a projector and screened my animations for 3 hours on the side of a theater bulding in downtown San Antonio. The images were 60 feet wide, it was great. That was my first attempt at DIY distribution.

Me: Is there a gallery or place you would love to have your work shown in?

Dax: No place is too big, or too small. Just two weeks ago, my abstract animated short, "Argyle Kabuki", a collaboration with composer Dave Merson-Hess, played at the Guggenheim in Bilbao, Spain! It was part of the world tour for the amazing Punto y Raya festival.

Me: Let's talk about your paintings. What tools do you use mostly? I would think oils, but I wouldn't know. I use mostly Sharpies for my work. LOL.

Dax: Sharpies are great! I really enjoy drawing directly with pen or marker, too. Their permanence vs. a pencil is liberating to me. For the paintings, I use oil and/ or acrylic. Sometimes I'll start with acrylic, then go over it in oil after it dries, other times I use one or the other.

Me: You have a bowling pin series as well, which is fun. Where do you buy the bowling pins and where did that idea come from? It's clever, you paint over a bowling pin making it a person. How many of those have you done, and which one if your favorite? They are mostly real people you painted on the pins, right?

Dax: Originally I just thought it was a funny idea. I have done hundreds of them. I started doing them in 2003, I think. The first ones I did were of characters from my favorite movie, "The Big Lebowski". Ironicly, I got the ideas for doing the Lebowski pins while watching another Coen Brothers masterpiece, "Raising Arizona". For years I bought them from someone I met through the internet, until 2008, when I approached the Lebowski Fest about doing them as prizes for their festival in San Francisco. They hooked me up with the alley that was hosting the event, and the bowling alley let me have as many pins as I wanted. I took about 4 carloads full of pins back to my garage. At one time, I had about 500 pins to work with. When I finish the last of those, I don't plan on painting any bowling pins ever again. Not that I don't enjoy it, but I think there will be enough out there by then. People really get a kick out of them, so it makes me happy. I try to relate to others with doing different types of art, this is yet another one of them. My version of folk art. It is hard to say which is my favorite. There are so many great ones. I enjoy mostly doing cohesive sets that relate to each other thematically, such as 1980's Pro Wrestling Superstars. Mostly they are cartoon versions of people, or imaginary characters. Sometimes I make them of someof my animated characters.

Me: I have to ask you, Salvadore Dali would love your work I am guessing. I am also guessing you are a fan of his. What other artists do you like?

Dax: I love Salvador Dali's stuff. Some more of my favorites include: Heironymous Bosch, MC Escher, Max Ernst, Max Beckmann, Frida Kahlo, William Eggleston, Edward Hopper, Basil Wolverton, Paul Gauguin, Toulouse-Lautrec. Also, I recommend two books for aspiring artists: "The Mission of Art" by Alex Grey and "Concerning the Spiritual in Art" by Wassily Kandinsky.

Me: What do you think of Van Gogh's work?

A: Vincent Van Gogh is my all time favorite artist. As I have yet to find someone that I can talk with/ relate to about art, I talk to him and other artists from history that I admire, and I think that they speak through me at times. I find inspiration from his story and dedication to his vision. I read many books on his life, and his "Letters to Theo" (the compilation of letters that he wrote to his brother, Theo) offer terrific insight into the misunderstood artist.

Me: All your artwork seems so complex, colorful and with a million things going on. How long does it take you do one painting? And do you only work on one at a time?

Dax: Years ago I only worked on one at a time. I would sit there for a long time, not doing anything, until the images revealed themselves to me. In the past few years, I work on multiple paintings at once. I go from one to another, exploring different ideas and techniques. I don't want that all of my work should look the same, so I try and explore ideas from different angles so to speak. Animation is the same way, currently I am working on five cartoons at once. By "at once" I don't mean literally, but rather working on multiple projects simultaneously, and not waiting until I finish one before starting another. I think this is how I have managed to be so prolific in painting and animation.

Me: I checked out your merchandise, and was surprised you have your own sneakers. My dad who was a musician used to buy Chuck All-Star high-tops and paint them for stage? Is that what you do? Not for stage, but buy Chuck's and paint on them?

Dax: Do you have any of your Dad's old sneakers? Those sound cool. The ones with my art are a bit different. The company I use to get posters, t-shirts, etc made for my work, also lets anyone upload their own designs to put on sneakers. I got a pair for my wife, and they are her favorite shoes. They came out really nice quality.

Me: Has anybody ever approached you to do an album cover?

Dax: Surprisingly, not really. I did one once, but I don't think the album ever came out.

Me: What about a logo for a blog?

Dax: Are you hinting at something? LOL... I'd be happy to.

Me: Speaking of blogs, I see you have your own blogspot. How often do you update it, and how long have you had it?

Dax: I update it on average probably at least one time a week, sometimes more. I will put paintings there, embed my animation videos, stuff like that. I don't go into much detail, in words, about my own meanings behind the work, as I hope that the artwork can speak for itself.

Me: Dax, are you working on anything presently? I bet you paint something everyday, am I right?

Dax: Yes, I definitely strive to paint every day. Painting is so relaxing for my mind. Currently, I am working on a giant painting in my garage, putting the finishing touches on one narrative animation, and ramping up/ in production on four others. Stay tooned for more.

Me: Thanks so much for being on the Phile, sir. Go ahead and plug your website, blog, merch site and anything else you wanna. Thanks again, and please come back on the Phile soon. Your work is amazing.

Dax: Thanks again so much for having me. My website: daxnorman.com is a digital hub for all of my online pages. Youtube: www.youtube.com/daximonious, Twitter: @daxterpiece, Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Dax/104772958530. You will also find links on my site to the iPhone games, bowling pins, T-Shirts Posters, etc. Thanks again, Jason! I loved your thoughtful questions. Talk to you soon.

Well, that about does it for a second entry this week. The Phile will be back next Sunday with jazz musician Richard Nelson, and then next Monday on July 4th the Phile will be back again on July 4th with the 200th interview, reggae singer Toots from Toots & the Maytals. Yep, you read that right. Freaking cool, right? So, spread the word not the turd. Don't let snakes and alligators bite you. Bye, love you, bye.

Drawing by Logan Peverett.