Pheaturing Kent Gustavson

Hey, kids, welcome to the Phile on a Monday. How are you? Well, the biggest news this week is I am gonna funally have my surgery on my shoulder tomorrow. Are you excited? Why would you be? I am excited and kinda nervous. And now for other news about some other people.  Tensions continue to mount in this North Korea situation. The U.S. has moved a Navy warship off the coast of the Korean Peninsula. Is that going to scare the North Koreans? If you really want to scare them, don't send a warship. Send a Carnival cruise ship. Some experts believe North Korea may have the missile capability to reach Los Angeles. That’s why NBC is moving “The Tonight Show” to New York. Of course. It makes perfect sense.  Samoa Air wants to be the first airline to charge passengers by the pound. You stand on a scale, they weigh you, and you pay your fare based on that. In a related story, Gov. Chris Christie changed his flight from Samoa to Delta.  Model Heidi Klum was in Hawaii and saved her 7-year-old son from drowning. The rip tide pulled him out, and Heidi jumped in the water and saved him. I was surprised the kid isn’t a better swimmer. He's half seal, isn’t he? LOL. Man, I want to see a picture of Heidi doing all that... or at least in a bikini on a beach. Come on internet, don't let me down.

There! You gotta love it! Just how I imagined it to be, but who blurred her breast? Aggghhh.  Fast food workers in New York City went on strike. They're demanding the companies double their pay to $15 an hour. If it doesn't happen, there will be no fast food in New York. Mayor Bloomberg has got to be torn on this one, huh? You will never see this kind of strike happen in New Jersey... not on Gov. Christie’s watch.  Texas Highway Patrol pulled over a tanker rig for what they thought was a routine traffic stop, but when they searched the truck, they found 3.9 tons of marijuana in it. This is why you never ask the cops for directions to Willie Nelson's house.  Snoop Dogg has a new song collaborating with Miley Cyrus, making it impossible for fans of either artist to enjoy it. Snoop is the only recording artist whose greatest hits don't involve music.  Last week, President Obama announced a $100 million initiative to map the human brain. Joe Biden said, "You can map mine for a lot less."  They’re testing a new breakfast sandwich that has eggs and bacon stuffed inside a glazed doughnut. It goes with their new slogan, "America runs out of breath on Dunkin'."  A man in New Jersey was arrested for stealing $100,000 worth of perfume. Not good. I mean, if there's one thing you don't want in jail, it’s to smell pretty.  The White House has now put together a website for kids. It's a website to teach kids how to manage a budget responsibly. The website is called Irony.gov.  The federal government says it will do one more study on the risk of cellphone radiation. Or as the guy with the third ear growing out of his neck said, "That's cool. Take your time."  A new report found that, despite the slowing economy, going to college is still paying off. Unfortunately, still paying off is what you'll be doing with your college loans for the rest of your life.  Did you guys go see Jurassic Park in 3D? I might go today and see it. Not only did they transfer the movie into 3D but they also added a few things. Take a look...

This is real... Lay's, the potato chips company released this ad...

 

I vote to save Eva Longoria and to lay her as well. Okay, I apologize. That was the dumbest joke ever. Hey, wanna see another change they did to Jurassic Park?

That's a little better.  I have to show you this, a Phile reader sent me this picture...

 
It's a broken Foghat record, I think "Foghat Live". They asked me if I could replace it for them. Lemme think about it. Send me your address to thepeverettphile@gmail.com and I will see what I could do. But how did it break in the first place? Why is it so dirty?  On Saturday, Disney's Hollywood Studios ran it's Countdown to Fun parade for it's last time. So, that got me thinking. What other parades could be put in it's place. How about the World's Largest Bikini Parade? Wait. That's already been done. Bikini parades are fairly common, but in this case it is the size that counts. All over the world, cities are constantly competing with each other as to who can hold the largest. Last year's winner was Panama City Beach, Florida with 450 bikini-clad lasses, smashing the previous year's record held by Gold Coast, Australia who had a mere 357. USA! USA! Hey, maybe this year Disney can beat Panana Beach. Okay, let's see who kicked the bucket. This is fresh of the press and I think you probably know who it is.

Margaret Thatcher
Oct 13, 1925 - April 7, 2013
Being nicknamed "The Iron Lady" by the Brits is like being named "World's toughest" by the Boy Scouts. I was never impressed.

Okay, well, he was here yesterday and he's here today. He's a singer, patriot, renaissance man, and one of the coolest members of the Phile phamily. You know what time it is. Please welcome back to the Phile... Laird Jim.

 
Good morning, humans... Yes, I know it's Monday. Just suck it up, cupcake, happens once a week. Quote of the night comes from my 12 year old, Michael. We were listening to AC/DC's "Thunderstruck" and Michael says, "How does he sing like that? It sounds painful... sounds like mom in the bathroom after drinking too much." I love this kid.

It's 10:42, 72 degrees and Kelly revealed backstage at the Academy of Country Music Awards that Blake Shelton will be conducting her wedding. The “American Idol” winner said Shelton, who had already agreed to perform at her wedding, is now set to have an even bigger role at her December nuptials. December wedding?! Aggghhhh!!! Maybe if she hears Strawberry Blondes Forevers' single "Kelly Clarkson" she'll change her mind.

Alright, today's pheatured guest is the author of "Blind But Now I See: The Biography of Music Legend Doc Watson", the 25th book to be pheatured in the Peverett Phile Book Club. He is an award winning author, a singer and a doctor. Please welcome to the Phile... Kent Gustavson.

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

Kent: Great, thanks!

Me: Where are you from, Kent?

Kent: I grew up in Minnesota, Louisiana, and I've lived in a couple dozen places at different times, but I don't like to think of myself as a wanderer. Maybe I'm like one of those plants with roots that sometimes blows down the road. Right now, I'm located near Tulsa, Oklahoma, in Woody Guthrie country... in the red dirt hills where it used to be called the "Indian Nation," not far from Tahlequah, which was in the great book "Where the Red Fern Grows."

Me: You teach in Stony Brook University and have a PhD, am I right? First of, what is the PhD in and second, should I call you doctor?

Kent: Four fun questions here... I'll answer in reverse order! You can call me Doc or Doctor, or whatever you like. Friends in college nicknamed me Rusty, after Rusty Griswold of the Vacation movies with Chevy Chase. Call me Kent, like Kentucky. The PhD is in classical composition (music, not Latin & Greek!), and I taught at Stony Brook for about ten years... I loved it there. I will go back to teaching, but I've taken the last year to support my writing and speaking.

Me: What do you teach?

Kent: I was kind of a maverick at Stony Brook, teaching whatever I could get my hands on. The last couple of years, I was the Faculty Director of the Leadership Development and Community Service Learning programs in charge of those two minors, as well as teaching leadership, social action, and writing. I also taught the German language from introductory through graduate translation, and music in several formats & forums.

Me: Doc, I grew up in Port Jefferson, and used to drive through Stony Brook all the time to get to Smith Haven Mall. Well, I didn't drive, I was just a kid, but you know what I mean. Did you live in Stony Brook?

Kent: During grad school and when I taught at Stony Brook, I lived several places, from right on the water to right near campus, across from the train station. My first year of grad school, I biked 10 miles to and from Corum every day, rain, snow or shine. I was usually humming my atonal sight singing lessons under my breath as I rode, and would arrive in class 5 minutes late, sweaty and smiling. Ah, those were the days.

Me: I remember Corum. I had a few friends that lived there. Do you get out to Port Jeff often?

Kent: I would always take walks with my fiancée and my dog out on the beach in Port Jefferson, and we spent many evenings walking through town. It's a great little city.

Me: Yes, it is. Apart from being an author, Kent, you are also a musician. What kinda music do you play? Spiritual music, right? I like that word better than religious.

Kent: I like to think all music is spiritual. But I play all kinds... I am known in some circles for my liturgical music that I wrote for the Lutheran Church, but in other circles for my singer-songwriter stuff, and that's not religious in any way :) My favorite record is one I recorded with Dejan Iliic of EYOT a few years ago, and after that, I enjoyed playing with my Stolen Shack trio, our record was featured on NPR's All Songs Considered, which was cool. I like all music that takes performers and pulls them out of their everyday consciousness. I just heard a fantastic young string quartet this weekend, and they had some incredible intensity. I grew up playing upright bass in jazz & classical settings, and I grew to love folk music, then bluegrass, and then old-time. Now I like just about everything. I am especially proud of my new attempts to play cover tunes of pop songs on YouTube. My cover of Bruno Mars' "Grenade" got some attention.

Me: Do you play just play guitar?

Kent: I play just about anything with strings, but guitar is my vice. I love it. It's an incredible crossbreed invention... they really got it right. Mandolin & banjo float my boat, and so does my first true love the upright bass. I also love the piano, but only when I can mess around inside & prepare the strings like John Cage.

Me: Okay, let's talk about your book that's in the Phile's Book Club... "Blind But Now I See: The Biography of Music Legend Doc Watson". What made you choose to write a book on Watson?

Kent: Well, I am intrigued by Doc in many ways. He is a bridge between north and south, black and white, upper and lower classes. He was blind, but his heart was open to all kinds of people. His music infected the playing of Bob Dylan, Jerry Garcia, and every other major figure of the 1960s and afterwards... he changed guitar sound and technique forever. But the true reason I got obsessed with Docs music is that I started singing his songs... He was an incredible conduit of old-time and mountain music to musicians like me. We sing Doc's songs, and Doc sang the songs of the mountains.

Me: I thought you were gonna say because his first name is Doc. Is this your first published book, Kent?

Kent: Not technically... I put out a book on publishing years ago, and I've ghostwritten probably around 50 titles in the last 10 years. But this is my first book that really has had a wide audience and distribution, so it's been an incredible and humbling experience.

Me: It won a few awards, right? Not bad, sir. What awards did it win?

Kent: It won a Next Generation Indie Book Award... that's an incredible independent non-profit in New York that really works hard to choose books that are well written and produced. They have a great party up there for the winners every year, it was fun. And the book also was a finalist in the Foreword Book of the Year Awards for Biography. That was a great honor... the fellow I was up against was author Eric Metaxas with his beautifully written biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

Me: Watson died last year... I mentioned his passing the Phile saying something like "and you thought he was blue before". What do you think about that blurb?

Kent: Shocking, of course! No, but Doc was a true master of the blues and that's something we often forget... Music is a messy melting pot between the races. Some of the highest praise Doc ever got was when he was backstage, and overheard a couple of the old time blues guys saying that he and Merle could really play the blues. Doc played some incredible bills back in the day with Lightning Hopkins, Mississippi John Hurt, and all the greats...

Me: I don't know much about Watson to be honest. At first when I heard his name I thought he was the band leader from the old "Tonight Show". Anyway, what does the title of the book mean? Was he blind?

Kent: Ha! That's funny. Yeah, Doc wasn't necessarily all that well known in his own right, but he is revered among the musicians we know today. I had some incredible interviews with everyone from Pete Seeger to Ben Harper to David Grisman... They all play with Doc's DNA inside of their music. Let alone the guitarists who were influenced directly by Doc, like Tony Rice, Clarence White (of the Byrds, who died tragically at far too young an age), Warren Haynes...

Me: How long did it take you to write the book, Kent?

Kent: It took me about 6 years... And it's been never ending. The second edition came out in 2012, and the third edition will come out this month. That will make it about 9 years of my life.

Me: What kinda research did you do?

Kent: I did a great deal of research... mostly at the archives at the Smithsonian where Ralph Rinzler's papers are stored. Also down in North Carolina, and in many libraries along the way! The best research was the interviews I did... hundreds, and about 100 made it into the book.

Me: I am guessing you spent a lot of time in North Carolina. That's where Watson is from, right?

Kent: That's right. Doc is from Deep Gap, North Carolina, from a hollow right near Wildcat Creek. It's beautiful country, right off the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Me: Did you see the statue of him there?

Kent: There's a beautiful statue of him down in nearby Boone, where he is sitting on a bench with his guitar and a smile, with a note on the back that says, "DOC WATSON Just one of the people" It's become a landmark there, and people all take their picture with their arm around the old master guitarist.

Me: Is there anybody you interviewed for it that you were amazed you were interviewing?

Kent: Definitely. I was honored to speak with every person who agreed to speak to me. I have to say that I have a soft spot for the NY folk singers & musicians, like Tom Paxton, Pete Seeger, Eric Weissberg, John Cohen, and Mike Seeger before he passed away. But it was a thrill to speak with bigger names as well, like David Grisman, Randy Travis (for the new edition), Warren Haynes of the Allman Brothers, Ben Harper. I think the best interview I had was with Ketch Secor of Old Crow Medicine Show. He is one brilliant fellow, and really sees the world in an interesting way.

Me: Did you ever meet Watson? Did he know you were writing a book on him?

Kent: I met Doc a couple of times very briefly. He knew I was writing the book, and he wasn't happy about it. He didn't want any biographers writing his story. His daughter Nancy is coming out with a great set of CDs and a book this year, and I think he wanted the spotlight to be on her. So I'll divert the spotlight to her here... check out their project at docmilestones.com.

Me: Did you get any feedback from his estate?

Kent: Not yet. But I have donated to their Milestones project above, and am in touch with them. When it comes to my Doc connection, the strongest bond I have formed was with Jack Lawrence, who toured with Doc for 30 plus years after Merle died. He and I did a couple of gigs together. Jack is also coming out with a great new CD this year.

Me: So, are you planning on writing any other books, Kent?

Kent: I'm already neck deep in writing several books with other people, but you won't know I'm there. In terms of my next title... only time will tell! I'm auditioning ideas. In the meantime, the new edition of my book comes out this month.

Me: Apart from being a musician, and an author and teacher you also host a radio show called Sound Authors. I take it on that radio show you talk about books, am I right?

Kent: I used to. I stopped doing the show in 2008, I believe but over the several years of the show, I was able to interview some incredible people. It should still be available in iTunes, if I'm correct.

Me: Did you interview authors on that show?

Kent: Both authors and musicians... It allowed me to wear both of my hats.

Me: You have released tons of music, by yourself and with other people. What do you prefer? Doing your own thing or working with others?

Kent: I love both. But when I make music with other people, we can share the load of work to be done! And the records I have done with others are with great friends, and you can't beat that!

Me: Hey, I have to ask, when you were writing the book, was there one piece of Watson info that you were surprised about?

Kent: Hm. I guess I wasn't shocked to find out all of the salacious details because Doc didn't exactly live like the Rolling Stones... But I was genuinely surprised to find out all of the details about Doc's time at the Raleigh School for the Blind, and that he had been kicked out for smoking. Doc wasn't always the good boy he purported to be.

Me: What music did you grow up listening to, Kent?

Kent: I grew up listening to Beethoven & Baez, Prairie Home Companion and my mom's Minnesotan bluegrass band. It was a great childhood, filled with harmony and counterpoint. A bit of jazz, but very little pop or rock, until I had school trips to the roller rink in elementary school. Does that date me, or do kids still go roller skating on school trips?

Me: I don't think they do, Doc. Okay, so, here on the Phile I ask random questions thanks to a game called Tabletopics. Here is yours, sir... oh, this is perfect. If you could be brilliant in one subject which would you choose?

Kent: If I could be brilliant in one subject, I would actually love to know how to build things in wood... guitars, furniture, carvings. I have spent so much time with my nose in books that I often wish I could be a great carpenter... Pete Seeger told me that humans have always loved to "whack things" and that's why we love golf and chopping wood. I guess I wish I were a bit more brilliant at that.

Me: Kent, thanks for being here on the Phile. Go ahead and plug your website and I wish you continued success, sir. I hope this was fun.

Kent: Thank you! This has been a challenge and a blast! People can find me & my book in the following spots: kentgustavson.com, Twitter @drkent, Facebook kentgustavsonmusic, "Blind But Now I See: The Biography of Music Legend Doc Watson" is available just about anywhere books can be sold. docwatsonbook.com.

Me: Good job, Kent, and please come back soon.

That about does it for this entry. Thanks to Laird Jim as always and of course Kent Gustavson. The Phile will be back next Saturday with Matt Henderson, the lead singer for the band Old English. Old English? Hey, that's me. LOL. On Sunday it's the married couple that make up the band Spark & Echo and Monday it's Phile Alum Alexis Babini. So, spread the word, not the turd. Don't let snakes and alligators bite you. Bye, love you, bye. Strawberry Blondes Forever!

Pheaturing Mark Martyre

Hey, kids, welcome to Peverett Phile: Retaliation. How are you? The other day I went to see my urologist and guess what? I am stoned. I have another kidney stone in my left kidney. There's nothing to worry about unless it moves, so if I end this entry quickly, you'll know why.  The Associated Press, the largest newsgathering outlet in the world, will no longer use the term "illegal immigrant." That is out. They will now use the phrase "undocumented Democrat."  President Obama asked Congress for $100 million to map the human brain. And believe me, if anybody needs a map to find their brain, it’s Congress.  Lifetime has canceled the TV show “America's Most Wanted.” Network executives made the decision after realizing the show was still on.  This is crazy news... apparently back in the '80s, the lead singer of Queen, Freddie Mercury, once took a disguised Princess Diana to a gay bar. She was wearing a disguise to look like a guy so she wouldn't get noticed. How ironic is this? When they got to the gay bar, she met a bunch of guys dressed up to look like Princess Diana.  The women's school district in New Hampshire has officially banned dodge ball because parents complained their kids were being targeted during games which, of course, is the point of dodge ball. The district superintendent says playing dodge ball runs, quote, "counter to what we're trying to accomplish with our anti-bullying plan." If you really want to ban bullying in school, there's only one way to do it. You need to ban children from school.  North Korea is now threatening the United States with all-out war. You can see they're stepping it up. In fact, they released 10 more photos of Kim Jong Un looking through binoculars.  Last week Justin Bieber had to leave his pet monkey with customs officials in Germany after he entered the country without the right paperwork. Officials told him, "You have to leave your little friend behind. And the monkey said, "Sorry, Justin, I guess you've got to stay."  I was in the store the other day and for some reason I was in the Barbie aisle. I was surprised to see what Barbie does nowadays. Take a look...

Cartoons are getting more violent by the day. I thought violence in cartoons was supposed to be toned down. Look at this screen shot of a recent cartoon and tell me what you think, kids.

Poor Tweety Bird.  Disney announced they are making a new Hulk movie, and they are getting the makers of Wreck-It Ralph to do it. I'm not that happy about it. Take a look at this...

 
That looks like it's gonna suck big time.  One of the things I love to do in my spare time is to go on Twitter and do searches for certain words. One of those words I type in is Peverett, which happens to be my last name. This is what I found the other day...

I don't know what I think about that, Andrew talking about my dad like that. Weird. Okay, let's see who took a long dirt nap.

Roger Ebert
Jun 18, 1942 - April 4, 2013
He died with a smile on his face.

When children simulate the brutality of war with G.I. Joe action figures and one of those dolls meets his molded plastic maker, there is no blood. The child in question simply shouts, "YOU'RE DEAD! BECAUSE I SAY!" Then the liberation of Afghanistan can continue as effectively as in real life.  And when this movie stab-shoot-crushes its umpteenth digitally processed human and decimates millions as all of London explodes thanks to a space-bomb (in the trailer, relax), there's also no death residue. The movie just yells in your face, "BOOM! MURDERED EVERYBODY! I WIN!" And you move along as it instructs you to move along, swaggering nonchalantly like you're The Rock, who always swaggers nonchalantly after killing somebody. For 100 minutes you're on the same fake-death team.  I suppose I could try to tell you what's supposed to be happening in this movie, but that would take up the entire review and, really, you don't care. G.I. Joes are everywhere, retaliating against bad guys, battling the multiple terrorism tentacles of COBRA and along the way to victory there's chaos in Pakistan (bad-good dialogue: "It's not a country it's a riot with a zip code!"), there's a ninja-avalanche, presidential impersonators and kidnapping and torture (more bad-good: "They call it waterboarding but I never get bored") and deep underground prison-caves where guys are kept immobile in isolation water tanks. There's a training getaway sponsored by a blinded RZA (whose acting abilities are the non-existent sort, the kind that I find perversely captivating; I could watch him fail at it for hours and it would only make me like him more), there's Bruce Willis making jokes about his oldness, there's interchangeable young Joes like Adrienne Palicki and whoever those other guys are, there's an old magical healing lady in a secret mountain lair and then, of course, there's the aforementioned space-bomb called Zeus (final bad-good: "Soon the world will cower in the face of Zeus!") that wrecks everybody's chances of finding out what happens on the next season of "Downton Abbey".  Most importantly there are weapons. They live in their own lovingly designed hiding places and they obliterate all human activity, even when the humans are, ostensibly, controlling them. They're shiny and big and sometimes they're swords. Even the old mountain lady has a stick she whips out when it's time to stick-fight. They're a step up from the inch-high weapons that come with the dolls, but they're still just cute props for fake people to employ in bloodless executions as they erase your resistance to this children's toy commercial. Enjoy the stupid; I kind of did. From one to ten, I give it a seven.

Man, I am so tired. I have to tell you kids this before we move on. Last night after work I went to Tampa to see Phile Alum Kim Simmonds with Savoy Brown in concert. It was the spur of a moment thing, and I am so glad I went. I haven't seen Kim since my dads funeral in 2000, and I haven't seen Savoy Brown in concert in 15 or plus years or so. The show was fantastic, and Kim played acoustic guitar for about half the show. In the encore they played "Savoy Brown Boogie" and in the song Kim would sing, "I boogie for Muddy Waters, I boogie for Willie Dixon, I boogie for John Lee Hooker..." And so on. But when he sang "I boogie for Lonesome Dave" the crowd cheered. It was great. Thanks to Kim and Skipper's Smokehouse for a great time. And I hope to have Kim on the Phile again soon. Instead of putting a picture of me at work at the bottom of this entry today I will post a picture from alst night of Kim Simmonds and I. Alright, so, guess what time it is? I think you know. He's a phriend of the Phile, a singer and a renaissance man. Please welcome back to the Phile... Laird Jim.

Long day turned pretty interesting when Starsky here decided to slide across the hood of my car (pistol drawn) screaming "DON'T YOU MOVE! LEMMEE SEE YOU HANDS!" it seems the steroid jockey boyfriend of Bubble Ass Barbie here decided to take a swing at an off duty ATF agent during a traffic dispute... he followed... called the NYPD, who swarmed Mr. S.A.T. Scores with about 6 uniforms... and one S.W.A.T. I asked chucklehead if the City of New York was gonna pay for any scratches on my hood. I hope that part doesn't end up on TMZ...

When food shopping and "Black Water" by The Doobie Brothers comes on the speakers DON'T sing along... unless you want people staring at you like you're a fucking nut! Which we all know I don't give a shit about anyway. So, just move along... nothing to see here... step lively now.

Keep on rollin',  Mississippi moon, won't you keep on shinin' on me... That's the only part I know... oh, hang on. I'd like to hear some funky Dixieland, or something like that I think. LOL. I used to think they were singing "I'd like hear some funk in Disneyland". LOL. Thanks, Jim, good job as always. Okay, let's talk about this... the 25th book to be pheatured in the Phile's Book Club is this...

The author, Kent Gustavson, will be the pheatured guest on the Phile tomorrow.

 

Today's pheatured guest is a Mark Martyre is a Canadian writer and musician. His full-length album, "Down, Record" is available on iTunes. In addition to his latest solo album, he has also published two books of poetry and prose “Wondering Down the Road” and “Drifting Magentically” , and had some of his works printed in arts and culture magazines. He'll next be appearing at Feathers Pub in Toronto
on April 13th. Please welcome to the Phile... Mark Martyre.

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

Mark: Not bad. How are you?

Me: Tired and groggy from the concert last night. I have to say, I downloaded your album "Down, Record" from iTunes and really like it. This is not your first release, but it's your first full-length, am I right?

Mark: Thanks, I’m glad you liked it. And, yes, it's my first, full-length studio album.

Me: It's the only album of yours on iTunes, Mark. Are you planning on putting the others up?

Mark: I'll be making future albums available on iTunes.

Me: Where are you from? You're Canadian, right?

Mark: I am Canadian. I live in Ontario, but I tend to move around a bit. Right now I’m in Toronto.

Me: I interviewed so many Canadian musicians here on the Phile, more than any other country. I don't know why that is. A lot of talented bands and musicians come from Canada I guess. Why do you think that is, Mark?

Mark: Yeah, I don’t think it could give much more insight into it. But it's great to hear that music from Canada is making its way abroad, and is being well-received.

Me: Alright, I like to ask all my Canadian guests if they are fans of one of my favorite bands ever... Barenaked Ladies. Are you a fan of them?

Mark: Yeah, they're not bad. I own their "Gordon" album as I'm sure a lot of people do. What do you like most about them?

Me: Good question. I like their writing style, lyrics, and that every one of their concerts is slightly different. Speaking of ladies, Mark, I am guessing you get a lot of female followers, being good looking and talented. Am I right?

Mark: Followers? No, I don't think so. Not that I know of, anyway.

Me: I meant fans. Alright, let's get back to your latest album "Down, Record". What does that name mean? Is Record a dog?

Mark: Haha. Some have suggested that. And that's not a bad way to look at it. I kind of like that idea. Maybe one day I'll get a dog and name him, or her, Record. Is Record' a man's, or woman's, name?

Me: Could be both. Speaking of records, I love vinyl. What about you?

Mark: Absolutely. I'm a big fan of vinyl.

Me: Did you write all the songs yourself, Mark?

Mark: I did.

Me: You didn't play all the instruments though, or did you? Do you have a band?

Mark: No, on the album I had some people play certain parts: the drums, the bass, the backing vocals, and a couple guitar parts. I played the acoustic guitar, some of the piano tracks, and the harmonica, too. The musicians on the album are not my band, but they are a group of people that I had performed with in the past, and were familiar with the songs. And they’re style of playing lent itself to the kind of music I wanted to put on this album.

Me: You've been compared to Leonard Cohen and Tom Waits... not too shabby. What do you think of those comparisons? It's an honor I am guessing.

Mark:  It is. It’s very, very flattering. But I don’t feel nearly adequate enough to place myself anywhere close to artists of that caliber. It’s sort of that idea about standing on the shoulders of giants. And that’s what they are to me. I understand that people always want to be able to reference something... especially when they haven’t heard you before. So, to get an idea about your music, they’ll ask, “Who do you sound like?” So, I realize the need for these sorts of comparisons, but it is a jarring feeling to be compared to them.

Me: Who are your influences and who did you listen to growing up?

Mark: It’s really far too complicated, and too difficult to answer a question like that. Especially in a list.

Me: Alright, how long have you been playing guitar, Mark?

Mark: Hmm… I picked it up in my early teens, I think.

Me: Do you remember what the first song you learnt was?

Mark: No, I couldn’t remember that. But as soon as I started playing the guitar, I started writing songs. I just used what little I knew about the instrument. And that’s still the theme to this day.

Me: What was the name of the first song you wrote?

Mark: I have no idea. I’m sure it was terrible though.

Me: Apart from being a musician you published two books on poetry... "Wondering Down the Road" and "Drifting Magnetically". What came first, song writing or poetry?

Mark: Well, I guess it was song writing. But that’s only because I grew upthinking there was this very clear line between the two. But, over time, the line has blurred and it’s all just a collection of words.

Me: That was kinda a dumb question, being poems are songs without the music. Anyway, do you still write poems?

Mark: I do. But like you said, poems are songs, and songs are poems, and letter can be a poem, and a message on a postcard could be a poem, even a grocery list can be a poem, and it can be a song, too.

Me: Have any of your poems been turned into songs?

Mark: No. Not by me, anyway.

Me: So, give us one of your poems here, Mark.

Mark: Haha. I wouldn’t know which to choose. I’ll have to save it for another day. I appreciate your interest though.

Me: Alright... On the album you sing a song called "Lauren Bacall". I am guessing you are a fan of hers. What's the inspiration behind that song?

Mark: Well, I guess she’s the inspiration behind it. But the song isn’t about her.

Me: And there's another song called "Natalie". So, I have to ask, who is Natalie?

Mark: Hahaha… Well, hopefully we all have a “Natalie” in our lives. I do hope there is more than one of her out there.

Me: So, what's next for you, Mark? Another album?

Mark: Definitely. I hope to start recording this summer, and possibly have a new album out at the end of the year. Don’t hold me to that though. Y’know, the best laid schemes of mice and men often go awry. Or something to that effect.

Me: I like the photo on the cover of the album. Did you take it?

Mark: No.

Me: Where and when was was it taken?

Mark: That photo is from 1958. It’s an intersection in Toronto, and it definitely has some meaning for me. And other people, like you, seem to have connected with the image as well. I got permission to print it from the City of Toronto Archives.

Me: Cool. Okay, on the Phile I like to ask random questions from this game called Tabletopics. So, here is yours. Is it more essential to develop beliefs or gain knowledge? Man, that's deep. I don't think I understand that question.

Mark: I wouldn't know how to answer that. I don’t think I understand it either. Essential for what?

Me: Good point. Mark, thanks for taking part, and please come back. I hope this was fun. Go ahead and mention your website and I wish you continued success. All the best, Mark.

Mark: Thank you. Again, I’m glad you liked my music and that it sparked some interest. And you can get more information at markmartyre.com. Thanks, again.

There, that about does it for another entry of the Phile. I am gonna go back to sleep now. LOL. Thanks to Laird Jim and of course Mark Martyre. The Phile will be back tomorrow with author Kent Gustavson. So, spread the word, not the turd. Don't let snakes and alligators bite you. Bye, love you,
bye.

 
Man, I look pregnant.

Pheaturing Phile Alum Mike Gent From The Figgs

Rabbit. Hey, kids, welcome back to the Phile, it's April 1st, which means it's April Fools Day. Don't worry, I will not be pulling any April Fools on the Phile. It's enough of a joke already.  So, did you have a good Easter yesterday? Did you know Americans buy an estimated $120 million pounds of candy for Easter every year? I hope Jesus comes back as a dentist. And yes, Jesus rose from the dead. No, he's not a zombie.  North Korea is now threatening the United States with all-out war. What did Dennis Rodman say to these people? What did he do?  Ashley Judd announced she will not be running for Senate in Kentucky against Mitch McConnell. And Mitch McConnell announced he will not be co-starring in any romantic comedies.  The Pennsylvania Game Commission has charged a man with going deer hunting with a handgun in a Walmart parking lot. He is being charged with reckless endangerment, but may plead guilty to the lesser charge of being a redneck. Hunting in a Walmart parking lot. That’s got to be some good eating... a deer that lives on leftover Twizzlers and Mountain Dew.  Speaking of Walmart, they will test a new delivery method for customers who order online. They're asking shoppers to drop stuff off for other shoppers on their way home. In exchange, Walmart would give them a discount on their bill. So if you always wanted to work for Walmart but didn't want to get bogged down with the paycheck and healthcare, this is for you.  Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, the person in charge of our national security, recently said she doesn’t email, text, or tweet. So remember: If you see something, say something... because there’s literally no other way she’ll get the message.  President Obama told reporters that his NCAA tournament bracket is busted. Obama said they were the worst picks he's ever made... then he looked at his economic advisers and said, “Ehh, maybe not.”  Legendary singer Dionne Warwick filed for bankruptcy, claiming she has only $25,000 in assets but owes more than $10 million in unpaid taxes. She owes 400 times what she has. She could end up serving three years, as the White House budget director.  Congresswoman Michele Bachmann is under investigation for alleged misuse of campaign funds. She's blaming the accusations on her arch nemesis: the facts.  I was wondering yesterday where the tradition of Easter eggs came from, and then I saw this old painting, and now I know.

As you know today is April Fools Day, and last year the BBC played a great prank on-line. Check it out, this is real.

I wonder what they're planning for this year, those crazy British journalists. Now I wish I came up with a prank on the Phile.  Have you seen the new video game that just came out? It's from the creators of "Sim City". Check it out, kids.

 
One of the things I like to do in my spare time is to go on Twitter and look up certain words. One of those words I look up is Foghat, to see what people are saying. This is what I recently found...

No, I don't Princess Erika. LOL. Alright, now from the home office in Port Jefferson, New York, here is another...

Top Phive Explanations Joe Biden Has For His $585,000 Paris Hotel Bill
5. "I mistakenly thought they room-service nachos were 'bottomless'! I mean, they kept bringin' em!"
4. "Listen, if you really wanna understand Wreck-It Ralph, you're gonna need to watch it more than once!"
3. "Turns out when you throw a stupid sailboat painting through a window, they make you pay for the painting AND the window!"
2. "When those phone-sex lines say, 'Local charges apply', they ain't just whistlin' Dixie, my friend!"
And the number one explanation Biden has for his Paris hotel bill is...
1. "Here's a tip, travelers: don't try to clean vomit off the carpet with a curtain. That's just solving one problem by creating another!"

If you see it email me at thepeverettphile@gmail.com. Okay, so, one of my phavorite people I ever have on the Phile is back, kids. He's a singer and renaissance man. You know what time it is. Please welcome back to the Phile... Laird Jim.

Good morning, humans. It's Monday. April FOOOOOOOOL!!! No... really... it's Monday. Okay... chicken burrito at Taco Bell or pick a fight with the biggest guy I can find at a local bar? Hmmmmm....  gonna have to go to the coin toss on this one. I've been a tad grumpy since being forced to quit surfing. Sue me! I just had an interesting conversation with a dear friend who says, "There are NO good guys left out there." I explained that there are plenty of them... but like a lot of you women they TOO have been screwed over... they're jaded & playing their cards close to the vest. I explained that she could either keep rolling the dice... or give up and get 15 cats. She just laughed. By the way, this just saved someone a ride in an ambulance...

Man, now I want a chicken burrito. Thanks, Laird, great job.

This is the 25th book to be pheatured in the Book Club...

The author, Kent Gustavon, will be the pheatured guest on the Phile next Monday.

Alright, today's pheatured guest is a Phile Alum and an American songwriter, guitarist, and vocalist in The Figgs. They're latest release is "1000 People Grinning: The Figgs Anthology" and is available on iTunes. He will be next appearing at Musikfest Cafe At Arts Quest Center in Bethlehem, Pa on April 5th doing a solo show. Please welcome back to the Phile... Mike Gent.

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

Mike: I'm alright, Jason. Dealing with a crashed hard drive and some plumbing issues at my house. Besides that, everything is good over here.

Me: Man, it's been years since you were here last. Since then I interviewed Graham Parker a few times and Pete Donnelly. Did you hear Pete's solo album? It's really good, right? He said he liked your solo album as well.

Mike: Yes, I have heard Pete's record several times. I play on one of the tracks, "Careful", which started out as a Figgs track, but I thought it would fit well with the group of songs Pete had for his record. Some of the other songs on Pete's record were kicking around in Figgs rehearsals and sessions. My favorite being "Original Wonder" which was briefly attempted at the Los Angeles sessions for "The Man Who Fights Himself". We have done it a few times live. I would like to play that song some more.

Me: I need to get Pete back on the Phile again. When was the first time you met Pete? Did you meet him through Mike Viola?

Mike: Oh, hell no! Just the opposite. Pete and I met as young teenagers in the 80s when we started the band. I didn't meet Viola until around '96 when Pete was hired to play bass on the first Candy Butchers record. Eventually, Pete and I were both in Candy Butchers and made some great records with them as well as shows. Mike Viola has also played with Figgs on various records and tours. He's always an inspiring hang.

Me: Let's talk about Graham Parker for a moment... The Figgs were lucky to open for Graham Parker and the Rumour on their comeback tour last year. What was that like after playing and working with GP over the years?

Mike: It was amazing seeing them all together. I never had a chance to see them play other than video footage. I think it was very special for everyone involved, band and audience. Everyone in The Rumour were very kind to us. Working with Graham for almost the last two decades has been incredible. Hands down one of the best things that has happened in my career, and in the bands. I was a fan as a young kid in the 70s/80s, so to be able to make records, and get on stage with the man is really a dream come true, and an honor. We have become really good friends over the years, and he is the best band leader/boss I have ever worked with.

Me: I interviewed Martin Belmont a few times here and he said he liked The Figgs a lot. Imagine an album with The Figgs and the Rumour on it.

Mike: Martin was really great to talk to and so was Brinsley. I had some nice talks with both of them as well as the rest of the guys. Steve and Andrew are one of the best rhythm sections ever, and Bob is fantastic on keys and backing vocals. I think those guys were surprised with how much I knew about Graham and his songs/discography. I told this to someone else recently... When watching them play I would think "oh...that's how it goes". I was able to see how certain licks were played and how to play a drum part the right way by watching Steve, because remember, I have also been Graham's drummer at times as well.

Me: Yeah, I remember. The Figgs recorded a few albums and a DVD even with Graham. Any plans to work with him again?

Mike: I hope so. Before the recent record, I have played on the last 3 studio records along with a handful of live records. It would be nice to make a laid back, acoustic GP & Figgs record.

Me: Mike, what music did you listen to growing up? Who were your main influences?

Mike: What didn't I listen to? My mom liked 60s pop, and lots of female country singers. Patsy, Dolly, Brenda Lee, Tammy Wynette. My dad had a great collection of rock and roll music and saw some mind blowing shows in the 60s/70s. I listened to a lot of 70s AM radio riding in the back of my grandmothers big boat of a car. Whatever was being played on the bus at the time. I rode the bus with this brother and sister who lived above a bar that their parents owned. I was friends with the girl, and she would tape the 45's her dad would take out of the jukebox to replace with whatever was current. She would play these tapes on the bus, on a little panasonic cassette player. I remember hearing for the first time The Pretenders, Billy Squier, XTC, AC/DC, etc.... A lot of MTV when it first came out, then started to listen to college stations in the mid -late 80s. Pete Donnelly's brother Phil was a major source of info when it came to hearing and learning about new bands. He still is. I always soaked in EVERYTHING. Some of it I liked, some I fell in love with from the first note, and I know way too much about music I don't even care for.

Me: Last time you were here you were promoting your self-titled solo album, which just came out on vinyl. Are you a vinyl buff? I love vinyl myself.

Mike: Oh yeah. Playing LP's and singles have been my preferred way of enjoying music since I was a little boy. The first time I held our first single in my hand, I think I cried, it was so beautiful. To me, holding that finished piece of vinyl is a very pure form of success, and really the only goal I ever really had writing and playing music. Putting on a record that I made? I still get a kick out of it... especially when the volume is off.

Me: The Figgs released the last few albums on vinyl. Is vinyl making a comeback do you think?

Mike: It seems like it's making a comeback. I remember complaining when a record was $8.99. Now a lot of new vinyl is thirty bucks!! Most of our studio records have been released on vinyl with the exception of "Ginger", "Ready Steady Stoned", three of the EP's, and "The Man Who Fights Himself".

Me: Let's talk about the latest Figgs CD's, which I downloaded from iTunes. The last studio album was "The Day Gravity Stopped" and the latest release is "1000 People Grinning: The Figgs Anthology". None of "Gravity's" songs are on the anthology", right?

Mike: There is a radio edit of "Do Me Like You Said You Would" on the anthology.

Me: Who picked out the songs to be on the anthology album?

Mike: It was Pete Donnelly's project for the most part. It was his idea to begin with. I have always wanted to move forward instead of looking back, as far as record making is concerned. Pete thought it would be good to have a sampler for people who don't know the band. I think I came up with the first list of songs, then the Pete's added their choices. Donnelly did the sequence.

Me: How did the song "1000 People Grinning" get to be the album title out of all those songs, Mike?

Mike: "1000 People Grinning" is a great song written by Pete Hayes. I felt that we should make a new recording of it because, even though the original version has it's charm, I always thought that the song was much better than the recording and maybe deserved better. It would have been fun to do a new version of it for the anthology. The band was too lazy, and we live too far apart from each other to get it together, so we put the single version on. I thought it would make a decent title for the anthology because we have always maintained a humble, little, and loyal fan base, who always seem happy to see us play. You know... A thousand people grinning.

Me: Mike, for those that don't know, who is in the band?

Mike: Pete Hayes on drums, Pete Donnelly on bass and Mike Gent on guitar.

Mike: Who does most of the songwriting for The Figgs?

Mike: Pete Donnelly and myself write most of the songs, either separate or together. Pete Hayes writes a song every five years. Maybe.

Me: LOL. But he did write the title track to the latest release. I don't know if I asked you this before, but where did the name The Figgs come from?

Mike: It was picked off a list filled with other bad ideas.

Me: "The Day Gravity Stopped" is a double album. Not many people are doing those any more, Mike. What made you guys decide to record a double album?

Mike: It is our second double record. The first one was "Palais". I think with both records, we had enough strong material to do four sides. I really enjoy double records. I love how many double and triple albums Zappa has in his catalog.

Me: Who is that guy on the cover, and what is he doing?

Mike: That cover was done by a great artist Hollie Chastain from Chattanooga, TN. Check out her work at holliechastain.com.

Me: Okay, I will, and maybe I will have her on the Phile to find out who he is. You're working on a new solo album, am I right? What can you tell us about it?

Mike: Well, I had a pile of new songs ready, and I wanted to start a new Figgs record this winter, but that was not meant to be. I don't know... the idea of doing another solo record seems very boring to me. I thought my last solo record was one of the better records I have made in general, and I still have boxes of them in the basement. Why would I want to add to the stack? I have been recording in my living room which is something I haven't done in ages. I've also been doing some recording at different studios, so we'll see... I might just end up putting out another solo record! I know the world isn't waiting for one.

Me: Who played on the album with you, Mike?

Mike: I have had some friends play on a few of the new tracks, but mostly it's me playing everything. 

Me: Alright, Mike, this year on the Phile I am asking random questions, so here is yours... If you were offered a seat on the next space shuttle... if there was another space shuttle (stupid Tabletopics) would you take it?

Mike: Nah, I stopped using public transportation when I moved out of NYC. Plus, I can get to outer space in various ways while keeping both feet on the ground if I wanted.

Me: Good point. Thanks so much for coming back on the Phile, Mike. Go ahead and plug your website and anything else you want to, and tell Pete I said hello. All the best, and come back when your next album comes out, will you?

Mike: I have a bunch of solo shows coming up in the next few months including opening solo for a handful of the Graham Parker & The Rumour tour in April. Go to thefiggs.com if you want to find out more info on my tour schedule, or to buy any music, including the new anthology. Also check out these two sites for Figgs & Solo vinyl. peterwalkeerecords.com & goodlandrecords.com. Thanks for having me again, Jason, and I would love to come back soon and yap some more.

Me: Fantastic. Mike Gent, everybody.

That does it for this entry of the Phile. Thanks to Laird Jim as always and Mike Gent. The Phile will be back next Sunday with singer songwriter Mark Martyre and on Monday with author Kent Gustavson. Spread the word, not the turd. Don't let snakes and alligators bite you. Bye, love you, bye. Strawberry Blondes Forever!