T minus
two hours to interview - it is Wednesday, 18 September, and my first
‘official' interview is approaching. I asked a close friend who
is a photographer to accompany me to capture the intangible, and to
document the evening. I secured some low budget audio equipment and
wrote down all the interview questions (My sincere thanks for ALL
your suggestions). The photographer arrived and we were off. Cassette
loaded? Check. Batteries changed? Check. Bag of expensive photo gear?
Check. Five miles from home, "Oops, no tickets" Easily solved,
and hopefully no foreshadowing.
On time
and hungry, we arrived to Maxwell's in Hoboken New Jersey and an appetizer
was in order. For the first time I truly realized the benefits of
appetizers (and I suggest them for anyone waiting for anything important.
If your appointment comes early, you can offer up some as they tend
to be a communal experience. If they decline the offer, you can abandon
the plate with minimal financial repercussions.) . . . I digress
The band arrived in two cabs, and the appetizer had long since been
upsetting my stomach. Kev and Angie arrived with Matt, who greeted
me with a warm smile. I was not certain with whom my interview would
be. As I watched them file past the window, I considered the options.
Maybe it is some mystical ‘drummer connection‘ but I thought
I would be at ease with Matt, having found him very cordial and easygoing
in previous talks. Their tour manager greeted me and asked if I "happened
to be Ken?" Wondering why Ken had first billing, I declined and
properly introduced myself as "Robb, from When Darkness Folds."
He looked rather hurried (not unlike Ian, from Spinal Tap) and stated
that he'd send Martin over. Very pleased that I stole Ken's appointment
and had a chance to speak with ‘the voice' of Gene, I couldn't
help but be intimidated by Martin's witticisms. Mr. Rossiter confessed
to me last night that he found my height intimidating when we first
met, more than two years ago. (I'll choose wit over height every time)
Martin stated ‘The tour is coming along quite well.' They have
made "set lists with 3-4 new songs, tops"; adding "people
who don't have the new material, have come out to hear the hits."
When
I inquired about the recent changes, He likened Gene "to an injured
guppy in a fairly large pool" and that "it was basically
like starting over." With no plans as of yet for additional dates
in Japan and Europe, Gene might "return to the States as early
as February, 2003"
The questions were flowing, everything was going smoothly, even the
flash bulbs didn't interfere.
Where does Gene fit in today's market? Martin "tries not to pay
attention to that," knowing there "has always been an audience."
He also mentioned that promotions were still in their early stages,
and shall develop.
Plans
of a DVD for Rising For Sunset is "still being edited";
even if it is their material, from a performance they put together
themselves. Gene does not have the ownership of the recording. As
for older songs like "Left For Dust," "they are only
80% finished." And the track listing for the "Let Me Move
On" EP (!!!!!) is still up in the air, and apparently "been
discussing it today."
Very relieved I was recording this. I felt free to engage Martin in
dialogue instead of the standard question and answer session that
they must bore a musician with.
After asking Martin exactly how my favorite band and author (Irvine
Welsh) got together to direct the film "Is It Over?". Martin
explained that they met through a ‘mutual friend' who played
Libertine to Welsh. In a result, Welsh was taken away. Martin stated
that "we'll see" if they will continue the film. Staying
on the topic of authors, Martin noted that he has been spending more
time with a book, rather than a set of headphones. The only music
he has been listening to is classical, such as the same piece opening
every show this tour. One other band Martin mentioned was Coin-Op,
whose shirt he was wearing the night before. He said seeing them made
him feel 18 all over again . . . which I must comment as being quite
a feeling!
Halfway through my time (or Ken's time depending how you look at it)
I casually checked the placement of my microphone on the table, and
that the record button was depressed, and the tape reels were making
prog . . .
HOUSTON. . . . . . .WE HAVE A PROBLEM!!!
How does one recover from this? ‘Hey Martin, it'll be completely
natural if we start all over again, right???' Not only did the wave
of panic interfere with my hearing, but also caused what the photographer
called "retrograde amnesia." In my attempts to catch every
word, I found myself truly admiring this man. Truth be told, I AM
a huge fan, I adore his work and found him to be full of boundless
energy and phrenetic thought. I saw his rubbing of hands . . . and
his quickly consumed glass of diet coke . . . and his pack of Merit
Ultra lights . . . and his need to use a clean ashtray. All of this
makes him more human to me now, which only heightens my appreciation
for artistry, and creativity. Real people make music. Real people
create what moves me. This very real person seated across from me
has the ability to sing me through the entire range of the human condition.
The show was top notch. Gene was tight and polished for their adoring
fans. The audience was extremely responsive to the brilliant show.
Top hip movers were "Let Me Move On", "Fighting Fit"
and of course the anthem "Olympian," which had the audience
singing louder than the PA system. Gene re-hatched "Long Sleeves
For The Summer" as a surprise for the New Jersey audience. One
encore was strange, considering they have been performing two encores
for the prior dates. But the show was grand nonetheless.
After
the show Matt James joined the two friends I was chatting with, and
we spoke at length. He mentioned that he ‘preferred playing in
L.A. because they can fill The House of Blues' which is a venue he
really enjoys. Not to mention all the swimming in which they got.
Except Martin who preferred the shade. Matt also spoke at length of
getting back to England to get in the studio with a band he's managing
(Mower).
Matt inquired about a New York/New Jersey rivalry and the events of
September 11th came up. A friend of mine felt that the events may
have diminished some of that tension. Matt shared with us that he
had taken a cab to the site yesterday. He was moved by the way the
firefighters and they memorialized other victims around the church
that withstood the disaster. It felt good to hear another's views
that were not persuaded by American media . . . but I digress
I did actually get one thing quite interesting out of the whole debacle
. . . I mentioned to Martin that "You" would have been such
a great single for the States. Martin replied by stating he has ‘been
thinking about the song for four weeks'. Realizing that ‘it really
should have been recorded as a duet.'
In a result, Martin asked me, to ask you, to make some suggestions
on whom he should re-record the "You" duet with. Promptly
mentioning "as long as that person's name doesn't start with
the letter ‘M'. If they do, I will have them shot."
I also explained that I'll take care of the shooting if need be.
ENTER BELOW!!!
Click
here for photos of Maxwell's . . . couldn't get a decent shot of Kev
or Matt :(
