By 'Rebel' Rod Ames
As I have frequently stated, I am always in pursuit of locating new and exciting music. In this pursuit, and me knowing little to nothing about the recording industry, publicists, PR, or anything else about the entertainment industry, specifically, the recording industry, and even more specifically, the roots music genre of the recording industry.
Therefore, when somebody told me I could write a little bit and asked me to be their entertainment editor I thought about it for a second and said, “Sure I will, what’s an entertainment editor?” He made it sound much easier than it is, but took me by the hand and revealed some things to me.
I began looking up record companies, which led me to publicists, which led me to more record companies, which led me to more publicists. The short version is I sent dozens of emails to folks in the industry, who were gracious enough to include me on their mailing list.
In the short time I have been doing this, I have met and interviewed some wonderful artists.
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| Handsome Family |
Rennie Sparks of Handsome Family was my first, and we did everything via email. The thought of doing an interview via email sounded extremely impersonal, but I sent her a list of questions, which she so graciously answered in such away, you would have thought I was sitting on the couch with her in her living room.
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| George Frayne AKA Commander Cody |
Later, I was fortunate enough to meet and interview (this time face to face) with George Frayne, AKA Commander Cody! What a treat that was. He gave me about 30 minutes of his time right before a show at Threadgills in Austin, Texas. It was completely awesome, but I have to say, I was not entirely professional. He was drinking a Heineken during the interview. When we had completed the interview, I had my wife put the empty bottle of Heineken into her purse.
“What?” she said, “Why?”
“It’s got Commander Cody DNA!” I exclaimed.
She carefully placed the bottle into her purse. The bottle sits atop my bookcase in my office to this day.
Then, about a year ago, I had the pleasure of landing an interview with one of the greatest musical storytellers alive. Tom Russell had just released “Blood and Candle Smoke” and agreed to allow me to call him for a phoner.
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| Tom Russell |
We talked about 30 minutes or so. It of course was mostly about his latest incredible masterpiece, “Blood and Candle Smoke”, but we also talked about his extremely thought provocative tune “Who’s Gonna Build Your Wall?”, his art, and his upcoming shows. He told me he was going to be in San Antonio at Casbeers, the Church, where I actually met him. I was absolutely amazed when he actually remembered who I was.
“Oh yeah, Rod Ames from Kerrville!” he said.
“Yes, that’s me” I said, trying not to act like a star struck idiot! I was just amazed he had remembered.
After all, a couple of months had passed and how could he possibly remember that interview out of all the ones he had done? I know for a fact, he had done many, because I had listened to them, trying not to bore the hell out of him by asking him all of the same questions he had already answered dozens of times.
Then it dawned on me that I was talking to one of the greatest storytellers via song that was alive. He makes a living at paying a great deal of attention to detail and remembering it. It is what he does.
This finally leads me to the entire reason for me sitting down and writing these ramblings today.
I got an email today from Daffodil Publicity. They send me a lot of good stuff. Some of it is a little out of my league, meaning, not what I really listen too, but every now and again, they blow me away.
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| The Devil Makes Three |
Today their publicist, Christen Thomas, sent me an email with a blurb about a band called The Devil Makes Three. This trio from Santa Cruz, California is nothing less than amazing. In case you have never heard of The Devil Makes Three, they consist of guitarist and front man Pete Bernhard, stand-up bassist Lucia Turino and guitarist Cooper McBean. They are a trio, but their brand of music and the way they literally pound it out, sounds like there is a whole lot more on stage than the three performers that stand before your eyes. 2 + 2 ain’t equaling 4 here folks, yet there it is, right before your eyes!
In the email I received from Ms. Thomas, she included a video that was actually a collage of black and white photos of them performing their Rock-a-Billy tune “Aces and Twos”. It is absolutely amazing in every way. I sat at my desk, staring at the screen on my laptop, literally in a complete trance that I did not come out of until the last note was played.
So, Christen Thomas of Daffodil Publicity, thanks for turning me on to this wonderful trio. You have me hooked. Now send more!
In addition, to all the listeners of Rebel Rod’s From Under the Basement, guess what I’m going to be playing Saturday night on the show? You guessed it. The Devil Makes Three!
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