NEW: Michael Showalter 12.10.09

Michael Showalter is 1/2 of the duo who make up the Comedy Central series "Michael & Michael Have Issues", he is 1/11th the folks who make up the comedy troupe THE STATE, he is 1/3rd the comedy troupe STELLA... but he is 100% hysterical! You may know him as writer/director of the IFC film "The Baxter" or as COOP from the cult comedy "Wet Hot American Summer", but I know him as one of the funniest people on the planet... Ladies and Gentlemen... MICHAEL SHOWALTER!




Zach Galifianakis interviewing Michael Showalter (The Most INDIE Rocker of All Time)


POPVIEWS: Michael, Thanks so much for joining us today! I've been a big fan of The State and Stella for a long time now.

MICHAEL SHOWALTER: My pleasure.


PV: So, in my interview with Thomas Lennon, I had asked him about a STATE full length film (which I had originally heard about through Michael Ian Black's blog)... That was in Jan of 2009, are there any details you can give us about this upcoming film?

MS: Er...uh...it already seems like you might know more about it then I do. Maybe I've been kicked out of the group and didn't know it.


PV: We know and love you from TV Shows, your comedy troupes (Stella/The State), your college humor show "The Michael Showalter Showalter", the film you directed and wrote "The Baxter", "Wet Hot American Summer", etc... What have you been working on as of late?

MS: Michael Black and I made a TV show for Comedy Central called "Michael & Michael Have Issues." Which ran this summer. We're currently writing episodes for a second season. I'm also finishing a book called "Mr. Funnypants" which will be coming out in early 2011.


PV: Which, of the many ventures do you find most comfortable, personally?

MS: I like making TV shows. I like the daily grind of it. It feels more like a regular job than the other stuff. I like the other stuff too of course.


PV: I recently told my girlfriend that the things that make me laugh most are: angry eating, sad eating, and crying in the shower... What are some trusty things that always make you laugh?

MS: My cats make me laugh. My girlfriend makes me laugh.


PV: You play your iPod when you do stand-up and I heard that you DJ a bit around the NYC area... What artists/bands have been blowing your mind lately?

MS: Aaron Copeland. He's dead now.


PV: What's the best live concert you've ever attended?

MS: Al Jarreau and Chaka Khan.


PV: I asked Andrea Rosen and David Wain this question, and I can't wait to hear your answer: What do you miss most and least about doing the STELLA series on Comedy Central?

MS: Driving to work in the morning and listening to the NY classical music radio station.


PV: What is filling up your TIVO right now? Do you watch the new Stephan Seagal series "LAWMAN?" He has a cajun accent, black paint for hair, and a beer gut!

MS: "Tabitha's Salon Takeover." It's like "Gordon Ramsey's Kitchen Nightmares" but instead of restaurants it's hair salons.


PV: After The State ended, you and the other 2 guys in STELLA started making comedy shorts for your live shows, how do you feel knowing you guys were pioneers in the comedy short genre, which can now get people slots on SNL and can totally make their career?

MS: I didn't know we were pioneers. That's cool.


PV: What is "Night of the Living Dorks?"

MS: It's a zombie movie about dorks. It's a really funny script that I'm hoping to direct soon. Right now it's "in turnaround." That's a movie term and I don't know what it means.


PV: What would you say is the main thing people seem to most commonly misunderstand about you?

MS: People interpret my social anxiety as "asshole-ness."


PV: Michael, David, and yourself did the "Barack Rock" benefit back when Barack Obama was running for President, how do you feel he has done thus far?

MS: I'm behind him 100% He's doing great.


PV: What are the holidays like at the Showalter household?

MS: Festive; digestive; sleepy.


PV: What advice, if any, would you give to someone who is attempting to get into Comedy/Acting/Writing for a career?

MS: Work hard and stay positive.


PV: I'm a pretty big fan of what AD Miles is doing over at LATE NIGHT w/ Jimmy Fallon, how much pot do you think they go through in any given day?

MS: No clue. But just for the hell of it I'll say "a lot."


PV: I'm gonna name a couple people, and you tell me the 1st thing that comes to mind...

MS: My pleasure.

PV: Joe Lo Truglio

MS: Kind.

PV: Justin Theroux

MS: Dog lover.

PV: Elizabeth Banks

MS: Leading lady.

PV: Ken Marino

MS: Passion fruit.

PV: Michael Ian Black

MS: Saturnine.

PV: Waino

MS: Uncensored.

PV: Tom Lennon

MS: Swiffer


PV: A-Ro (Andrea Rosen)

MS: Craftswoman

PV: Zach Galifianakis

MS: Man of the people


PV: I read on your blog that you watch a lot of reality TV, would you say that you have a pretty big dick?

MS: My pleasure.


PV: Well thanks so much for spending time with us this evening, I just want to say personally how much your work has made me laugh and inspired people to keep pushing the boundaries of comedy! We'll stay tuned to Michaelshowalter.net for all of your latest news. Happy Holidays! Any famous last words?

MS: Stay cool.

Welcome to the new home of POPVIEWS on the web!

Hello Dear Friends,

Welcome to the new home of POPVIEWS here at http://popviews.blogspot.com

We will be featuring Interviews with your favorite Actors/Comedians/Musicians/Bands, Articles, Film reviews, Album reviews, and anything else we deem worthy. This is a community, so please feel free to email me any thoughts or just drop us a line at popviews@gmail.com

Warm regards,

Ron Solomon (Editor/Creator POPVIEWS)

Steve Agee 1.7.2009

Steve Agee is one of the funniest people in the world. He kills it every week on The Sarah Silverman Program (as well as tons of comedy shorts circulating the web). Please welcome the STELLAR, the MAGNIFICENT... STEVE AGEE!










Hank Sugarman's 2nd Video Blog

STEVE AGEE – 1.07.09 by Ron Solomon

PV: Well good evening, Steve and thanks for becoming a part of the POPVIEWS family! You recently wrapped season 2 of The Sarah Silverman Program, what have you been up to during your hiatus?

SA: I've just been doing some stand up, some writing and working on some internet stuff for Comedy Central/Atom Films.....


PV: Had you known a lot of the cast prior to joining the show?


SA: I knew everyone in the cast except for Jay Johnston. It was a huge relief to finally meet him and find out that he wasn't a jerk

PV: A lot of the Sarah Silverman Program cast are "Mr.Show" alumni, do you think we'll ever see a cameo from Bob Odenkirk and David Cross?

SA: Bob has actually made a cameo, briefly, in the episode where Sarah has her maid deported. He had a bizarre British accent, so it was probably hard to recognize him (ha ha). As for David,I'm sure everyone would love for him to show up and do something. It's a little bit harder because he lives in NY and we shoot in Los Angeles. Oh, and also we have to wait and see if we get picked up for another season. If we don't, I have a feeling it'll be really hard to get him on the show.


PV: You're a musician, what instruments do you play?

SA: Bass guitar is my main instrument. I actually moved to Los Angeles because I wanted to be a professional musician/rock star. I was going to school at the Musician's Institute in Hollywood and playing around town with my band, The Grazers. One thing led to another and some how I ended up in acting/comedy


PV: I saw somewhere that you play shows with Mary Birdsong (of Reno 911) as the band 99 CENT WHORE, any plans to record a cd or play shows out of the L.A. area?


SA: I'm sure there will be some shows in the future. After we got things going, Mary went to NY to do Hairspray and then I started shooting the second half of Sarah's show, so things got put on the back burner. That's the biggest problem with being in a band with other actors. As soon as someone gets a gig then everything gets thrown out of whack.


PV: Any other bands/music side projects you are in, that you could fill us in on?


SA: Well for a very VERY short time (I mean like a week) I was playing bass with a band called Smith & Pyle. That band is made up of my friends Missi Pyle and Shawnee Smith both actresses with incredible music talent (Missi you'd recognize from movies like Galaxy Quest,Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, Dodgeball, and a million other films, and Shawnee you'd know from the Saw movies, Becker and one of my favorites - The Blob!). You should check them out on iTunes


PV: (this question is a parody of Inside The Actors Studios) Steve, please give us a bit of Hank Sugarman... Hello? Hank Sugarman, Are you there?


SA: Uh, I'm OK. My ass kinda itches and my wife won't die


PV: Hank, who are your BIGGEST inspirations/influences?

SA: John Wayne and Bing Crosby

PV: Have any "Around the House" tips for hiding boners, Hank?

SA: Marry my wife...it's a problem you won't have to deal with ever again

PV: Ok Steve, you mentioned once that you lived with a member of the comedy troupe The State, ever get stoned and fall asleep in their bed on accident?

SA: That would be Ken Marino, and I actually still live with him and his wife, Erica in their guest house. I don't do drugs because they're against the law. Ken does though. He grows his own heroin and sells it to Joe Lo Truglio

PV: Speaking of The State, you caught the reunion in L.A.with 9 original members, will you be in my town to catch all 11 members for the REAL reunion at SF Sketchfest this month?

SA: I'm going to try and drive up just for that show. The LA shows were amazing and I'm sure the shows in San Francisco will be just as good, if not better

PV: If so, want me to bring some delicious pot cookies or rice krispy treats?

SA: I can't do edibles. I had a bad experience ten years ago when I ate about 8 cookies without knowing there was pot in them. It was the worst experience of my life. Oh, and also, I don't do drugs because they're against the law. By the way, I keep saying "against the law" because I don't know how to spell illegal (that was just spell checked)

PV: What music has been frequenting your iPod as of late?

SA: Lately I've been listening to a lot of Bowie. He's one of my favorites. I've also been listening to the New York Dolls, Velvet Underground, Hank Williams, Fu Manchu and the new Eagles of Death Metal album.

PV: What are your top 3 concerts that you have ever attended?

SA: Oh my god, that's really hard to pick just three. I'd say Jane's Addiction in 1989, Guns n Roses (also 1989) and probably Nirvana with Pearl Jam in 1991 (maybe it was 90)

PV: Andrea Rosen (from STELLA and Variety Shac) is on the 1st (season 2) episode of Flight of the Conchords, you did a music video for "Hiphopopotamus vs. Rhymenoceros", are you going to make an appearance on that show in season 2?

SA: Oh my god, I wish! FOTC is one of my favorite shows. I'm excited for the new season, but sadly will not be on it

PV: Who would win in a fight, you or Brian Posehn?

SA: We'd probably both die of heart attacks before a winner could be determined.

PV: If you and Bill Murray hung out, what would you guys most likely talk about?

SA: It would probably be a lot of me asking him about stuff that happened on the set of Meatballs and Stripes and a lot of him asking me who the fuck I was.

PV: I heard that you and Matt Berry (The Mighty Boosh, The IT crowd, Snuff Box) were going to collaborate on some things, aside from the last episode you guys did of TSSP, care to let us in on it/them?

SA: We're working on a web series right now for atomfilms.com (Comedy Central's website). It's musical and it's basically me writing horrible songs about him and him writing horrible songs about me. Kind of a musical feud.

PV: Matt Berry is going to be on POPVIEWS as well, any message you'd like me to pass along?

SA: Tell him that Denny's called and they really miss his business (he ate there for almost every meal when he was here in LA. No joke)

PV: You post a lot of iChat pictures on your myspace, how much cyber sex do you have on a daily basis?

SA: Zero, dude! I can't have cyber sex with the help of a web cam because even though you're looking at the other person,there's a small window with your image looking right back at you. Picture in picture sex doesn't work for me when I'm in one of the pictures. Maybe I'll look into Skype.

PV: Well thanks so much for taking the time to hang out with us, Steve. You're a comic genius, a stellar photographer, brilliant comedy short maker, and I've never heard you play music so I simply don't know if you're any good at it... We'll stay tuned to steveagee.com for updates on your performances, appearences, and things you may be selling!

SA: Thank you, sir! I've had fun and now I'm going to go eat a donut.....


(it's ok to leave comments on this interview blog, but any rude, offensive, or otherwise dickhead-ish comments will be deleted)

Ron Sexsmith 1.4.2009

Ron Sexsmith is an amazing songwriter. He was on the 2001 version of =POPVIEWS= and I was elated when he agreed to be a part of the 2009 relaunch! Without further ado, I give you... RON SEXSMITH!










This is How I know (Live)

RON SEXSMITH – 1.04.09 - by Ron Solomon

PV: Ron, Thanks so much being part of the relaunch of POPVIEWS! You were one of the original interviews back in 2001, You were promoting "Blue Boy", how have the last 8years treated you?

RS: Um..well it's been a productive time... I've released I think 5 or 6 albums since "Blue Boy"
and so there's been a lot of touring as well.

PV: You've done many tours, I caught up with you at Cafe Du Nord in SF a while back, do you ever get to catch other artists shows? If so, which ones stand out to you?

RS: It doesn't happen much when I'm on the road, but whenI'm home I try to catch a few shows. Saw Tift Merrit in London recently.


PV: Speaking of which, we wouldn't be POPVIEWS if we didn't ask what has been frequenting your iPod as of late?

RS: I don't own an ipod actually but my favorite cd this year has been Ry Cooders new one "I Flathead"



PV: Your new song "This is how I know" really speaks to me on a spiritual level, how did this song come about?

RS: I wrote it on the piano..I was writing about all the things that remind me that we're not alone.



PV: The song definitely transcends the limits of what most songs can be, has it become an anthem for you, as it has for me?


RS: It means a lot to me, I wouldn't call it an anthem necessarily but I enjoy singing it, It's a hopeful song.



PV: I saw Elvis Costello's performance recently on "A Colbert Christmas", do you ever get to see that guy?


RS: I haven't seen him in a few years but we email each other sometimes.



PV: You're from Toronto, as a Canadian, are you as psyched about our President Elect as I am?


RS: Yea, I think we're all pretty excited up here, I don't envy him though.



PV: If the world could reach a peaceful status, what changes do you think we'd need to implement immediately?

RS: I think there needs to be more dialogue in general and more acceptance of opinions that run counter to our own. More understanding too



PV: You're 44 (I believe), how the hell do you still look like you're in your20's?!?



RS: I think I've aged a great deal but thank you..I don't really do anything special..I have always had trouble with my weight though and I am currently trying to get to the bottom of that



PV: Wikipedia states that your girlfriend's name is Colleen, who is Brandy Alexander?


RS: Brandy Alexander is the name of my favorite cocktail



PV: Your song "God Loves Everyone" speaks to me more than most of the gospel songs I heard growing up as a pastors' kid. Are you a religious man?


RS: Not really, I was as a kid...... but I'm more of a God conscious person
I believe in free will and forward thinking



PV: You do collaborations with other artists (Chris Martin, Ane Brun), do you have any upcoming collaborations you can tell us about?


RS: I've been co-writing with different people, but not for my own record but in hopes to get some covers


PV: Who'd be your dream collaboration?

RS: I'd like to write with Feist again....I love the Fleet Foxes, Beth Orton



PV: speaking of which, Ane Brun is going to be on POPVIEWS, can I relay any message for you?


RS: Give her my love



PV: Is Jools Holland as cool in person as he seems?


RS: Yes, we're both big fans of Charlie Rich, he's a good man



PV: What are the top 5 things that you're passionate about?


RS: Music, coffee, walking, breakfast, movies (and Colleen)



PV: What bands/artists would you like to see sent into space and never returned?


RS: Yikes...I wouldn't wish that on anybody but there are A LOT of bands/artists that I do wish would just go away or at least I wish I could avoid them. I think bad music,especially when it's real popular is like a crime against humanity.


PV: Seen any good films lately?



RS: Yes...."Man On Wire" is a beautiful documentary about Philippe Petit who walked between the WTC. I loved "Ghost Town" with Ricky Gervais too.



PV: When was the last time you laughed until you cried?


RS: During "Tropic Thunder"



PV: Do you think there will be record labels in 5 years time?


RS: Good question, I think they'll exist in some form



PV: What are some things you can always count on to inspire you?


RS: People, the seasons, moods



PV: What would your dream concert (to play) be, who would share the bill?

RS: Anywhere with Ana Egge..she's one of my favorite songwriters out there



PV: Bill Shakespeare, any good?

RS: Yes, but I prefer Dickens



PV: When Ron Sexsmith is no more, what would you like your legacy to be?


RS: A few good songs, I don't really care if I'm remembered or not



PV: Any famous last words?

RS: If I ever become famous I'll let you know


PV: Thanks so much for spending time with us, Ron. You're the genuine article,and we'll have to have some Guinness next time you're in San Francisco!

RS: Okey doke

Please check ronsexsmith.com for all info on Ron's upcoming releases/concerts!


(it's ok to post comments on this interview blog, but any rude, offensive, or otherwise dickhead-ish comments will be deleted)

David Wain 1.4.2009

David Wain was a member of the comedy troupe THE STATE, which ran on MTV from '93 - '95. His next venture was to join Michael Ian Black and Michael Showalter (fellow STATE alums) to form STELLA, a 3 man comedy show with suits. Since then he has gone on to direct such films as Wet Hot American Summer, The Ten, and the smash hit: Role Models. Ladies and Gentlemen, I give you... DAVID WAIN!













Wainy Days - Episode 1/Season 1

DAVID WAIN – 1.04.09 by Ron Solomon



PV: First off, David, allow me to say what a true honor it is to have you join the POPVIEWS family!

DW: Oy these are a lot of questions (I'm reading ahead!)

PV: You've made some amazing films in the past 8 years, do you get stressed a lot during the film making process or do you try to keep it light on set?

DW: I try to keep it as light as possible but of course it can be very stressful! There is always lots of money being spent. But I try to keep it fun.No reason not to and tends to show up on screen.

PV: You recently toured with your comedy troupe STELLA, how do you feel that the shows were received?

DW: Great response - couldn't have asked for nicer audiences.

PV: Which do you prefer, film making or live comedy shows?

DW: I love that I get to go back and forth - it's a wonderful balance and perspective-giver.

PV: I live in San Francisco, did you happen to catch the film "Milk?"

DW: I'm dying to but haven't yet.

PV: Have you ever showered with any other members of The State?

DW: Yes.

PV: What bands/artists have you been listening to as of late?

DW: Ex-lovers, Dinosaur Pileup, Awesome Wells, Indica Ritual, Seedy Seeds,PixelH8, Envelopes, Picture Books in Winter

PV: Peter Salett joined the POPVIEWS family in 2001 and will be back for an interview in the newly launched 2009 version, how did you begin working with him?

DW: I met him at Brown University in 1990 and when he graduated he moved to NewYork and started playing live shows regularly and I became a huge fan (and friend).I think the first time we collaborated on a project was Wet Hot American Summer.

PV: Is it true that Peter's hair nests a family of birds?

DW: No.

PV: Do you miss doing STELLA the tv series?

DW: I miss many aspects about it - it was very fun and I loved the show, and thought we had a lot of great directions we could have taken it. On the other hand, it was a brutally hot summer in Brooklyn and we were shooting either outside in the sun or inside in very hot locations or our sound stage where the A/C was broken. And we were insanely overworked -- writing, acting, editing,directing, casting, etc all at the same time on a very fast schedule.

PV: Let's talk about THE STATE, my favorite comedy troupe of all time. You guys are reuniting in SF (thank you for the city choice) for Sketchfest this month.This will be the first reunion of all 11 members in 10 years! Have you guys begun writing and working on the material yet?

DW: Yes we have most of it ready -- we did a version of this show in L.A. in March but we did not have the whole group.

PV: Are there plans for more STATE shows in the near future?

DW: TBD

PV: This is more of a statement than a question but: Congrats on becoming a father recently!

DW: Thanks!

PV: How often do you google yourself?

DW: Depends. For example if I'm writing something on my computer, I tend to google myself when I get to the end of each sentence, unless it's a really long sentence.

PV: How do you feel your film ROLE MODELS was received compared to your other films?

DW: Better than I could have every expected -- most audiences and critics seem to have gotten from the film what I was hoping to make: a familiar hollywood comedy story infused with a different sensibility.

PV: Well I'll be in attendance for the STATE reunion in San Francisco this month, and I know you are a busy man, so I'll let you get going, but thank you so much for chatting with us today! Give Black and Show our love!

DW: Will do!

Well thanks so much for spending time with us today, David. We'll stay tuned to davidwain.com for more info on all your future releases/shows!

(it's ok to post comments on the interview blog, but any rude, offensive, or otherwise dickhead-ish comments will be deleted)

Kevin Max 1.9.2009

Seek (live)

KEVIN MAX – 1.03.09 by Ron Solomon

PV: Kevin, thanks so much for spending time with POPVIEWS today! What's it been? About 8 years? So, what have you been up to?

KM: Well
as you know just put out Crashing Gates, it was a nice departure from
trying to compete with what is 'accepted' in the marketplace...as you
know, i enjoy creating music without boundaries; that said, i am back
in the studio soon to complete the project, with added songs and a full
length release with dpulse/universal.I have also been working on a
novel, it has sucked at my mental energy like nothing else, but it is a
dream come true to see through the process.

PV: Last time we spoke (in interview format) you were coming out like a 45, how has the response been among the gay community?

KM: Coming
out like a 45' was more of reference to the old way of making recording
available...i had a lot of people wondering if i meant the gun as well.
As far as the Gay audience is concerned, i think they enjoy my music as
much as the Hetero's.

PV: Did you see "MILK?"

KM: I have not had the pleasure of viewing Milk yet, but intend to.

PV:
You moved from Nashville to L.A., from L.A. to Vegas,and from (i think)
Vegas to east. Nashville... Did you get the partying out of your system?

KM:
To a degree, yes. The 'partying' aspect of my life kind of dwindled
around my late 30's. When you have kids, which i started at 39, the
brakes are put on the all night rambling, real fast. There is nothing
dodgier than a father changing diapers with a hangover.

PV: What bands/artists have been inspiring you lately?

KM: Lots
of bands and artists inspire me, but not alot of current artists. That
is the tragedy of growing old, you get a bit more cynical, and can
smell the bullshit from miles away. But there are always those who
appear above the refuse...Radiohead continue to make great albums, and
continue to change....U2 still holds the Heavyweight Music Championship
of the world, and i think The Killers are doing a killer job of trying
to stay alive. Lately, the bands that have turned my head are:
Fleet Foxes
TV On The Radio
Scott Weiland ( new solo project)
Firemen (Paul Macca side project)

Human Highway and

Melpo Mene

PV: Top 5 favorite British comedies (tv or film)?

KM: Monty Python, Fawlty Towers, Extras, Ricky Gervais stand up and Eddie Izzard Standup- I'm kinda old school.

PV: Your wife is beautiful as are your kids, what activities would a Max family outing bring?

KM: Most likely going to the park, running after soccer balls, swinging on swings, chasing after the dog.

PV: What is (in 2009) the most commonly misunderstood notions that people seem to have about Kmax?

KM: That i am misunderstood.

PV: Are you planning any tours to support the recent release of "Crashing Gates?"

KM: Yes of course, there is talk of aligning some shows up in Europe in the early summer, not sure about the states.

PV: I know that you're a HOG enthusiast now, tell me what draws you to the motorcycle life?

KM:
I have been riding cycles since i was a kid. Growing upin rural
Michigan, my first bike was a Yamaha Z80, i terrorized the neighborhood
by setting up ramps in our field, and having people lay in a row,as i
jumped over them. As i grew up, street bikes became a fascination, and
i always enjoyed the look of the 40's American Bikes. That is why my
current bike, the "Cross Bones' is a mock of that. I recently rode the
105th from Nashville to Milwaukee and back in 2 days, it was amazing.

PV: Who'd win in a fight, you or Liam Gallagher?

KM: If we were both sober probably Liam, if there were lager involved, i could wipe the floor with him.

PV: Would you PLEASE consider covering "Who wants to live forever" by Queen? For me? Please?

KM: Yes, of course i will consider it. Although i wouldn't count it as my favorite Queen song, it would be good fun.

PV: Who are your top 5 favorite male vocalists?

KM: umm.
Elvis Presley
John Lennon
Bryan Ferry
Freddy Mercury
Morrissey

.. ......

PV: Ever meet a musician/actor and feel floored by their presence?

KM:
Musician- Sting, it was a very strange encounter. We were at a banquet
for a pre-Grammy award thing at the MET in NYC. I was making a salad
and a bumped into him. I didn't realize it was him until after we
shuffled further down the line. He is a tall mother. Simon Le Bon,
another strange encounter. He bought me and a female friend drinks at
the bar inside the Sunset Marquis hotel, he was quite lit, and very
funny. I have also spent time with Liam Gallagher and Robbie Williams,
backstage and on planes, although i was not floored by either
experience, it was good fun. The only actor i was ever 'floored' by
would have been meeting Gary Oldman at The Belmont, while in LA.

PV: Describe last nights NEW YEARS EVE activities in 10words or less:

KM: Home, Sushi, Sake, Wife, Friends, Wii, Kids, Couch,Cigar.

PV: Do you find that most Christians support you unconditionally or judge you under a microscope view?

KM:
Most Christians tend to jump to conclusions about me before they either
know, or have 'real knowledge.' There are a great many Christians that
i know however, that are wonderful examples of unconditional love.

PV: What would your dream concert be (to play) and who would share the bill?

KM:
Probably fronting either Led Zepp, or Queen. But it seems both are
being taken. An Alternative would be a co-bill tour with Morrissey, i
probably know more Smiths lyrics than he.

PV: What advice, if any, would you give to young fans who want to be a professional musician?

KM: Get out, or Blow Them All Away...no other options.

PV: What is the atmosphere usually like in the studio?

KM:
This project is different from every other... they are all interesting.
I love the studio atmosphere, the atmosphere of creating on the spot. I
am not a big fan of rehearsing demo material over and over again.With
'Crashing Gates', we were in a converted garage, literally. It was
amazing how much fun we had though.

PV: What are some things that you can ALWAYS count on to inspire you?

KM: Words, Melody, Life Experience, travel, kids, my wife, a good Cigar, a motorcyle ride, God's grace.

PV: It’s 3am, you’re on the road, where is Erik Cole and what is he doing?

KM: In his bed sleeping, he get's grumpy without good sleep.

PV: Do you think there will be record labels in 5 year’s time?

KM: I hope not, but i wonder at the Alternative. I think its good to have structure when it comes to business.

PV: When was the last time you laughed until you cried?

KM: Watching the Tom Cruise scene in Tropic Thunder with my wife.

PV: What do YOU think about ME?

KM:
I don't think about you that much Ron. (haha) But if i were to take my
time and consider you, i would say, you are a funny, witty and self
deprecating individual...who seems quite talented and into good music.
We have appreciated your friendship through these years.

PV: What bands/artists would you be happy to see sent into space and never returned?

KM:
well, haha....my choice would be those who walk the middle ground, or
as it is termed 'mainstream' or 'popular'....they hold music back from
becoming awe inspiring and challenging. They produce a type of sonic
malaise that effects the general curve of music. Not to name names, but
an example would be-
Nickleback
3 Doors Down
Hootie and the Blowfish
Big and Rich
Kenny Chesney
Jack Johnson
Jason Mraz
Linkin Park
Staind
Puff Daddy
Brittany Spears
Justin Timberlake
etc etc...

PV: Are you as psyched about our president elect as I am?

KM:
Yes i think so. I don't know how psyched you are, but i can only guess.
He seems to be a great leader, and someone that has a grasp on where to
go. This country is in need of some major P.R. and healing from the
inside.

PV: Top 3 celebrity crushes?

KM: umm yeah my wife and i talk about this alot...haha, how surface is that?
1. Monica Belucci
2. Giada
3. Kelly Wearstle

PV: When Kevin Max is no more, what would you like your legacy to be?

KM: A singer that knew how to write. A father who knew how to love. And a husband that knew how to shut-up.

Thank you Kevin, for spending time with us today. We'll stay tuned to myspace.com/kevinmax for info on new releases/tours/books and anything else you're involved in. Cheers.

(it's ok to leave comments on this interview blog, but any rude, offensive, or otherwise dickhead-ish comments will be deleted)

you + i = popviews

Hey Everyone,

It's Ron! I just wanted to drop everyone a line to let you know that =P= is back! We're going to bring you some new interviews soon, as well as some articles and other fun stuff. We exist because of you. We love the music/tv/film fans and hope that we represent you to the fullest. If there are any artists YOU would like to see on here, please email me at popviews@gmail.com and we'll do our best to get them on here. You probably wont see Miley Cyrus or Lindsay Lohan here any time soon, but if you like indie rock/hop hop/film/tv/web series, then this is the place for you! See you guys soon, I'm off to play some Beatles rock band! Cheers!

Ron
Owner/Operator

Matt Berry 2.6.09

When people hear a 'signature voice' most people think of James Earl Jones, Brian Blessed, or George Takei. Not me. I think of today's guest (and then a warm bath of chocolate). Today =POPVIEWS= is honored and delighted to speak with one of the most extraordinary talents exported from England since Shakespeare (or Spike Milligan). Writer, comedian, musician, (humanitarian), and actor....MATT BERRY!















Bowie Sketch from Berry & Fulcher's SNUFF BOX




Matt Berry 2.6.09 - Interview by Amanda Lyn Brass, Supervising Editor: Ron Solomon






PV: Hello Mr. Berry, and thank you so much for contributing to this =POPVIWEWS= interview. May I call you "Matt"?

MB: You may indeed call me Matt if i can call you Amanda

PV: First I'd like to say "Congratulations" on the upcoming release of "Witchazel". I've heard clips from the advert you posted. How has your musical point of view changed from 1995's "Jackpot" to 2005's "Opium" to this year's "Witchazel"?

MB: umm, no. my musical point of view has remained the same since i started to write songs and make music at around 13 or 14 yrs. the point of view being formed from someone who couldn’t read music and so luckily gave everything a go. i think if i had had guitar or piano lessons i would not be still playing now


PV: You've always been very cool about letting fans enjoy your music from your website. What's your take on the "online music is stealing from artists" argument?

MB: i think its up to the individual artist and how precious he or she is. i've always felt that if you want to make music for people to enjoy then find the best way to get it out to as many people as possible i've never been too hung up on the money side of things because i know i'd be doing it for my own amusement anyway.

PV: One could argue that audiences are accustomed to seeing you as a comedic performer Matt, but is music your first love?

MB: i certainly love to talk about music rather than comedy. apart from maybe chaplin, i'm not too interested in the history or the workings of comedy, though, if i just did music i would miss the asshole-ing around with friends that comes with comedy


PV: Do you come from a musical family? What kind of music did you hear around the house growing up?

MB: i do not come from a musical background and that really helped as my parents never forced me to learn anything due to them having no knowledge of the instruments i took up. they always seemed impressed even if i was just tuning a guitar, christ love 'em


PV: If I were to get into your car right now and turn on the stereo what would I find playing on your iPod? Any guilty pleasures you'd like to unburden yourself here in this interview?

MB: if you got into my car then you would either be giving it to me as a present or you have the power of time travel. what i'm trying to say is that i can't drive but as for the ipod i have the original 1973 german cast of jesus christ superstar on there and some crowded house. i pray i never leave my ipod with someone after i had just been listening to crowded house.


PV: I absolutely adored your re-tooled version of "Get Here in Time" with Geno Washington. Tell us about discovering Geno's sound and what was your experience with him in the studio? (Did he try to hypnotize you? Just kidding...)

MB: I love motown and geno's voice in particular. we shared the same agent for a time and i figured you couldn’t look a gift horse in the mouth and what a mouth. he would hypnotize me if he could, yeah, but i try not to stand still for long so he's got his work cut out


PV: In live performances you often pay a wonderful homage to the late great Ronnie Hazelhurst. You've also shown a talent for composing theme tunes Matt. Will you favor us with your opinion of what the magic behind theme tunes is (when done correctly)?

MB: i don't know. maybe the thing is to keep it (theme) simple and make sure its in tune with the show itself. got to be memorable otherwise you are pissing in the wind


PV: Being a dirty American, I am unable to attend any of your live shows. I did however; live vicariously through Youtube to get a feel. What do you love MOST about touring? What you miss least about it?

MB: i miss the gigs themselves, as they seem to be over before I’ve noticed most of the time. i don't miss the whole setting up/sound check part, i find that gum bleedingly dull


PV: What would you say is lacking in today's singer/songwriters? What advice, if any, would you give young fans trying to break into the music or comedy industry?

MB: umm. just do what makes you laugh. if you feel you should perform something that isn't funny because it may lead to something then the chances are it wont. but i really am no expert



PV: Matt, let's go nuts. Is there anyone you'd bring back from the dead to collaborate with musically? Is there a living, breathing talent yet on this earth that you are equally eager to work with in the future? (Sophie Ellis-Bextor notwithstanding)

MB: alive-iggy pop, dead-roy orbison


PV: Here's a classic musical ice-breaker: "Your first concert - who was it?" (There's no shame in answering honestly)

MB: jean michel jarre 1988 docklands, london (which interestingly is where i now live)


PV: Your "Snuff Box" clip of "How to Play the Guitar" has graced my Facebook video postings for over a year now and I may have accidentally learned something from watching the 'instructional video'. Do you harbor some kind of resentment toward 'learn at home' DVD's Matt? Is there a personal story in there somewhere?

MB: no i don't think i've ever watched one. i just liked the idea of someone buying one, putting it on and discovering that the teacher on the dvd was the devil, or worse!

PV: Did moving from the London Dungeon to the television studio seem like a welcome transition to you at that time in your life? Was the workload and change of pace better or worse than you had expected?

MB: great question. it could not have come at a better time. i had been temping for nearly ten years when i got darkplace and i can tell you that i could not have continued scaring children as job without there being a repercussion.

PV: With the seemingly relentless stream of crossover shows coming into the States it seems the Americans rely upon the British for comedic inspiration. What do you look to when you need inspiration? Can you cite specific performers that influenced your style?

MB: i'm not really interested in comics, i think most of my inspiration comes from the people i know who have no sense of humor, certainly not other comics.


PV: Your biblical rock opera "AD/BC" was a twist on the oldest Christmas story around - complete with playful vintage flavor (and I want to thank you personally for creating it). How did you find the writing process for such an undertaking - as opposed to *only* writing or *only* composing? Could you be convinced to write another project like that again?

MB: it was a labour of love as there was no money and i recorded most of the music in my flat on my own, but id do it again in a heartbeat


PV: Who would win in a street fight, Rich Fulcher or You?

MB: fulcher would never get involved in anything like that so i would end up fighting with myself which i do most of the time anyway



PV: When was the last time you laughed until you cried?

MB: the mattress man video (youtube) i think




PV: When Matt Berry is no more, what would you like your legacy to be?

MB: go with your guts because your brain will talk you out if it


PV: Steve Agee wants me to let you know that "DENNY'S" misses your business. Convince me to return to that elephant's graveyard of taste by suggesting your favorite meal there.

MB: moons over my-hammy of course. tell steve agee to get his will witnessed



PV: You've been very gracious with my (alleged) line of questioning Matt. =POPVIEWS= thanks you. Next time you're in Southern California will you let me buy you a pint?

MB: if you don’t ill kill you

PV: Thanks so much for being with us, Matt!

Stay tuned to myspace.com/mattberrysmusic for all updates on Matt and his ventures.

Tom Maxwell 1.12.09

There are certain musicians and songwriters that music enthusiasts tend to thank the higher power for... This is one of them. Tom Maxwell was a member and co-songwriter in SQUIRREL NUT ZIPPERS. His music in and since that band will continue to inspire up and coming songwriters like me for years to come. I am proud that he is with us tonight, and I am certainly proud to call him a friend. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, IT'S TIME FOR THE OLD TIMEY MUSIC... TOM MAXWELL!











HELL

TOM MAXWELL 1.12.09 – by Ron Solomon


PV: Tom, thanks so much for becoming a member of the =POPVIEWS= family! We are honored to have you!

TM: My pleasure!

PV: Firstly let me say how much I love "Samsara", I know you're working on a follow-up record, tell us a bit about it.

TM: Thank you. The working title is “ass over teacup.” Most of the songs were written in the last couple of years, when my life got turned upside down. My wife moved out and my son got diagnosed with leukemia, among other things. (Esten’s fine; in remission and ongoing treatment, so don’t worry!)

PV: Is it going to be a bit more rock n roll, or gonna have that stellar jazz Tom Maxwell touch on it?

TM: Well, both! It’s turning out to be (almost) a country record. There’s quite a bit of pedal steel. All of the songs have a strong Americana feel. There’s a lot of rockin’ on there too, in my own kind of idiosyncratic way. The engineer said one song sounds like “acoustic Replacements,” which is high praise. I think it’s shaping up to be the best thing I’ve ever done, but then again, I’m supposed to feel that way. It’s not a Zipper’s record.


PV: What was your first concert that you attended?

TM: I’d like to say someone cool, but in fact it was probably Elton John or Eric Clapton.

PV: Here's a question I know I shouldn't ask, as a journalist, but why are you so awesome???

TM: That’s a question best asked of yourself.

PV: What do you think is lacking in the world of singer/songwriting?

TM: I couldn’t answer that, without being thoroughly familiar with the world of singer/songwriting, which I’m not. I would guess that the world in general could use more love, forbearance and honesty.

PV: How does it feel to know that you were a HUGE part of one of the best, most influential, and innovative bands to ever grace god's green earth (of course I'm referring to Squirrel Nut Zippers)?

TM: Pride. I’m proud of that run—not puffed up about it. Lots of bands sold more records, or had more hits. But we made some good albums, played some good shows, and actually got some recognition. I was able to achieve a goal I set when I was fourteen. I mean, apart from getting laid. I feel good about that too.

PV: What do you miss about being in that band?

TM: The gravy. We had a very smooth touring machine—no schlepping—and it’s nice to do interviews and stuff. But on the whole, it was a mind-fuck, and I’m glad it’s in the rearview.

PV: What do you LEAST miss about being in that band?

TM: The mind-fuckery; the grind.

PV: Why do you think Katherine Whalen toured w/ Jimbo Mathus as Squirrel Nut Zippers, after writing such songs about him, which show him in a less than flattering light?

TM: Please ask Katharine. At the end of the day, we worked hard to build up a brand, and real life can suck. So I think it’s accurate to say that she was prepared to make whatever compromises were necessary to exploit the brand.

PV: Would you ever consider a sit-down with them, to try and sort out your differences (I have to ask this as all the fans would want me to do my part in trying to get you guys to reconcile in some way)

TM: Nope. It’s not a question of sorting out differences. It’s more a question of whether I’m the kind of person who attends his high school reunions, and I’m not. It’s hard for people on the outside to understand that bands usually don’t last, and it’s not a bad thing. I wished the Beatles had stuck it out, until experience showed me that they did, and I should just be grateful they managed to squeak out “Abbey Road.” You can have the most beautiful lamp in the world, but when the flame goes out it won’t be anything but ornament.

PV: So, I know you're in the studio right now, what is the atmosphere like in a "Tom Maxwell" studio session? I imagine lots of iced tea and a big front porch somewhere.

TM: No iced tea—Coffee. Doughnuts. Deep conversations, big laughs, inappropriate humor. Wine, beer, home cooking, cigarettes. A lot of “live” takes and fortuitous mistakes.

PV: This is more of a statement than question, but please send your son our love. How is he feeling as of late?

TM: I appreciate that. Honestly, he’s in great spirits and has lots of energy. But his blood cell counts are off, and we don’t know why. We do know that the leukemia has not returned. I’m taking him to clinic in the morning and we’ll see what happens. Things might be normal, or we could get some bad news. On the one hand, the chemo can cause other kinds of cancers. On the other, the longer these kids are in treatment, the slower their counts are to recover. So, I’m scared, and reminded that I walk a knife’s edge. Hopefully, this will be another bump in the road to full recovery. The odds of that are over 90%--it was 5% survivable when I was his age—and I cling to that, and his track record of bouncing back like a champ.

PV: Now I know that your music taste knows no bounds, but what have you been listening to LATELY?

TM: The album that’s caught my attention is called “Jazz På Svenska” (Jazz in Swedish) by Jan Johansson, released in 1964. He was a Swedish jazz pianist, and arranged traditional Swedish folk songs for piano and string bass on that record. It’s simple, spare, exceedingly well-played, and embodies the Swedish word “vermod,” which means, I think, a kind of longing tinged with melancholy. He was killed in a car crash on the way to a gig in 1968. The album is revered in Sweden and Norway, and unknown in the States.

PV: What are the top 5 things you are truly passionate about?

TM: My kids, the fellowship of close friends, self-knowledge, whether the toilet paper is put on the “right”way—over and not under, and the teachings of the Buddha.

PV: What bands/artists would you be happy to see sent into space and never returned?

TM: None. It dawned on me long ago that, even if I don’t like someone’s music, I have a lot in common with them as a writer and player, and we could probably get on well having a beer together. I’m glad that there’s stuff that is not to my taste; it means there’s a nice broad spectrum of expression. I recently heard an interview with Enya—an artist whose stuff I’ll never buy—and she sounds like a lovely person. To paraphrase Thomas Jefferson, artists can do what they like, as it neither breaks my leg nor empties my bank account.

PV: Are you as psyched about our president elect as I am?

TM: Big time. He’s got a hell of a mess to clean up, and things will get worse before they get better. But there’s been a fundamental change: we’ve walked the walk. When kids were told that they could grow up to be anything, even president, it wasn’t really true. Now it is, and future generations will take for granted what so many worked (and died) to achieve. It’s a huge deal, and hard to fully grasp.

PV: What is something that is most commonly MISUNDERSTOOD about you?

TM: I don’t know, or particularly care, how I’m perceived. Well, I do care, but not enough to conduct polls. Honestly, I don’t think I’m on many people’s radar anymore, and that’s as it should be. A very few will remember me as the dude who wrote “Hell,” and that ain’t bad.

PV: Can we listen to "Tenderness" and smoke a joint together some time? I have a feeling it'd be a spiritual experience, as I love that song!

TM: Yes, and no. I don’t smoke pot. I’m glad you love the song, though, and appreciate the sentiment!

PV: When was the last time you laughed until you cried?

TM: I think when I was on the phone with my former fiancée. We were looking at the Christmas cards on engrish.com, crying from laughing so hard.

PV: If you met Nina Simone before she passed, what would you guys have talk about?

TM: North Carolina, mostly. Getting out. Jazz and blues and breaking down musical barriers. I would want to tell her how much ass she kicked on her version of “I’ve Got It Bad, and That Ain’t Good.”

PV: It's 3am and your on tour in 1997, where is Ken Mosher?

TM: Back of the bus, holding court!

PV: What advice, if any, would you give to young fans who want to be a professional musician?

TM: Make sure the sharks are in the water, and not in your little lifeboat with your band mates. Persevere, don’t despair, and accept a life of meager income and great artistic reward. Read, and understand, every contract you sign, and don’t trade your magic beans for a cow.

PV: When Tom Maxwell is no more, what would you have liked your legacy to be?

TM: That I had the sense to better myself, and tried to treat everyone as equals. That I was a good dad.

PV: Thanks so much for hanging out with us, Tom. You're a gentleman and incredibly gracious!

TM: Thanks, Ron. Stay cool.

Andrea Rosen 1.12.09

I light up when I turn on my tv and see Andrea. Whether she's hiring Flight of the Conchords to write a jingle, or selling yogurt, my heart is warm and fuzzy for some good old fashion Andrea Rosen entertainment! She is in the comedy troupe VARIETY SHAC and you also know her from the comedy central series STELLA. She kicks off season 2 of Flight of the Conchords this month as well. LADIES AND GENTLEMEN... THE SENSATIONAL, THE BEAUTIFUL, THE ABSOLUTELY GRAND... ANDREA ROSEN!










Male Whorehouse




ANDREA ROSEN 1.12.09 - by Ron Solomon

PV: Andrea, what a delight to have you join the =POPVIEWS= family. thanks for spending some time with us!


A-RO: Thank you for having me. And thanks for the snacks. I love the pate, dates, and white chocolate malt balls.


PV: First things first; I'm listening to the latest Gnarls Barkley cd right now, are you down with the Gnarl?

A-RO: I love the song “Going On”. I listen to it 3.5 times a week. Not sure what album that’s from. I could google it right now, but I don’t feel like it.

PV: What cds have been frequenting your iPod as of late?

A-RO: Lately I have been listening to De La Soul is Dead, Blossom Dearie, and the new Beyonce (and yes I have been trying to learn the Single Ladies dance). I listen to the music from Pippin a lot. I love musicals! I also love the Jenny Lewis song, Trying My Best to Love You.

PV: I recently did an interview with David Wain and had asked him about the show STELLA, which you were a cast member of. What things do you miss most about doing that show?

A-RO: I loved doing a show with friends. And I loved doing a show that I thought was super funny. I was totally honored to be a part of that show even though Comedy Central pays doodoo.

PV: Do you think Comedy Central gave it a proper shot?

A-RO: They pushed it at the beginning and then they made it really hard to find – they switched the time slot a few times and sorta stopped advertising it. I definitely think it should have had a 2nd season.

PV: I saw you recently on the 1st episode of the new (2nd) season of Flight of the Conchords, how was that experience after your audition tragedy from last season?

A-RO: It was great. Greg Proops was really fun and smart. He has an extensive vocabulary. I would go home and look up words he used in casual conversation. (I’m definitely dumber than Greg Proops).

PV: Are those 2 guys as sexually attractive as women seem to think?

A-RO: Yes. Yes. And yes. Just something about them. They have that je ne s’ais quoi. (I took French in high school).

PV: Who do you think would win in a street fight, Flight of the Conchords or STELLA?

A-RO: They’re all pussies. As in pussy cats.

PV: Do you ever do any Variety Shac shows anymore?

A-RO: Yes. We have a varietyshac show the first Thursday of every month at ucb in nyc. And then sometimes we have one offs, like we just did the final comedy show at the Knittting Factory in NYC. (It’s moving to Brooklyn).

PV: Do you enjoy doing live comedy as opposed to tv or film?

A-RO: I like doing both. I like live stuff especially when I’m in the mood to do it and it’s going well. But if there’s a drunken hooligan in the audience I don’t like it.

And I like doing tv/film because it helps me to get health insurance and have enough time to watch The Housewives of Wherever, The Bachelor, Top Chef, Oprah, and on and on.

PV: D'ya like yogurt?

A-RO: I love yogurt drinks. Like Ronnybrook. (But I don’t like Yoplait.)

PV: What are some of the best concerts you've ever attended?

A-RO: I usually don’t go to concerts. They’re so crowded and I’m not into that. But this past summer I did see Wilco. And every song they did was great. But it’s hard to stand for that long.

PV: This dude wrote a song about Michael Showalter on youtube (http://www.youtube.com/wat

ch?v=xcLVPN0tQII) and emailed me telling me his next song is going to be something like "Marry Me Andrea Rosen", wanna take this opportunity to pre-break up with this guy, so he doesn't get the wrong idea?

A-RO: He came to a recent show of mine. And he was very nice. I’m so flattered that I’m not at all creeped out. He said the video is almost done. Here is the song and video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?..v=lloau4yxIWg

PV: Shonali (your S in Variety Shac) is going to be on =POPVIEWS=, would you like me to relay any message to her?

A-RO: Tell her I like her hair cut.

PV: Do you think you'll ever relocate to Los Angeles from Brooklyn?

A-RO: God I hope not. I lived there for a year and a half once, and I was always lost on the wrong highway. And though I do think In and Out Burgers are all that, the LA vibe was not for me. I like cold weather and the subway a lot!

PV: Why are you so hot and/or awesome?

A-RO: A psychic once told me that in a past life I was a hermit, and in this life I’m making up for all that time I spent in my cave. Maybe that’s why I’m hot and/or awesome. Otherwise I don’t know.

PV: Describe to me what it was like when you first saw a picture of me, do you think one could describe it as "glee?" perhaps "elation?", but please don't let ME put words in your mouth...

A-RO: I thought you were cute. And I was “gleelated” to know you through the internet.

PV: You hold the record by biggest fish caught by a female, don't you? Did you eat that fish or throw it back?

A-RO: I threw it back. It was really old, that’s why he was so big. He was big and geriatric. He wouldn’t have tasted very good.

PV: What's going on with STANDREA?

A-RO: Nada. I made those for Superdeluxe. They ordered 3 and that was it. And now I think Superdeluxe is no more.

PV: Have you seen the film "Milk" yet? Thoughts?

A-RO: Yes. I really liked it. I was sobbing at the end. Even after the credits, I was crying. I’m a baby. But also I like movies set in SF, because I lived there for a year in 1992.

PV: Are you as psyched about our new President Elect as I am?

A-RO: Yes. He seems reasonable. And his tone of voice always makes me think he’s right. I also like that he just quit smoking. He’s fallible.

PV: What bands/artists would you be happy to see sent into space and never returned?

A-RO: I love dumb pop music (Miley Cyrus, Pussycat Dolls, Jordin Sparks), but I just cannot get behind the Jonas Brothers. Their music is not at all catchy and they were so horrible when they played on one of my favorite tv shows, Dancing with the Stars. They can’t sing. And also, they don’t seem like they’d be good at sex.

PV: When was the last time you laughed until you cried?

A-RO: Recently my boyfriend and I stayed at my friends farm house, and when we got there, it turned out that the pipes were frozen, so there was no running water. So we had to pooh on paper plates outside. That made me laugh a lot. Really anything pooh related or fart related makes me laugh a lot. I love shit.

PV: What is your cocktail of choice?

A-RO: hot chocolate. I have a total sweet tooth. But alcohol-wise, I like sidecars.

PV: If you were on an all female comedy tour with tons of female comedians, and the plane crashed, would you eat Rosie O'Donnell?

A-RO: Sure.

PV: Well thanks for spending time with us, Andrea. We love your work and your face. Thanks for joining the fam, any famous last words?

A-RO: Thank you for including me.

Peter Daily 1.11.09

Peter Daily is one of Hollywood's best kept secret. He tours a lot and brings brilliant pop music to the masses. His music creeps into your soul just like Van Morrison and Otis Redding's music used to. This is someone you're GOING TO WANT to look into. I am proud to call him my friend, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN... PETER DAILY!










Discussing his latest EP "9th Street Sessions"




PETER DAILY 1.11.09 - by Ron Solomon


PV: Hey Peter, thanks so much for having this mafia-style sit down
with POPVIEWS tonight!

PD:

No problem, any time.


PV: So we've just entered a new year, 2009, what does this mean for
you personally and professionally?

PD:

Well, means a few things. I have a new EP coming out in either March or April.
Working on a full length for 2010. Looks like lots of business ahead.


PV: How did you get started in music and when did you start writing
your own stuff?

PD:

I got started in music at a very early age. Age 4 to be exact.
Both my father and mother were singers so the gravitational pull was just natural.
Started writing when I was about 12.


PV: Did you always feel drawn to hip hop music, or were you always
secretly listening to rock n roll before/after shows?

PD:

Well, growing up one of the first albums I got was Midnight Marauders by A Tribe Called Quest. So early on hip-hop sparked an interest. And from that album I started delving into other genres. The first time I heard Sgt. Pepper, it was like a spiritual event for me.


PV: Describe the difference in the audiences between U.S. and Europe crowds.

PD:

It varies. Playing shows in LA is great because all of my people come out. It's great. However; there are so many places that are great (Phoenix, Seattle, Chicago, Orlando, Atlanta, Portland, Denver, San Francisco, Vancouver BC). But, you can't beat a packed club of 400 people in Paris either.


PV: What music has been frequenting your iPod as of late?

PD:

Back to the Egg - Paul McCartney & Wings,
The Renaissance - Q-Tip,
Little Criminals - Randy Newman,
808's and Heartbreaks - Kanye West
Mind Games - John Lennon,
Smile - Brian Wilson.



PV: What bands/artists would you be happy to see sent into space and
never returned?

PD:

Wow, that's a little drastic...I don't really know..I wish success to everyone, you know, peace & love, peace & love.


PV: What is the funniest story you can think of from when you have been on tour?

PD:

That's a good one. I was on tour with Pigeon John and we were playing some spot in Colorado Springs and a band mate of ours had recently got his ear pierced but the upper part, you know what I'm talking about? So...he just got it pierced and it was all red and weird looking and in one of the songs John's schtick is to turn around and pretend to slap him..well, at this show he landed palm and slapped the earring right out of his ear. I looked over and I lost it.


PV: What is something that is most commonly MISUNDERSTOOD about you?

PD:

I don't know, that's a good one.


PV: I know your dad has had some health scares lately, how is he doing now?

PD:

He's doing good thanks for asking.


PV: Please give him our best from the POPVIEWS family!

PD:

Will do.


PV: How is the L.A. music scene compared to other places you've
lived/played music?

PD:

It's an interesting thing. There's a lot of people trying to get heard.
I would say at times it thrives. I enjoy it. I've lived here a very long time so it's become a part of me. I would say there's definitely more of an opportunity in a place like LA or NY over a place like Omaha (no offense to any Nebraskans).


PV: Do you think there will be record labels in 5 year's time?

PD:

I do. They're changing of course but I think they're trying to figure it out.


PV: It's 3am, you're on the road, what is Pigeon John doing?

PD:

Eating a burrito and listening to Bob Dylan.


PV: What are the top 5 things you are truly passionate about?

PD:

In no particular order, peace, love, life, music, family.


PV: Are you as psyched about the new President Elect as I am?

PD:

I am. My political views have really evolved the past few years as I became more knowledgeable of issues. That drove it home for me this election.


PV: If you met Paul McCartney, what would you guys talk about?

PD:

Probably songwriting.


PV: What could the modern music listening community do to make the
BIGGER scenes better?

PD:

Artist support and in anyway you can think.


PV: Bill Shakespeare, Any good?

PD:

He's okay.


PV: Do you believe in ghosts?

PD:

Sometimes although I believe in magic more so.


PV: What is your cocktail of choice?

PD:

I'm pretty old school, a nice Jack & Diet Coke is my favorite.


PV: Who are your top musical influences?

PD:

Paul McCartney,
Queen,
Stevie Wonder,
The Police,
John Lennon,
and Steely Dan.


PV: You're about to release your new EP entitled "The 9th Street
Sessions", tell us how you think this one is different from "Who is
Peter Daily?"

PD:
Well, this one was written over a 8 month span. I started jotting down ideas right after "Who Is.." and cut one song with my cousin in LA, waited a while and cut a couple more over in Santa Monica and then a month after that I was in Dallas and ended up cutting the rest there.


PV: What are your expectations for this new EP?

PD:

I expect people to bloody buy it! Ha, no, I mean if people want to buy it great! By all means, please do...The songs on this EP are very close to me. They're personal. It was great to get it off my chest and if people can listen to it and relate with me, great.


PV: Any plans to tour in support of 9th Street?

PD:

That's a possibility. We'll see.


PV: The Office UK vs. The Office US, what d'ya reckon?

PD:

The British version.


PV: What are the top 10 cds (albums or tapes) which are a MUST for a
good collection (modern OR classic)?

PD:


Beatles - Abbey Road,
Queen - A Night at the Opera,
Stevie Wonder - Innervisions,
Radiohead - OK Computer,
A Tribe Called Quest - Midnight Marauders
Paul McCartney - Ram,
Jeff Buckley - Grace,
Police - Outlandos D'amour
Beach Boys - Friends & 20/20,

and my last one..drum roll please,

Michael Jackson - Thriller.


PV: I've seen how the women flock to you after you play shows, ever
have trouble transporting all of them to the hotel?

PD:

No, not really.


PV: What advice, if any, would you give to young fans who want to be a
professional musician?

PD:

Focus on songwriting right first. Great songs last forever. Really hone your craft and if you have great songs all the rest will come.


PV: When PETER DAILY is no more, what would you like your legacy to be?

PD:

I'd like to be known as someone who stood for peace, love, equality - - someone who cared about not only music but people and the world.

PV: Any famous last words?

PD:

"Drink to me, drink to my health"


PV: Thanks so much for being here, Peter. We'll stay tuned to
myspace.com/whoispeterdaily for all future releases/concerts!

PD:

Cheers my friend.

PIERRE DE REEDER 1.09.09

One of my favorite live bands of all time are Rilo Kiley. I have seen them a few times in San Francisco and after one of the shows I got to meet this guy. He was incredibly kind and gracious and it is my pleasure to welcome... from the band RILO KILEY... PIERRE DE REEDER!










THAT'S THE WAY THAT IT WAS (official video)




PIERRE DE REEDER 1.09.09 - by Ron Solomon


PV: Welcome Pierre, thanks so much for becoming a new member of the POPVIEWS family! You're in good company with artists like Ron Sexsmith, Remy Zero, and Jason Schwartzman being members!

PDR: Why thank you. Certainly in good company.



PV: "The Way It Was", Had you always wanted to make a solo record?

PDR: I suppose, sure. I've always been writing and recording songs, well before Rilo Kiley... but outside of a slew of demos of prior bands, I had never put the full effort into making an album. I'm glad it took me a long time to get one together... it allowed me to form something more honest, and let me pool a lot more experience into the songwriting and the recording process.



PV: How do you feel that the solo project has been recieved since it's release?

PDR: I feel pretty good about it. It's so hard to really know. For me, small measures make me happy about it... like the craziness when you've somehow connected with people, and they tell you stories about how it helped them get through a rough time or something. For me, that's incredible. But it's decidedly a tiny release, and I've never expected much return on it... so I'm modestly beyond whatever little expectations I had.



PV: This is more of a statement than question: I think your voice sounds absolutely fucking GREAT on the record, I had no idea there was such a beautiful voice hiding behind the bass at the live Rilo Kiley shows!

PDR: Well, gosh, thanks.



PV: What have your fellow RK band mates had to say about the solo project?

PDR: Everyone's been very supportive and encouraging and complimentary.



PV: Do you tend to write songs more from personal experiences or make them from something fictional?

PDR: Oh it's both, as I'm sure it is for so many songwriters. They always intertwine. A personal experience might lead straight into and ideal, which then becomes fictionalized. It might come straight back to pure fact, or perception of something, or whatever! I don't know. But I would say that in some strange way I tend not to be happy with them unless they're honest to me somehow, even if it's just a story, if that makes any sense.



PV: I know that Blake wrote a song about Elliott Smith on your "More Adventurous" cd, did you get many/any chances to see him play live, being that you were both from the same town?

PDR: I did. As well as getting to play with him a few times. We got to know him in his last couple years. And just as he was starting to get back into playing, he asked us to play some shows with him. And those, most unfortunately, were some of his last.



PV: What bands/cds are frequenting your iPod as of late?

PDR: Of late, the ipod's been on shuffle. But have been listening to a lot more vinyl lately... I've been trying to bolster my collection. And most of that is more classic stuff... from Bowie to Wings to Paul Simon. A lot of cracks and pops.



PV: My friend Caitlin is a huge fan of yours, any message for her?

PDR: Hello Caitlin! Really and truly, thanks for listening!



PV: You have toured with some amazing bands/artists, what are some of your favorite bands that you've toured with?

PDR: All of them!! Ha! Well, that mostly is true. So many bands that we've been on the road with have been so great, and such good people. Some standouts things... like with M. Ward and Nik Freitas where we played double sets each night by opening up in their bands, too. With M... Blake, Jenny, Jason and I were his entire backing band. And similarly, Jason and I made up a threesome (or should I say, power trio!) with Nik. We've had adventures with our Bright Eyes bros, gone waterfall hunting and jumping into and Idaho river with Feist and The Brunettes, witnessed the awesomeness that is Benji Hughes, many times having our bros Runion and Whispertown out there with us, had a magical week with Gillian Welsh and Dave Rawlings, and man... just a lot of good stuff. It comes down to the luck fact that just about everyone we've had the good fortune to cross paths with have been, well, just really cool... and happen to be incredible musicians as well. (I suppose you could arrange that sentence in any order and it would be true).



PV: Who would you like to tour with in the future?

PDR: All these same people again!! And while that's certainly true, there are of course some band that would be a true dream to play with... say like Neil Young or something... but I'll just keep that tucked in the 'that would be rad' section of my brain.



PV: Ever had a Guinness in Ireland? If so, aren't they so much more fresh and delicious than here in the states?

PDR: Well yes, but actually my first Guinness overseas was in the little walled English town of Cheshire when I was visiting relatives, oh, when I was 21 or 22. Even there there was a distinct difference... truly a freshness and smoothness that wasn't in the stateside batches. I think since then the difference has narrowed, as I've had plenty of them over here and in Ireland... and while it's still better over there, they've seemed to have gotten better at getting them over here fresher nowadays.



PV: It's kind of like having a Long Island Iced Tea in Long Island!

PDR: That might like be having an English Muffin in England, doesn't really exist.



PV: Bob Dylan: Still has it, Lost it, or Never had it?

PDR: Definitely had it... and by all accounts still does. I've never had the chance to see him live, so I have no measure there. But a fan for sure.



PV: What could the modern music listening community do to make the BIGGER/COMMERCIAL scenes be filled with better bands?

PDR: Hopefully that will be the upside to the 'tough times' in the record industry. As the large machine of promoting mediocrity loses it's economic demand, so goes down, to an extent, those machines. It's that massive amount of money that used to be made in cloning flavor of the week bands that made all the big commercial stuff so saturated with them. As there is less of that that money being put into records, and artists being left to their own devices more and more, hopefully we'll see a creative renaissance as a result. There's no good answer for this question, though. But demand is always a good thing to work into the equation... buy your favorite records, support you local radio, do whatever you can to support good music, give the big guys who are losing their shirts in this biz a place to build up from again by putting their money in good music because so they can see it as a way to actually make money again. Give them an INCENTIVE to put bank on good music. Because it is a big business out there when you talk bigger/commercial... and it would be nice to show them that everyone can win by promoting better music.



PV: If you were not married, and you had to make out with Rufus Wainwright or Jenny Lewis, who would you choose and why?

PDR: Dude!! I can't answer that!! But it certainly wouldn't be Rufus.



PV: What does the future look like to you?

PDR: Blue stars and golden waters... er, uh. Who knows. Right now I'm entrenched with my family, which is always the case, but we just had a new baby girl a few months ago. And our older daughter Sophia is in 1st grade! Crazy. But otherwise, just keep keepin on, as they say. More music, more recording, more stuff.



PV: What are some of your favorite British comedies (film or tv)?

PDR: Well the original Office was absolutely, and most uncomfortably, amazing. Little Britain's got some shining moments, as well as The Mighty Boosh.



PV: Who were your main musical influences growing up?

PDR: Well I grew up in a house where there was a lot (a lot!) of Tom Jones going on, and Neil Diamond, a good helping of Sinatra, and the like. So those definitely crept into the old noggin, and can't escape having some influence. When I was still just barely prepubescent and actually starting to form my own things, there was definitely some 80's stuff going on. Cargo, by Men At Work, was the first cassette (!) I ever bought on my own. The Thompson Twins (!!) was another around that time. Was guilty of some break dancing days where things like Newcleus's Jam On Revenge were spinning on my record player. Had a classic rock phase soon after with Zeppelin and CCR and so on... Then Reggae and funk. Yep. Winding into The Cure and The Sisters Of Mercy and The Smiths. Man, so many things over the young years. All the while, a constant was The Beatles. I remember at like 8 or 9 having Abbey Road on 8 track as well as the White Album. And still they are, as well as all their permutations, unavoidably influential. So, there it is.


PV: What is the studio atmosphere like in a PIERRE DE REEDER session?

PDR: Very varied. Many 'sessions' are just me tinkering away in a recording cave. But when it's me with other folks I think it's a pretty relaxed and trusting atmosphere.



PV: Shame on love or shame on women who leave, even when you let them have full control of the cable remote?

PDR: Hmmm... guess I'd have to say shame on love.



PV: If you met Andy Warhol, what would you guys talk about?

PDR: Honestly, he seemed like the kind of guy who could flow an abstract, stream of conscience kind of conversation... so I'd probably set myself up for something like that and just see where the breeze takes us.



PV: I sent an email to your band mates Jenny and Blake, if they come on the website, would you like me to relay a message for you? If so, what?

PDR: Say hi from me.



PV: When Pierre De Reeder is no more, what would you like your legacy to have been?

PDR: That he once was. I don't know! Hopefully, first and foremost and in the long run, that I was a good father to my kids. That's my most important legacy. Artistically I hope that whatever works I've been involved in are looked back on fondly. I would, as cliche as it may sound, hope to have made some difference in some people lives.



PV: Any famous last words?

PDR: Famous.



PV: Thanks so much for hanging with us, Pierre. The solo cd is ace and I look forward to see you live the next time you're in San Francisco!

PDR: Thanks again for having me. I do hope to play up there again somewhere in the near future.

*Stay tuned to myspace.com/pierredereeder for all upcoming news/releases/concerts by Pierre!

Thomas Lennon 1.11.09

And now, it is my great honor to bring to you, the =PV= family, an interview with a pioneer in comedy. He is the 2nd STATE alum to grace our site with an interview, and I am proud to call him someone that I annoy over the internet. Ladies and Gentlemen, RENO(911)'S FINEST LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICER... THOMAS LENNON!










COP PSYCHOLOGY




THOMAS LENNON 1.11.09 - by Ron Solomon


PV: Thomas, it is an absolute fucking honor to have you join the =POPVIEWS= family! You are the 2nd "STATE" alum to do an interview with us. So thanks for hanging out with us a bit tonight.

TL: No prob'. Legalize it.

PV: Firstly, I'm enjoying a cocktail and listening to Gnarls Barkley right now, are you down with the Gnarl?

TL: Who isn't? Seriously, who isn't down with Cee-Lo and Danger Mouse? Not being down with those guys is Un-American, and we should report, even a family member who isn't down with those motherfuckers.

PV: What bands/artists do you find frequenting your iPod as of late?

TL: I can't get enough of The Thermals. Check out their song "Returning to the Fold."

PV: "RENO 911: Miami" was great. Are you guys going to come back for a new season, or would you guys consider turning it into more of a full length film series?

TL: Season 6 of the television series starts April 1st.

PV: Is it annoying having to continue pretending to BE Jim Dangle on your myspace, since it's a "Jim" profile? I still love how your blogs start with "hey gang!"

TL: I pretty much AM Jim Dangle, so... I don't know how it could be annoying.

PV: You were in the film "How to lose a guy in 10 days" with Matthew McConaughey. Was it hard to fit his surf boards into his trailer, d'ya reckon?

TL: No, his trailer is HUGE. Much larger than mine.

PV: Was his hair in "Dazed and Confused? an influence to you?

TL: Everything about his performance in that film is inspiring.

PV: Have you and Ben Garant finished or been working on any screenplays you can let us in on?

TL: Right now we have a few scripts that we've written at a few studios. "How To Survive a Robot Uprising" at Paramount, "The Incredible Shrinking Man" at Universal and "The Devil You Know" and "The Secret Life of Walter Mitty" at Fox.

PV: What did you guys do to stay busy during the writers strike?

TL: We were on the picket lines quite a lot.

PV: What do you miss most about doing "The State?"

TL: The nice thing about the State was, there was no "agenda" to the material. I was just whatever made us laugh.

PV: What were some of the shitty aspects of doing that show?

TL: Pretty much everything. As a group, we tend to fight a lot.

PV: Speaking of which, The State are reuniting in MY city of San Francisco this month! I'm terribly excited! How has it been working on material with those guys, for the upcoming live show?

TL: Very fun. We did a test run show at the UCB theatre in LA that was a lot of fun.

PV: Would you guys like me to bring some pot cookies/brownies/rice krispy treats?

TL: Yes/Yes/Yes.

PV: I've heard on Michael Ian Black's blog that he was working on some scenes with Ken Marino in Canada in regards to a, possible, upcoming STATE film! I heard somewhere else (but by one of you STATE folks) that it will be in the style of Monty Python, sort of lots of sketches in a film. Is any of this true?

TL: It would seem so, yes. A serious State project is in the works.

PV: Why do you think that MTV are being such dicks about releasing THE STATE dvd?

TL: I would never call them dicks. MTV is mis-characterized in the State history. They never cancelled us. We quit, and went to CBS. And I think they haven't released the DVD's because they don't think they'll sell as well as say, Dora and Spongebob.

PV: You were in the film "Hancock", can you name 3 more films with the word "cock" in their title?

TL: Does Coq count? The French spelling. I can think of TONS of movies with COQ in the title.

PV: Your outfits have been getting more and more skimpy on Reno 911, one even looked like a little girl's bathing suit. haha. How does your wife feel about these outfits?

TL: Didn't "look like." WAS. Was a ladies swim suit. And she's fine with it.

PV: (This is a parody on James Lipton and Inside the Actors Studio) Give us a bit of Barry Sagittarius, Barry are you there? Hello, Barry?

TL: Solid.

PV: Barry, what makes you cry?

TL: Anything that's not freaky.

PV: What makes you elated, Barry?

TL: Lunch. Especially Sex Lunch.

PV: And finally, Barry, what is your favorite sexual position?

TL: "King of the Mountain." Where you're on the very top of an orgy, just riding the vibe.

PV: Ok Thomas is back, phew. Well Thomas, thanks so much for hanging out with us! I look very forward to seeing the REAL state reunion in SF w/ all 11 members! Any famous last words?

TL: Avenge my death.

Stay tuned to myspace.com/butterscotchjockey for all news Thomas Lennon/Jim Dangle related!