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the elect
Full Member
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- well here it is my friends, its very long and im going to try to shorten it for the print version, but you can read the whole thing here. i used your questions/some form of your questions. so thanks alot.
NR- If jumping around used to be what you live for, what is it now?
BS- I think I still do that. I freely jump between subjects; it's my
Gemini nature. I vacillate between medieval texts and guitar, piano,
banjo.
NR- Banjo?
BS- Yeah, I'm playing a little banjo. I got a Pete Seeger book.
NR- Are you getting good at it?
BS- I think everyone is good at banjo. I do a little Scruggs style, I
mean I'm completely an amateur but that's why the Pete Seeger book is
great. It's totally punk rock.
NR- How long have you been rocking that thing?
BS- About a year. I found a really cheap left handed one on ebay.
NR- Will you utilize your new banjo skills in song?
BS- I'd like to. I see it more as kind of a dressing for chorus. I
like a lot of music where… I don't know, I feel like the banjo is kind
of like the glue. I'm still not flash enough to bust out a lead.
NR- Alright Blake, what do people want from you, and what problems, if
any, do they have with you?
BS- I have no idea. And that's my problem. I don't often know what
people want from me.
NR- Do they love or hate you?
BS- I'd like to think that they love me. I just don't think we quite
know how to agree on what that love looks like.
NR- Have the masses of Jets to Brazil or Jawbreaker fans filled the
ridiculousness or emptiness in your life you frequently mention?
BS- No. I don't think they can do that… I think having your own life
is really critical. So I find history and literature to be somewhat
helpful… and to go out and fuck shit up.
NR- Are you in love right now?
BS- No, I'm not. I've actually been alone for about a year now.
NR- Were you left or did you do the leaving?
BS- Oh I couldn't answer that, you'd get different versions…
NR- Is it sad, do you still think about it?
BS- Well of course I still think about it but it's no longer sad, it's
kind of inspiring actually.
NR- So have you been writing a lot of songs about it?
BS- I'll tell you, I've been in the academic community more than the
rock community, and it just takes up a huge amount of time. I'm kind
of devoting this summer to song writing.
NR- How much mail do you get?
BS- I get no mail. I just think people don't send letters that much. I
get e-mail once in awhile, I feel like I'm pretty well off the grid at
this point.
NR- You have obviously dropped off the scene for a while, are the
militant fans trying to get to the bottom of things via
correspondence?
BS- Periodically someone will write to ask me something.
NR- And can they count on you to respond?
BS- No. Where I feel like I can help I do, where I can't, often I
don't because I've kind of parted myself from the indie scene.
NR- Oh wow, why did you do that?
BS- I've found we have divergent ideologies.
NR- Can you elaborate?
BS- I could write books about it. I was writing about it today
actually. I think indie is a term like "freedom" that people just
throw around, like Ford would use the word "free," but there is
nothing free about it. There is nothing really indie about indie rock.
NR- So are you punk? Or is punk even still punk, or is it like "free" ford?
BS- It is not "free" ford, no. I mean, I am certainly punk. I cling to
that more now than I did in the past.
NR- So does this falling out you've had with "indie" and your
re-connection with punk, does this show in the music you play and
listen to, or are you rocking Pete Seeger and Jimmy Driftwood?
BS- Oh I'm all over, I think that is the spirit of punk… I mean indie
rock claims to be eclectic but its very homogenous. I mean I grew up
in LA and we had SST, the Minutemen, Black Flag…
NR- Has indie sucked the life out of punk rock?
BS- Well maybe the two are exclusive. I live in New York so I find the
indie culture really pervasive, and I'll tell you, this city is just a
mall, it's kind of become this conglomerate…
NR- If you are currently working on other art forms, who or what is
the target audience, and what difference do you hope to make?
BS- I guess I try to appeal to my colleagues, my seeker colleagues
whoever they are…
NR- I caught wind that you made a short film.
BS- I do them yeah, but just for me and family and friends. I've done three now.
NR- Are there any out of the three that you are extra pleased with?
BS- Well my most recent one was very satisfying to me… I do a travel
log, documentary style… I spend a lot of time in Nova Scotia on my
family's farm… so I have stuff there, and just kind of random skits in
Canada. I don't think it's worthy of public…
NR- Would there ever be a time we might see those videos pop up on the
internet Paris Hilton style?
BS- I don't think it would be as tantalizing. Maybe if a Jets or
Jawbreaker film is ever released.
NR- I think you understand that there are a number of people who are
core Blake project fans, do you feel like you owe anything to them,
like music, or an update?
BS- Yeah, I think I owe it to them to keep being great and who I am
(laughs). And for me I think that means going, and I'm a professor
now, and it means going and teaching undergraduates in New York City…
I would imagine those people would respect that. I think I owe
more to the musicians that kind of inspired me; I'm really into giving
props. The Minutemen, Black Flag, I have a real fetish for Government
Issue, their “kind of” box set just came out and I've been dipping back
into it. There are a lot of unsung heroes in that scene that kind of
didn't really sell that much that were totally influential.
NR- Are you still into going to those shows and that kind of thing, or
are you just a closet punk?
BS- No, I see what I can, I go to shows. I Just saw The GZA.
NR- Do people recognize you and try to have discourse with you?
BS- Not at the GZA. Wu-Tang people, I think there's not a lot of
crossover. Everyone's pretty stoned at that show so maybe that was it.
NR- Would you go to a show like that by yourself or with a friend?
BS- I went with a friend; a rap enthusiast.
NR- Do you ever get in anywhere for free because you're Blake?
BS- I begged my way into The Weakerthans show. It was sold out, like
I was happy to, you know, I'd buy tickets.
NR- But when it comes time you will drop it?
BS- I dropped it on that one, I've never done that before, like, I was
determined. I rode my bike from Brooklyn to the city and it was just
like, I have to see these guys…
NR- Who were you workin', were you workin' the doorman or the band?
BS- No, I ran into a mutual friend who toured with Lucero. They were
actually covering a Jawbreaker song, so it worked out pretty nicely.
They were compelled to put me on the list.
NR- Of course there was no cameo by you on vocals?
BS- Uh, no, no. It was very weird, I wasn't expecting it and actually
it was one of the better all around experiences watching them play
this song and at that moment my cell phone went off and it was Adam
from Jawbreaker. So I held up the phone and was like, "Dude, I got to
call you later", it was a very weird moment.
NR- And it wasn't a sign was it?
BS- Uh, I think it was like a convergence of sorts.
NR- I know, how dare I say was it a sign or not. What do you think
about that, uh, "Bad Scene, Everyone's Fault"?
BS- You know, I haven't listened to it. I got a copy of it…
NR- You are punk man.
BS- No, it's not like I'm snubbing my nose or anything; I just find it
really weird to go back to things that I've done. I just, I don't
know. I'm not really comfortable with that. I'm not disrespecting it,
but just, you know, adding…
NR- Are you embarrassed of the past, don't wanna live in that shadow or what?
BS- I'm not at all embarrassed, I'm very proud of it. But I think, I
know a lot of musicians think this way.
NR- Are there any Jets or Jawbreaker lines where you’re just like, "Eww, bad line"?
BS- I usually feel that way for about six months after doing
something, and then I tend to let it go. As I look back on it, I think
they all had to be that way. I'm pretty much happy for all the music
that I was able to make.
NR- Will you hold on a second, this recorder's really pissing me off.
Freakin' Radioshack. Spent 60 bucks on it.
BS- That's what 60 bucks gets you.
NR-Do you have any updates for us? This is kind of the main question
I guess. We know you're teaching. But what have you been doing the
last two years?
BS- Uh, well, you know, I was in a relationship and I got myself into
grad school…I was in the really perilous business of reconstructing
myself…That's pretty much where I've been.
NR- Grad school studying?
BS- I'm teaching and studying. I'm an adjunct; I'm an employee of a
University in New York. And I'm doing courses in English literature.
NR- So, with Jets to Brazil, was there a formal "let's go on hiatus"
or did it just fizzle out or…?
BS- I would say it was an all around melt down. It seemed to be a lot
of people's lives changed dramatically and I've always thought that if
I were to write about it I would put our expiration date at September
11th. I would chart the demise to September 11th, and say that was
the time when everyone wanted to be honest with themselves; whatever
that meant. I think it got really clear as to what they wanted to do,
what they did or didn't want to say, and it was really polarizing.
That was kind of the point where everything really shifted in our
group; politically it kind of diversified us. We went on and made a
record and I actually really love that record. I think it's full of
that kind of tension and that story. Some of us are very close still
and connected and others are on their own.
NR- So did you want to kind of take it up a notch politically?
BS- No I was just confused with my band. You really wonder, "What am I
doing?" and "In what way am I a part of this world?” For me I guess I
felt there was kind of a lack of solidarity in our group, in a sense
of "how are we going to keep doing this freely and creatively?"
NR- Alright, why did you not make a formal announcement that the Jets were done?
BS- Ahh, I don't know, it went into a kind of passive aggressive state, and I guess I was waiting to see.
NR- When did you realize it was done?
BS- Well to be fair I probably realized at our last show. I think we
all did but it kind of took awhile for it all to sink in.
NR- Has it at all been on your mind like, "Maybe people wonder what’s
going on with us." Or were you just so disconnected from that and the
last thing on your mind was posting a comment on the Jade Tree web
site?
BS- No I didn't think of that. I could safely say that I was in pretty
major crisis after that, at least that wasn't my first concern.
NR- Was it a political thing that separated you?
BS- I think it was maybe a moment in history really where people decided what they wanted, and for me that meant being engaged with this world and telling the truth.
NR- So, you're full on done?
BS- We're fuckin' splitsville.
NR- Oh, no! With possibilities of re-uniting?
BS- I think that's about as likely as Jawbreaker reuniting.
NR- Whaaaaaaaa? Don't tell me that brother. I don't want to hear
that. So, new band? And you know what we're all waiting for: the solo project. Will it happen?
BS- I think that's about all that's left. I don't know. We'll see
how the summer goes. I mean, it's very hard to have a few lives at
once and I really devote a lot of energy to teaching and studying and
I'm finding that's really helpful, that's giving me ideas. And also a
kind of a place to be when I'm older, like I'd like to be a teacher, I
can't imagine touring although that would be great too. Part of my
learning is just about being open and thinking if you can have four
lives…or nine.
NR- I just want a definite answer, can I get one? When can we listen to more music?
BS- I can't give you a definite answer. I'm really trying to find my way back to that place and certainly it's not for lack of desire. I love playing music and I think it's kind of what I'm supposed to do, but people's lives are very tricky.
NR- So, if you had backing would you play?
BS- Oh yeah, it's definitely more about people. I don't need money, I
mean, I do, but I don't need it for that. I would love to have some
musical relationships with some folks. I'm not really a solo artist I
think, I want to be but I really actually like…growing up in punk rock
I like what happens when people play together. So, you know, I'm
feeling out my people. I think there are definitely contenders and I'm
in an environment that's really comfortable and creative.
NR- Were you happy with the way Jets to Brazil was going?
BS- I would want to take it somewhere new. I love that band…and we
all learned so much about playing music. Especially being kind of
hard-core punk rock people who were really starting to try out the
piano, you know, I learned that in that band. That was just an
incredibly valuable learning experience. That's what every band
should be; it should always be about reinventing technology with duct
tape, whatever your means are. I think that's what bands are, a
surprise.
NR- Earlier you were talking about your dislike with the indie scene,
what exactly is your issue with the indie scene? Are you actually
writing about it?
BS- Yeah, I keep a pretty elaborate journal at this point and I'm
always, kind of writing stuff for lectures at school. It's been one
of my profound disappointments to try to talk about music at the
undergraduate level. I mean, I may have issue with indie rock but
when you teach city college kids and realize what they're listening
to, it's even scarier. I had to go back to like Punk 101 with them
last semester.
NR- So, you're schooling them in the ways?
BS- I think the ways have to be lived and not learned in the classroom,
but we're reading a couple of Lester Bangs's things. And that seems
to assume certain knowledge of punk or what would follow. But they
don't have that so I try to give them some infrastructure and it failed miserably.
NR- Do they realize who is instructing them?
BS- No, they listen to the Simpson artist.
NR- Jessica Simpson.
BS- I mean really, really major top 40's stuff. And that's like the
hardest they get.
NR- So you are full on teaching? What exactly is the scenario?
BS- I teach a course and then I take courses the same time. Last year
I taught “Theory and Practice of Expository Writing”, which is kind of
an essay writing class. And this year I'm going to teach, “Introduction
to Literature, British and American”.
NR- You want to be a teacher for a career?
BS- I do, yeah. It was an aspiration long ago, you know along with
oceanographer.
NR- And so New York is permanent residence now?
BS- And Canada?
NR- Right, with the family. And the ranch horses?
BS- There are horses.
NR- Do you ride them?
BS- I have. It's a team of horses and they actually work. You know, they’re
work horses, logging and tilling.
NR- Do you get them tilling?
BS- I mostly observe in that capacity. They are in my films; I am
friends with the horses; they are Belgians.
NR- Back to the hipsters, why do you hate them?
BS- I don't know what's inside. That's my question. That's the crisis; you know when you're changing that rapidly. They seem like this very technically advanced kind of morphing beings, who are perfect consumers. And they'll do anything to pass you know? It's about anonymity now.
NR- So also you are pretty political right now. You made an "I Love Iraq" shirt.
BS- Yeah, I heart Iraq, to be fair to the graphics.
NR- What inspired this to come to pass?
BS- Well come on how could it not happen? I was astounded that nobody
else made that shirt.
NR- I'm going to be honest with you Blake, as we are talking I’m a bit
confused: you are giving me all these great little gems of your life,
but your loosing me a little bit and having me wanting to understand a
little more. So, a brief synopsis of your role in the political arena,
what does it look like in your life?
BS- I just try to be proactive in my own way, for me that is what has been called "local anarchy," which is kind of arts and artistic mischief. I don't think I'm a major player, but I go to actions and, if people are on the street I will go and try to do
something there. And I really like to do stuff on my own, just like on the subway, doing stickers. I realize I do it in a slightly confounding manner, but I just think that's my style. -Confounding in that sometimes the stickers and the slogans are a little oblique.
NR- Are you just being facetious?
BS- I feel like I'm being totally sincere but my mom thinks that my stickers don't make any sense.
NR- What do they say?
BS- "Remember 7 11?" that's a little tart. There are some that are
very explicit.
NR- You sell those or what?
BS- No I just make them at home and throw them up over police ads and stuff.
NR- When it comes to writing music, does your politics seep in, or
is it still just heartbreak?
BS- Well I think they’re almost the same. I mean I find being overly
political to be kind of stifling in terms of doing songwriting. So I
guess it does creep in, in that people don't always know what
I'm talking about.
NR- So you dabble but definitely would not completely give yourself
over when it comes to the music?
BS- Well that's a tough question. I guess I have to believe it and
when you write overtly about political material, especially in songs,
I think it gets very dangerous. I think Billy Bragg can do that. Joe
Strummer could do that, but actually both of them always really bring
in some human elements. Bad folk music doesn't do it. Know what I
mean?
NR- So I understand you've been busy the last two years, but are you
making time to play and write? Are you strumming your guitar on a
regular basis?
BS- Yeah, I'm always trying to write. I think what I told other people
is, I'm trying to figure out how to be in music again. And hopefully
it’s just that cycle of like, between Jawbreaker and the Jets it took
me kind of awhile to know; I need to remember how I like to play and have that
be a new way of playing.
NR- So have you got a bag of songs that are ready?
BS- I have a little briefcase I carry with me when I go to Canada.
Yeah, I have songs that I'm trying to shape.
NR- So if you had people to rock with, you would commence to rock?
BS- Yeah I think I would.
NR- But you will not pursue, they have to find you?
BS- No, no. I just want it to come together kind of organically.
NR- Are there any possibilities? And please forgive me, I don't mean
to annoy you by trying to extract every possibility, but it's a big
deal for some folks. You know?
BS- I appreciate that. And it is for me too. I miss it; I really want to do it.
NR- So I want to make sure I cover every angle and exhaust all
possibilities before I hang up. So how close are you… we know
Jawbreaker we know never… well actually its probably been five years
since you've been asked that, Jawbreaker ever or no way in hell?
BS- No way in hell. Physically I feel it’s impossible and there is an
issue of authenticity too. I don't think that would be cool, out of
respect.
NR- Don't you think people would be willing to turn a blind eye? I
think they would.
BS- I think some people would be very happy to see it, yeah. I think I
wouldn't feel so good about it, that's the only thing.
NR- Alright then what about Jets, no way?
BS- I think no way. But you know I hope to play some of those songs
again because there were songs we were writing when we stopped and
there are songs that I still really like to play, some of those are kind
of like almost solo songs which I could see someday bringing out.
NR- Speaking of those songs, there is a hefty catalogue of Jets songs
that never cleared the vinyl. Will we be getting something from Jade
Tree, or will you be hoarding them?
BS- Well, we just didn't record them that's the problem.
NR- So as of now you are just waiting for something to emerge in terms
of music partners, are there any possibilities you know like the
19-year-old kid who lives below you who beats the skins?
BS- I’m kind of looking for the 50 year old kid who lives upstairs.
That's not a god reference by the way. Part of my politics include a
very rabid anti-Christian coalition.
NR- Wow, so you are really not that pleased with America, I mean
you've hit the two pillars of our country.
BS- Yeah, that's true. The best thing I've read, or heard, about where
we are at was Seymour Hersh, and he basically broke the Abu Ghraib
story in The New Yorker, the prison scandals. And he's had a couple
books since, and his general assessment is that we've been hijacked by
a Christian cult. And I think that's pretty accurate.
NR- Well, are the morals and ethics really all that bad? Couldn't we
just end up being the next Rome?
BS- Well, look what happened to them.
NR- Highlights and lowlights of the last 2 years?
BS- Highlights would be a series of Bolshevik BBQ's that I threw in
Prospect Park, the most recent one was May 21st. And they resulted in
food, alcohol, and fire, and they were great. Two years? I ended up
getting hired to teach, and teaching my first class that was pretty
major. That was the first time I stood up in front of kids where it
wasn't at a club.
NR- Do the kids like you? Have you made anyone cry yet?
BS- No but I think I've seen kids react to really difficult material
in a way that gives me greater hope. You know in poetry or to critical
theory, where you can see their minds kind of shifting or expand to
absorb this material. And that's really cool. It’s kind of like playing
really weird songs for people and having them like it.
NR- Alright, would you rather write a song that has really clever
wording, say something simple that really sticks out, have a perfect
placement of a totally regular idea, really articulate an idea, or say
something that maybe 90% of those listening will have no idea of what
you are talking about while the other 10% will be like, "Wow, well
done Blake."?
BS- I think any of those things would be worthwhile. I don't think any
of those things are exclusive, I mean they don't seem like choices to
me; they seem like pieces.
NR- When sitting down with your pen what do you feel the best about?
BS- I think there are kind of two strands to that. There's just saying
exactly what you mean, which is certainly the best. I attempted to
teach that in writing too, that when you can actually say it as
directly and simply as possible, in a way that's even supervising to
you, that I think is a really good thing to be able to do, and very
satisfying.
NR- Do you have a formula with which you use in writing a song?
BS- No, not at all. I kind of think of it as almost a tide in terms of
the ocean, you know the tide creeps up the shore in an ebb phase? So
you play a little passage and work your way up the sand a little bit
and when you go back down you have to go over the same sand and get a
little bit more. I mean that's really technically how I write with the
guitar. I have point A, and I keep going over that until I find my
point B and C etc, and I kind of do that with words too.
NR- Are you partial to your own lyrics or your own kind of prose?
BS- I see them as the same thing really, I don't really see the one
without the other. A lot of my music is just so simple, but I've
found, the more I've really looked at the way songs are structured
that I like, they are generally pretty simple, and sometimes that's production and the way you deconstruct songs. I mean a lot of music people think is really really far out is just kind of a deconstructed three-chord song. Really, I mean like Wilco or something, where it seems they get pretty far out in the studio, but those really I think just are acoustic guitar songs. So there's that and being able to apply creative language to it.
NR- You seen ultra-competitive like in the way one doesn't like to
admit it so much or even realize it sometimes. Are there certain sports or
activities you had to avoid as a youth just to keep your cool?
BS- Do I really seem competitive? Well maybe it’s telling that I always
did the solitarily sports, I was a cross-country runner, that was
really the only team I ever played for. I competed with myself, which
I think has been true for 38 years now.
NR- Were you fast?
BS- I was pretty solid, a pretty steady runner.
NR- Are you healthy right now?
BS- I'm very healthy, I know I chain smoke, but I run four miles a day,
I bike all the time.
NR- Do you have the belly that men usually start acquiring at age 25?
BS- Ahh no, kind of. It was happening this winter cause I was really
just reading and writing all the time. I'm out on the town these days
going to critical mass and what not.
NR- In what ways did you find yourself competing in the scene? I mean
lets be honest bands always try to ask oblivious to each other, which
really can’t be reality.
BS- Yeah certainly you are aware of who is getting what you think is
unfair praise. And even more aware of kind of criticism you are
receiving. And in that way it can get really ugly and competitive.
NR- Did you find yourself competing in any particular way?
BS- Yeah, I I'll tell you its just a really awful feeling to have, because it seems to come from a kind of place of weakness and insecurity. So part of why I didn't want to be in that culture is because I kept feeling that way. And that didn't seem like that's how that music should be.
NR- So when you come back are we going to be hearing folk style songs, or Jets style songs, or what?
BS- I don't know, I really don't. I like rock. I really like loud guitar music, and I like dissonance and chaos, so I would hope those would be there in some way.
NR- So is it time for you to rock?
BS- I don't know if its time. Well its time for me to honor my obligation at the university (laughs), and become a better person. There's definitely going to be some writing summer.
NR- Can we count on a coffee house or backyard party gig?
BS- I don't see that happening; it's a pretty short break.
NR- So most likely the next Blake stuff we will get will be band and not solo?
BS- I have no answer for that I'm sorry. The thing is even in
Jawbreaker and Jets, those songs always started just as these little
quiet songs, it really depends, I think, on who your playing with, and
how adventurous they are in determining what the final form
will be. So I always said this in Jawbreaker; I mean we thought we
were writing pop songs all the time, and we were so excited to play
that they ended up being really fast and really loud, so excited and so
scared and so full energy.
NR- Shifting now. What is the failure in the logic in opposing the war
on terrorism? Wouldn't you agree it's a lot of Ted Turner corporate
media jargon?
BS- I think the strategy of liberals, meaning democrats, is disastrous. And part of it is that really simple kind of sloganeering. And also it’s not really being committed to total change. Trying to kind of work with these… people who are insane really, people who are war-like.
NR- For the sake of being on the same page, can you give us a brief
synopsis of where you stand politically?
BS- Honestly I'm not prepared to talk about that right now. I like to
prepare for it and actually write some things and address it; that's
kind of part of the failure of countering what's happening, is that
people tend to just speak immediately and not very clearly. And I
don't want to ad to any of that loud rhetoric…
NR- Well you have done a lot in your life up to this point, what would
you most like to be remembered for?
BS- I think being a loving and creative guy, I think I have a reputation for bitterness I think, and that upsets me, because I think there's a lot of love in all the music and writings I've done. Even when its nasty there's pathos, there's character there that I think people like. So I find it funny that I somewhere along the lines achieved this reputation of being an asshole.
NR- I was not going to talk with you about this but it is very prevalent in your music; your love life, where do you stand? Are you still hooked on the girl from 8 years ago or are you sad and feel like your never going to get married, are you meeting some good girls these days or what?
BS- I'm meeting some great people. Actually I have more friends that
are women now than ever before. Those are my friends, but not someone
I'm seeing.
NR- So do you go on dates and bring ladies flowers and this type of thing?
BS- I have been on dates, I kind of would like to never do that again. Anyone who has been on a date would probably know that it’s more painful maybe than its worth.
Nr- So what would be a good place to bring your new lady friend? BBQ style?
BS- BBQ's a great place to start. I think BBQ's are really, I mean
there's so much hope in them. You only meet people who you know from
someone else I think, like usually there's some connection, you have to be like one or two people removed from them, its very rare that you actually just meet strangers and it ends up being something. So BBQ's are a great way to do that, I'm not talking about a kind of free love mixed dish, a place where people are actually relaxed and you're with people you like.
NR- Right, there's no hidden agenda but everyone is aware of the possibilities.
BS- Yeah and its day time so you kind of know what you’re dealing with.
NR- Do you notice that the younger girls are the ones who seem to have
more of an eye for you?
BS- It's a real problem for me in music, because the crowd I was
around was generally just so much younger. And I've been trying to
kind of meet someone in their mid to late 30's. and its hard because a
lot of them are married or dead or divorced and destroyed. People’s
lives get pretty complex after 26.
NR- I’m sure you can appreciate a good song or a pun or a one-liner or
something, are there any right now that you’re really feeling?
BS- Yeah there is many. Its hard to give props cause I’m really a fan,
so most recently I guess The Streets. But all time Morrisey. I was
late to the game, so solo Morissey really is kind of what got to know of him. I’ve found almost without fail he has just lyrics that are better than I think he is given credit for. The cult of Morrisey seems to overshadow the reality of his gift.
NR- What kind of car do you drive Blake?
BS- I drive a '94 Volkswagon Jetta, its Canadien.
NR- Do you have stickers on the back of it?
BS- I have one sticker, "War is Terrorism."
NR- Have you pondered putting another sticker back there?
BS- No, cause its centered, its black and red, and my car is black and
red, so aesthetically that works for me.
NR- Have you ever single skied?
BS- Never have.
NR- Do you think single skiing is way too '70's for you to try in this millennium?
BS- No I would just worry about getting my ankles snapped off, it's a
little hairy.
NR- Are there any common themes or subjects people will talk to you
about when they see you?
BS- Well the all time one that most bands will attest to is, and this
was a favorite joke in the Jets; whenever you finish playing a show,
in say Atalanta, Georgia, about 5 to 10 people will come up to you and
say, "When are you guys playing again?" Yeah, and what do you say to
that, "Well, we just did, like, we just played an hour ago."
NR- Do they not like it?
BS- No they liked it, I mean its genuine you know? I don't think they
know exactly what to say so it seems like the business of a band to
play shows. Its just a little disarming when you have just gotten off
stage and its like "when are you playing again?" and the last thing
you’re thinking of is playing again, or traveling from New York to
Atlanta again.
NR- Have you ever gotten off stage and someone punched you in the face?
BS- No, that would be great.
NR- Would you hit 'em back?
BS- Probably.
NR- What if it was a woman?
BS- Probably.
NR- Rate the following bands; 1 being completely horrible and 10
being the ultimate band; Cursive?
BS- I don't know them I’m sorry. Sorry Cursive.
NR- Fifteen?
BS- I can’t put a number on it.
NR- Weakerthans?
BS- I would put them in the high numbers.
NR- Agent Orange?
BS- Pretty up there. "Everything Turns Grey," what a winning song. So
ahead of their time.
NR- Aerosmith?
BS- No.
NR- Cub Country?
BS- Ahh, high. I'm a fan, I play on those records. I'm a fan of the Cub.
NR- Appleseed Cast?
BS- Don't know them.
Nr- Iron Maiden.
BS- Probably an 8.
NR- Good, good for them. The Donnas?
Bs- Ahh only seen the B Rats.
NR- Wall of Voodoo?
BS- Oh dude an 8.
NR- Who tops the charts?
BS- The Clash.
NR- Alright if no one interviews you, when will we next here from you?
BS- Ahh well I’ll be teaching two days a week in the fall.
NR- Musically?
BS- I don't know, I just can’t man. I can’t put a number on it. I’m
trying, believe me. I’m just the same as everyone; I’m finding my way.
NR- Would letters help?
BS- No. it comes from within.
NR- Yeah that's understandable, I just have to do my part.
BS- I appreciate that.
(Edited by the elect at 3:06 pm on June 8, 2005)
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"I am the way, the truth, and the life." -Jesus Christ
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Total Posts: 155 | Joined May 2003 | Posted on: 12:45 pm on June 8, 2005 | IP
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Your Mom
Advanced Member
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Thanks very much, a great read.
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Total Posts: 546 | Joined Sep. 2001 | Posted on: 2:54 pm on June 8, 2005 | IP
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locationiseverything
Advanced Member
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That was a fun read, thank you. I liked how you kept going back to the "When are you coming back to music?" question in an attempt to get a legitimate answer out of him.
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Unfinished
http://www.liepaper.com
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Total Posts: 785 | Joined Dec. 2001 | Posted on: 3:58 pm on June 8, 2005 | IP
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DividedByZero
Advanced Member
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Interesting. Not trying to be mean, shitty , or facetious, but I didn't realize he was gay/bisexual. Maybe he isn't, it certainly doesn't matter to me either way.I'm drawing my own conclusions here, so save your breath if you disagree.... A straight man doesn't and won't dance around the words "woman" and "girl" so deftly, you know.... carefully following up with words like "someone" "people" and what-not.
Are you still hooked on the girl from 8 years ago or are you sad and feel like your never going to get married, are you meeting some good girls these days or what?
BS- I'm meeting some great people. Actually I have more friends that
are women now than ever before. Those are my friends, but not someone
I'm seeing.
NR- So do you go on dates and bring ladies flowers and this type of thing?
BS- I have been on dates, I kind of would like to never do that again. Anyone who has been on a date would probably know that it’s more painful maybe than its worth.
Nr- So what would be a good place to bring your new lady friend? BBQ style?
BS- BBQ's a great place to start. I think BBQ's are really, I mean
there's so much hope in them. You only meet people who you know from
someone else I think, like usually there's some connection, you have to be like one or two people removed from them, its very rare that you actually just meet strangers and it ends up being something. So BBQ's are a great way to do that, I'm not talking about a kind of free love mixed dish, a place where people are actually relaxed and you're with people you like.
NR- Do you notice that the younger girls are the ones who seem to have
more of an eye for you?
BS- It's a real problem for me in music, because the crowd I was
around was generally just so much younger. And I've been trying to
kind of meet someone in their mid to late 30's. and its hard because a
lot of them are married or dead or divorced and destroyed. People’s
lives get pretty complex after 26.
----------------------
Intelligent guy who seems pretty damaged.
A rabidly Anti-Christian College Professor?? Heh, good for him.. If he was doing that gig here in the Carolinas, his house would be burned down.
Hell, everybody knows Agent Orange's best song of all time was "Fire In The Rain"
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"Randy Newman doesn't care about short people." - Kanye West
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Total Posts: 1147 | Joined Oct. 2002 | Posted on: 4:05 pm on June 8, 2005 | IP
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the elect
Full Member
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wow divided, those are very valid points, i think i might actually agree with you.
best agent orange song, by the way, has gotta be "el dorado."
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"I am the way, the truth, and the life." -Jesus Christ
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Total Posts: 155 | Joined May 2003 | Posted on: 4:23 pm on June 8, 2005 | IP
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jerry curlan
What did the five fingers say to the face?
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Wow, you really dug into him with so many personal questions, and heck, he answered them. Good job.
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THIRD RAIL POWER IS ALIVE
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Total Posts: 943 | Joined Oct. 2001 | Posted on: 6:18 pm on June 8, 2005 | IP
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devilsmurf 
Advanced Member
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This was great. Thanks for posting it. Where is it going to be published?
Divided, quit trying to push your repressed sexual identity crisis onto your heroes.
I kid. Your evidence is pretty speculative, BUT, you never know. He seems like he's doing better than the last we heard from him, so if he has taken a major step that he needed to take in that regard, then I'm happy for him.
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==============================
I'm drawing my own conclusions here, so save your breath if you disagree...
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Total Posts: 262 | Joined Aug. 2001 | Posted on: 11:10 am on June 9, 2005 | IP
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DividedByZero
Advanced Member
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Divided, quit trying to push your repressed sexual identity crisis onto your heroes.
D-
I'm just paranoid ever since Bob Mould tried to touch me in my "bad place" backstage after a Sugar gig in '95.
cool sig ya got there.
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"Randy Newman doesn't care about short people." - Kanye West
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Total Posts: 1147 | Joined Oct. 2002 | Posted on: 4:27 pm on June 9, 2005 | IP
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the elect
Full Member
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im very happy you are pleased with the interview (the ian one is good too, oh wait im making that up, just joking guys...) but it will be published in NEW REFORM, its my fanzine out here in so cal, street date is june 17th, so if you live in la, oc, sd, reno, or seattle you will find it, if no find send me 4 stamps i will send you one.
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"I am the way, the truth, and the life." -Jesus Christ
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Total Posts: 155 | Joined May 2003 | Posted on: 8:08 pm on June 9, 2005 | IP
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strike
Newbie
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Thanks a lot, I've been waiting so long for an update on how he's doing, and I don't think any other Blake interview has dug as deep as this one. He certainly seems to be in a slightly confsued state with regards to his future, but I guess the pressures of a past like his are bound to be strong. He is obviously still into music, his presence at The Wekaerthans (great band) show demonstrates that...
I like his comment on his 'loving' personality, from other interviews, and some aspects of this one, he has certainly appeared bitter and angry, so its refreshing for an alternative emotion to become so explicit. Its always tough reading interviews of your heroes, because you want them to be someone that they are not, in the end, most of us will never know him very well, but its cool to get an insight to his thoughts and I wish him all the best whatever he does...Oh, and Adam called Blake? Good that they still keep in touch...
Thanks again to 'the elect'.
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The thought of you crying in my room, I miss you could you come around?
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Total Posts: 5 | Joined May 2005 | Posted on: 12:50 pm on June 10, 2005 | IP
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Black Board
read blake interview.
