1. If you were not a musician what would you want to be when you grow up?
Einstein said that a person cannot simultaneously prepare for and prevent war. I think that explains it best.
2. What is your favorite color?
In the second grade when I was asked this question, I answered “black”. My parents got a call that night. I explained that every girl said “pink”, and every boy said “blue”. Surprise! I didn’t want to be like everyone else, so I just blurted out “black”.
But God, how I loved pink.
You know what? I’m gonna stand by my trouble-inducing answer: black! Call my Mom now.
3. At what age did you become interested in being a musician and what/when was your first professional gig?
You could say that my first professional gig was with “The Electric Bananas”. I choreographed a “show” with 3 of my brothers to do The Locomotion with Little Eva, when I was 8. Two brothers dropped out before we could “do the locomotion with” her. The third hung in there until I left our house, in order to knock on neighbors’ doors to invite them to show, charge them 25 cents, and lead them through the kitchen where my bombarded Mom was cooking, and into the living room for the show. I had a 6 people audience, and my band had quit. Sigh. But I climbed on top of the coffee table, grabbed my banana mic in hand, and did what every professional musician would do: went on with the show!
It was my first and last gig, until I was 18, when I started playing drums for a cover band in Thibodaux at the Sheraton. It was fun, and I just kept it up!
4. What is your favorite movie of all time… (your all time that is)?
Judging by the way I am completely obsessed with it, I’d have to say “Silence of the Lambs”. I wish I could honestly say it was “The Color Purple”, “Tommy”, or any of my other faves. But there is no other movie for which I hold the same fervor to imitate its characters EVERY chance I get. “Excuse me senator, just one more thing: LOVE your suit.” Yikes! That movie scares the bejesus outta me, just having a skin suit, alone.
Side note: I saw the actress that played Buffalo Bill’s “it puts the lotion on its skin” victim trapped in the well, walking around at Jazz Fest a few years ago. My heart started pounding, and I had to stop myself from hugging her, saying “Oh my God, I’m SO glad you made it OUT!”
5. How many different bands have you played in?
Including the Electric Bananas? I’m not sure – I’ve always had something going on. Some made it out of the garage, and some never did. An estimate would be 20. I’ve played in bands who played covers, originals, country, badly, and every facet of rock available.
6. What is your hobby?
Is being stupid a hobby? Or daydreaming?
7. At what age do you plan to hang up your instrument (if any) and what is your retirement plan?
My retirement plan is to cry underneath a bridge, because that’s where all this is headed. There’s no nest egg. That’s the harsh and sad truth. But let’s look on the bright side….
I can’t imagine ever hanging it up. I’m pretty hooked on it like a bad habit. So unless there’s some form of musical methadone clinic built by the time I’m pushing a shopping cart for a living, I will be subjecting people to any sort of music making I can create. You know my standards. I have used bananas for mics.
8. What are 3 of your favorite albums from childhood? Let’s say the time until you graduated high school.
The B52′s first and second albums (the red and the yellow) for sure; 3rd must be the The Who’s Tommy.
9. How and why did you start playing music?
My oldest brother had a toy organ in his room, which he never used; and I must have coveted it pretty badly, because I dragged it into MY room, and put a blanket over it to hide it. I remember trying to pick out songs on it, and trying to be quiet in doing so. My Dad heard me one day and asked if I was interested in taking lessons, so I started doing that when I was about 6.
I was a really shy kid, so I spent a lot of time on my own, practicing, writing, and living out my daydreams. I’m just grateful that it paid off!
10. 3 things you love about New Orleans?
The resilience and absolute love and passion the people have for its city, the huge gift that The Saints gave to us and the hard work it took in order for them to do so, and the spirit encompassed in the music, the art, the attitude, and the celebrations of the New Orleans’ people. These 3 things are unique to New Orleans.
