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100 Musicians Answer the Same 10 Questions

Part Sixty-Four: Big Sandy

instigated by dave heaton

For over a decade now Big Sandy and His Fly-Rite Boys have been following in the footsteps of their country swing and rockabilly forbearers, yet they've never fallen into the trap of just repeating the past. Their music always has a freshness to it, whether it comes from a perfectly addictive party atmosphere, the open-hearted singing of gregarious frontman Big Sandy, or from mixing their style up with a variety of influences within the history of soul, rock, country, and music in general. Their latest album Turntable Matinee (YepRoc), to my ears their best yet, is a straight-up loveletter to the power of music. For more information on the band, including current tour dates, check out their MySpace page.

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What aspect of making music excites you the most right now?

For years (22 now) I've thrived on the sensation that I get from performing in front of an audience - there's nothing like it, really. But what excites me most right now, more than before, is the joy of hearing a song come to life while recording. For our most recent album, we spent more time working up the songs in the studio than we have in the past and I really got a charge out of it. I'm itching to get started on our next project.

What aspect of making music gets you the most discouraged?

I can't stand reading negative reviews written by some dope who obviously hasn't listened, or who hasn't listened closely. Too many people take reviews as gospel.

What are you up to right now, music-wise? (Current or upcoming recordings, tours, extravaganzas, experiments, top-secret projects, etc).

Before leaving on our summer tour with my Fly-Rite Boys, I finished up an album with Los Straitjackets and Cesar Rosas from Los Lobos. Right now we have a couple of weeks "off" and are rehearsing with a new drummer for our upcoming tour of the Midwest and East Coast.

What's the most unusual place you've ever played a show or made a recording? How did the qualities of that place affect the show/recording?

Probably the Oregon State Prison. We played out in the "yard" and had to wear bright orange safety vests so that the guards knew who not to shoot at in the event of a riot. The strangest feeling I ever had while performing, though, was at The Grand Ole Opry. It felt completely surreal and played out in slow-motion... "Is this really happening"?

In what ways does the place where you live (or places where you have lived), affect the music you create, or your taste in music?

My own music is heavily influenced by the kind of records that I found as a kid in thrift stores and swap meets here in Southern California - evidence of once-thriving scenes here out west in the 40's - 60's : L.A. Rhythm & Blues, Jazz, Soul, Doo-Wop, Western Swing, Bakersfield Country, Folk-Rock, etc. L.A. Oldies radio played a huge role as well, and we just lost one of our great DJ's, Huggy Boy (RIP).

When was the last time you wrote a song? What can you tell us about it?

I'm in the middle of writing a few songs right now - I'm still on a high after working on our last record. What can I tell you about 'em? Well, I guess those who haven't heard our last couple of albums, but are familiar with our earlier work, might find the stuff I'm working on now to be rather experimental. To those who have been keeping up with our music, especially the recent one, it will all make sense. A step beyond Turntable Matinee.

As you create more music, do you find yourself getting more or less interested in seeking out and listening to new music made by other people...and why do you think that is?

I used to spend endless hours in record stores as a teenager seeking out music by current bands, but lost interest in NEW music somewhere along the way... the old stuff was good enough for me. Until lately that is. I've been buying records, CD's, downloading music, etc. by new artists more than I have in ages. When it comes to finding new music, I feel like a kid again... and I don't know why, dammit!

Lately what musical periods or styles do you find yourself most drawn to as a listener? (Old or new music? Music like yours or different from yours?)

I'm really mad for music and there are so many different styles that have been turning me on lately - junk from every decade from the '20's on. There are so many different genre's and sub-genre's to discover and I'm having a blast doing it. It makes me smile 9 times.

Name a band or musician, past or present, who you flat-out LOVE and think more people should be listening to. What's one of your all-time favorite recordings by this band/musician?

My man, Ken Boothe. Mr. Rocksteady! Mercy, his voice moooooves me! Pure Jamaican Soul. I'm on a mission to collect everything the man ever recorded (damn, there's a lot of it) but I'm especially drawn to his 60's recordings. My all-time favorite recording of his? I could never ever pick just one... and I'm glad that I don't HAVE to!!

What's the saddest song you've ever heard?

The song that instantly comes to mind is that old standard "Stardust" as performed by... just about anybody. The wistful lyrics (Mitchell Parish) of memories of a long lost love are sad in a bitter-sweet sort of way, but it's Hoagy Carmichael's haunting melody that really slays me. Instant tearsville. I'll also have you know that I'm a sucker for "He Stopped Loving Her Today", sappy as it may be to some. Or any song by Miguel Aceves Mejia while I'm drinking tequila.

To check out the rest of the Q&As, click here.


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