Photo credit: Sam Wiseman
Tell us about your tour vehicle. Any notable breakdown stories?
I tour in my Nissan Versa. It has 150k miles on it. Right now, it’s missing a hubcap and the front bumper is falling off and is held on with duct tape after my last trip to Texas. On the way to Turkey, Texas, something started dragging under the car and I tied it back on with a guitar string. I’ve been lucky not to have any terrible breakdowns. Knock on wood.
How do you eat cheaply and/or healthy while on tour?
I drink a lot of bottled water. I’m bougie about the water. That’s where I spend most of my money. If there’s Icelandic water, I always buy that. Or anything from the French Alps. Some of the gas stations have so many kinds, it’s hard to pick. And I drink a lot of coffee on the road, too. 3-5 cups. No sugar. I don’t really snack much, and if I do, I like those wasabi almonds or beef jerky. I have one meal a day, sometimes the venue provides that. Nothing with too much bread or dough. It makes me tired. When I drink alcohol, it’s whiskey or wine, hopefully provided by the venue. Beer, I try to avoid because it’s not good for singing.
How many strings do you break in a typical year? How much does it cost to replace them?
I hardly ever break strings. I have the same set of strings on my acoustic and electric guitar all year. Some people like to have new strings but I kind of like when they get old. I don’t even know how much strings cost anymore, that’s how often I change my strings.
Where do you rehearse?
I don’t have a rehearsal space. For my first album, Delusions of Grandeur, we had one rehearsal. It was on the stage at The 5 Spot. At home, I just rehearse in my attic.
What was the title and a sample lyric from the first song that you wrote?
It was called “Red Sparrow,” and it was about going to see Bob Dylan for the first time with some friends. It started out like:
Little red car,
Rolling round the mountainside
Windows open
To let the smoke run free
Describe your first gig.
I don’t remember my first real gig. I used to play at a place called The Black Oak Tavern in Oneonta, New York a lot when I was learning how to be on stage. Probably there, or this place called The Autumn Cafe.
What was your last day job? What was your favorite day job?
I’m currently a line cook. My favorite, or at least the most interesting, was being a vet assistant at an animal hospital. Dog bites, radioactive cats, euthanizations, surgeries, x-rays, pretty much everything. At the end of every day, I listened to music while mopping all the hospital floors.
How has your music-related income changed over the past 5-10 years? What do you expect it to look like 5-10 years from now?
It hasn’t changed. The money from streaming might help me buy some gas a few times a year but my income is not related to my music at all. I work my job so I can afford to tour. Which is pretty standard. Merch sales at shows typically help me buy gas to get to the next place. The arts historically have never been a big money maker, so that’s how it goes, and I’ve made peace with it. I have no expectations about money in the future.
What one thing do you know now that you had wished you knew when you started your career in music?
I wish I knew I could have more fun with the interviews and make up anything I want. I was raised by a pack of dingoes in Australia and I was an extra in Austin Powers. My aunt is Bonnie Raitt. Stuff like that.