Greno Interview

Toehead Greno

Soul Love (released on October 31, 2011) has been out for over a year now but the songs and inspiration driving the album continue to thrive. Here is an interview with the San Diego-native turned Colorado man behind the Anonymous Collective curtain. 

A Deeper Look Into Soul Love : Interview by Eric Cullen.

EC - You’ve been writing and recording for some 30 years now. How many solo albums have you recorded?

GM - My most recent album, Soul Love is my 12th album since 1990. 

EC - Your latest album, Soul Love, is quite possibly the best record you’ve done. So many artists have their peak creative period, usually in their youth, where they produce their finest material. You’ve made this career high-mark in your 40's. How do explain that? How do you keep the music sounding fresh and vibrant?

GM - Thank you. I feel this album is the most concise statement I have made with my music. The album is both extremely personal yet universal. It is hard to pin down why something like this comes along other than the fact that I have been paying more attention to the beauty of this world, rather than the darkness. I am always looking for new ways to approach songwriting and recording. I hope my songwriting ages like fine wine. 

EC - The first thing that strikes me when I turn on Soul Love is the drum beat that starts off the album. I’ve never heard that kind of beat on a Greno album. What can you tell us about it?

GM - One unique aspect of Soul Love is that all the drums are beats from the Casio, rather than live drums. The approach simply was born out of the desire to do something different with the rhythms. Most of the beats are also sprinkled with effects to add an atmosphere to the tracks. Soul Love will probably be the only album I ever do without some live drums on there. The thing I love the most about this song is my daughters go crazy over it, they love singing it. I listened to several mixes of this song while cruising in my car before deciding on the one I used for the album.

EC - The next thing that hits me is your extensive use of keyboard throughout the album. I’ve never heard so much keyboard on a Greno album. What kind of board are you using? What prompted you to use it more?

GM - I use a cheapo Casio TK-1000 with lots of delay and other effects. For some reason, I just started to write more songs on keyboard as I find it very challenging. Most of my tunes are written on guitar or start with a drum pattern or bass lick. But Soul Love is keyboard heavy as I wanted to create a new sound world for my music. Similar to the idea of exclusively using the drum machine I suppose.

EC - I like the fact that you haven’t abandoned the classic Greno acoustic sound. In fact, my favorite song is "Delicate One." It has all your trademarks from hits of the past: mellow vocal line, simple strummed chords, arresting lyrics. Tell me about the song. What were the circumstances surrounding its creation?

GM - I owe a lot in my songwriting to Steve Kilbey and the Church. They are one of the many bands who helped me to learn how to write a song. The Church were an obsession of mine in the late 1980's, easily my favorite band until bands like Fugazi and Royal Trux came along in the 1990's. So, Steve Kilbey is one of the best rock lyricists of all time in my opinion. I wrote the verses for the song in his voice using various lines that people dropped here and there. A lot of my songs are like characters from books or movies, the character composition is often a composite of various people, rather than just one person, event or experience. "Delicate One" evokes a lost and elusive childhood.

EC - "Delicate One" is immediately followed by "Spellbound", and a complete shift in sonics. It is very effective sequencing. "Spellbound" is dominated by the bass line, but the vocals are the most interesting of all your vocals on the album. Almost Mid-Eastern psychedelic! What is that song about? What inspired it? It is one of many examples where you are doing something totally new on a Greno album.

GM - Falsetto singing has always intrigued me. The Beach Boys, Curtis Mayfield and Shudder To Think come to mind. The vocals come from some weird place. As far as the emotional climate of the song, it is about obsession. The chorus says it all...."Trying not to think about you". I was watching a lot of old movies at the time and feeding off the beauty of the old film actresses, whom I adore. The Audrey Hepburn line comes from there. Personally, I don't see how any man could deny Holly Golightly. 

EC - "Go Figure" brings us back to the acoustic guitar. Those three songs "Delicate One," "Spellbound" and "Go Figure" really flow well together and create a strong emotional core of the album. Then, the album takes a dive into some seriously deep emotional territory with the next song, "The Magnificent One." Please tell us about this song. Sounds like you’re drawing on some powerful memories and experiences.

GM - The song was written about a friend I met during summer of 2011. "The Magnificent One" is probably the most direct song on the album. I am telling the story of a friend's life or how I see her life unfolding to this point. She is a young, beautiful soul with unlimited potential in this world. Some people think the song is about my oldest daughter but that is false.  I guess in some ways, "Magnificent One" is my oldest daughter in a spiritual sense. 
My band Circles and Squares love to play this one live, usually at the end of the set.

EC - The albums ends with "Fortune Yet Unseen" in which we hear the drum beat again, this time slower, but still with that little echo thing going on. The drum beat at the beginning and end of the album makes for nice bookends. Was this planned? It makes for a very concise artistic statement.

GM - Yes, I wanted some continuity with the bookends of this project. I kind of envisioned a morning to evening concept. "Soul Love" being early morning and by the time you get to the last track "Fortune", it is a late night song. The album was written rather quickly after a set of inspiring experiences. The interesting thing about "Fortune Yet Unseen", lyrics and vocals were written and recorded but I decided to omit them at the last minute. I guess I felt these lyrics were a bit too revealing or just taking the album in a different direction too late in the game. 

EC - I think this album, overall, is very tight and precise. There are no loose ends. Every note is in its place, as opposed to Greno albums in the past, which were a lot more spontaneous and experimental. Do you think this approach to album-making is maybe a reflection of your life in general these days?

GM - Yes. I don't know how much time I have on this earth for the go-round so I guess I am getting more selective, picky and concise with age. And hopefully becoming a better musician and songwriter as well. The next thing I do will have elements of everything I have learned to this point. It will probably more of a mixed-bag type of thing. I have written 10-15 songs since Soul Love came out so it won't be long.

EC - Well, I asked about pretty much every song on the album, except one. The second song, "The Next Big Deal." I really love the use of piano on this one, and how your voice is sung in counterpoint over it. And the sparseness of the rhythm. It’s almost R&B, compared with much of your work. What brought this one about? And tell me more about the female singer, Fiona "Summer" Rose.

GM - The song just came about messing around with some chords on the piano. Much of the album contains keyboards and this song is a pure example of this execution. My daughter is Fiona Rose, she is a true artist. Her thing is modern dance. She is a brilliant, creative soul. We have our own music project called Field of Mars, it is pretty minimal and out there. When Fiona visited here in Colorado, we recorded "Next Big Deal" after she heard the song and liked it. It is great to work with her. Now, I have recorded with all 3 of my diva daughters!

EC - Keeping creating , Greno. Your music is growing in new ways and I can’t wait to hear your next album!

GM - It was a pleasure, thanks for listening and following the madness. I have a brand new EP called Dream Spells. It is a five song EP consisting of new material. My bandmates from Circles and Squares guest on one song. Dream Spells is a diverse collection of songs that I am really excited for people to hear. 

Mandy Christensen Interview

Drummer MC

There are plenty of Amandas in the world, but in the world of indie rock, there is only one Mandy. This Brush, Colorado native has spent years paying her dues working in the music business and still saved up enough time to learn how to play the drums. Currently, she is rocking the skins in the indie rock band Circles and Squares. Mandy truly has her own voice on the drums. Plus, there is a power and presence to her playing. And she ain't half-bad as a human being to boot.....here's the lady of the hour.

Interview by Greno

1. With a lack of female drummers around, how does it feel to be one of the chosen few?

That’s always been a weird one for me.  On the one hand, I don’t want to get extra points for being a “chick drummer” – I’d like to have my playing stand on its own, for better or worse – BUT I can’t say I don’t enjoy being somewhat of a novelty.  It’s always kinda fun to see people’s reaction when they find out I’m actually in the band and not just carrying stuff around for a boyfriend or something.

2. What made you decide to start drumming?

 I honestly have no idea.  Something must have been appealing to me about it when I was kiddo.  We had these huge oil barrels out “in the trees” when I was growing up.  I used to find just the right pair of sticks and just beat the living daylights out of them.  I’m sure my parents were soooo impressed.  Luckily, we lived way far away from civilization so the only people I punished with the racket were my family.

3. Are you self-taught?

 Yes and no.  I started with concert percussion in 5^th grade and played through the end of high school.  I usually just played concert snare, timpani or, you know, triangle or something.  I didn’t play again until my senior year of college when I bought myself a ratty drum set off a high school kid for $200.  I’m not sure it was actually worth the $200, but I couldn’t have been happier.  I, and a couple of my very best friends, proceeded to torment our apartment complex for the rest of the year.   So, long story short, I had a nice foundation on to build on when I finally got up the nerve to try playing a kit.

4. Do you play any other instruments?

 I learned to play guitar pretty well before I started on the drum set.  I eventually added some not-so-skilled bass playing to the mix.

5. Talk about your past bands/projects.

 The first real band I was in was Three Girl Rumba and we were totally awesome.  We were an all-girl power trio (Me, Jess & Erin) playing a mix of originals and covers.  We played all of two shows.  Somewhere there’s video from a house show we played…I’d pay, like, at least $75 to see it.  After that, Jess and I (and Erin for a bit) moved into this killer house with an obscenely large basement.  We kept a full arsenal of instruments down there and we recorded straight to my Dell with the mic that came with the computer.  Hi tech stuff!  We eventually started a pretty free-form project called Retard Rainbow.  It was comprised of anyone who had an instrument and showed up.  Four guitar players?  Sure!  Two drummers?  Why not!  We played one whole show and it was magnificent.  There’s video somewhere of that one too.  After Retard Rainbow sorta disbanded, I went through a series of groups with two of the guys in RR, Matt and Jason.  There was Idiosyncratic Routine (me & Jason), Drowning Dolphins (me, Matt & Jason), Jerkapotamus (me, Matt & Shawn) and Often Coiled (me, Matt & Jeff).  And now, it’s Circles & Squares time!

6. If the dealer has 14, should you hold?

I have no idea.  I am the world’s worst gambler.

7. If your daughter wanted to play the drums, what would your reaction be?

 Oh, heck yeah.  I would be all for it.

8. Favorite city in the world?

Hmm…that’s a tough one.  In the world, huh?  I will say Vathi on Meganissi Island in Greece.  It’s only a village, but I don’t care.  It is absolutely stunning.  For my city answer, I’ll go with Baltimore – I’ve had some excellent times in that city.

9. Where do you see yourself in 5 years, musically speaking?

Haha – I have no idea.  My everyday plans barely extend to into next week sometimes.

10. Is it true that you dislike most female singers? Who especially annoys you in this realm?

Oh no, now I’ll be in trouble.  It’s true that in the past, the music I’ve added to my collection has been fronted primarily by dudes.  Maybe I’m getting old or something, but this year I’ve had a streak of female artists enter the rotation.  As for those I find annoying?  I’m not really into the dramatic or theatrical, so the Lady Gaga’s and Nicki Minaj’s of the world are tough to listen to.  Not that I don’t think that what they do has artistic merit, but it is just so not for me.

11. Top 5 movies.

Silence of the Lambs

Royal Tenenbaums

Love Actually

Sound of Music

Anchorman

12. What songwriters do you admire? Why?

Robert Pollard – he is grossly prolific and his basic understanding of how a pop/rock song works is otherworldly.

  

13. Favorite sport to play and to watch?

To watch: Football

To play: Ping Pong!!! 

14. Are you a Fantasy Football geek?

Yes.  I’m not sure I qualify for ‘geek’ status, as my team, Space Station Unicorns (that’s right) is 4 and 7 so far this season, but I do quite enjoy it.  I’m hoping for a late run so I can make it into the playoffs!

15. Do you consider yourself a musician, artist or just a drummer?

I dunno, I guess I’ve never really parsed that one out.  I’m not really the creative type.  I see myself as more of a means for those who are.  Is that weird?

16. What is the key to the universe?

 Probably sandwiches.

17. Desert Island Discs for 2012

 I’m limiting it to things that came out in 2012 because I think that’s what this question is:

Shearwater “Animal Life”

Ane Brun “It All Starts With One”

Corin Tucker Band “Kill My Blues”

Santigold “Master Of My Make Believe”

*I reserve the right to revise this answer in the near future.

18. Food that you cannot live without.

 Oh, damn.  If I knew that this question was coming, I would have saved my sandwiches answer.  But, yeah, sandwiches.

19. Favorite Circles and Squares song and why?

 Probably “Door #3” because I try to play super, extra loud on that one.

20. Is it true that Anthony wears a Superman cape on stage?

Yeah, what is with that anyway?  I’ve been afraid to ask. 

21. Is Frankie G the guy from Frankie Goes To Hollywood?

So. Many. Jokes. About. Frank.  MUST RESIST.  

22. Favorite Steve Martin Movie?

Is it terrible if I don’t?    hilarious. (ed)

23. Top 5 Female musical crimes.

lolwut?

24. Best Fugazi song ever is.............

WAITING ROOM!!!!!! 

25. Spaghetti or Fettuccine?

Spaghetti, duh.

26. Tell us a great bar story.

One time I helped Trail of Dead run up a $400 tab on tequila shots before their show in Denver.  That was a fun night.

Anthony Davis Interview

Anthony Davis is a real guitar man. I have had the pleasure

of playing in quite a few bands with him and he has always

approached each project with enthusiasm and vigor.

About a year ago, we started Circles and Squares,

which has turned out to be one of our most musically

fruitful projects. Anthony is also an in-demand studio

session player we often refer to as "One-Take Tony".

Let's hear from the man................................

INTERVIEW BY GRENO

When did you start playing guitar?
AD : I started playing guitar in the 7th grade. I didn't really get serious until I was about 16. I went to a Halloween party and there was a band playing and I was impressed by all the sounds from the instruments, especially the guitar.

What was the first song you ever wrote?
AD : The first song I ever wrote was S.L.J. (D). I wrote the music when I was about 17 and didn't put lyrics to it until I was about 24.

First record you ever bought?
AD : The first record I ever bought was Kiss Alive II and I was probably 9.
Before that, I bought the single "Celebration" by Kool and the Gang.

Influences that are not guitar players?
AD : The people who have influenced me that are not guitar players is a long list
that continues to this day. Here are a few; John Elway, Bruce Lee, Dave Chappelle,
Joseph Campbell and Mr. VanWest(my 4th grade teacher).

Favorite show you have played?

AD : The best show I played was a little bar on 19th and Unitah in Colorado Springs.
My band played for 3 hours, all original music mind you and the people danced all night.
It was a very gratifying night.

Where did the song "Beautiful Love" come from?
AD : The song "Beautiful Love" was inspired by my own observations of couples in love
or individuals looking for love.

If you could have any car, what would you drive?
AD : If I could have any car it would be a Porsche, preferably a custom built one.
I read that Eric Clapton has Ferrari build him his own sports car.

What is your guitar set-up right now?
AD : My guitar set-up is pretty basic. I have a Fender Deluxe II, as well as a Marshall JVM 210
half stack. I am a Fender guy so I have two Stratocasters and a Tele. I also own a Taylor acoustic guitar. As far as effects, I don't have too many. I have a rat distortion pedal, an MXR delay and a Cry Baby Wah pedal.

Favorite type of guitar and amp?
AD : Fender all the way.

You have proven to be a versatile player in both song and improv configurations,

do you have a preference playing one over the other? 

How has listening to jazz changed your approach to the guitar?

AD : I really like both structured and improv playing. I have a lot of songs that are arranged in such a way that I don't hear them in any other way. Playing improv is very refreshing and challenging. Listening to jazz has totally changed my perception on being a guitarist and even a musician in general. Jazz taught me a better understanding of playing with others. It gave me a better ear.

As a Colorado Springs native, talk about some of the changes you have seen in music venues around town.
AD : Although the Colorado Springs music scene has improved since the 1980's, it has a long way to go. I started to persue this music thing in 1994. I released my own recordings and put them out for purchase. At that time, there were no places that original music could be played. There are more places for original bands to play, but the scene is still trying to find its identity.

What are you doing now musically?
AD : Circles and Squares. Moonlighting in Lemon-Limes, Squeaky and the Futures, Skinny Mulligans.

Favorite t.v show growing up?
AD : Happy Days    ehhhhhhhhh!

Most interesting places you have travelled?
AD : Being half German, I have spent many vacations in Germany, which is one of my favorite places. Stateside, love road trips. More recently, I had the chance to visit England, beautiful place and beautiful people.

What does the future hold for your music?

AD : Ehhhhhhhhhh! (in his best Fonzie impression)

Joel Arquillos vs. Kevin Chanel Interview

Michael Penne

Sean Brooks

Kevin Chanel

Where does one start with these two? Joel and Kevin are men amongst boys in the crazy rock and roll area of life. Personally, some of my favorite musical moments happened when these two were around in some capacity(PATCH, FERN TRIO, DEMI-GODS, LEMON-LIMES). But, these guys can say it better than me anyway as they interviewed each other. Oh yea, the above photos document the instrumental trio RED SHIRT FRESHMAN. Sorry about the font changes at the end of the piece, wanted it to have that fanzine feel - ed. 

KC: So El, It never escapes me, the first thing to pop into my head when I think of the name El Archer is the old adage of how you get rid of someone by giving them the "Spanish Archer," or "El Bow." I first heard of this watching a quite impressive episode of Behind The Music with Def Leppard, where Joe Elliott explains how Dan Savage was kicked out of the band for being a sick ass junkie and Joe Elliott explained how they gave him the ol' Spanish Archer, "El Bow" out of the band. And yet your music invokes no shred of Pyromania, or Hysteria, or drummers losing their left leg in car fire. Now how the hell do you explain that?

JA: But my music is all about pyromania and hysteria, Kevin. You should take another listen to my lyrics: burn your hostage down/take time to watch, or something like that. I sort of mumble when I sing so the words could be interpreted any way you want.  In fact I prefer that.

And I'd give anything to have a drummer, even one with a missing leg. For the track that appears in this compilation, I relied on my throbbing headache for a beat. Cheap wine does that to my head.

But as far as "Spanish Archer" or "El Bow" goes, neither played a part in my choosing the name "El Archer." My last name, Arquillos means Archer in English. I thought it would be a fun way to keep that image of a bow and arrow in people's heads while they listened to me sing and play guitar. I'm talking a hard core, thunder-arrow flinging Greek god. You know what I mean?

My question for you: who do you play with these days? What part do sports play in your music? What's your favorite P.i.L record?

KC: Good point. for instance I was convinced you were saying "bumble bostich town/drake timing watch." and I was really ready to accept that, as I have similar feelings toward metropolitan office products and personal accessories. I have tried to lull the compulsion to pontificate, but who has time. I call your pyromania and raise you a wooden leg.

And though I am embarrassed to admit, I always had assumed "arquillos" was an arcane coelecanth-type half-fish, half-dentist tool or other picture postcard from the shallow abyss of somewhereness. But I was wrong. I was thinking of someone completely different. Possibly Buzz Aldrin, second man on the moon. Me? Play music? Just my usual Lemon-Limes quadrennial fiesta of whimsy. just me, Greno, friends of Greno with whom I had not previously met but musically bond with somehow, and a handful of slapdash lyrics which I hope will match up with the immediacy usually requiring the necessity of a "Plan B" pill. And lots of tequila. Sports? They have the usual role of distraction. As of right now it is hot stove season, which means the Chargers are at their hopeless stage and I am wasting valuable work time seeing which baseball teams overpaid for a backup shortstop.

P.i.L? Oh come on. Is there another record besides Metal Box? But y'know, the first album has some great work on it as well. Read a couple of P.i.L biographies recently. Man, Lydon...what a dick.

Greek thunder arrows. Makes complete sense. 

SO if I may pry, how has fatherhood influenced your music? Or has it? Or has your fatherhood influenced my music? 

And how is LA treating you?

JA: I suppose fatherhood has influenced my realization that I have very little time to play these days. I certainly do play for my daughter who seems to enjoy that very much (but hell, she rocks out to Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star, too) but I'm also finding it hard to just really get lost in the making of music  (used to love locking myself in a room with a recorder, instruments, beer, and my cat. Cats just sit there and don’t judge). Those were fun times and it's how I was able to write most of the things I've put out there.

I was thinking just the other day that I have a decent discography spanning at least 15 years. From my pre-California days in NYC to the year or so before Patch, to the 4.5 years in Patch and music I created as Jorrell and El Archer. I miss not having a community like I did up in Sonoma County; folks that knew how to play with me and motivated me to play. Folks like el Greno. LA's loaded with incredible musicians. I've never before come across so many truly gifted players. They certainly come to this town to try and make it, but others just find a way to stay creative without wanting success. There's tons of possibility but I can't seem to muster the energy to jump in to something. Maybe I'll just start writing songs for my daughter to sing and we'll take our show on the road. That might be my next musical incarnation: El Archer y La Arquera.

Is your daughter into music? I read recently that she loves Eno. How did that happen?

KC: I suppose that's why I never had a cat. I always assumed they were judging me. I think it was my past experiences in Cat Town, where I was pulled over on trumped-up charges ("Meow-Meow?"...what does that even MEAN?!) and incarcerated in an allergic haze. 

After that, fatherhood has been a breeze. Except for the part where I would rather be hanging out with my daughter than making music, which is pretty much constantly. Luckily she can quote old tv shoes really well. She so crazy.

I was in San Diego for Xmas (btw, this interview can be transposed every year until my parents and aunt Nell are dead) and recognized for the first time in 15 years that I have NO musical team up in SF. I have played a few times in SF since having moved here in 96, but still don't feel musically family like since Sunny [Mrs. Chanel --ed.] stopped hitting skins on the ol' 1961 Ludwig Radio Kings, back in 2000. I blame God. I am the anti-Tebow. I bow.

I am going to make a visit to Greno in '012, but he doesn't know it's just to spend q'time with his awesomely adorable little girls, whom are a real kick in the pants. But yes, like the mighty Jaki Liebezeit, Grenissimo is a back beat giant. A real bad-within-the-ass. I hate to aggrandize upon his own site, but you gotta throw the props as necessary.(too kind - ed.)

As you know, the love for Jorrell is endless, but I swear, LA is a painhole of blanched hell. It's an unprepared allergenic almond of despair. And yet i will go to my grave believing, nay, SWEARING, it is you with whom I entrust to save them all.

Save them all from Danzig.

JA : Where and how did you record your track for the comp, Kev? Was this a tune you'd been developing for a while or did it come together during the recording session?

KC : The Red Shirt Freshmen coalesced out of my house on Judah St in SF in 2000.
Myself on guitar, Bad Penne on drums and Sean Brooks on guitar and keyboards.
I had a basement studio and a Tascam 4-track and we just made sure to nail down as many ideas as possible and get at least one of them recorded each session.
In early 2001 we were evicted from that house, so we ended up with only three full tunes to our name.
Those are all now on compilations, so the entire RSF collection is somehow available.
With tis tune we recognized a semi-New Order melody and tried to ride on that.
Looking back it doesn't really sound that way, but we liked it all the same.
And YOUUUUU Joel?
How do you thin your tune represents the Archer? I sense an undercurrent of sly aggression, and perhaps a dash of cumin. Personally I think it stands as a good testament to your oeuvre.

JA : There's definitely aggression in most of my stuff, but think this track had less of it. It was the first time I recorded straight, live. The entire thing was pretty much part of an idea I was playing with and then sometime, late at night, I just pushed this baby out. I added another guitar track and some backing vocals the next day. I'm pretty happy with it, but felt it could have used some sort of mastering process. I  recorded straight onto my laptop through the built in mic.
So what's next for you, Maestro? Any planned recording sessions in the horizon?

IKC : It sounds pretty clean for that scenario. 

I have nothing going other than needing to finish the Lemon-Limes second album. Put out three songs on mp3/ Amazon/ iTunes cuz I got antsy. 

Just got back yesterday fm SD and a reunion of The Front - they whom started this whole Scheming Intelligentsia thing back in 1985. 

I'm old.

Mr. Joel "El Archer" Arquillos