This Friday, The Barns welcomes back The Grandsons in what has become a Thanksgiving weekend tradition. Join us at this general admission dance to burn some bird calories or simply enjoy the music of these acclaimed roots rockers. Grandson Alan MacEwen was kind enough to spare a few moments and answers a few quick questions about the band, their music and who could win in an arm wrestling match.
You've
been making music for over 25 years. What has changed the most? What has stayed
the same?
A short, pat answer (that is nevertheless
completely true) is that our love of music and performing live hasn’t
diminished at all. It’s always a pleasure and a joy to get on stage and play
rock and roll for a live audience. Also, we’re definitely better players than
25 years ago, so our shows are a better value for your entertainment dollar
than ever.
One thing that has been upended completely
over the last 25 years is what we used to call ‘the record business.’ When we
were recording our first full-length album in 1990, we briefly considered
releasing it as a vinyl LP as well as CD and cassette. 25 years later it’s the
CD that is waning as a music medium.
Also, when we began as a band, the idea of getting on a
big record label held a lot of appeal. Now that we can sell our recordings on
any major digital music store, there’s no reason to work with a record label
unless the offer comes with a [buttock]-load of money to promote with. Our
in-house imprint, Whirling House Records, works just fine.
You
have 2 volumes of Live at The Barns discs. Why record at The Barns?
That’s an easy answer. The Barns has
fantastic sound engineers in Bob Grimes and Tim McCormick, as well as
first-rate recording equipment. The acoustics of the Barns and the energy that
an audience can create in the room brings out the best in The Grandsons, making
for ideal conditions to capture a live performance. We tried recording live at
other places in the past, but were never satisfied with the results.
Any
pre-show rituals that will be taking place at The Barns?
Remember that scene in Finding Nemo where Nemo gets inducted into fish tank society by
swimming through the ring of fire atop Mt. Wanahakalugi? Well, it’ll pretty
much be like that. Wait! Don’t tell the staff we plan to fill the dressing room
with water.
What
does the band listen to while you tour together?
Well, first and foremost, we listen to the
GPS.
Music-wise, classic
Latin sounds have been popular, like Hector Lavoe, Willie Colón and Celia Cruz.
On the country side, Jerry Reed and Roger Miller come up every so often. I’ve
lately been pushing the calypso sounds of Lord Kitchener and the Mighty
Sparrow. Slim Gaillard or Louis Prima are recurrent faves. Also, I always check
in on the latest from Fountains of Wayne.
If any friends have a new recording out, that
gets a spin. That would be folks like Bill Kirchen, Paul Cebar, Spottiswoode
and his Enemies, The Taters, Rhodes Tavern Troubadours, Charlie Chesterman or
Lisa Moscatiello.
Also, when talk show host Art Bell ruled nighttime AM
radio, we used to listen to his particular brand of crazy for entertainment,
but alas, he’s no longer in front of the microphone.
Finally, two words:
James Brown.
Who is
the funniest member of the band?
That would have to be Matt Sedgley, The
Grandsons’ drummer. A conversation might be going for a while on the road and
Matt will be quiet, but all of a sudden, he’ll come out with a comment so funny
and on point, that it just sums up the whole discussion. I can’t even give you
an example, because it’s so contextual that it can only be experienced in the
moment. To prove Matt’s humor supremacy, we’ll have to have a ‘go on tour with
the Grandsons’ contest where a fan wins a chance to do a road trip in the
van—uh, I mean tour bus.
Who
would win in an arm wrestling competition?
Chris Watling—no question. He holds that big bari sax on
the bandstand all night and plays the accordion. No one can touch accordionist
biceps.
What
didn't we ask you that you wish we had?
Well, since you mention it, I wish you had
asked us what the highlights have been for The Grandsons this year in the world
of rock and roll. We consider our shows at the Barns to be a celebration of all
the good things that have happened to the band over the previous year. It’s
kind of a homecoming for us.
This year began with
the release of our first kids album “the grandsons, Jr.—One Big Orooni” which
is a tribute to the music of Slim Gaillard. The song “Stop That Dancing Up
There” from the album is our biggest radio hit to date and our first hit in
outer space. It has been getting heavy airplay for the last 6 months on XM
Kids, satellite radio.
Additionally this
year, we were invited by the U.S. State Department to perform six concerts and
a handful of TV and radio appearances in El Salvador. It was a unique and
amazing experience. We played for screaming teenagers at a high school who made
us feel like the Beatles, we got to hold a clinic for students at a performing
arts school for underprivileged kids, and we performed at some beautiful
theaters in San Salvador and Ahuachapan. If you’re a musician, you haven’t
lived until you’ve played live TV on “Viva la Mañana” morning show while the
hosts dance to your songs. We got to meet the Katie Couric and Al Roker of El
Salvador.
We’re also proud of
our newest release. “Sock Drawer Millionaire b/w “Baltimore.” As we roll with the
flow of the music industry, we’ve decided that in the current climate,
releasing two songs at a time on a more frequent basis is the way to go. The
single is back, baby! One way we’re
promoting the two song release is by giving a FREE copy to every person who
comes to The Grandsons show at the Barns at Wolf Trap on November 23. Hey, it
worked for Prince. Why not learn from the master?
