You know that uber-stupid interview question: "Who are your influences?" I can see how that's stupid, if you're creative, and want to make something new. But, for a guy like me? Just a hobby, never going to be outside my house type player? Well, that's a whole different ballgame. If I tell you my influences, I'll bet you can guess exactly what I sound like on a guitar.
So here they are:
Billy Zoom Mick Jones and Joe Strummer Greg Sage Mike Palm Bob Mould Guy Kyser and above all others- Geordie!
I might like other musicians for other reasons, but I listen to these with a little bit of " Gee, I want to make that sound..."
I know some musicians, both professional and not read this. I'd like to hear what you folks consider your influences? I mean this purely on a hobby/ amateur level- I know that when you play professionally, you make compromises, and you play for what the band needs, and what the song demands. I mean, when you're sitting at home, noodling around, who/what is your "go to" sound inspiration?
I don't think the influence question is stupid at all. All art is built on what has come before. For someone to think they are doing something totally new and utterly unique is the height of arrogance. My foundational influences as a player have been Andy Gill, Bernard Albrecht, and Robert Smith. In United Sons of Toil I channeled Unwound as well as the rosters of AmRep and Touch & Go. Tyranny Is Tyranny was built on hours of listening to Fall Of Efrafa, Cult Of Luna, and Isis. I'd like to think that you can hear all the influences that have informed me over the years, but if not, that's OK too. I'm a music fan as much as I am a musician and I have no problem acknowledging the things that have inspired me to write songs. Does that help?
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely- I can hear the Andy Gill, and Neil Kingsbury and Erik Olofsson. Some of the others I would not have thought, but upon a little reflection, I can see it- specifically Bernard- I associate him more with New Order than Joy Division, but if I put the Joy Division element back in, yeah, I can hear it. Awesome, and thanks! I agree with you that all Art is part of a kind of dialogue between Artists, but I also want to be careful not to confuse anybody that I think anyone sounds "just like" somebody else, and that kind of thinking is why I think the question can come across as stupid- far too many fan boys out there who just want to "nail" some sound they heard "wrong" in the first place...
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