Rusty
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A great review of BOE: http://blogcritics.org/music/article/music-review-rusty-anderson-born-on/ http://musicalescapades.com/blog/music-press-releases/singersongwriter-rusty-anderson-lead-guitarist-for-paul-mccartney-band-launches-his-second-cd.htm A musical exploration of life on Planet Earth in the 21st Century, a technological age in which the human experience has accelerated to a mind-numbing pace ? for better or for worse, Born on Earth gives equal weight to the personal concerns we all face as we strive to understand our place in the ?big picture.? ?It just blows my mind whenever I think about living in this generation, and watching technology come of age, and the craziness that has come with it,? said Mr. Anderson. ?From the advent of the digital age to the climate shift, the likelihood of all these phenomena converging in a span of just the last couple of decades is so infinitesimal. And yet, here we are, and each of us has to do our part to hold it all together by taking care of the relationships we?ve established with the people who mean the most to us. Born on Earth is a documentation of what I ? and likely a lot of other people ? go through when they ponder what it means to be a human living on Earth in this era.? He speaks like a scholar or a scientist.
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BUMP
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He played SO beautifully on GENYC! It was so great to see him on TV last night! Who needs fireworks when you got a guitarist like that? It really made me relive that show all over and so grateful for him and the music and just everything. I had a hard year but Rusty really helped me elevate my vibe. I hope he and his familia had a wonderful vegetarian Thanksgiving. they are gonna rock the heck outta you Kimsey! You ready?
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jena:
He played SO beautifully on GENYC! It was so great to see him on TV last night! Who needs fireworks when you got a guitarist like that? It really made me relive that show all over and so grateful for him and the music and just everything. I had a hard year but Rusty really helped me elevate my vibe. I hope he and his familia had a wonderful vegetarian Thanksgiving. they are gonna rock the heck outta you Kimsey! You ready?
Yes, I am more or less ready... just will be hard to rock on a chair...
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like they say you pay for the whole seat but you'll only need the edge!
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Kimsey is making pilgrimage to Berlin. Last time I heard from her she was really happy
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jena:
Kimsey is making pilgrimage to Berlin. Last time I heard from her she was really happy
I'm really SO thrilled for her that she got to go !! I'm sure that it was a great show; they always are...!
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disneykristi:
jena:
Kimsey is making pilgrimage to Berlin. Last time I heard from her she was really happy
I'm really SO thrilled for her that she got to go !! I'm sure that it was a great show; they always are...!
Had an amazing night and finally met Rusty!
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Kimsey:
disneykristi:
jena:
Kimsey is making pilgrimage to Berlin. Last time I heard from her she was really happy
I'm really SO thrilled for her that she got to go !! I'm sure that it was a great show; they always are...!
Had an amazing night and finally met Rusty!
I'm so glad for you! -- he's so kind isn't he ?
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disneykristi:
Kimsey:
disneykristi:
jena:
Kimsey is making pilgrimage to Berlin. Last time I heard from her she was really happy
I'm really SO thrilled for her that she got to go !! I'm sure that it was a great show; they always are...!
Had an amazing night and finally met Rusty!
I'm so glad for you! -- he's so kind isn't he ?
Thank you. Yes, he is.
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My interview with Rusty Anderson: Kimsey: Congrats on your new album Born On Earth! Rusty Anderson: Thank you. Kimsey: How was it conceived? Rusty: Well, one thing I noticed about songwriting is that some people sit down and write a series of songs and start recording them and finish a record. then they won't write again until the next need... I don't work that way. I seem to keep searching in the back of my mind all the time....for a good riff, for a good song title or something and then start completing them as I'm inspired. Having said that (notice the Larry David reference) when I write with others the process is sometimes more linear. Kimsey: How did you come up with the song title for Born On Earth? Rusty: I thought I saw it written on Parthenon's notebook. He co-wrote the lyrics with me although he doesn't remember writing it down. Somehow the title was in my head. Maybe it was just a dream! Eventually it turned into the concept of the record which is about what it?s like to be here on this planet, in this era and the infintesimal odds that of all the times since the big bang we are here right now. Things are so intense as the population multiplies, information travels way faster than ever, technology dictates what most people do with their lives. If Shakespeare had been born now maybe he?d be a screenplay writer, a CNN reporter....or who knows? It blows my mind every day....and I think most people can relate. At the same time the album is mostly more personal than that. It's about both the Micro and the Macro and the personal moments I've experienced on this orbiting sphere. Anyway, that?s why I think the song became the central piece of the record and the title of the record. Kimsey.: Would you call it more like a concept album or is it just a mere coincidence that some words like "earth", "moon" and "stars" keep recurring in songs like Born On Earth, Private Moon Flower or Under A White Star? Rusty: I think it?s somewhere between a concept album and a coincidence. A subconcious concept album, if you will....where my head has been lately I guess. Kimsey: One of my favourite songs is Where Would We Go? Is it about a proposal? Rusty: It?s basically about the awareness of being with someone, and about commitment and all that..... and the realisation that at some point it's better to stop running away from relationships and the fear by taking a leap of faith....for those of us that can relate. Kimsey: Do you agree that this song has a bit of a Beatles or Macca vibe to it? Rusty: It's funny 'cos that song started off as a Delta Blues thing. So the first incarnation of that song was very blues orientated, sort of in the thirties style. Over time I worked on it and it became a more diatonically melodic song but there's a certain aspect of the blues I think that's still in there. I'll take it as a compliment if you say it sounds Beatley. Kimsey: I was glad that you put up the first version of Timed Exposure on your record instead of the second one which so many people seemed to prefer. Why did you decide in favour of the first one? Rusty: I forget which was the first and second one. The second one was more agressive, more bigger drums. Kimsey: Exactly. Rusty: It never quite felt rhymically intact so I re-produced it with Curt Schneider who mixed the lion's share of the record. He also played bass on a few songs. I wanted to get away from the problems I was having with the other version as much as I really liked the original approach. Sometimes when you get too close to the music it's hard to be objective so you have to step back and let other's help steer the ship. Kimsey: And what's the story behind the song Timed Exposure? Rusty: I guess it's just about the things that we go through. The whole record is sort of about tiny little daily moments and also the big picture when you look at your life as one big story. Some of the lyrics are from fortune cookies, personal ads, things like that, just the moments that make up a life and how that all fits together.....the strangeness of being a human being. Kimsey: Are you planning to put up the lyrics on your website? Rusty: I am. I gave all the lyrics to the publicist. I'm not sure where they are now, but I need to redo my website anyway and I'm sort of in the process. I've been a little bit slow with some of the promotional aspects. I'll get there one day. Kimsey: What is your favourite song off the abum? Rusty: My favourite song off the record is hmmm....that's a hard one... I like them for different reasons. In a certain way Born On Earth might be a favourite. I stand behind all the songs although i feel a bit too close to them to judge. I do like Where Would We Go?. I think that came out really cool. Julia Roberts. Kimsey: That's my favourite song. Is she aware that you wrote a song about her? Rusty: I don't know, not to my knowledge. Kimsey: What about Baggage Claim? How was this song conceived? Rusty: From experiences I had, drawing a simile between old relationships and being in an airport baggage claim. Baggage as in unresolved emotional conflicts that we all seem to carry around with us. It just seemed fitting that there should be a song called Baggage Claim so I made one. Kimsey: Yes, the lyrics speak for themselves. What's the story behind Funky Birthday Cake? Whose Birthday Cake was it? Rusty: That was actually a song that my friend Myles and I wrote when we were about thirteen years old. We were just goofing around. I don't even remember why we came up with that. Kimsey: And did the events you were singing about really happen? Rusty: I don't know, I'd have to ask Myles....maybe he remembers. I think it was just a whimsical song that came out of the minds of thirteen year olds. Kimsey: Are you going to tour in the UK after the one that was cancelled a while ago? Some fans still have their tickets. Rusty: Oh, wow. I would love to. It was really unfortunate because my manager at the time said the promoter dropped the ball on a couple of shows and when that happens then it can ruin the whole tour because the profit margin is so small and you don't wanna find yourself stranded in the winter, missing shows and losing money and all that. But I sincerely hope that it happens. Lately It's a little tough arranging tours while I'm touring or recording with Paul because I usually don't get quite enough warning to really set up my own tour, and touring takes time to set up...to advertise and all that. Kimsey: It's especially difficult with Paul. Rusty: So wish me luck. Kimsey: I do. I would like to talk a bit about Paul and the gigs. Why is it that sometimes you don't do your fainting bit during Live And Let Die? Rusty: I just fell into it...no pun intended... Kimsey: Does it hurt when you do it? Rusty: No. Just running around being silly and sometimes the moment inspires me to do whatever impulsive thing happens. Kimsey: You have come a long way from being a fan to being a member of one of the biggest performing bands in music history. Does it change the way you interact with fans? Rusty: That's a great question and I'm glad you asked. It's hard when you have fans that wanna talk to you on the website, facebook, myspace or whatever. I get a chance to read pretty much everything that comes in, messages, fan mail, etc. but a lot of times there are repetitive requests and the like and I can only return a few of them. I wish I could get back to everyone but there's never enough time. Kimsey: That's true.That would take a lot of time to reply to all of them. Rusty: Yes, more time than anybody has, but it's important to know that any fans of mine or any fan of anybody's - most of the time, people get the messages and they really appreciate the support. It's a huge compliment to have people connect with your music. You have to remember if it weren't for fans none of us musicians would exist. That's the whole point of music is to create art and art is to be shared. It's for people to inspire ideas, thoughts or feelings. Kimsey: Yes, you need to have some feedback. Rusty: Yes, there's an old question that goes something like: 'would people create art if they were in a vacuum and there was no other people'? I actually think the answer would still be yes, but it would be very lonely. Kimsey: I agree. There are a couple of videos of your ex-perimental band The Maltmen on youtube in which you are wearing a red robe and white chef hat. Can you cook? Rusty: Actually, I don't cook much....not as much as I'd like to. And I don't condone the youtube posting. At the time, some friends of mine wanted to do a video in his backyard with the band. I thought it would be fun and interesting. We just messed around and made some experimental music, had fun as they filmed it. Since then we had a sort of falling out over another video that we were involved in and took some time to really do it properly. Unfortunately, that one was never finished. So the video that's posted wasn't any of our ideas, they just wanted to make a video, so we just had fun, screwed around and they filmed it and that's how it came out and then they put it on youtube and I've never bothered to take it down. Kimsey: I just thought you can cook judging from those videos. Rusty: No, it was just a bunch of burnt meat products which was their curious idea. I don't eat meat for ethical reasons. Kimsey: I've heard about that. Rusty: Actually, for the record, I eat fish. It's a personal decision that everyone makes about what they eat, right? Kimsey: So you keep the Meat Free Mondays? Rusty: Of course! Kimsey: I understand you because I am not a big fan of eating meat, I prefer fish and vegetables...I don't even like the taste or smell of the meat. Rusty: Well, I like the taste of meat, I would eat meat in a heartbeat (no pun intended)...if it wasn't an animal. Although, I must confess to slipping occasionally. Kimsey: It was a nice suprise to read your superlong blog on the iTunes site. Since the release of your new record you've become more regular on the most popular community pages like MySpace, Facebook or Twitter. What's your opinion about them? Rusty: I just thought it'd be fun to try the Twitter experience, so yeah I'm having fun with it. I have mixed feelings about it 'cos it's cool in a way because you can just throw out a little statement and then it gets out to people that are interested. I do my best. Kimsey: Yes, I noticed, on twitter you do your best. Rusty: But I'm not good at constantly keeping up on that stuff. I think it's important for people to have a life. Life just can't be about constant communication maintenance...like constantly trying to answer fan mail or constantly twittering. I think it's important to breathe, to have experiences, write music, and read books, and go to movies, contemplate things and have fun too. Kimsey: What are you reading at the moment? Can you recommend something good? Rusty: I just finished Van Gogh's letters to his brother Theo. Kimsey: I've read some of those too. Rusty: Isn't it amazing? First of all it absolutely devastated me! So very, very sad but also so, so beautiful! It's also really refreshing and interesting....not simply because of the, pretty much, OCD level passion he had for art and nature (and everything he did) but also anybody dealing with selling their art.... and anybody that does business, because you have to do business to stay alive and can't really function without money, would probably appreciate the book. All artists have to deal with both the financial aspect of life and art and it's kind of interesting the way he does it and the compromised position that it puts him in to be taking money from his brother and all the stuff that he goes through emotionally. I think it's a great book for artist of any type and great for anybody. It also reminds me of a dear friend of mine, Dirk (Van Tatenhove) who I grew up with, he was my best buddy back in the day. We played in bands together and he was also Dutch. I mean he is American but he is Dutch by genetics. Kimsey: I know him from myspace and he is very nice. Rusty: Yeah, we have this huge history together. I sort of get the feelin that when I read the book that I'm reading a little bit of Dirk's biography also. Kimsey: I love the music you made together. He put up some Soldier songs on myspace and they are really great. Rusty: He is a talented one. Kimsey: So are you. Rusty: Thank you! I've also been going in and out of some other books. I did read Grapes of Wrath. Kimsey: Me too. Rusty: It's a classic. It's good to read classic books, see classic movies. It's a trodden territory, easy target but there's a reason why some books are classic or movies are classic. Kimsey: I like your taste. Who is your favourite painter? Rusty: This book (Van Gogh's letters) is inspring me, I should say, to get into paintings more, into all the different painters. But part of me really enjoys being ignorant and not knowing much. I have to say, aside from Van Gogh and other impressionists, I really like Toulouse-Lautrec for some reason. There's just something about the shadows, the way the he uses the lights. But possibly one of my favourite painters is John Singer Sargent. He's from the late 19th - early 20th centuries. ( http://www.artcyclopedia.com/artists/sargent_john_singer.html or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Singer_Sargent ) Kimsey: I don't think I know him. Rusty: He's amazing. I went to Washington DC and saw his paintings and there was this one semi-realistic painting, I've forgotten the name of it but, you get close to the painting and look at it and think 'what's that stupid white splotch doing there?' Then you back up from the painting and there's this breathtaking piece of light that just blows your mind. It's so cool the way he did that because you realise that in real life shadows can be very dark and pure sunlight can be blinding, and you might have a little piece of sun that shines down on one little space between vines or trees so it brings out an aspect of hyper-realism. Those are the beautiful things about paintings. Oh, Rembrandt is great of course. Kimsey: I agree. So you seem to prefer classic painters, classic writers and classic movies. Rusty: Yeah, I sort of gravitate towards that. There's a lot of art that I appreciate. As I get older I've been more and more interested in all of that. I did see an Edward Kienholz's exhibition, but he wasn't a painter, he did installation art...that was in MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles). It was amazing. Kimsey: To get back to music a bit: what's the story behind your blonde Gibson that you play so often? It has a nice wear pattern on it. Rusty: It's a 1959 Gibson 335. 50's and early 60's Gibsons just have magic. I like to play Gibsons especially live because of the way they sonically cut. They project well and I love the musical, balanced midrange qualities. I've also been using a PRS, a Yamaha nylon, a goodall acoustic, a voyageair acoustic. In the studio I use many guitars for different textures. I love old teiscos, Dan electros, Gretsches, Teles, etc. The first good guitar I got was a Gibson SG when I was thirteen. I had a few other Gibsons then I eventually went thru a long Strat phase then back to Gibsons. All of a sudden one day I just couldn't stop dreaming about a blonde 335 so I bought one in 2002 or 2003. Kimsey: Are you looking forward to the European Tour? Rusty: Yes, I very much am, it's really exciting. Kimsey: And are you planning on doing CD singings over here as well? Rusty: I doubt it.....I'd love to but things are not quite in place yet. Kimsey: See you soon in Berlin, and thank you! Rusty: Yes, see you there and thank you! 30th November, 2009. http://rustyanderson.com/ http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002HP8BJ8 http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=323921581&s=143441
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My interview with Rusty Anderson: Kimsey: Congrats on your new album Born On Earth! Rusty Anderson: Thank you. Kimsey: How was it conceived? Rusty: Well, one thing I noticed about songwriting is that some people sit down and write a series of songs and start recording them and finish a record. then they won't write again until the next need... I don't work that way. I seem to keep searching in the back of my mind all the time....for a good riff, for a good song title or something and then start completing them as I'm inspired. Having said that (notice the Larry David reference) when I write with others the process is sometimes more linear. Kimsey: How did you come up with the song title for Born On Earth? Rusty: I thought I saw it written on Parthenon's notebook. He co-wrote the lyrics with me although he doesn't remember writing it down. Somehow the title was in my head. Maybe it was just a dream! Eventually it turned into the concept of the record which is about what it?s like to be here on this planet, in this era and the infintesimal odds that of all the times since the big bang we are here right now. Things are so intense as the population multiplies, information travels way faster than ever, technology dictates what most people do with their lives. If Shakespeare had been born now maybe he?d be a screenplay writer, a CNN reporter....or who knows? It blows my mind every day....and I think most people can relate. At the same time the album is mostly more personal than that. It's about both the Micro and the Macro and the personal moments I've experienced on this orbiting sphere. Anyway, that?s why I think the song became the central piece of the record and the title of the record. Kimsey.: Would you call it more like a concept album or is it just a mere coincidence that some words like "earth", "moon" and "stars" keep recurring in songs like Born On Earth, Private Moon Flower or Under A White Star? Rusty: I think it?s somewhere between a concept album and a coincidence. A subconcious concept album, if you will....where my head has been lately I guess. Kimsey: One of my favourite songs is Where Would We Go? Is it about a proposal? Rusty: It?s basically about the awareness of being with someone, and about commitment and all that..... and the realisation that at some point it's better to stop running away from relationships and the fear by taking a leap of faith....for those of us that can relate. Kimsey: Do you agree that this song has a bit of a Beatles or Macca vibe to it? Rusty: It's funny 'cos that song started off as a Delta Blues thing. So the first incarnation of that song was very blues orientated, sort of in the thirties style. Over time I worked on it and it became a more diatonically melodic song but there's a certain aspect of the blues I think that's still in there. I'll take it as a compliment if you say it sounds Beatley. Kimsey: I was glad that you put up the first version of Timed Exposure on your record instead of the second one which so many people seemed to prefer. Why did you decide in favour of the first one? Rusty: I forget which was the first and second one. The second one was more agressive, more bigger drums. Kimsey: Exactly. Rusty: It never quite felt rhymically intact so I re-produced it with Curt Schneider who mixed the lion's share of the record. He also played bass on a few songs. I wanted to get away from the problems I was having with the other version as much as I really liked the original approach. Sometimes when you get too close to the music it's hard to be objective so you have to step back and let other's help steer the ship. Kimsey: And what's the story behind the song Timed Exposure? Rusty: I guess it's just about the things that we go through. The whole record is sort of about tiny little daily moments and also the big picture when you look at your life as one big story. Some of the lyrics are from fortune cookies, personal ads, things like that, just the moments that make up a life and how that all fits together.....the strangeness of being a human being. Kimsey: Are you planning to put up the lyrics on your website? Rusty: I am. I gave all the lyrics to the publicist. I'm not sure where they are now, but I need to redo my website anyway and I'm sort of in the process. I've been a little bit slow with some of the promotional aspects. I'll get there one day. Kimsey: What is your favourite song off the abum? Rusty: My favourite song off the record is hmmm....that's a hard one... I like them for different reasons. In a certain way Born On Earth might be a favourite. I stand behind all the songs although I feel a bit too close to them to judge. I do like Where Would We Go?. I think that came out really cool. Julia Roberts. Kimsey: That's my favourite song. Is she aware that you wrote a song about her? Rusty: I don't know, not to my knowledge. Kimsey: What about Baggage Claim? How was this song conceived? Rusty: From experiences I had, drawing a simile between old relationships and being in an airport baggage claim. Baggage as in unresolved emotional conflicts that we all seem to carry around with us. It just seemed fitting that there should be a song called Baggage Claim so I made one. Kimsey: Yes, the lyrics speak for themselves. What's the story behind Funky Birthday Cake? Whose Birthday Cake was it? Rusty: That was actually a song that my friend Myles and I wrote when we were about thirteen years old. We were just goofing around. I don't even remember why we came up with that. Kimsey: And did the events you were singing about really happen? Rusty: I don't know, I'd have to ask Myles....maybe he remembers. I think it was just a whimsical song that came out of the minds of thirteen year olds. Kimsey: Are you going to tour in the UK after the one that was cancelled a while ago? Some fans still have their tickets. Rusty: Oh, wow. I would love to. It was really unfortunate because my manager at the time said the promoter dropped the ball on a couple of shows and when that happens then it can ruin the whole tour because the profit margin is so small and you don't wanna find yourself stranded in the winter, missing shows and losing money and all that. But I sincerely hope that it happens. Lately It's a little tough arranging tours while I'm touring or recording with Paul because I usually don't get quite enough warning to really set up my own tour, and touring takes time to set up...to advertise and all that. Kimsey: It's especially difficult with Paul. Rusty: So wish me luck. Kimsey: I do. I would like to talk a bit about Paul and the gigs. Why is it that sometimes you don't do your fainting bit during Live And Let Die? Rusty: I just fell into it...no pun intended... Kimsey: Does it hurt when you do it? Rusty: No. Just running around being silly and sometimes the moment inspires me to do whatever impulsive thing happens. Kimsey: You have come a long way from being a fan to being a member of one of the biggest performing bands in music history. Does it change the way you interact with fans? Rusty: That's a great question and I'm glad you asked. It's hard when you have fans that wanna talk to you on the website, facebook, myspace or whatever. I get a chance to read pretty much everything that comes in, messages, fan mail, etc. but a lot of times there are repetitive requests and the like and I can only return a few of them. I wish I could get back to everyone but there's never enough time. Kimsey: That's true.That would take a lot of time to reply to all of them. Rusty: Yes, more time than anybody has, but it's important to know that any fans of mine or any fan of anybody's - most of the time, people get the messages and they really appreciate the support. It's a huge compliment to have people connect with your music. You have to remember if it weren't for fans none of us musicians would exist. That's the whole point of music is to create art and art is to be shared. It's for people to inspire ideas, thoughts or feelings. Kimsey: Yes, you need to have some feedback. Rusty: Yes, there's an old question that goes something like: 'would people create art if they were in a vacuum and there was no other people'? I actually think the answer would still be yes, but it would be very lonely. Kimsey: I agree. There are a couple of videos of your ex-perimental band The Maltmen on youtube in which you are wearing a red robe and white chef hat. Can you cook? Rusty: Actually, I don't cook much....not as much as I'd like to. And I don't condone the youtube posting. At the time, some friends of mine wanted to do a video in his backyard with the band. I thought it would be fun and interesting. We just messed around and made some experimental music, had fun as they filmed it. Since then we had a sort of falling out over another video that we were involved in and took some time to really do it properly. Unfortunately, that one was never finished. So the video that's posted wasn't any of our ideas, they just wanted to make a video, so we just had fun, screwed around and they filmed it and that's how it came out and then they put it on youtube and I've never bothered to take it down. Kimsey: I just thought you can cook judging from those videos. Rusty: No, it was just a bunch of burnt meat products which was their curious idea. I don't eat meat for ethical reasons. Kimsey: I've heard about that. Rusty: Actually, for the record, I eat fish. It's a personal decision that everyone makes about what they eat, right? Kimsey: So you keep the Meat Free Mondays? Rusty: Of course! Kimsey: I understand you because I am not a big fan of eating meat, I prefer fish and vegetables...I don't even like the taste or smell of the meat. Rusty: Well, I like the taste of meat, I would eat meat in a heartbeat (no pun intended)...if it wasn't an animal. Although, I must confess to slipping occasionally. Kimsey: It was a nice suprise to read your superlong blog on the iTunes site. Since the release of your new record you've become more regular on the most popular community pages like MySpace, Facebook or Twitter. What's your opinion about them? Rusty: I just thought it'd be fun to try the Twitter experience, so yeah I'm having fun with it. I have mixed feelings about it 'cos it's cool in a way because you can just throw out a little statement and then it gets out to people that are interested. I do my best. Kimsey: Yes, I noticed, on twitter you do your best. Rusty: But I'm not good at constantly keeping up on that stuff. I think it's important for people to have a life. Life just can't be about constant communication maintenance...like constantly trying to answer fan mail or constantly twittering. I think it's important to breathe, to have experiences, write music, and read books, and go to movies, contemplate things and have fun too. Kimsey: What are you reading at the moment? Can you recommend something good? Rusty: I just finished Van Gogh's letters to his brother Theo. Kimsey: I've read some of those too. Rusty: Isn't it amazing? First of all it absolutely devastated me! So very, very sad but also so, so beautiful! It's also really refreshing and interesting....not simply because of the, pretty much, OCD level passion he had for art and nature (and everything he did) but also anybody dealing with selling their art.... and anybody that does business, because you have to do business to stay alive and can't really function without money, would probably appreciate the book. All artists have to deal with both the financial aspect of life and art and it's kind of interesting the way he does it and the compromised position that it puts him in to be taking money from his brother and all the stuff that he goes through emotionally. I think it's a great book for artist of any type and great for anybody. It also reminds me of a dear friend of mine, Dirk (Van Tatenhove) who I grew up with, he was my best buddy back in the day. We played in bands together and he was also Dutch. I mean he is American but he is Dutch by genetics. Kimsey: I know him from myspace and he is very nice. Rusty: Yeah, we have this huge history together. I sort of get the feelin that when I read the book that I'm reading a little bit of Dirk's biography also. Kimsey: I love the music you made together. He put up some Soldier songs on myspace and they are really great. Rusty: He is a talented one. Kimsey: So are you. Rusty: Thank you! I've also been going in and out of some other books. I did read Grapes of Wrath. Kimsey: Me too. Rusty: It's a classic. It's good to read classic books, see classic movies. It's a trodden territory, easy target but there's a reason why some books are classic or movies are classic. Kimsey: I like your taste. Who is your favourite painter? Rusty: This book (Van Gogh's letters) is inspring me, I should say, to get into paintings more, into all the different painters. But part of me really enjoys being ignorant and not knowing much. I have to say, aside from Van Gogh and other impressionists, I really like Toulouse-Lautrec for some reason. There's just something about the shadows, the way the he uses the lights. But possibly one of my favourite painters is John Singer Sargent. He's from the late 19th - early 20th centuries. (http://www.artcyclopedia.com/artists/sargent_john_singer.html or http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Singer_Sargent ) Kimsey: I don't think I know him. Rusty: He's amazing. I went to Washington DC and saw his paintings and there was this one semi-realistic painting, I've forgotten the name of it but, you get close to the painting and look at it and think 'what's that stupid white splotch doing there?' Then you back up from the painting and there's this breathtaking piece of light that just blows your mind. It's so cool the way he did that because you realise that in real life shadows can be very dark and pure sunlight can be blinding, and you might have a little piece of sun that shines down on one little space between vines or trees so it brings out an aspect of hyper-realism. Those are the beautiful things about paintings. Oh, Rembrandt is great of course. Kimsey: I agree. So you seem to prefer classic painters, classic writers and classic movies. Rusty: Yeah, I sort of gravitate towards that. There's a lot of art that I appreciate. As I get older I've been more and more interested in all of that. I did see an Edward Kienholz's exhibition, but he wasn't a painter, he did installation art...that was in MOCA (Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles). It was amazing. Kimsey: To get back to music a bit: what's the story behind your blonde Gibson that you play so often? It has a nice wear pattern on it. Rusty: It's a 1959 Gibson 335. 50's and early 60's Gibsons just have magic. I like to play Gibsons especially live because of the way they sonically cut. They project well and I love the musical, balanced midrange qualities. I've also been using a PRS, a Yamaha nylon, a goodall acoustic, a voyageair acoustic. In the studio I use many guitars for different textures. I love old teiscos, Dan electros, Gretsches, Teles, etc. The first good guitar I got was a Gibson SG when I was thirteen. I had a few other Gibsons then I eventually went thru a long Strat phase then back to Gibsons. All of a sudden one day I just couldn't stop dreaming about a blonde 335 so I bought one in 2002 or 2003. Kimsey: Are you looking forward to the European Tour? Rusty: Yes, I very much am, it's really exciting. Kimsey: And are you planning on doing CD singings over here as well? Rusty: I doubt it.....I'd love to but things are not quite in place yet. Kimsey: See you soon in Berlin, and thank you! Rusty: Yes, see you there and thank you! 30th November, 2009. http://rustyanderson.com/ http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002HP8BJ8 http://itunes.apple.com/WebObjects/MZStore.woa/wa/viewAlbum?id=323921581&s=143441
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Kimsey this is outstanding~! I had no idea you had journalistic talents! SO funny he is reading Dear Theo..that is one of my fave books! Rusty's just like Van Gogh too..kinda removed but dramatic, falling down on "Live and Let Die" haha, and his music is very impressionistic. Makes sense that he likes the way impressionists paint the world. I liked the part about his gear esp. He obviously loves that Blond Gibson, it looks like it's worn thru Idk who that publicist is he gave the BOE lyrics to but he needs to fire her! whomever she is, she is behind on that promo work!! : Awesome, awesome. I learned so much!Thanks the both of you!
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jena:
I liked the part about his gear esp. He obviously loves that Blond Gibson, it looks like it's worn thru Idk who that publicist is he gave the BOE lyrics to but he needs to fire her! whomever she is, she is behind on that promo work!! : Awesome, awesome. I learned so much! Thanks the both of you!
Thanks Jena! That was your question.
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Great interview!
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Fantastic interview!! I love it! Great questions too!
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Popper816:
Fantastic interview!! I love it! Great questions too!
Thanks Lauren.
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A+
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A++ Congrats Kim! You're lovely and a talented interviewer.
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WixRocks!:
Great interview!
Thanks.