In an effort to formalize our Quarantine Blues series a bit, we’ve devised a 5-question quiz to pose to the musicians & other media figures sharing in the Covid-19 stay-at-home orders sweepstakes. There will be new entries every coupla days.
Joe Oestreich: bass player & co-lead singer of Watershed, author (Hitless Wonder, among others, co-author of Waiting To Derail: Ryan Adams & Whiskeytown), bon vivant, raconteur and the only guy I ever rode around in a van with for years playing rock & roll shows who is now a college professor and helping to shape young American minds (or at least teach them to construct a decent sentence). Joe checks in from his home in South Carolina. - Ricki C.
Be sure and check out Joe’s website here.
1) How are you getting your live music fix? Any live streams or Youtube clips that stand out?
I’m not sadly. During this time when we've all gone to the mattresses, I'm super busy: teaching my college classes, which have moved online, of course, and homeschooling my kids. I realize that I'm fortunate to be busy. I'm fortunate that I'm healthy, my family is healthy, and I have a job. The time is passing just fine without me having to bump it along.
2) What else have you been watching, listening to and reading to pass the time?
I read the New York Times in the morning, and every other night I watch one episode of Ozark. Other than that, I'm in a total media blackout--especially when it comes to TV news. It's too heavy, man. I haven't seen one second of a Trump coronavirus press conference, so don't blame me for whatever ratings he's getting. Oh, and I read two really good nonfiction books with my graduate students: Priestdaddy, a memoir by Patricia Lockwood, which is almost as funny as Catch-22. And You Play the Girl, an essay collection by Carina Chocano. Really smart, feminist takes on pop culture. Plus I've been playing The Clash for my kids, trying to power-wash that shitty new "Roxanne" song out of their ears.
3) How are you managing (or not) to stay creative / healthy?
Watershed has new songs coming out soon, so that's exciting. I'm also about 200 pages deep into my next book project, which is a novel called "The Transplants." I wake up every morning at 5:30 to write for 1 1/2 hours before my kids get up. This feels like Van Halen-level hedonism, because when they're in school, I have to wake up at 4:30. I try to exercise everyday, after my kids finish their school stuff, alternating between running and riding my bike. Gotta protect the knees.
4) You have to pick just 3 records to listen to till this is over. What are they?
Since I only get three, I better pick albums that have lots of songs and all of them are great. Unfortunately, this means no Van Halen. Here goes: "So Jealous" by Tegan and Sara, "London Calling" by The Clash, and "R.F.T.C." by Rocket from the Crypt.
5) Food Time! Have you been cooking in or carrying out? Favorite recipes or restaurants you're supporting? What's in the liquor cabinet? Share your quarantine eating and drinking habits and changes!
Foodwise, lots of cooking, which means lots of dishes. Luckily I don't mind doing dishes (my first real job was as a dishwasher at the Bill Knapp’s in Worthington). My wife Kate does nearly all of the cooking, and she's great. Healthy. Mostly vegetarian. Lots of Asian. Very light on fish sticks and grilled cheese, which is what we would have if it was up to me. Because I get up so early, I'm not drinking much at all. So I'll take this space to give a shout out to PBR non-alcoholic. It's not exactly good, but it's good enough. In fact, I'm off to have one right now. Cheers! To your health!