The Pencilstorm Interview: Aaron Lee Tasjan - by Erica Blinn

Ohio's own Aaron Lee Tasjan, on tour with Social Distortion, will be in Columbus, OH: Wednesday, June 27 at Express Live!

When you experience a live performance by ALT and his incredible band, you will witness four dudes who have figured out how to build a rocket ship out of songs to transport themselves to a far better place, and they'll take you with them if you only believe. - Erica Blinn

EB - Your new album Karma for Cheap comes out this Fall; in a previous interview, you said that if this record doesn't find the commercial success you're hoping for that you'll probably quit and open a chain of Chinese buffets. Is that still your plan or has it changed?

ALT - That plan changes daily. I'm always planning for a forced retirement. My manager will likely release a statement to the press about all my "years of service" and how everyone is "sad to see me go" meanwhile I'll be reluctantly agreeing to go to hair cutting school after a long talk with my Dad.

EB - What is an experience you've been hoping for on the road but hasn't happened yet?

ALT - A gig where I don't worry about anything.

EB - What planet would you most like to visit and what is the main attraction that is drawing you there?

ALT - I know a girl who was in the running to go to Mars so I guess I'd visit there. At least there's a chance I might know somebody.

EB - Of the planets that you have visited, which has been your favorite?

ALT - There's this planet on my front porch...it has an inflatable pool and a bubble machine and a person who has stolen my heart. It's my favorite planet in the universe.

EB - Which pair of animals should've been left off "The Ark"?

ALT - Mean-spirited snakes.

EB - In your opinion, how many strings does the ideal guitar have?

ALT -  Keith is king.

EB - Who would you say has had the least influence on you?

ALT - Ryan Adams's recent Instagram posts.

EB - When would you say would be the best time to exact revenge on someone and how would you do it?

ALT - When they're least expecting it. I would use a palm pilot. No one even knows the technology any more.

EB - What is your favorite thing to get from the ice cream truck?

ALT - Flintstones tangerine push pop.

EB - Shaken or stirred?

ALT - Shake, rattle and roll.

EB - Sunrise or sunset?

ALT - Sunrise in the evening, sunset at dawn.

EB - Would you say that you tend to: a) overreact b) under react c) react appropriately d) none of the above

ALT - I act like I don't know what I'm doing.

EB - You've competed in a lot of pageants over the years; what is one of your favorite memories from your time in the pageant industry?

ALT - I played the Mayor of the munchkins in the Delaware Children's Community Theater production of The Wizard of Oz. I got to wear a sash for the role. That was as close as I ever came to winning a pageant.

EB - If you could only wear one thing every day for the rest of your life what would it be?

ALT - Sparkle shoes and/or David Bowie's outfit in the Diamond Dogs photo by Terry O'Neill.

EB - What is your favorite Quentin Tarantino film?

ALT - Jackie Brown. I like the happy ending.

EB - Which of your prize winning show horses is your favorite?

ALT - Oprah Whinniefrey, Oats-Hay Simpson or Pony Bennett.

EB - What's the most money you've ever spent on Sparklers?

ALT - I've bought far more fireworks than I've ever set off.

EB - If you could be any dinosaur, which would you be?

ALT - Dinosaur Jr.

EB - If you were just starting on this record today, what would you do differently?

ALT - Record a cover of Party In The USA by Miley Cyrus. 

EB - Was there any fun gear that you used on this record? What were some of the effects pedals you used/acquired specifically for this record?

ALT - We used a lot of tape varispeed to make the guitars sound like they're melting. I used a fair amount of Sheryl Crow's guitars on this album, too. Please don't tell her. 

EB - If your band was more like the T.V. show Survivor how would touring be different (if at all)? Who would be voted out of the van first?

ALT - Me. I'm far and away the most annoying one of our whole band. Everyone knows it. No one is bigger or better at being annoying than me.

EB - No further questions, Your Honor.

Aaron Lee Tasjan's new record Karma For Cheap comes out this Fall on New West Records.  

Mike Parks Benefit Sunday Afternoon at ValleyDale w/Joey Molland (of Badfinger), Willie Phoenix, Bowlers, Blinns & more

Columbus guitar-slinger Mike Parks has been diagnosed with stage-4 stomach cancer.  To raise some money and raise his spirits, the folks at Team Productions have put together a truly once in a lifetime bill Sunday September 10th as part of their Valley Dale Ballroom Breakout series. (Click here for a Ricki C. story about the amazing history of Valley Dale)  Doors are at 1 pm and music goes until 7 pm. Since I play in the League Bowlers (with Mike Parks) and Ricki C. is the stage manager for this show, I got the scoop on the line-up and set times. Dig this...

First off - click here for Valley Dale info, tickets, location and so on and so forth.....

Doors 1 pm

Rezes/Hall Band 2 - 2:30

Willie Phoenix 2:45 - 3:15

Black Leather Touch 3:30 - 4:00 

Erica Blinn 4:15 - 4:45

League Bowlers 5 - 5:30

Joey Molland (Badfinger) w/ The Dan Orr Project 5:45 - 6:30

Yes, that is the real Joey Molland from the real band Badfinger. Click here to read a story by Scott Carr explaining why this matters and you should care.

Please pass on this info and I hope to see you there. - Colin G.

Watch Erica Blinn Dance on a Boat This Labor Day Weekend

The Pencilstorm offices will be closed this Labor Day weekend for our annual staff retreat to Indian Lake. In the meantime, enjoy the new video from Erica Blinn. It's the perfect song for the last weekend of the summer.  In fact, it's a lot like watching the Pencilstorm staff at Indian Lake except: A) Everybody on this boat is young and attractive, and B) The boat isn't anchored in front of the Tilton Hilton full of empty beer cans.  Visit Ericablinn.com for more info. And please stop with the messages saying Big $ owes you money from the Mayweather / McGregor fight. Get in line, he owes everybody money. - Colin G.

(Erica Blinn/Will Newsome) © 2015 Blinn Rae Music (ASCAP)/This Day Forever Music (ASCAP)/Curry House Music (ASCAP) Erica Blinn: lead vox, acoustic "Nashville" guitar PJ Schreiner: drums, percussion Michael Zimmerman: bass Steven Cooper: slide guitar Wade Cofer: electric "phase 90" guitar Michael Talley: keys Bree Frick, Colin Gawel, Mark Nye, &

Ballroom Breakout! Magic Dick (of the J. Geils Band), Barrence Whitfield, Terry Davidson & the Gears and Erica Blinn @ Valley Dale Ballroom

First the sad news: Founder/guitarist J. Geils of the J. Geils Band - and bandmate of this week’s Ballroom Breakout! headliner Magic Dick for many, many years - passed away last week at the age of 71.  Pencilstorm wishes to pass along our condolences to Geils’ friends, family & fans.  We also wanna say, "Nice going, Rock & Roll Hall of Fame for passing over the J. Geils Band FOR THE FOURTH TIME while inducting the likes of Journey.  You couldn't have given a genuine rocker like J. Geils some little recognition while he was still alive?”

Now onto the rockin' news: I saw the J. Geils Band live four or five times in their 1971-1976 heyday – the last time at St. John’s Arena – and those were some TRULY fearsome live shows, boys & girls.  Nobody (but me) ever seems to mention this, but I firmly believe that Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band were MIGHTILY influenced by the original Geils Band.  Yeah, Bruce certainly channeled Bob Dylan and Van Morrison to a large extent lyrically, but that arms-around-shoulders-brothers-against-the-world camaraderie that the E Street Band evoked (and still, to a large extent evokes today) I believe largely derived from Peter Wolf, Seth Justman & da guys.  And anybody who thinks Bruce and “Big Man” Clarence Clemons’ onstage interplay didn’t derive somewhat from that of lead singer Wolf and “Magic Dick” Salwitz never witnessed The J. Geils Band in their prime.

Now TEAM Productions welcomes Magic Dick to the fine, fine, superfine environs of the Valley Dale Ballroom this coming Friday, April 21st.  But wait a minute, JUST Magic Dick?  NO, my rocker sons & daughters, this week’s Ballroom Breakout! ALSO features screamer extraordinaire and all-around-debonair-man-about-town Boston rocker Barrence Whitfield (sadly without his Savages on this occasion), both of whom will be backed by Columbus rockers Terry Davidson & the Gears, purveyors of many a night of soul-smashing rock & roll in their OWN right.

And the icing on the cake of the whole rockin’ Friday night?  None other than C-town’s own rockin’ little sister, Erica Blinn with her take-no-prisoners band OPENING the whole shebang.  Jesus, Erica is the OPENING ACT?  There’s your price of admission right THERE, cats & kittens, then you still you STILL get Terry, Barrence and Magic Dick.  That’s a rock show, ladies & gentlemen, that’s a rock show.     

And that’s also a rock show that DEFINES the ongoing continuum of GENUINE barroom rock & roll music.  Ask Erica about her early influences and this is what you’ll hear: “I still remember when I was about fourteen years old and my dad (editor’s note: “Dad” in this case is Jerry Blinn, bass player of Black Leather Touch, a band of West Side rockers who never garnered anywhere NEAR the acclaim they should have in the 1970's) put on J. Geils’ Live Full House and said, ‘Listen to that harmonica, don't you think it would be cool to do that?’ To which I replied, "Yeah, that's awesome!”

He then took me to see Delyn Christian play and encouraged me to inquire about harmonica lessons. Delyn said "Do you wanna play like Bob Dylan or Magic Dick?" And I said, "Magic Dick!" 

"Good answer," Delyn said. 
 
Tickets for the April 21st show are $17.50 in advance and $20.00 at the door. Doors open at 7PM. For tickets, information about the show, and to read more about the musical talent, visit www.theballroombreakout.com.   

Ricki C. / April, 2017
    

The Columbus Zoo, Huntington Park and Global Village Host Maggie Brennan

If there are three things  everybody in Central Ohio can agree on, it's that the Columbus Zoo, Huntington Park and WCBE Global Village Host Maggie Brennan always make the day a little brighter. And none of them break the bank doing it. Clippers tickets are just $6 for adults and $3 for kids.. A family Zoo membership for the entire year is something like $120 and listening to commercial free WCBE doesn't cost a penny unless you choose to chip in.

This Wednesday at the Rumba Cafe is your chance to chip in and see some of the finest musicians Columbus has to offer while doing it. 

WCBE Benefit at the Rumba Cafe Wednesday October 14th with music starting at 7pm and food provided by CITY BBQ. Tickets just $9.50 and all proceeds to benefit WCBE 90.5

Featuring: Lydia Loveless, Todd May, Erica Blinn, Angela Perley and the great Jessie Henry.

And don't forget, Lydia will be performing with her full band the following night at Skully's Music Diner. The  show is being filmed for inclusion in the upcoming film, "Who is Lydia Loveless?". Tiks for that just $5.