Who are you?
John Convertino
What are you up to?
Calexico and Giant Sand both have current releases, so lots of touring ahead. Doug McCombs (Brokeback) is coming in to town to record with Joey and I, one song, a Roy Orbison song, "Running Scared." We will proceed to tour with Brokeback as Giant Sand, West Coast.
Hometown and current HQ:
My hometown is Stillwater OK. That's where my mom and grandma live. Tucson AZ is where I live, with my wife Tasha, and daughter Mia.
Current fixations:
No time to really watch anything. Been listening to Eric Satie and reading Lawrence Clark Powell.
Mind altering work of art:
A Love Supreme by John Coltrane.
Most memorable/inspirational gig? And why?
When I was about 14 I went to a recital by this cello professor at OSU in Stillwater, OK. His name is Evan Tonsing, he performed a piece that he wrote called "Crystallization" on toy piano. Well I was really stoned, and the recital hall was this old middle school auditorium... and it was real quiet, and there was snow on the ground outside...
What should everyone shut up about?
Digital recording.
Your greatest strength/weakness:
That's so damn personal. I can't tell from myself.
Your vital daily ritual:
If I can get up and go running, everything is better. It's like meditation and exercise at the same time. If not, then it's coffee.
Guilty pleasure:
I hate guilt. Growing up Christian, being a kid, and feeling guilty all the time, the horrors.
If I wasn't playing music I would be
Farming.... Making wine and drinking it.
Your most memorable day job:
Parks and recreation, city of Los Angeles. We spent the days dodging the boss, BBQ-ing in Elysian Park, they called me the jalepeno kid, I would eat them raw... lots of stories.
Best/worst advice received:
The best: allow things to happen.
The worst: I forgot what that was.
I would drop everything to play a benefit for
Orphans.
What makes you want to take it off and get it on?
Tasha.
What personal trait would make you kick someone out of your band and/or bed? And have you?
Jealousy, or lack of faith or trust. Yes.
When I think of Canada I think:
Cold place, warm people.
Music and sex: Is there a difference? Why?
There is no difference, in that you need to have nothing covering you up do it right.
Strangest brush with celebrity:
I delivered some balloons once to Herb Alpert at his office in the A&M studios... I opened the door and it was all dark in there, really big room full of piles of stuff, and at the end was the big desk, and the silhouette of the man... no words spoken. I felt like I had to get the hell out.
What does your mom wish you were doing instead?
She seems pretty happy with what I'm doing, she got me my first drum set.
John Convertino
What are you up to?
Calexico and Giant Sand both have current releases, so lots of touring ahead. Doug McCombs (Brokeback) is coming in to town to record with Joey and I, one song, a Roy Orbison song, "Running Scared." We will proceed to tour with Brokeback as Giant Sand, West Coast.
Hometown and current HQ:
My hometown is Stillwater OK. That's where my mom and grandma live. Tucson AZ is where I live, with my wife Tasha, and daughter Mia.
Current fixations:
No time to really watch anything. Been listening to Eric Satie and reading Lawrence Clark Powell.
Mind altering work of art:
A Love Supreme by John Coltrane.
Most memorable/inspirational gig? And why?
When I was about 14 I went to a recital by this cello professor at OSU in Stillwater, OK. His name is Evan Tonsing, he performed a piece that he wrote called "Crystallization" on toy piano. Well I was really stoned, and the recital hall was this old middle school auditorium... and it was real quiet, and there was snow on the ground outside...
What should everyone shut up about?
Digital recording.
Your greatest strength/weakness:
That's so damn personal. I can't tell from myself.
Your vital daily ritual:
If I can get up and go running, everything is better. It's like meditation and exercise at the same time. If not, then it's coffee.
Guilty pleasure:
I hate guilt. Growing up Christian, being a kid, and feeling guilty all the time, the horrors.
If I wasn't playing music I would be
Farming.... Making wine and drinking it.
Your most memorable day job:
Parks and recreation, city of Los Angeles. We spent the days dodging the boss, BBQ-ing in Elysian Park, they called me the jalepeno kid, I would eat them raw... lots of stories.
Best/worst advice received:
The best: allow things to happen.
The worst: I forgot what that was.
I would drop everything to play a benefit for
Orphans.
What makes you want to take it off and get it on?
Tasha.
What personal trait would make you kick someone out of your band and/or bed? And have you?
Jealousy, or lack of faith or trust. Yes.
When I think of Canada I think:
Cold place, warm people.
Music and sex: Is there a difference? Why?
There is no difference, in that you need to have nothing covering you up do it right.
Strangest brush with celebrity:
I delivered some balloons once to Herb Alpert at his office in the A&M studios... I opened the door and it was all dark in there, really big room full of piles of stuff, and at the end was the big desk, and the silhouette of the man... no words spoken. I felt like I had to get the hell out.
What does your mom wish you were doing instead?
She seems pretty happy with what I'm doing, she got me my first drum set.