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What band did you listen to most during the eighties? Do you still like them?
Cory Gray: I was only 12 and the '80s were already over. I never even had a chance to
wear shoulder pads. I listened to radio pop on the way to school in my mom's
car, and all the jazz and classical records I could scrounge up. My favorite
album was Bitches brew. As for music that happened during the '80s? The Cure. I still need my dosage of The Cure on a regular basis.
What is your worst memory of elementary school? Of high school?
Cory Gray: For some reason, I don't remember that much of elementary school. In junior
high I used to get followed home by the neighborhood gangs. Luckily, they
never got me. That sucked a whole lot. I avoided high school as much as
possible. Aint nothin' but a "G" thang.
You're about to -- ahem -- get lucky. What album is playing in the background? Why'd you choose it?
Cory Gray: I listen to all kinds of music while I play the lottery. If you mean doing it, it's all about The Rum Diary. Those kids can get you into a groove. That or The Locust.
What was the first thing you ever shoplifted? Why did you take it?
Cory Gray: A bottle of chocolate truffle liqueur. I wanted to give it to my mom for a
present, but realized how much trouble I'd be in later on. So I drank it. It
wasn't very good, but my mom found the empty bottle and I got in trouble
anyway.
If you could beat up anyone in the world and get away without the usual annoying real-world consequences -- jail time, lawsuits, bad press, etc. -- who would it be, and why?
Cory Gray: I don't want to beat anybody up. And I usually don't get in trouble for
kicking my own ass.
Did you go to your high school prom? If so, who did you go with?
Cory Gray: Nope. I despised high school. And my girlfriend at the time had already
graduated.
What movie would you recommend to absolutely anyone? Why?
Cory Gray: Dreams With Fishes or Harold and Maude, because there is nothing more
fascinating than confrontations with mortality. And movies like those never
leave you alone. Not to mention their amazing soundtracks.
For reasons we won't bother going into right now, you're going to be locked in the back of a truck for a sixteen hour drive between gigs. If you could have any musician, past or present, back there to keep you company, who would it be?
Cory Gray: We locked Mike (our bass player) up in the back of a U-Haul (grandma's
attic) from Eureka to Portland when our van broke down. In total darkness
with the fumes for that long, I'm sure he heard plenty of voices, and made
lots of new "friends". We should ask him.
What is your strongest, most unshakeable belief?
Cory Gray: The end is near, and they are always watching.
What's the worst band you've ever heard? Why do they suck?
Cory Gray: Blink 182 because Matt tortures me with them when I'm bad.
If you were a porn star, what would your "porn name" be?
Cory Gray: Adam Hervey.
You're on your way to a show, and all of a sudden you find yourself in the middle of a huge four-way battle between pirates, ninjas, robots and intelligent apes from the future. Your only hope of getting to your gig is to pick a side. Who do you join, and why?
Cory Gray: I would side with the pirates because they would do the most unspeakable
things to you if they won the battle and you were taken prisoner. I don't
want to be pillaged or raped. (I don't think...(?)). Plus the pirates would
have the best rum, and I've always wanted to kiss someone with scurvy.
Ninjas are too uptight and disciplined, and robots are neat looking, but
unless you're the iron giant or Johnny 5, I don't want to be on your side.
Intelligent Apes would be my second choice.
If you could sponsor any beverage -- appear in their ads, receive a lifetime supply and never be seen drinking a competing product -- what beverage would it be?
Cory Gray: O'Doul's. No...lime flavored Calistoga mineral water. Yep, that's the one.
What's the best venue you've ever played? What's the worst? Why?
Cory Gray: I whored myself out to the San Francisco Yacht club one time and played
trumpet in a crappy band on their "private island" in the delta. It is some
sort of breeding ground for the children of the elite. I have yet to meet
any one group of kids as spoiled, rude and pretentious. The musicians were
considered "the help". I had a room on a yacht to stay on, but instead I
bribed someone with a boat to get me off the island, where I met up with a
gathering of "river rats" that live on stationary house-boats that line the
edges of the delta. One was built up so there was a fully decorated bar
facing the water. We drank cheap beer and yelled shit at the rich passers
by. Those people were some of the nicest, most generous and entertaining
people I have ever met.
What's wrong with Rolling Stone these days?
Cory Gray: Not enough tobacco and alcohol ads.
Why are frogs amusing?
Cory Gray: They hop hop hop along. And sometimes they do fly. Also, they cause dogs to foam at the mouth when eaten.
You've traveled back in time and met yourself, age sixteen. What do you think?
Cory Gray: He'll never make it to 20.
Which would be worse: three hours on a bus full of four year-olds, or three hours on a bus full of eighty year-olds? Why?
Cory Gray: They both sound pretty amusing to me.
The US government is considering far more aggressive regulation of leather pants. Under the new rules, who should or shouldn't be allowed to wear them?
Cory Gray: All politicians and highest ranking military personnel should be required by
government mandate to display uniforms consisting of leather pants and
muscle shirts during all times of duty. Only the president and his advisors
will be issued the prestigious "chaps".
What, in your opinion, is the best porn?
Cory Gray: I spent a couple hours searching for this alleged "barnyard" porn. Every web
site wanted money. I guess I don't need to see donkey sex that bad, but I
can't say I'm not curious. Donkey-curious? Eeww.
Will the next Star Wars movie suck? Why or why not?
Cory Gray: This is something that has been bothering me a little: why is everyone
talking about how "bad" the recent Star Wars episodes have been? Don't they
realize that all of the Star Wars episodes have had horrible acting and even
worse dialogue? That is part of their charm, and in my opinion the new
episodes are only keeping up the tradition of old. I wouldn't know what to
think of a Star Wars without those traits. I will continue to see every one
that comes out, so there.
How many roads must a man walk down before they call him a man?
Cory Gray: One, the road of regret.
Everyone's replacing their least-favorite body parts with cybernetic ones. Which part(s) of your body would you replace?
Cory Gray: Go-Go Gadget legs or Go-Go Gadget arms. Or both if possible.
What topics or statements would inspire you to call in to a talk radio program?
Cory Gray: A raffle for tickets to see Hall and Oates at the fairgrounds.
What album(s) should everyone be given on their eighteenth birthday?
Cory Gray: Palace's Viva Last Blues and Red House Painters' Songs for a Blue Guitar; they are a necessity to any worthy or unworthy life.
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From the Deep Elm site:
Contents Of Distraction works sound and structure into an awe-inspiring, dark collection of post-hardcore brilliance that crashes head-on, explodes upwards and just keeps going and going, twisting and turning, morphing and melting. Half the time blistering and fierce with urgent intensity, the other half restrained and unearthly much like the calm before the storm. Gasping instrumentation including exquisite piano, intricate guitar work and unrelentless rhythm provides a fitting tone on themes of sadness, depression, isolation and heartache. A pandora's box of content, consequence and unprecedented musical theater. The exceptional lyrics hit hard with a yearning voice that gives a stunning side to melancholia and pain. It's all here. From sheer silence to sheer violence...this is Desert City Soundtrack.
-- George Zahora
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