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Emily was up late. The sun had been shining for three hours now and she still couldn’t get to sleep. She was trying to decide where to go for her summer vacation. Her Time Out Machine could send her to any place and time in all of world history, but that right there was the problem! How to choose one? Finally she knew she’d have to leave the destination to chance. But not TOO much to chance. A few simple specifications would do the trick…
AVERAGE TEMPERATURE? asked the Time Out Machine.
Hmmm…Let’s go hot, thought Emily. It’s summer break, after all. Let’s say…92.3 degrees in the shade.
NUMBER OF PEOPLE PER SQUARE MILE?
Thanks for asking. Make it 3…no place like alone…
MINUTES UNTIL DEPARTURE?
Easiest question yet! ZERO!
And in less time than it takes to shoot out the lights, Emily was transported to a strange, strange land…where even though it was 92.3 degrees in the shade, even a creature of the night like Emily could feel at home. She was in a bleak desert land, under a big, black sun.
“You must be a real child of hell,” said a gravelly voice behind her.
Emily turned to see…a blind man sitting on a bench outside a lonely diner. “Were you talking to me?”
“Who else? Ain’t no-one here but you, me, and that John Doe inside.”
“Oh, so you don’t know his name?”
The blind man laughed and laughed. “Li’l devil doll, you got a lot to learn. In this skin deep town, only a burning house of love can stand the heat. The hungry wolf can’t silence the call of the wrecking ball, and the blue spark of unheard music might just give YOU the once over twice. Surprise, surprise!”
Emily thought it best just to quietly step inside. Perhaps this John Doe character would talk more sense…
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Emily: I had a bad, bad feeling about coming to desert because I spend most of my time indoors. What draws you to the desert?
John: Brutal life & death simplicity & the muted colors since I’m half color blind. |
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Last time I was in the desert, I landed in Jumbo Rock campground at Joshua Tree and stayed for two weeks. Ever been there?
Never camped but stayed @ The 29 Palms Inn a couple of times & have lived in Lockwood Valley, of recent Day Fire fame, for 17 years. |
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What’s a few of your favorite campfire songs?
“Do Re Mi” ; “The Cow Kicked Nelly in the Belly in the Well”; “Skip to My Lou”, “Hallelujah I’m a Bum” |
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What does E.S.P. mean to you?
Elias Stanley Poe (Edgar Allen’s hidden twin brother) |
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What brought about a re-release of this new album, For The Best Of Us?
Got the license back from Kill Rock Stars & Yep Roc said OK. Also had some extra songs from those sessions. |
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Do you know that tree on the cover?
I believe it was a kind of prayer tree to keep the city from demolishing that cathedral. Now, why tennis shoes, bleach bottles & ratty teddy bears will make your dreams come true, I don’t know. Evidently it didn’t help, the church is now gone. |
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Did you and Viggo Mortensen use homemade cameras?
We’re not that renaissance. Viggo’s got an old hasselblad that he takes forever to focus & shoot. But I must admit he’s got some real talent behind the lens. . . not too bad in front either. |
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In the sleeve art, are you doing the ‘Hollywood-alley-cat-balancing-act’ to keep your eye on the ball? Or are you just walking the line?
I’m just glad the coach put me in & I’m trying to do all I can for the team. I think we’ve got a pretty good shot at the Carling cup. |
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I am inventing a new camera for nocturnal tree portraits, can you describe its special feature?
This moving-movie camera can stalk the cagiest or slowest of prey, all night long. You see, the roots, though buried in the ground, can actually creep slowly across the face of any landscape on earth or in the heavens, without the subject noticing. It was the very first night-vision-moving-movie camera using a real eye of a wildcat taken immediately after its death. |
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What is your favorite time of night?
12:34 AM |
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What is your favorite sci-fi movie?
“Fiend Without a Face” or “The Day the Earth Stood Still” “28 Days Later” isn’t too bad either |
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When is your most inspiring time to write music?
When I feel like a totally worthless human being, usually 12:34 AM |
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What have you been listening to lately?
Kathleen Edwards, Tom Brosseau, All Things Considered, Quasi, Los Lobos’ new one, the Yeah Yeah Yeahs, Black Keys. |
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Any new collaborations in the mix?
See above |
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I bet you and Dave Alvin can tell a long story about your musical relationship. How can you describe him in just five words?
Wild smoke dog love potion. |
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Have you invented any instruments?
In my fuckin’ dreams, they write all Bob Dylan songs but better. |
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When you play live with X, what’s on your mind nowadays when you play The New World?
How the hell does Ronald Reagan become a moderate or even a hero? & how much worse can all this shit get . . . evidently . . . A LOT!
And how prophetic Exene was when she wrote those words many years ago. |
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Do you have punk rock flashbacks?
In my fuckin’ dreams, when I'm beating the living crap outta skinheads. Or, in real life when Exene & I are singing on stage w/ either the Knitters or X. |
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When all’s done at the end of the day, do you find yourself singing a song to the moon or humming a tune with the stars?
Better hope there’s a full moon then, it’s just like day light out here when the moon’s full; though not so good for star gazing. Watch out for that prickly pear, my dear. I think I’d rather hum to twinkles than howl at the man. |
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Reason I ask is because it’s getting dark out here in the desert and unless you have a ride to wherever you’re going, it’s gonna be a long walk home.
That big black sun can really burn if you don’t watch out. So long…
T T F N
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