He'll Rock Your Amadeus! Q&A with Andrew Bucket, Booking Agent for the Velvet Lounge & Editor-In-Chief of "The Folly"

Photo Credit: Shauna B Alexander

Q:  You book all of the acts who perform at the The Velvet Lounge and speak fondly of your experience there thus far.  Share with us how you originally landed there and how your role has evolved...

  

A:  Well in like 2006 I played a show at Velvet with my old band The Huzbandz, and the sound guy Rob Curtis thought we were the best thing he'd ever seen and became obsessed with us. The rest of the staff thought we were annoying, but none the less, we started hanging out there every night, and it was great because our old stomping ground Wonderland had been overrun at this point by the date-rapey contingent that now dominates it.

The improv psych and noise scene was mostly centered around Velvet and Scott Verrastro's house 611 Florida at that point, and we went to all those shows and were basically the new-b's of the noise crowd.  My band mate Haley actually moved in with Damian Languell who lived two blocks away from Velvet Lounge, so it was like the party was either at the house, or at Velvet, and after shows all the bands would party at their place. 

One night I came to hang out and Rob Curtis was icing his face because Damian had attacked him and he's like "want a job?" So I took over Damian's door shifts and worked as a doorman there for about a year. I was probably the best doorman they had, even though I am very small, because I made it a point to know who people were, and I was really good at managing the money. I got a gun pulled on me when I first started, after this guy was accused of grabbing a girls ass, and I talked the guy into putting it away and leaving, this is while the other employees were hiding behind the bar.

So when Scott Verrastro moved to Philly he asked me if I wanted to be his apprentice and take over booking Velvet, which was the craziest thing I'd ever heard in my life. I was a door man, and I made like no money, and was scraping by and not even able to pay my rent, so this would mean that my rent was more than covered every month and I would get to put shows together. I was really, really, really bad at it for five months and eventually fucked up enough times that I became OK at it. 

Things kind of blew up when we started doing DJ's downstairs which was something unique to my "administration," because Scott didn't want it to be a party scene in the way a lot of clubs were going, but I had actually been friends with a lot of DJ's since the way-back-when days of Wonderland. The Nouveau Riche guys, and most of the bigger DJ's were all hanging out there all the time when me and Haley were, and we were such good friends, and I had really fun times at their parties, so it was just a no-brainer to do DJ's at Velvet and it totally changed the club from the "seedy dive" that the press always calls it, to a pretty scrappy contender on any night.

Q:  Who are some of the acts & DJ's we can expect to see at Velvet over the holiday season?   

A:  Every second Tuesday we have Baby Alcatraz and Kid Congo Powers, and Ian Svenonius Ian Svenonius drops by for that  all the time when he's in town, so you can really count on that night to rock your Amadeus.  

Q:  We were disappointed that we didn't make it to see Patti Smith this past weekend at the National Portrait Gallery.  You went!  Give us your impressions.

A:   I had been really furious about the Hide/Seek squabbles, for two reasons: the obvious was the fact that the gallery bent to the qualms of one conservative senator who doesn't even live here, and secondly, that the piece was elevated to this martyr status and to be honest I don't even think it was that interesting a piece of art.

I mean, if you go to Jerusalem there are probably ants crawling on crosses all over the place. I mean, ANTS? Its not like there are maggots, or some other symbol of putrid decay or something like that. I mean, ants are hive bugs, I mean they are ARMY bugs and they are super strong.

SO really, this thing has super strong army bugs crawling on the cross so ants are this amazingly edifying symbol for christians, you know, onward christian soldier!

So anyway, the other problem was people were kind of waiting for Patti to come and deliver the gospel to us, and when she got here she was basically like "shut up guys, this isn't my problem."

And that was the biggest revelation to me and was the source epiphany of my piece I wrote for
 BRIGHT YOUNG THINGS.

Q:  You write for BYT!  We've read some of your reviews, you're a freaking riot.  You've said that you appreciate how they give their writers such  license & freedom to write exactly what they want.  What has this meant to you as a writer? 

 

A:  It's become a hub, and that's been good for everyone in show-biz because of its character in posting arts events. Characteristically you get posted if your event is well put together, and is looking to be a big romp. Really, people who do house shows wouldn't want it posted on a popular website anyway.

As a writer though, it's been amazing because there isn't really a pitch process for me. I sometimes bounce ideas off of Libby just to see what she thinks, but I could really go nuts on anything I want. That isn't to say I'd write total nonsense just to be irreverent, but I could definitely try things out without worrying that an editor will try to reel me in.

I started with BYT in 2009 when I went to SXSW in Austin, and Libby had heard about my facebook videos which were this like inside joke between me and some people I knew, and one of these people included me in some top ten list of 2008...ANYWAY, Libby asked me to make a video of SXSW, and I shot and edited the thing in Austin, and uploaded it to youtube. 



CLICK HERE TO SEE THE BYT SXSW VIDEO


After that I did a bunch of interviews and show reviews, and few one off pieces (I did this best of wikipedia thing where I just posted all my favorite weirdo pages).

I hit a real stride with my advice column, which was pretty popular there for a while, and I got a lot of readership that was outside of the normal set for BYT (lawyers and staffers and such).

Since then, I've just been doing pieces like the Cyndi Lauper show or the Patti Smith thing, where I write on stuff I'm particularly invested in either emotionally, or chemically.

 

Q:  "The Folly" is a literary journal that you are spear heading with a colorful cast of others.  Who is involved, what is your vision & when is the first issue coming out?!

A:   Editorial Board:

-Sheldon Scott

General Manager of Marvin, poet, actor, playwright, and performance artist.

-Adrian Parsons

Performance artist, member of the band Exactly.

-Jennifer Jeremias

Co-Founder of Bored of Trade, and Tooth and Nail craft fair 

-Holly Thomas

Washington Post, writer

- Seaton Smith 

Comedian, actor, and writer

-Ryan Hunter Mitchell

Celebrity hair stylist, musician, and writer

-Haley Dolan

Bread of Many Stationary, proprietor

-Madeleine Starkey

DC Modern Luxury, writer 

Our creative support at large:

-Philippa Hughes

The Pink Line Project

-Lora Moinkoff

Gibson Guitar Showroom 

-Svetlana Legetic

Brightest Young Things

-Glodine Young

The Fridge, artspace

The journal is the brainchild of myself and Lex Paulson, and we sort of drunkenly said we would do it, and I guess Lex is of the Hemingway ilk-- doing everything you said you would do when drunk-- and forced me to pony up and actually do it. So we made a list of the most interesting people we know and in one week had our first meeting on the roof of Madame's Organ. The people at the first meeting are largely the ones who stuck around, and we picked up some really cool people since then.

My "vision" is more about my taste in writing which is really simple. I feel like I've always known these kinds of people who don't really self identify as writers or as writerly or as literary types, but they will write something on their facebook or their blog and its AMAZING or hilarious, or brilliant just because they themselves are one of those three things, and so it's like they are better than writers because they are writing out of a compulsion instead of a practice. So I just wanted to ask interesting people to write me whatever they wanted to write about, and I could trust that whatever they gave me would be great.
 

Q:  You and local artist Adrian Parson are going to be curating visual art shows!  What can we look forward to?  Art, MUSIC, secret shows???

A:  Same shtick, different media. We'll be showing artists who aren't really artists. It's called Freaking Nobodies, and it's going to happen in January at Red Door most likely.  

Q:  Finally, what are the 5 songs (and artists) that have been looping on your iPod this week?

A:  I made you a primary list and an alternate list:

Primary:

Ellen Foley- We belong to the night

Moon Duo- Stumbling 22nd St

Sinead O’connor- i want your (hands on me)

Oppenheimer Analysis- Don't be seen with me

Tori Amos- Winter

Alternates:

Mazzy Star- Ride It On (live- the black session- paris 1993)

Yaz- Only You

Kurt Vile and the Violators- Good Lookin’ Out

Communards- Don't Leave Me This Way

Psychic TV- Have Mercy 

Drums & Swagger: Q&A with Drummer & Producer Kevin Murphy

DC Native Kevin Murphy has honed his drumming chops for the past 20 years touring with both local & national acts.  We recently caught up with him and talked about life on the road, Randy Houser, the music biz, his experience as a producer, Willie Nelson and his cousin, Dante Ferrando (owner of THE BLACK CAT). 

Q:  You've been touring pretty much full time with southern rock artist RANDY HOUSER, tell us just how heavy the tour schedule has been and about the recording of his latest album, "They Call Me Cadillac", that came out in November.

A:  I filled in for Randy earlier in the year for a month, and when he called me to join up more permanently they were in the middle of the typical summer schedule, which is really heavy for country artists.  I had no part in the recording of the record and had only known Randy socially, so I didn’t even know there was a record coming out.  The schedule was 4 nights a week already, so I didn’t notice a big change on the release date.  Randy’s disc is a real record, with real flaws and a truth in it’s tone.  We don’t really mimic it live at all, we’re much thicker and present a larger wall of sound, but I like that, and so does Randy. 

Q:  You mentioned that you & Randy Houser will be appearing on both Late Night with David Letterman and the Jimmy Fallon Show!  Can you tell us any of the details and when we should be looking out for that?  

A:  hmmmm….the details on those are gonna be tough.  I really don’t know WHEN things will come up, they just will.  We were scheduled for Letterman in September and Fallon for the night before Thanksgiving, but were bumped.  Randy keeps in touch with Letterman, who is a big fan of Cadillac’s, so I’m sure we’ll get back on there soon.

Q:  You've toured for almost 10 years with the band TONIC .  For those who aren't familiar with them, who are they and what's the latest?

A:  Tonic’s biggest hit was called “If You Could Only See”, and I think it was released in ’97.  I remember being positively sick of hearing it on the radio by the time Earth To Andy opened for them and we became friends.  I think the Tonic guys got the shaft, in a way.  They had some big success, but were lumped in with other groups of the time and didn’t really ever get to own their own identity, except among the real fans.  In my opinion, they were and have continued to be the most artistic group to have come out of that era for pop rock.  I’ve enjoyed my time with Emerson, Dan and Jeff.  I think they’re great musicians and writers, and I’m sad that I don’t get many opportunities to play with them now.  They have a record that came out earlier this year, all of them produce, Jeff is a composer for TV shows, and Em is working on his writing here in Nashville.  I’m happy that he and I can see each other regularly.

Q:  Growing up, what drummer did you look up too & try to model yourself after? 

A:  Bonham.  He was the king.  I loved Myron Grombacher, who was Pat Benetar’s drummer and NEVER got the proper credit for his skill and taste.  I liked Billy Cobham, who was a fusion guy.  I liked everyone who hit drums, really.  I don’t even know who played drums for Men At Work, but “Who Can it Be?” was the first song I ever played on a drumset.”  I liked that band.   

Q:  After 20  years on the road, how would you say the business has changed and what do you think will be expected of young musicians coming up now?

A:  I think the paradigm has obviously shifted on every level and continues to.  I think it’ll settle down soon, but the shift was ugly.  Not only has the business end changed drastically because of the internet, but touring is harder from the economy.  Another notable change is that PEOPLE have changed.  They stopped buying CONTENT and focused only on INTENT.  The sizzle.  I think people are growing tired of hype and really just want to see a songwriter or band play shit from the heart again.  Taylor Swift is huge because people believe her.  Jamey Johnson and Houser are finding an audience because they are EXACTLY what they seem.  I think a younger musician or group should focus on developing their skill and communication more these days.  It wouldn’t hurt to see some younger acts dig a little deeper to discover where their idols got it from, and extend the art rather than mimic.  I was producing a band last year that kept referring to other bands as the benchmark, saying shit like “we want this to be like Sevendust”, and I just kept wondering why they weren’t interested in investigating what it would sound like as THEM.  Tons of singers in Nashville are trying to be Carrie Underwood, but who the hell wants another one?  She’s good at that, there’s no reason to have another version.  Younger artists need to get off their lazy asses and do the work.  Talking big is great, walking big is better.  You have to look across from each other and ask the hard questions, give the hard answers, hug it out, and make your statement.  I’m proud to have come up in the scene when I did, man.  You could go see a festival or show and catch Everything, Gibb Droll, Egypt, Almighty Senators, Jimmie’s Chicken Shack, Dave Matthews Band, Fighting Gravity and 5 other bands, and ALL OF THEM sounded unique and interesting.  All had their own style that they had created.  I don’t see that these days.  Very few young acts have the balls to really make a statement.  They want fame and money, they don’t really have anything to say.  It’s sad.  I hope more artists and groups start to rise up.  It’s starting to turn around, I hope the pace picks up.  There’s good music out there, you just have more shit to sift through these days.    

Q:  You started out on the DC music scene but have recently moved to Nashville!  As a musician, it must feel great to live in the heart of a town with such a rich musical history & where many of the street signs are shaped guitar picks!

A:  Nashville is great.  The community is smaller than one would think, and everyone genuinely wants to help out.  I feel alive there, and I love that there are simply more options, musically, each night than in most towns.  The musicianship is ridiculous.  It’s a different level of player here.  Every time I hear “I’m gonna make it” from a rookie I want to take them to any given club in Nashville on any given night and say “here ya go, Slappy.  Everyone here has played tours for 15,000 people a night, and half of us have had record deals, some of us more than one, and we’re still fighting it out for the good tours and sessions.  If you’ve got the balls to jump into the fire, welcome.”  I should actually do that for a TV show...   

Q:  Hey wait a minute?  We just remembered, isn't Dante, who owns the Black Cat, your cousin?

A:  Yup!  Dante Ferrando is indeed my first cousin.  We were mostly into different scenes, and his was one I didn’t appreciate until long after he’d exposed me to it.  I’ve met people out on the road that speak of him as if he’s a superstar!  Henry Rollins remembered him fondly, Dave Grohl and I talked about Dante being a badass for 20 minutes before he exclaimed that “us Virginia boys, man, we’re different.  We’re gonna take it all over!”  I’m a little bummed that Dante and I never really got to hang out.  Our lives are so busy that I only see him once a year.  He’s tighter with my sister Dana, I think because he was the guy she’d call when running her club (Trax in Charlottesville) back in the day when things got stressful.

Q:  You'll be on tour with Willie Nelson next summer!  What's the line up and how cool is that?!

A:  I’m not sure of the final line up, but from what I understand right now it’s Jake Owen, Houser, Jamey Johnson and Willie.  Another guy I like named Lee Brice told me a couple of nights ago that he thinks that he’s on it, too.  I hope Randy keeps me around for awhile, I’d love to do it, the idea of spending a summer supporting Willie is amazing, and would be one of those incredible tales to hold dear for life.  I’m hope if some jackass cop decides to bust Willie next year that I’m with him.  That would be awesome. 

Q:  You’re producing now, as well.  What projects are you working on?

A:  Well, I’ve always produced, either in bands or for local and regional artists in Virginia, and wanted to continue as I branched out in Tennessee.  I was looking for an opportunity and thankfully the first artist that I toured with, JOSH GRACIN, liked my ideas on the bus during late night rides.  When he signed with a new label, he asked them to let he and I produce his new project and they (AVERAGE JOE RECORDS) went for it.  We spent a couple of months really making something that defined him and satisfied his tastes, while allowing me to sonically make it what it needed to be, and I’m really proud of it.  I think it comes out in early 2011, and perhaps it allows both of us to continue building our careers.   I’m currently working with two female artists, LoriBeth Hogan, who is unsigned, super talented and a lot of fun to work with, using Rob Thomas’ engineer, Mark Dobson, who is great, and Danielle Peck.  Danielle has had some hits and wants to redefine what and who she is in 2011, and I’m excited to get things moving.  We’re picking songs for her now, trying to find the right statements and texture.  I’ve got a couple of other things that are possibilities in 2011, but I’m in a holding pattern for the go ahead to move forward on those.  I love producing.  I like helping to strengthen a voice and an aesthetic.  I hope to add and build through 2011 and beyond with that aspect of my career.

Q:  Finally, what are the 5 songs (and artists) that have been looping on your iPod this week?

A:  I’ve been home this week working on finding songs for a project I’m producing soon, so a lot of my listening has been demos and stuff like that, but my “clean the house” mix has everything from “Pet” by A Perfect Circle to “So Hard” by Rhianna.  I love Jay Z’s production.  The mix has a cut from Loretta Lynn’s record that Jack produced, some Dead Weather, Skynard, Lil Wayne, Earth Wind & Fire, Fleetwood Mac, and a side project of mine called “Loose Cougar”.  I’m pretty random when it comes to what’s playing.  I’ll either turn it or I won’t.  I like stuff that is what it claims to be.  If I smell pretense, I turn it off.   Some stuff is fine, but I just don’t care for it, and I sometimes can’t explain it.  I don’t like The Doors.  Never have.  I turn Kings of Leon off immediately when it comes on.  Slipknot’s albums sound like shit, but I like the intent.  I like things with swagger.”

“You know what?  That’s it.  That’s my shit.  I like things with swagger.”



SOFAR SOUNDS DC LAUNCH / 2010

SOFAR SOUNDS (of London) @ MARVINS for the DC LAUNCH

CHRYSTALIZE BACON

MATTHEW HEMERLEIN

JOHN & PAUL THORNLEY of US ROYALTY

PHIL ADE 

SOFAR SOUNDS ~
"Songs From A Room offers artists and music fans the unique opportunity to perform and experience intimate gigs in packed London living rooms each month. The movement is now going global with shows happening in New York, Paris and many other cities worldwide."

Check them out at:  SOFAR SOUNDS Facebook Page

MARK SILVA PHOTO CREDIT

DELOREAN is a Span-tronic four piece who named themselves after the classic 80's flick, "Back to the Future".  Their European pop sensibility has its roots in the clubs of Ibiza, hence the release of their latest album, "Subiza", on the True Panther Record Label out of New York.  They received critical acclaim at SXSW in 2007, have toured with the likes of jj and Miike Snow, have received favorable reviews from the notoriously hard to please   Pitchfork Music (Click here to read the review) and are about to introduce themselves to the District of Columbia, tonight, at the Rock N Roll Hotel.  See what Ekhi had to share with us...

Delorean - STAY CLOSE (Officia Video) 

Q.  Tell us how the band met and formed in your hometown of Zarautz, Spain in 2000?

A.  We hung out in the same places when we were teenagers and started the band then. It's all pretty simple, we wanted to make music together. What focused Delorean, was that we were completely open to any and all kinds of musical references. We've kept that attitude since then.  

Q.  It's evident that the band has really evolved since your early days of remixing when you compare it to your new album "Subiza".  What experiences were the most influential in sparking the bands creative growth?

A.  Studio production has been the biggest change for us. Now we've learned how to make arrangements, for example. That's something we didn't care about before but having the computer allows you to experiment with sax or stringed arrangements, for example. And that's what makes you to learn a little more about song writing. It's a very rich experimental field for a band that mainly worked jamming in the rehearsals. 

Q.  How did your relationship with TRUE PANTHER RECORDS come about?  

A.  We became Dean Beins' (Mr. Bein runs True Panther which is owned by Matador Records) friends October 2008 and kept a close relationship since then. We love Dean and his record label, we really wanted to put out the record with him, as if it was the only acceptable option for us. After the record was done he told us he wanted to put it out. Now we're so happy to start this 'adventure' working so close to a friend.  

Q.  You run a blog called DESPARRAME  (Disorder).  What's it's focus and any plans to post an English version so we can follow it with out going through google translator!  ;)

A.  The focus is 'Music we like or find interesting to share". As far as we're always on tour our best friend DJ K**O runs it mainly. It's very club oriented but we like to post any kind of music. We also put parties with him. We've had Jackmaster, Bok Bok, L-Vis 1990, Untold, Slackk, Deadboy, Radioclit, Lemonade, Top Billin, Spencer, Rustie, Hudson Mohawke, Mwëslee, Guido, BFlecha, Swindle, Noaipre, Elijah & Skilliam.... 

Q.  If you had your pick of any band in the on earth to launch a global tour with right now, who would it be and why?

A.  We'd love to do a True Panther Mystery tour with all of the TPS bands. We'd love to launch a Desparrame global tour, but that seems as well hard to happen. We'd like to open for Phoenix too, we love that band.  

Q.  What's been the bands biggest challenge recently?

A.  Putting together a rounded and worked live set. And making a new record too, but that will happen probably from next fall and on.  

Q.  DC is stoked!  You will be performing at the Rock N Roll Hotel TONIGHT!  We heard you and the band will be doing a pre-show event at SWEETGREEN on Capitol Hill at 4pm this afternoon.  What can we expect at this event?  

A.  Unfortunately we're not doing a pre-show. We're going to sign albums and T-Shirts. It seemed too tight on the schedule to do a pre-show so we selected 10 songs we love, to help make a play list for Sweetgreen.  

Q.  Word has it that when you are not playing live you are performing crazy DJ sets.  What is your DJ calendar looking like in the not so distant 2011 and what are your favorite venues to DJ in, in both Europe & the U.S.?

A.  Any club with a decent sound system works for us, honestly we don't really care much as long as the sound is big! 

Q.  What are the 5 songs (and artists) that have been looping on your iPod this week? 

A. 

-  Sueño Latino "Sueño Latino (Derrick May Emotion Second mix)"

-  Hype Williams "Untitled 8"

-  Bíceps "Muñeco de Ficción" (Instrumental)" (on Dj K**Os "Espanish Boogie Vol. 2")

-  Main Attrakionz "Elevate ya name"

-  Teengirl Fantasy "7AM" (Album)

GUITARS NOT GUNS! Q&A with Gregg Hammond Founder & President of the DC Affiliate of Guitars Not Guns.

GUITARS NOT GUNS  is an amazing after school program here in DC.  When we caught up with its founder, Gregg Hammond, he talked to us about gangs, guitars and the Guiness Book of World Records!  See what else he had to say...

Q.  Guitars Not Guns, we love it!  Please tell us what GNG's mission is and how it benefits the DC community.   

A.  Guitars not Guns’ (GNG’s) mission is to inspire at-risk and underprivileged youth to succeed in life by providing them music education opportunities through the use of volunteers and partnerships in their community. We help instill in them the confidence and character necessary to grow into productive members of society and responsible adults. GNG’s method is to engage the youth’s creative potential with a structured music program, taught by caring adults in a safe environment, and then couple that with our mentoring in  music-related careers. We provide them free guitar lessons with the belief that the art of music connects the child to higher life goals and ambitions. We are a community based organization that provides these youth with a positive alternative to the self-destructive behaviors of substance abuse, crime, truancy and gangs. Serving the community of DC we make our streets safer. Guitars Not Guns is an all volunteer and donation based non profit with no paid employees. It comes from our hearts and our desire to make our city a shining example of what we can do around the nation and around the globe. The students are loaned a guitar at the beginning of class. If they learn 6 guitar chords and can name all the parts of the instrument they get to keep the guitar. They have earned it, and can be proud of themselves for their accomplishments.

The website for GNG is GUITARS NOT GUNS  people can donate online through our "Donate Now" button on every page. We are also a member of the United

Way. Member #9319

Q.  Where are the classes for the youth involved in Guitars Not Guns held? 

A.  Classes are held at Boys and Girls clubs, Parks and Recreation Centers, and other locations that are between a students' school and home. We are here because we are able to provide a safe alternative in places where our youth might otherwise be negatively influenced by gangs and misled peers. We are open to discussing other locations as well.

Q.  Where do you get the guitars for the program?  Do you accept used guitars?   

A.  We use our donation money to purchase new guitars for the students from Johnson guitars so that each student receives the same quality instrument as the next student.

Q.  You mentioned that you will be meeting with the White House soon to discuss the possibility of your GNG students performing the guitar anthem that you wrote called "Set Me Free".  Tell us about that. 

A.  I am working on details to have a performance of the guitar anthem "Set Me Free" written by Gregg Hammond and Vince Scheuerman for the students of GNG at the White House. I am doing this to inspire our students to believe that they can achieve success in their playing, enough to play at the White House. This will show the nation and our community that our students' success is worthy of a great performance.

Q.  What was your inspiration for writing Set Me Free?  (available on iTunes now) 

CLICK HERE TO BUY ON iTUNES

A.  Growing up as an at-risk youth, and having an electric guitar that I wanted to learn to play, but having no teachers available to me I ended up in the streets getting into trouble.  I came very close to going to prison. Music, and guitar specifically,  was what moved me away from that troubled life.  The song "Set Me Free" brings the message that music and playing guitar can make a difference in a way that no other thing can.  We all have music inside of us, and if the seed is nurtured it will grow into something magical and joyous.  I wrote the song for the students of GNG to play and sing and feel the power of the music inside of them and express it.

*15% of the proceeds from sales of "Set Me Free" go to GNG DC.

Q.  You also teach guitar to the general public.  For those interested in taking lessons from you, how can they get in touch?  

A.  Interested students can go to my website DC GUITAR LESSONS for details. Emailing is the best way to be in touch with me: greggsguitarlessons@yahoo.com

Q.  We understand you have decided to throw down a Guiness Book of World Records challenge!  Please give us the details! 

A.  I have been working on this for about 3 years now. I had a practice run on Oct. 31st this year.  I have another practice run in April 2011. The official date in June 2011 here in DC at RFK stadium will be announced in Jan 2011.  We are gathering to set the record for "the most guitarist playing the the same song at the same time in the same place".

There are some really cool details about this that everyone should know.  Not only will we be setting this record, but we will also be using skype simulcast from around the globe to set the record for "The most guitarists playing the same song at the same time at the same time around the globe".  The song is "Set Me Free". We are setting up a fund for the GNG students around the globe to participate at no cost to them. All details about this event are updated on DC GUITAR LESSONS as they become available.  The idea is to bring our GNG students who are foster care and at-risk youth into a global event focused on playing the song that was written for them, and giving them the opportunity to be part of our global community of musicians.

Q.  What are the 5 songs (and artists) that have been looping on your iPod this week?

A.  Oh my, that is a hard question........ Just 5? that's not fair! okay then........ ouch. Too many songs.

1. Joe Satriani ~ Circles( Blending mellow guitar and total jam too)

2. Beatles ~ Let It Be( this song is simple yet profound)

3. Led Zeppelin ~ The Battle of Evermore( love the mandolin) I play and teach mandolin

4. Ozzy ~ Dreamer( as crazy as Ozzy seems, he knows the truth)

5. Rush ~Time Stand Still( it says what we all feel daily)

6. Jimi Hendrix ~ Little Wing ( a master guitarist at work)

I could go on forever, so many amazing guitarists out there.

FATBACK DANCE PARTY

FATBACK is a soul/funk dance party every 3rd Saturday at LIV in DC.

GET BAKED! Q&A with Tony Velazquez, Co-Owner of BAKED & WIRED in Georgetown

Tony Velazquez & his wife Teresa own and run one of DC Setlists favourite coffee houses: Baked & Wired  in Georgetown.  They're Sweets & Tweets are among the best you'll find here in the District.  When we sat down with Tony he talked about NYC, pies, unicorns, street musicians, baristas & of course getting BAKED!

Q.  We love the fact that not only do does Baked & Wired serve the BEST cupcakes we've ever had but you are also dedicated to promoting the arts!  We understand that you have local bands perform at your coffee house!  Tell us who will be performing at Baked & Wired next?!

A.  Here at Baked we strive to serve homemade, incredibly delicious sweets as well as provide our customers with SWEET tunage for their darling ears. For the month of December, we have some Bill & Ted style most-excellent jams headed your way!

The December line-up:

Friday 12/3: THE SPOTS 

Friday 12/10: TRUMPET GRRRL

Friday 12/17: PRESTO BANDO  

Not only do we host live music, we also host local artists. Typically, we schedule the art opening with a live performance. We recently held a Halloween costume contest, concert, and art opening. The artist currently hanging in the shop is DANA ELLYN  and we held her opening along with the rockin' tunes of Presto Bando. Feel free to find us on facebook: Bake and Wired. We will have event pages for all gigs and probably some sarcastic quips. 

Q.  Baked & Wired shows some serious TWIT WIT! What's your handle on Twitter and who's behind all those hilarious tweets?

A.  Behind the giggles and puns of our tweets you will find the verbal acrobatics of our tutu-wearing, slightly neurotic, Alex Shinko.  BakedandWiredDC provides our Twitter-followers with step-by-step directions on how to get baked, as well as thoughts of unicorns, the sweet liquid bliss of coffee, and random references to Val Kilmer.  Along with long walks on the beach and picnics in the park, Alex enjoys drawing on the sidewalk and spends her time contemplating what to put on the chalk boards seen strewn about the shop.  Beyond Alex's time spent eating steak, getting baked, making magic, and ending world hunger, she also books the bands and promotes them via the book of face and twitter. She hails from the bustling metropolis known as Pittsburgh and her dream gift is a typewriter.  So, if you want to win your way into her heart you should get her one...and probably bring a steak...or two...and read her some Dorothy Parker. And then maybe you should get baked. Duh.

Q.  So tell us how an architect from New York becomes the owner of an amazing coffee house in DC.  Quite a transition, what's the story there?

A.  We were bored, very bored with the type of work we were doing - that's how Baked & Wired got started. The architecture and graphics business was as stale as a 7-11 doughnut and we had always had the itch to open a bakery and coffeehouse.  We were already using the space on TJ as a graphics store (the ZAP sign is still on the wall), I carved out a small shoebox shape area in a corner and designed it trying to get some NY flavor in DC.  Our location sucked so all we could do was create a place that made you want to come.  It's all about the "feel".

Q.  We show pix of local street musicians we run into around DC all the time.  You actually have local street musicians perform outside in front of Baked & Wired once a month.  How did this come about and who should local street musicians contact to get on the Baked & Wired "Street Musician Roster"?

A.  Our street musicians series started with our 'get baked' 4.20 anniversary this year.  A lot of these one person performers are absolutely creative - what! - trumpet/keyboard/vocals; guitar/dreadlocks/ghungroo........ and we wanted to give them an outdoor venue where people could actually listen to them rather than rushing by on their way to the metro.  No schedule at all with the street musicians, just like everything else we do. (To get on the street musician roster call the store and ask for Tony: 202.333.2500)

Q.  You sell doggie snax called ZILLA BONEZ!  How did this pooch friendly idea come about?

A.  So, my daughter Tessa made a Valentine's day card when was a a kid. It showed our dog Zilla (with her dinosaur head) with thought bubbles showing the things she loved -bones, kittys and hearts.  Years later she started baking homemade dog biscuits for Zilla and taking them to the park to share with the other mutts. The mutts would go sniff crazy when the biscuits were close by. So, what the hell, we might as well package them up and offer them at Baked.  Which takes us back to the Valentine's day card because we made it the main label on the bags.  The pups love the Zilla Bonez.

Q.  Your cupcakes understandably get a lot of press; we personally loved the Un-Porked Elvis cupcake.  But tell us about your amazing PIES!  Are you going to be featuring any seasonal pies in time for the holidays?

A.   ummmmmmmm pies. That's where it all started for us. Eat the pie.  By far our best product.  We individually handcraft (is this really a word?) each shell and bake them in a glass dish - anything in a tin is scary.  The fillings are amazing but the crust is what makes the pie - light, flaky and tasty. We got a bunch of flavors for this season but the apple cranberry crumb, and the wild blueberry cranberry with pecan crumb are the bomb.

Q.  Baked & Wired takes coffee seriously!  The smell of Intelligensia and Stumptown coffees are constantly swirling in the air, mmmmm.  Tell us about the "Thursday Night Throw Down" that you will be sponsoring in January!  What is it?  Give us all the details please...

A.  Because Baked is located in a land far too laden with politics and Windsor knots, we strive to provide our own take on remaining serious about our product without the button-ups and briefcases.  All of our baristas trained for hours on pulling shots, steaming milk, and crafting drinks into works of art. Independent coffee shops throughout DC host a monthly latte art competition known as the Thursday Night Throwdown.  Sponsored by PBR, the throw-downs allow baristas from all over DC to come together and do what they love most- drink beer. I mean, make excellent coffee.  Baked will be hosting the January TNT on Thursday the 13th.  The event is open to the public and you can find more information about TNT by clicking here: THURSDAY NIGHT THROWDOWN.

Q.  What are the five songs that have been playing at Baked & Wired this week?

A.  The five most played songs of the week are:

Tame by the Pixies

Africa by Toto

Gangster's Paradise by Coolio

Third Planet by Iron Horse

Home by Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros