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The Drive-By Truckers'
lay Gonzalez
Guilty (of) Pleasures
J ay Gonzalez is an admitted anglophile...
I'm not talking Britpop, like Stone Roses
or Oasis, but rather first generation,
ground-zero 1965 British Invasion. A
devoted fan of Harry Nilsson and cult hero
Fmitt Rhodes, Gonzalez's solo material has
a distinct 70s feel, akin to Badfinger, Todd
Rundgren and solo Paul McCartney. Much is
written about the Drive-By Truckers, their
story-telling songs and three-guitar attack,
but the newest member of the band (since
2008) is a gifted singer-songwriter whose
own musical projects deserve a moment in the
spotlight as well.
Flagpole had a chance to sit down with
Gonzalez in October when the multi-instru
mentalist played the first of two solo shows at
Hendershot's Coffee Bar. He devoted his sets
exclusively to "guilty pleasures" and his origi
nal material, playing covers that included Bob
Dylan, Nick Lowe and even a tune from West
Side Story. It was the
perfect opportunity to
reach into Gonzalez's
psyche and explore
his motivations and
inspirations.
Flagpole: What
should an audience
be thinking after
being exposed to your
music?
Jay Gonzalez:
They're probably
thinking, "Has this
guy heard any music
after 1980?" or some
thing along those
lines... hopefully,
they'll be humming
a chorus from one of
[my] tunes.
which may have something to do with mine
not being as good as they should be!
FP: Did you have any hand in writing the
songs you record with Drive-By Truckers?
JG: I don't know, with three songwriters...
it's kinda understood I do my own thing on
the side. Even with The Possibilities, who l
played with before, you know, as the third
songwriter, that was a lot. I'm working on [a
solo record] right now with my buddy Chris
[Grehan]. I'm recording it and sending it up
to him in New York. We're hoping to finish by
the end of the year. So, I've been working on
something for the last few years, even before
the Truckers. A lot of the original stuff I'm
playing [I'm] just trying to put it together
into a cohesive album.
FP: In terms of live performance, do you
ever feel like you become possessed or "in the
zone" onstage?
JG: I never used
to get in any "zone"
while playing, as I
worried about what
the audience was
thinking, how the
sound is, if I'm in
tune, etc. Since play
ing consistently with
the Truckers, I've
gotten to where I feel
comfortable enough
to get into that space
onstage... which
really should be the
ultimate goal. These
last two Hendershot's
shows have been a
leap as far as getting
right into the zone—
not rushing, actually
focusing on delivery.
FP: What keeps it entertaining for you; what
keeps your pistons pumping?
JG: Coming ud with a new song always
refreshes everything and gets the pistons
pumping... it's almost cliche, but you really
do wonder if any more are gonna come... also,
switching from piano to guitar or vice versa
is a good way to keep it fresh for me. [On the
forthcoming Dnve-By Trucker's album, Go-Go
Boots, Gonzalez not only plays keyboards and
piano, but also Wurlitzer, accoroion, Hammond
B-3 and the singing saw. He also contributes
harmony and backing vocals.]
FP: Has there been a consistent vision in
your music from beginning to end with nr
deviation?
JG: I don't think I had any specific vision
for my music until the last few years as I
mainly worked with other writers and band-
members and just kind of wrote what I wrote
and would see where it went. Chris Grehan,
who I've worked with since college, pretty
much has the same pool of influences as I do
and the same idea of a good record... strong
melody is always the main thing, followed by
an interesting chord progression, hopefully
set to a good beat. Lately I've been working
harder on editing and refining lyrics, I think
that's my weak point, but I rarely listen to
lyrics unless they're really striking anyway...
FP: What do you need to see, feel, hear
and/or understand in order for you to feel sat
isfied with what you are doing?
JG: I need for there always to be some
thing going on to catch the ear in a song I'm
working on. No dead space, no just floating
along... I never listen to music just for mood;
I always want to be pulled in. If I have music
on in the background while talking to my wife,
Katey, she can tell when my eyes glaze over
that I'm focusing on the music in the back
ground, and she certainly lets me know she
knows I'm not listening!
FP: So, how does the Jay Gonzalez
Dictionary define rock and roll?
JG: That's tough. For me I guess it's having
that indefinable spark of energy mixed with
infectious, immediate songs.
Kenneth Aguar
WHO: Drive-By Truckers
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