Nine Questions

Austin Counts has been playing music in the Tucson area for the past 10 years. He has fronted such bands as The Union 5 and Dolemite Jones. Recently, Counts started his own record label, GPR, and has completed his first solo effort, entitled Acoustic Skeletons. GPR will release the album Thursday, Sept. 30, at 7 Black Cats. Admission is $8 at the door, which includes a free CD. Starting Tuesday, Oct. 5, Acoustic Skeletons will be sold at Zia Records, CD City, PDQ, Hear's Music and ITL Coffee House.

What was the first concert you ever saw?

My first concert was ZZ Top with the Jeff Healey Band, back in 1990.

What CDs are in your changer right now?

Hank Williams, 40 Greatest Hits; Kings of Leon, Youth & Young Manhood; Stevie Wonder, Innervisions; Johnny Cash, Live From Folsom Prison; Bright Eyes, Letting in the Happiness.

How many total albums do you own (CDs, vinyl, cassettes, 8-tracks)?

1.500 CDs and 250 vinyl.

Do you download music, and if so, legally?

I'm old-fashioned; I still buy CDs.

What was the first album you owned?

Iggy Pop, Brick By Brick. This was voted one of Iggy's worst CDs in Blender magazine. It's a pretty bad CD, but in my defense, I was only 10.

What song would you like played at your funeral?

That would have to be "Maggot Brain," by Funkadelic. It just sounds like a song to be buried to. If that can't be done, I guess the theme song to Dr. Who would be the next best thing.

Musically speaking, what do you love that your friends don't know about? What's your favorite guilty pleasures?

The Moony Suzuki, Electric Sweat.

What band or artist has changed your life, and how?

Bradley Nowell of Sublime. Although Sublime's music was not that great, you could relate to what Bradley was talking about. It was honest, and that goes a long way.

Figurative gun to your head, what is your favorite album of all time?

No contest ... Bob Dylan, Blonde on Blonde.