What was the first concert you ever saw?
The Who at the RFK Stadium in Washington, D.C., 1989. My dad is a dedicated Who fan, and he took the whole family to educate us.
What CDs are in your changer right now?
Faron Young, The Radio Show Volume I; Evan Dando, Baby I'm Bored; Gal Costa, A Arte de Gal Costa; Haunted Twang, a musical compilation curated by Mr. Kidd Squidd; The Flaming Groovies, Shake Some Action With the Flaming Groovies; Spoon, Gimme Fiction. On the turntable: The Real Kids, Grown Up Wrong.
How many total albums do you own (CDs, vinyl, cassettes, 8-tracks)?
About 300 CDs, 150 records, 150 cassettes and a handful of 8-tracks.
Do you download music, and if so, legally or illegally?
Yes, but not that frequently. If I like something, I want to buy the album.
What was the first album you owned?
The Cars, self-titled. I liked all the handclaps.
What song would you like to have played at your funeral?
Anything from Pet Sounds, please.
Musically speaking, what do you love that your friends don't know about? What's your favorite guilty pleasure?
Musically speaking, there is no shame in my game. I save my guilt reserves for far more dubious acts than listening to music I love ...
What band or artist changed your life, and how?
More so then any specific band or artist, my older sister Jennifer changed my life. ... I am forever beholden to her for playing The Clash, The Replacements and Bad Brains for me when I was an ignorant 13-year-old who didn't know music existed beyond Top 40 radio. When she brought home the first Rites of Spring album, it was my first inkling that people were making amazing music right NOW and right HERE. I started ... getting involved with the local independent music scene in Washington, D.C. ... so, thanks Jen!
Figurative gun to your head, what is your favorite album of all time?
Billy Bragg, Workers Playtime.