PASSPORT : NOLAN MCKELVEY
1. What’s in the name/what’s in the title?
The title of the new disc is in reference to waves crashing. The disc has a recurring theme of water throughout and one of the lines in track 4 is "we meditate on the sound of the crash". I thought that was a good visual for this record.
2. What’s your first musical memory?
I vividly remember my sisters practicing suzuki violin over and over and over... My first experience outside of Orchestra was singing and playing bass in middle school with some friends, covering stuff like Poison "talk dirty to me" and Inxs tunes.
3. First cd/lp you bought?
The first two tapes I bought were from my sister on the same day in fourth grade for a dollar. On one tape was The Hooters Nervous Night, the other was a dubbed tape with the Beatles greatest hits on one side and Alphaville Forvever Young on the other... wow.
4. At which moment did you decide that your music had to be heard?
I have performed music in the orchestra since fifth grade so there was never really a seminal moment when I thought I needed to be heard, it was just part of playing music to me. I never really thought about playing music and not having it heard... hmm.
5. What was the biggest musical step you took so far?
The biggest step for me was learning to trust in my writing. I was a bass player/harmony singer for many years before I fronted a band. Even after I fronted a band for a while I would sing other people's material with more conviction than my own at times. Now that I've been the front-guy for a few years I'm really settling into that role and I like it.
6. You won a contest. First price is: a master class in song writing and you can chose the teacher. Who would you ask and what should the lesson be about?
This is a really, really tough question... first, I don't do contests. That said, I am inspired by so many writers to pick one would be tough, probably a toss-up between Willie Nelson, Kris Kristofersson, Tom Waits, Elvis Costello, and Bob Dylan. I guess I'd say Willie because we'd probably just hang out and go golfing, Kris we'd drink, Tom we'd drink A LOT, Elvis we'd talk about how cool he is, and Bob....I doubt he would take me or anyone else seriously.
7. Best concert you ever saw?
I'd have to say Fred Eaglesmith and band at this little Vermont Meeting House completely acoustic and you could hear a pin drop. It was phenomenal... Another contender would be Patty Griffin @ Toad bar in Boston where I was one of maybe 25 people in a very intimate bar. I literally watched my arm-hair stand on end...
8. Who of your musical friends is going to change the world? And how?
Bow Thayer, by no fault of his own as he doesn't function particularly well in the 'real world'. He has a knack for connecting with people and a confidence in his writing that is palpable. If you haven't heard Bow Thayer, you really should. The guy's phenomenal.
9. It’s the end of the world and everybody knows it and they ask you to sing one more song for the whole wide world ! Which one are going to pick?
Lately for me, the Perfect Crime from my new cd. Why not go out with a love song, right?
10. What’s up for the next couple of months?
Over the next couple of months I will be playing all over the southwest and promoting the new disc. I perform as a solo artist often, I have the Civilian Contemplation Corp that plays similar stuff to the new disc, and Muskellunge Bluegrass is my bluegrass outlet. Muskellunge just released a new live disc that I'll be sending to Hanx directly and I hope you enjoy it. Also, the Benders just scheduled a reunion weekend in Vermont over Memorial Day and I am looking forward to that. Needless to say, I'm busy playing a lot. Thanks for the Passport interview Hanx!
Nolan McKelvey
