PASSPORT: GORDY QUIST
Gordy Quist - Here Comes The Flood 
Wij van Hanx kijken regelmatig met een cynisch oog naar de vele herhalingsoefeningen uit Austin. De bron lijkt onuitputtelijk maar de laatste jaren viert de kwantiteit hoogtij. Maar eens in de zoveel tijd is er weer een singer-songwriter die het staren naar Texas rechtvaardigt. Gordy Quist is er zo eentje. Niet omdat hij anders is of afwijkt. Niet omdat hij een heel eigen sound heeft. Nee, Quist valt op omdat hij gewoon goed is. Goed binnen de perken die allang gesteld zijn. Goed omdat vanaf de eerste noot de rechtervoet de maat mee tikt. En Quist durft een openingszin neer te zetten:
Jesus was a preacher, he cured the sinners and lame
Brought me around the Promised Land.
He called me by my name he said
“Hey Jude, don’t you know you’re chosen for the Judas “Scariot Blues” (uit Judas’s Scariot Blues)
Hij schuwt het grote woord dus zeker niet en durft op zijn bek te gaan want als je zo durft te openen dan heb je de hele wereld te verklaren in de volgende vier minuten en dat kan bijna niemand, maar Quist probeert het en dat is zeer te waarderen. Zijn werk krijgt er meer body van, straalt meer kracht uit. Zijn verplichtingen bij de Bands of Heathens zullen een snel succes als soloartiest dwarsbomen maar Quist hoort thuis op de Nederlands podia, als opvolger van Slaid Cleaves. (Patrick Donders)
1. What’s in the name/what’s in the title?
Here Comes the Flood comes from a line in the song “Rehab Facility”. It sums up the direction I’ve gone from my last album. More layers, more depth, more guitars. My life has been a flood lately too. In the months I was recording the album, I had just gotten married, bought a house, was preparing to record a DVD and another album with the Band of Heathens, a group I play 200+ shows a year with.
2. What’s your first musical memory?
Watching A Hard Days Night when I was 5 years old and playing along with my toy guitar
3. First cd/lp you bought?
I think it was Abbey Road
4. At which moment did you decide that your music had to be heard?
I have played in bands since I was 14 years old for fun, without much thought to having to support myself someday with music. After 8 or 10 years of playing in bands and finishing school, I looked around and couldn’t see myself doing anything else. So here I am.
5. What was the biggest musical step you took so far?
The biggest musical step I’ve taken so far has been putting so much time and effort into playing in a collaborative band, rather than just focusing on writing songs for myself and my guitar. I’ve learned so much from playing with the guys in my band, and it definitely shapes the songs I write and how I record. Quitting a day job is a big step that really adds to the drive to write and get better at your craft.
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?
Bob Dylan, First lesson is on mystery… Saying so much by not actually saying it.
7. Best concert you ever saw?
That’s a tough one because they’re all so different. I really enjoyed seeing Tom Petty live in 2006. Lyle Lovett in ’94 or ’95 was a really great show. He was touring behind the “I Love Everybody” album.
8. Who of your musical friends is going to change the world? And how?
The Band of Heathens are going to change the world by giving Music back its soul.
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?
I’m going to sing Satisfied Mind… “When my life is ended, and my time has run out. My friends and my loved ones, I’ll leave them no doubt. One things for sure, when it comes my time… I’m gonna leave this old world, with a Satisfied Mind.”
10. What’s up for the next couple of months?
We’ve got a new live DVD coming out with the Band of Heathens and we’ve also recorded another studio album with the Heathens. Ray Wylie Hubbard produced it and it features some guest appearances by Patty Griffin, Gurf Morlix, and Stephen Bruton. We’re really excited about both projects and are getting ready for a lot of shows promoting the new releases. In the mean time, playing shows in support of “Here Comes the Flood” and doing some writing.
