interview Archive
15 Jun 2011
(Everybody’s) Talkin’ About Harry Nilsson, Part 1
In fall 2010 fall the film documentary Who Is Harry Nilsson (And Why is Everybody Talkin’ About Him)? premiered in selected cities. The film came out on DVD around the […]
14 Jun 2011
¡Veinte Preguntas para Los Straitjackets!
I first saw Los Straitjackets onstage in February 2004. Their music and image is – to use a Hollywood term – “high concept.” Picture this: a four piece band, all […]
25 May 2011
God’s Gift to the Ears: Fred Pallem
Imagine a big band like in the old days of Glenn Miller. Now imagine that group performing — with wit and style – a set of original songs they’ve scored […]
23 May 2011
The Tracy Nelson Interview
Tracy Nelson first came to prominence with a highly regarded debut album Deep Are the Roots in 1965. Even then this white teenager from Wisconsin was covering Ma Rainey and […]
19 May 2011
Brotherhood: The Story Behind the Story
In early 2010 I got a press release from a publicist with whom I often work. Collectors’ Choice Music (as of mid 2011, a defunct label) was putting together a […]
18 May 2011
The Cheeksters: Golden Birds Take Flight
Mark Casson and Shannon Hines Casson – the husband-and-wife musical team leading The Cheeksters — clearly aren’t originally from around here. Mark’s British accent and Shannon’s Memphis lilt make it […]
13 May 2011
Reconsider, Baby: Captain Sensible’s “The Universe of Geoffrey Brown”
This feature is now serving as the basis of a longer, more in-depth discussion of the album in a chapter of Bill Kopp’s upcoming book, What’s the Big Idea: 30 […]
12 May 2011
Martin Newell interview, part 3
Continued from part two… Bill Kopp: The Cleaners From Venus enjoyed – or endured — a brush with the big time in the UK around the release of ‘Ilya Kuryakin […]
11 May 2011
Martin Newell Interview, part 2
Continued from Part One… Bill Kopp: Are there any real drums on English Electric? Martin Newell: Bits and pieces, yes. You know, I never spilled the beans about what happened […]
10 May 2011
Finally, a Reliable English Electric: A Conversation with Martin Newell (part one)
I recently enjoyed the rare treat of a lively and wide-ranging conversation with Martin Newell. He’s largely unknown to American pop audiences, and that’s quite a shame. His music is […]