Broke-Ass Band Interview: Amy LaVere Tonight at Joe’s Pub
I work hard to be sure that you cannot describe my music in one sentence.
What’s your song-writing process like?
Frenetic and without structure or rules. It’s mayhem in here.
On Stranger Me we can hear organs, toy pianos and Theremins, in addition to more standard instruments like the guitar or violin. What’s your favorite makeshift or unconventional instrument?
On this recording, the Buddha Boxes were my favorite discovery. They drone really nice, hypnotic noises.
What do you want people to take from your music?
I just want them to say to themselves, ” I will get out of my house and support live music if this band comes within 100 miles of my town”
Where are you from, and where do you call home now?
I am a GM brat. Born in Shreveport but moved constantly around the Midwest mostly and Canada. Been in Memphis now for 11 years and I love it.
The one I haven’t seen yet. I’ve been up to NY maybe 10 times in my life and I really just want to see new stuff when I go.
I’ve never been to the same one twice.
Blaue Gans was pretty great last time we were there.
Right now. Always. I can’t get ahead. I am one more bad tour away from being a homeless failure and it seems most of musician friends are in the same boat.
What do you refuse to spend money on?
I can’t think of anything I feel that way about.
I don’t have any thing to offer here either. The tools don’t make the artist.
What was the most expensive thing you’ve ever bought and why did you make the purchase?
The Van. The big gas sucking wallet draining van. I love it. I love driving it, napping in it and listening to the radio in it.
Tuning my bass is the only thing that would be a consistent ritual.
