„Fragebogen“ is a standard interview with 15 questions around music plus a special task. This time it’s the singer Luke Elliot who answers them.
*** Hier geht es zur deutschen Version des Fragebogens ***
First cd: I can’t remember the first CD, but I certainly remember my first cassette tape. When I was 8, my older brother, Christian, bought me a copy of Jimi Hendrix’s „Are You Experienced?“. It changed my life.
First concert: My father took my friend and me to see Dave Brubeck perform with an orchestra at the Princeton University Chapel when I was about seven. I remember his performance of „Take 5“ vividly. There was an odd bald guy sitting next to us, anticipating each note, nearly jumping out of his seat with glee. My friend Willy and I laughed hysterically, and my father looked embarrassed. Afterwards, we had pancakes.
First childhood memory related to music: There was always music around. My parents were musical people – they both fooled around with the piano, and I started taking lessons around age 8. I remember hearing a lot of James Taylor in the car with my dad. Actually, just about every time I got in the car he was playing James Taylor.
Favourite song at the moment: I’ve been listening to the new Leonard Cohen album every day for the past two weeks (too much, I know). I can’t get enough of „On the Level“. What a terrific song. What an album!
A rather embarrassing song you like: Hmmmm. When Adele’s „Hello“ came out, I listened to it twice in a row. How’s that?
Favourite song among your own: It’s always changing. Lately, I’ve really enjoyed performing „Benny’s a Bum“ with a band, and „The Great Rondout Train Robbery“ solo. My favorite songs are usually the ones no one’s heard yet; pieces I’m working on.
Favourite songlyrics: Graham Parsons from „Return of the Grievous Angel“:
„The man on the radio won’t leave me alone. He wants to take my money for something that I’ve never been shown. And I saw my devil, and I saw my deep blue sea. And I thought about a calico bonnet, from Cheyenne to Tennessee.“
Best concert: There have been so many. I saw PJ Harvey this summer. I was stunned by how good she was.
Worst concert: I’d rather not say. Don’t see a point in putting anyone down.
Best concert among your own: There was a solo performance I had in Tromso, Norway about a year ago. I had a beautiful grand piano infront of me, and the show sold out 3 days ahead of time. There was a certain energy about the performance that night. Everything just felt perfect; almost predestined.
Vinyl, cd or mp3? Vinyl, as much as I can. I’m on the road most of the time though, so I don’t usually have that luxury.
Download or stream? Download
Club concert or festival? Club concerts for sure. Not everyone at the festival is usually there to see just you, and I can’t stand people moving about or talking while I’m playing. It’s distracting and obnoxious.
Three songs that really have to be on your mixtape: The Waterboys – „The Whole of the Moon“, Jacques Brel – „Amsterdam“ live from the Olympia 1964, John Cale – „Big White Cloud“
An album you would NOT take with you to a lonely island: I would really hate to be left alone with Coldplay…
