Month: April 2012

A Conversation With, Album Reviews, Interview

A Conversation With Blues Rock Artist Julia Alyce

Think Linda Ronstadt meets Patsy Cline & Bonnie Raitt.

That’s what you get from the debut EP of blues rock artist Julia Alyce. A collection of music that Julia co-wrote in collaboration with music producer Maia Sharp.

An album that any fan of the aforementioned artists should add to their collection.

Julia’s EP features the steel guitar work of music legend Greg Leisz, who’s played on many of Joni Mitchell’s albums. Other well-known musicians  featured include: Maia Sharp (Producer, Piano, & multiple instruments), Linda Taylor (Guitar), David J. Carpenter (Bass), and Brian Macleod (Drums).

Julia’s in it for the love of the entire music process. Not for any individual moments but for the entire ride. The whole production has a “cosmic” vibe to it as well.

While working with her vocal coach in Los Angeles prior to recording the album, Julia mentioned to him that some of her biggest influences were artists like Bonnie Raitt and the Dixie Chicks. Shortly after that exchange a friend connected her with Maia Sharp, who just so happened to have worked with…wait for it: Bonnie Raitt and the Dixie Chicks. If that’s not a sign then nothing is.

All three songs on the EP reflect different aspects of love.

“Love Me or Let Me Go” – Julia’s “baby”.  Written ten years ago at a time when she was frustrated in the moment. A story of a cat and mouse game of mixed messages being played out. Just when you think you’re at the point of being wanted they suddenly push you away. It’s back and forth drama until the conclusion is finally reached: Just love me, or let me go.

Do you need me, like I need you?
Do you want me, like I want you to?

“Since I Met You” – A song about the feeling you get when you’re not sure if you’ll ever find that special person and what its like when you finally do. Something so deep that everything looks new. Just letting go and how it feels.

And now I’m seeing everything, in a way I’ve never seen it

“Innocent”– A song written by M. Sharp, M. Daly, and L. Lucas. Julia chose this song even though she didn’t write it because she could honestly relate. Having been in that situation where someone is living in the past and trying to be with them in the present without baggage. All the while thinking, “Hey, I’m innocent!”

All that lying left you tender to the touch
She really did a number…on you

The song “Love Me or Let Me Go“ also has taken on a life of its own and become Julia’s first music video. A fun video with universal appeal that’s a cross between Annie Lennox’s pop 80’s work and Robert Palmer’s “Simply Irresistible“.

Julia’s musical journey is actually a three-part plan. The first part was working with Maia and recording the EP the way she wanted to.

The second was creating the music video to give a visual representation of her and the music she represents.

The final piece of the puzzle is a music project Julia is immersed in now in Los Angeles. She’s putting together a specific sound by selecting a group of musicians who are not only passionate about the music, but also bring a special magical quality to the table to help take her show on a grassroots tour nationwide.

Julia says the timing of these artistic elements are key, but at the same time she’s not compromising her goal which is to be out there touring and interacting with her music fans for a long long time.

You may think that with a plan this ambitious it might be a bit challenging but not according to Julia.

“When you’re in the zone it’s a blast.” she says. “It’s not stressful at all.”

If her EP and music video are any indication, the future for Julia Alyce looks very bright indeed.

To book Julia Alyce contact her manager direct at: JuliaAlyceMusic@gmail.com

Article first published as A Conversation With Blues Rock Artist Julia Alyce on Technorati.

A Conversation With, Interview, Movies and TV

A Conversation With Director Jourdan McClure

“Rogue River” is director Jourdan McClure’s first feature film. A movie that will be released in the US on June 5th and a thrill-ride that horror fans will find both visually appealing and emotionally disturbing.

As a fan of the horror genre himself since the age of nine when he first saw the movie Poltergeist, Jourdan had a vision that eventually led him to film school to study the mechanics of story telling and would ultimately allow him to begin weaving his own tales of terror.

Grabbing your attention from the opening scene where a distraught, battered and bloodied Mara (Michelle Page) wanders aimlessly about in a white dress while carrying nothing but a cross and a loaded firearm, we’re left to wonder just how she wound up in such a predicament.

With tears streaming, she places the barrel of the gun to her head in a final act of desperation. The screen goes black and a single shot is fired. It’s a teaser moment of what’s to come and a fitting prelude to the horrific events we’re about to witness as the story is told.

Following the recent death of her father, a tearful Mara says farewell to her brother Andrew (Chris Coy) and embarks on a trip to the Rogue River, a place she fondly remembers her father taking her on camping trips to when she was younger. Her plan is to scatter her father’s ashes in the tranquil location where the family had often spent time together.

While preparing to release her father’s cremains into the river Mara is greeted by a seemingly nice enough gentleman named Jon (Bill Moseley). After striking up a conversation, Jon offers to walk Mara back to her car where she discovers it has been towed away by authorities.

Concerned about the possibility of being stranded out in the deep woods alone at night with no cell phone reception, Mara decides to take Jon up on his offer of a ride back to town. A decision she will forever regret.

“Rogue River” won the Audience Choice Award and Best of Festival Award for Feature Film at the 2010 Sacramento Film Festival and was an Official Selection at the 2010 ScreamFest Horror Film Festival.

Jourdan is slated to direct the supernatural thriller, “The Sum of 9: The Chosen Ones” as well as the television series: “Hell Hunters”, based on the comic book. In 2013, Jourdan will be directing “Ancient Face” and also has numerous other film projects that are currently in various stages of development… Stay tuned.

In this interview with Jourdan we’ll find out more about the making of “Rogue River” and what’s next for horror’s newest story teller.

goJimmygo (gJg): Hey Jourdan, how are you doing?

Jourdan McClure (JM): I’m doing excellent. I appreciate your time.

gJg: “Rogue River” is your first feature-length film. Tell me a little bit about how you started making movies?

JM: You know it’s kind of the same old story only I wasn’t the kid with the Super-8 camera.  I was the kid with the mini DV camera. While growing up I was always shooting little short films and wanted to go to film school to learn how to make movies.

While there I started filming metal and rap music videos and began to understand how to visually put stories together. Music videos are a great format to play around with ideas because they won’t hurt what minimal story is already there. It was a great proving ground for me and I also got to work with a lot of really talented people.

Director Jourdan McClure

gJg: How did the idea for “Rogue River” come about?

JM:  I had an idea for a story and took it to Kevin Haskin who was also a filmmaker. I was already familiar with his work from a bunch of local festivals we both attended.

I had the idea, I just needed someone to help me write it. That was the only component I was missing. So I pitched Kevin the story and at first he thought it was a little dark. <laughs>, but then we brought in Ryan Finnerty who brought another great element to the story.

Ryan was a little bit more into the horror element than Kevin was so they were able to work well off of each other. One creating more of the drama and one creating more of the horror. So while they were busy putting pieces of  it together I’d come in and offer suggestions. The whole process was very collaborative and very cool. Collaboration is my favorite way of working.

gJg: Was Bill (Moseley) one of the first people you had in mind for the role of Jon?

JM: I’ve always been a fan of horror and everyone knew those were the types of movies I wanted to make. After we had gone through a bunch of actors I finally just said “You know, I really want to get Bill Moseley.”

gJg: I thought he was the ideal man for the role. Much different than the other characters he’s portrayed. You know he’s creepy and you know something is going to happen. You just don’t know when.

JM: Exactly! I told everyone that I didn’t want to do the big, scary, crazy “Bill”. I wanted to do more of a subdued “Bill”. I wanted someone who looks like a wealthy man but who’s also scary.

And of course having someone like Bill Moseley in your film, or a Michael Cudlitz (Sheriff Boyd) for that matter, it really helps.

gJg: Was Michelle Page another actor you had in mind for the role of Mara?

JM: Michelle actually knew Kevin and Jo Haskin (Producer) from working with them on their first film. Michelle had a very small role in that film but had a huge interest in doing this one so we checked her out.

I was very fortunate to have Michelle. Especially in the scenes down by the river where temperatures were between 9 and 15 degrees. She’s an actress who really gives herself to a film. Every time I think of the movie my hat just goes off to her.

Oh, and also because I’ve never seen someone shed so many tears. <laughs>

gJg: You know, I was actually going to ask you about that. She was great! I enjoyed watching her in this role because she’s very believable. Can she actually start crying like that on cue?

TM: Oh absolutely. Sometimes the tears can be too much but in this role her character was really in a state of shock and disarray. For me it really worked.

gJg: And then you have the amazing Lucinda Jenny as Jon’s terminally ill, deranged wife Lea.

JM: We had gone through quite a few Lea’s and that’s when my manager, Judy Fox recommended her. Lucinda and Bill are a couple in real life. So we met Lucinda and thought she and Bill together would be the ideal fit. It added another interesting familial aspect to it.

gJg: Lucinda has an extensive resume of films. Have you seen her from her previous roles?

JM: I did see her in “Thinner” but for some reason couldn’t remember her name. I know that she’s never really done horror like this before. I was really lucky to have both she and Bill together for my first feature film.

Bill Moseley, Jourdan McClure & Michelle Page

gJg: The cinematography in the movie is amazing. Especially the natural surroundings and fog on the river.

JM: During that time of year all of those things are natural and it really adds an element to the film that is real. When you combine those natural elements with the dark comedy that’s infused in small parts through out the movie you wind up with something that feels a little bit different but yet still familiar with the genre. I call those “efforts”.

The thing I was concentrating on most was just making a beautiful looking horror film. Something where really terrible content exists amongst this gorgeous landscape. In a beautiful cabin next to a river that’s known for its serenity and the protection of land management. Just a gorgeous, natural organic thing.

gJg: Were there any funny stories or situations to share while you were filming?

JM: I think one of the funniest things that happened was while we were filming Michelle down by the river. There were a bunch of wild turkeys roaming around nearby, making all kinds of racket. And every time Michelle would scream into the sky it would be followed by a response from these turkeys gobbling. <laughs>

gJg: What other film projects do you have coming up now?

JM: “Children of Sorrow” is a movie I directed that’s in post production right now. It a story that was also written by Ryan Finnerty.

gJg: What’s the premise of this film?

JM: After the mysterious death of a young woman’s sister, the woman embeds herself into the cult her sister was a member of to find out exactly what happened. There she finds something terrifying about both the cult and about herself.

It’s a POV horror film but not in the traditional sense where someone has found footage and now we’re watching it. We know where this footage came from. It was put together by this self-help guru, a man who’s known to have bad intentions. He’s taken all of this footage from the cult and the woman’s stay and puts it out to be shown to the world. That’s that’s what we’re watching. The footage shot by the cult members, the cult leader and the woman.

With this project we wanted to do something that was off kilter a bit. Extremely dark but at the same time psychological and freeing. It’s very much a passion project. I think people who like a slow-burning or character driven film will appreciate it. It’s a slice of life inside of a cult… but it’s not a hack and slash movie..it’s a docu-horror.

gJg: Finally, when will “Rogue River” be released in the US and will there be any extra features?

JM: The DVD will be released on June 5th. It will be available on demand on DirecTV and Dish and you’ll also be able to obtain it from Amazon, i-Tunes and Red Box.  – There’s my simple PSA about it… <laughs>

As far as extras go, I just recently finished filmed the commentary on the film with a lot of the cast. That was fun to do because we all got to watch and discuss the art that we had made. Just being honest and genuine about it. There will also be a few minutes of additional footage on the DVD as well. 

gJg: I loved the movie and think fans of the genre really will too.
Article first published as A Conversation with Director Jourdan McClure on Technorati.

Life

Today Was A Good Day

I took a drive over to the South Side of Easton today. A place where I had spent the first twenty years of my life. An area that no matter where life takes me will always be “home” to me.

It was a beautiful Spring day. The sun was shining and there wasn’t a cloud in the sky. Nothing but a deep shade of blue as far as the eye could see. I got off the highway exit and onto South Side proper a man on a mission.

With windows rolled down and the 80’s on 8 station blaring “I Can’t Hold Back” from Survivor it may have seemed a bit apropos but all things considered I wouldn’t have wanted it any other way. I pulled into the parking lot of the local pizza shop named Pino’s. One of the last true remaining food joints in South Side.

Growing up in the late 70’s and early 80’s we had places like Barney’s and Hucks for cheese steaks, Lucy’s for penny candy and Brother Brights Soul Food Store for the more acquired taste. Sadly, the proprietors of those establishments have long since gone on to their great reward. The only one that still remains a fixture of South Easton is Pino’s Pizza.

The shop has been called “Pino’s” for as long as I can remember and is still the only place in the area where you can get a real pizza that isn’t from one of those faux pizza places like Dominos or Papa Johns.

Pino’s sits as part of strip mall next to a grocery store. A place where as a child you would grab a slice while waiting for your parents to finish grocery shopping, which I did on numerous occasions.

Over the course of my lifetime its gone through several owners and at least three remodels but as far as I’m concerned, as long as it keeps the Pino’s name and location it will forever be associated with me.

As I got out of my car and made my way to the door I could hear off in the distance the sound of lawn mowers humming along at the housing development nearby. The sound of which reminded me of all the spring days I spent as a teenager covered in grass and gasoline mowing lawns while accumulating money to grab a slice and a Coke at Pino’s.

I walked inside and saw two people who, like me are synonymous with South Side. We’ve been friends since elementary school and try to get together every so often just to catch up. And of course, our rendezvous point is Pino’s. Oh sure, we chat regularly via email and the social networks but there’s just something about being face to face in a familiar place that’s nostalgic. Especially a place where you spent your own childhood.

It amazes me just thinking about how the three of us have all grown up and now lead lives of our own and how, as we discuss the current events in each of our busy lives the conversation always turns to how much we love Pino’s. We all have the same common bond with the place that each of us ate lunch and had late night pizza binges at dozens of years ago.

After we had said our goodbyes and made a promise to get together again soon I decided to drive past the old laundromat that stands not too far from Pino’s. It too is a place that I spent plenty of hours in growing up playing video games while waiting for my Mom and Grandmother to finish drying our clothes.

I peered inside and could smell the familiar fragrance of detergent and fabric softener as the clothes were drying. I thought to myself that one day I’m going to have to go in there again just for old times sake.

I suppose it would have to be at a time when it wasn’t so crowded though. I don’t think it would look right if someone were to see a forty-year old man tearing up inside of a laundromat.

Needless to say, a smile came across my face as I turned up the radio and headed for home. “Our House” by Madness blared through the speakers and my smile turned into a laugh. I love the 80’s.

Every day I am constantly reminded how blessed I am to just be alive and still be able to spend days with good friends at Pinos.

A Conversation With, Interview, Movies and TV

A Conversation With Suze Lanier-Bramlett

Suze Lanier-Bramlett has a story to tell.

A story that has taken her on a journey that’s included time in the theater, television, movies, music and photography.

Chances are, if you’ve been exposed to any of these mediums you’ve most likely encountered her and may not have even known it.

Horror fans know her as Brenda Carter from the first “The Hills Have Eyes” movie. The cult classic that made her the original “Scream Queen“.

Television enthusiasts might remember her for a number of roles she’s played over the years including a stint as John Travolta’s girlfriend on “Welcome Back Kotter”.

Musicians know her for her soulful voice and being the wife of Delaney Bramlett, one of the greatest songwriters ever.

But dig a little deeper and you really get to know what makes this amazing woman tick.

Suze’s latest album, “Swamp Cabaret” is the story of her life thus far. Its also a reflection of her own one woman show in sequence. From her life as a “B Movie Star” to the day she almost made it to Woodstock. With enough blues and cabaret mixed in to appeal to a variety of music lovers.

In my interview with Suze, we’ll discuss “Swamp Cabaret”, her loving relationship and songwriting partnership with Delaney Bramlett, her love of photography and of course “The Hills Have Eyes”. She even dishes on her latest movie project: “Cut!” where she has the challenge of playing herself.

goJimmygo (gJg): It is such a pleasure to speak with you! How are you and how’s your new CD doing?

Suze Lanier-Bramlett (SLB): I’m doing really good. You know, we’re getting some very nice airplay both here and in Europe. The European enthusiasm is surprising and exciting.

gJg: When I first wanted to speak with you it was about the 35th Anniversary of “The Hills Have Eyes”.  Then I started digging a little deeper and found out that in addition to your TV, film and music careers, you’re also a successful photographer too. Tell me a little bit about your photography.

SLB: I’ve always kind of been led through the universe in a spiritual sort of way and photography was actually a blessing. My acting career had been slowing down a bit in the 80’s and I had a son to raise. So I started thinking about other things I could do besides act because I hadn’t really done anything else since I was fifteen years old.

One night I fell asleep and actually dreamt that I was a photographer. That dream reminded me of when I was a little girl and the day my Dad had bought me a Brownie camera. I would go around and shoot Girl Scout meetings, birthday parties and friends. I suddenly remembered how much I loved taking pictures.

Following the dream, the very next day I went out and bought myself a camera. I read the manual, invited a few actor friends over and started shooting. Believe it or not within about three weeks I started making a living as a photographer. It happened that fast.

gJg: It sounds like you had the knack for it right from the start.

SLB: The real trick about photography is understanding light. I think my time spent being in the theater helped me with that. I’ve also always enjoyed looking at fashion magazines. I think because of those two things I had been subconsciously studying light for years.

gJg: Amazing that it all happened for you because of a dream.

SLB: Yeah, and the thing about photography for me is that it’s a fun career. It’s like anything else though, you have to work at it. You have to promote. I think that’s the hardest part of being an artist. There are so many people I know who are fabulous in their art but they can’t make a living of it because they don’t know how to promote themselves. How you get it out there and get people to acknowledge it. That’s the hard part, whether it’s music, acting, painting, etc.

gJg: It’s not an easy road that’s for sure.

SLB: Everyone wants to be an artist, a singer, a rock star, an actor but they have no idea how challenging and difficult it can be. It looks so easy and so glamorous but it’s not. There’s an element of luck involved too. Being in the right place at the right time and finding the right people who can help you take it to the next level.

Songwriting

gJg: When did you first start writing songs?

SLB: The first song I ever wrote was when I was about 10 years old. I had a crush on a boy named Mike and I wrote a song about him called “I Like Mike”. <laughs>

You know, even though it was awful it still gave me the feeling of a creative rush and ever since then I’ve dabbled in songwriting. I found out later that my love for it went deeper than just “dabbling”.

My mother passed away last April and as I was going through some of her things I found poems that she had written all through the years that I never knew about. Her father was also a poet and was actually related to Tennessee Williams.

gJg: Really? Tennessee Williams?

SLB: My grandfather was Thomas Lanier and Tennessee Williams’ birth name was “Thomas Lanier Williams”; cousins of some kind.  I got to work with Tennessee. He was so gifted and intense.

gJg: So it runs in the family!

SLB: Yes it does. But the music didn’t really come full circle for me until I met Delaney in 1977.  He was always in the recording studio and I occasionally would toss out a lyric or two. That’s the way it started and then we eventually began working on songs together.

Later, in the mid-80’s, I formed my own band and performed regularly at The Palomino Club in LA and a bar called The Rose Tattoo, which at the time was the second most popular cabaret bar in the US. Both of those places are closed now. I had a great West Hollywood following.

Around 1991 I decided to stop performing in clubs. It’s hard keeping a band together and I was doing well as a photographer. So I put music on the back burner.

gJg: How did the “Swamp Cabaret” project come about?

SLB: After being away from music for years, Delaney and I started co-writing again. We had been working on some songs for his album.

One night I went to a salon performance party at a friend’s house who was preparing to do a cabaret show in Hollywood.

Her director recognized me from the old days and asked if I’d be interested in performing again. It was truly flattering but I politely explained to him that I thought “that ship had sailed”.  He gave me his card anyway and said: “Lets have lunch.”

I went home and told Delaney about it and, surprisingly, he said he thought I should do it. In fact, he offered to help with the music. With his encouragement, I decided to give it a go.

We had a couple of meetings and rehearsals; however, it was halted when Delaney had a gall bladder surgery and developed complications.

Over the next seven months I never left his side. He passed at the end of 2008.  After he was gone I was devastated and had no motivation to do much of anything. Then one day the director called me and said: “Come on, let’s put your show up!”

gJg: How did it go?

SLB: I was really nervous to be on stage singing again. When Delaney had been involved, he had asked me to include the song “Superstar”.  I kept it in for him.  It was tough getting through that first show. 

It’s actually still a challenge sometimes to face the day without him here. I stay busy and some of his band members play with me, so we keep his memory alive by working and writing together.

gJg: Just listening to the CD you seem so comfortable. It’s almost natural.

SLB: Thank you. I love being in the studio. I just finished recording a song that Delaney and I wrote that was never released called “Angel In The Night”. We wrote the song on Dec 8, 1980, the night John Lennon was shot. It’s a love song and was written initially with Yoko in mind.

gJg: I love your version of “Superstar” on the CD.  I actually grew up listening to The Carpenters version but the song is still one of my all time favorites. The chords and melody are just so beautiful.

SLB: I love it too. Delaney was one of the co-writers of that song. He was such an amazing songwriter. For me to have fallen in love with him and then have him ask me to help him write – you can’t go to school for that. Being married to such a great songwriter and man was a huge gift in my life.

gJg: Another one of my favorite songs on the album is “On The Way To Woodstock”.  It’s so infectious. How true is that song?

SLB: The whole thing is actually true. I was living on The Lower East Side of New York and was very pregnant at the time.

gJg: What encouraged you to put that story into a song?

SLB: ABC news did a documentary on the 40th anniversary of Woodstock in 2009 and they had asked me if they could include a segment about my own Woodstock experience. After I saw it I decided that story could make a cool song. So I sat down at the piano and I whipped it out in about a day.

gJg: Are all of your songs written that easily?

SLB: Not always. Sometimes I’ll get an idea for a song but I’ll need to let it stew.  I might only just have a title or a rough idea about what I want to say but then I’ll sort of just forget about it and not work on it for a while. Then one day I’ll just sit down again and the song will just come out.

gJg: You can’t rush the process.

SLB: You’re right. I, personally don’t like to force the process of songwriting. There’s a formula to it but I prefer to write when the inspiration hits me.

gJg: So a lot of your songs are about personal experiences but you also tend to write from someone else’s perspective as well?

SLB: I do. Delaney would do that too. As a matter of fact, Delaney would often laugh about how all of his wives or ex girlfriends would always think he was writing a song about them personally. He’d say: “Look, I’m not always writing about the person that I’m with. I might be writing about something that I had heard on the news or I’ll write a song from someone else’s point of view.” I feel the same way.

gJg: I love the vibe of this album. Especially with the last track, “Leave Your Hat On”.

SLB: I’ve always loved Randy Newman’s songwriting. “Leave Your Hat On” is one of my favorite songs so I put it on my CD.  I often close my show with that song.

The Hills Have Eyes (35th anniversary):

gJg; You know I’ve got to ask you about “The Hills” don’t you? <laughs>

SLB: You absolutely do! <laughs>

gJg: Do you remember when they crowned Jamie Lee Curtis the “Scream Queen” because of the movie “Halloween”? Well, I did a little research and it looks like you beat her to that title by at least a year.

SLB: I did?

gJg: If you look it up you’ll see. “Hills” came out in 1977 and that’s when you were screaming. “Halloween” didn’t come out until 1978.

SLB: So I was the first screamer?

gJg: You were the first. You have the title and should be credited with that.

SLB: That’s great. <laughs>

gJg: When you think about “The Hills Have Eyes” what’s the first thought that comes into your mind?

SLB: You know how sometimes you’ll do one thing in your life and it changes your whole life forever? That was what that movie did for me.

gJg: Really?

SLB: Yes. You see my agent didn’t want me to do it. He thought it was horrible. But I went against his wishes and did it anyway because I liked the script and I like Wes Craven. It was through that movie that I met Delaney. He had seen it at a drive-in the night before we met.

This last January, I worked on a new movie called “Cut!” because of David Rountree, the director, a fan of “The Hills Have Eyes”. In 2009 I also did another project with Oren Peli (Paranormal Activity) called “Area 51”, another film of the same genre.

Some nice things have come out of me being in “The Hills Have Eyes”. Not bad for a low budget project that your agent doesn’t want you to do in the first place. I’m glad I followed my intuition on that one.

gJg: Do you have any interesting stories from being on the set?

SLB: Well, I’m not sure if I’ve ever told this story before. I remember at one point everyone was a bit on edge about filming the rape scene. Rape scenes weren’t common place back then.

Michael Berryman’s character (Pluto) was going to be the one who raped me first and Michael was a bit insecure about how I would feel about being raped by him.

I was sensing his discomfort so I said to him: “Look, when Wes calls action, let’s just be making out passionately and I’ll act like I’m really enjoying it.”

On “ACTION” they pulled back the curtain and instead of the rape, Michael and I were passionately making out like it was a love scene. It got a great laugh and broke the ice for everyone.

gJg: How was it filming the movie?

SLB: It was fun but it was a hard shoot. It was hot in the daytime and cold at night. We were stuck out in the desert but everyone got along well. It was very low-budget film and probably had more meaning for some of us then others.

I don’t consider “The Hills Have Eyes” a great work of art but its a horror classic and I’m very glad that I did it. It was important enough to make a sequel and a remake.

gJg: I agree.

SLB: Why were you such a big fan?

gJg: I was really big into the horror genre growing up. Just being scared but “safe” in my theater seat. That’s what turned me on to those types of movies.

SLB:  Not me. I don’t like to watch scary films.  It’s cool to act in the horror genre though.

gJg: Do you plan on doing any east coast dates with your band? I’d love to see you in New York.

SLB: That would be great but it’s quite expensive to take a band out. I could possible make it work playing to tracks but tracks aren’t the same as having a band on stage. Besides singing the songs, I do some stand up comedy in the show. My last gig in Hollywood I had video in the show which adds another dimension to it all. 

I want to go to New York sometime in the Spring. I want to catch up on the shows and see some friends. I’ll check out some clubs while I’m there but my focus right now is to stay in the studio until I finish a new batch of songs I’ve written and to release the next CD.

The Changes in the Musical Dynamic:

gJg: What are your thoughts on the way the music industry is changing?

SLB: I think most artists are having financial problems because of all the free downloads, resulting in fewer CD sales. I’ve even read somewhere that the physical product of a CD will probably not be in existence in a few years.

There will soon be nothing that you can hold in your hand and actually look at except your iPhone of iPad.

One of the things that I treasured the most about buying a new album was the artwork.

gJg: I could not agree more. I feel the same way. I’m really going to miss that.

SLB: All of my musician friends are very perplexed about how they’re going to manifest this new business model into income. All of the music that we’re putting out there does not guarantee that people are going to buy it. Especially if they can listen to it for free. Everybody’s trying to place songs in film or on television.

The only way an artist can make money these days is to tour but being on the road night after night is exhausting. Everybody’s trying to figure it out; how to do your art and make a living from it.

gJg: It’s hard to imagine there being any upside to this new model.

SLB: There is one thing about it that’s kind of cool. You’re not dependent on a major label to put a record out anymore. You can do it whenever and however you. The artist can have full control. That part of it is extremely cool.

It’s the same thing with movies. You can do them inexpensively if you really want to. For about $1500 you can use better equipment than Wes Craven did for “The Hills Have Eyes”. <laughs>. You can go buy a camera with a cool lens and have a better quality than he could get back in the late 70’s.

Cut! Movie:

gJg: Let’s talk about your latest movie project. Is it true that you play yourself in this one?

SLB: Yes.

gJg: How did this role come about?

SLB: It’s not a huge role and it was kind of an after thought. They already had most of the movie filmed and I think they wanted a subplot to go along with it. My manager represents David Rountree as well as Gabrielle Stone (Dee Wallace’s real-life daughter). She pitched the idea of using Gabrielle and me. So I eneded up playing the grown up horror film director: Susan Lanier,  former star of “The Hills Have Eyes” with Gabrielle playing my leading lady in the film.

Because we had such a great time on the set, I invited them out to my “Swamp Cabaret” shows and subsequently, they decided to include a scene from the bar into the plot.

The star of the movie is David Banks and he is a very talented actor. He’s also one of the writers.

gJg: This sounds like a very interesting story!

SLB: I’ve seen some of the footage and I think it’s going to be great. I’m grateful to still be working in film. The parts are not that plentiful for more “mature” actors these days.

gJg: Have you ever thought about writing a book about your life?

SLB: Yes I have. Someday I’d like to do that.

gJg: You certainly do! You have a lot to say.

SLB: It’s been a journey that’s for sure. Fame,  fortune and stardom was never the goal for me.  I just love doing the work.  Because a hundred years from now, will any of it really matter? The important thing is to enjoy the process; the ride.

Because… in the end, we’re all just stardust anyway.

For More Information on Suze Lanier-Bramlett: Click Here

Article first published as Swamp Cabaret: A Conversation with Suze Lanier-Bramlett on Technorati.

1980's, Life

Sick Days

Ever have one of those days where you get up in the morning and just feel like calling in sick? Today is one of those days.

Unfortunately, I don’t get “sick days” at my job. Any time off used must be taken in vacation days so a spur of the moment “I don’t feel like going in” day just isn’t worth it.

Why can’t sick days be like they were when I was in school?

When I got “sick” on a school day (which, strangely seemed to always happen the day of a big test) my grandmother (Nan) was always there to nurse me back to “health”.

The kitchen would be filled with the smell of chicken soup (her cure for what ails ya) and I would always plead with her to give me a dose of St. Joseph’s Cough Medicine. My  “illnesses” almost always came with a cough and luckily the medicine had a grape flavor.

But of the dozen or so sick days I took over the course of my school career there are two things I remember most from spending those days with her.

1. The Cash Line: A local AM radio station that played oldies music ran this promotion for years in the early 1980’s. They would start with $100 and at the top of every hour during the work day would randomly look up someone in the phone book from the local area and call them.

When someone answered the phone they would ask that person if they knew the amount of money in the “Cash Line”. If the person got the amount correctly he or she would win that amount. If they didn’t know the answer, the station would add increments to it and continue the contest until someone won. Then they’d start it all over again.

Nan religiously followed this contest for several years. She kept a little notepad near the radio and methodically keep track of every dollar amount. She was SURE they were going to call her one day and she’d win $150 or some other small amount of money.

So, while I got to listen to Dean Martin and old Motown hits all day long I’d watch Nan come running over every time she heard the little promo that they were about to call someone. “Get off the phone!” she’d yell to anyone who dared make a phone call at the top of the hour. “The Cash Line is on!”

The other thing that was always big in my house on sick days for me was watching “The Price is Right” with her from 11 am – noon. There’s something to be said for lying on the couch under a blanket while Bob Barker had people “Come On Down!” And if by some chance they had a $20,000 sports car and a double showcase winner it was the greatest thing ever.

I almost had Nan give me a high-five the one time someone won them both but thought better of it. Surely the jig would be up and she’d send me back to the confines of Easton Area High School.

Eventually though, usually by the end of the school day, I’d recover from the mysterious malady that had afflicted me and be well enough to go back to school. And while I sat in the classroom the next day I’d often wonder if Nan had won the Cash Line (she never did) and if she’d tell me someone had won both showcases when I got home.

You know the old saying, “You don’t know what you’ve got until its gone?” This is one of those moments. I miss them.

Sure I could stay home and still watch the Price is Right (albeit without Bob Barker). And I could make myself some chicken soup. But there’s no Cash Line anymore and sadly, my Grandmother has also gone on to better things.

<Sigh!> Looking up at the clock and it’s time to hit the road. Another day of work lies ahead.

Thought and Opinion

Why I Love Mornings

The break of dawn arrives in the tiny town of Easton, Pennsylvania just as it does every morning. You can hear the sound of birds singing from deep within the pine trees welcoming the sun back from its slumber.

The glistening shine of dew covers lawns in every neighborhood and somewhere in Palmer Township a new day has begun.

I’m an early riser. A morning person. I know my numbers are diminishing and it seems as though I may be the last of a dying breed. Most people can’t believe that if it’s 7 am (even on weekends) and I am still in bed I feel like I am missing out on something.

But ironically, like clockwork I am usually up before then. I have some kind of internal thing going on inside that alerts me when it is time to rise.  It’s not strong enough kung-fu to where I can say in my head “5:15 am”, close my eyes and the next time I open them it is that exact time. But the fact of the matter is that on days that I work the alarm will rarely ever have a need to rouse me. I’m THAT good.

You see mornings are something I long for. A time most others take for granted and would like to skip altogether if possible in favor of slumber. But not me. Nothing can compare to that quiet time in the early hours of the day. It awakens the senses. Seeing the morning light of a new day, listening to the birds singing outside an open window, feeling the air as it passes through,  the smell of fresh coffee brewing, the taste of bacon. From my point of view, it’s hard to imagine someone NOT wanting this same thing.

Critics will claim that you can have all of these things when ever you wake up but I beg to differ. It’s not just the act of drinking the coffee or hearing the birds as much as it is the “experience”. To know that through some divine miracle you’ve been given a new morning and you have the entire day ahead of you. What will you do with it?

It’s a time when you can relax and reflect on the events of the day (whether they be school, work or even nothing at all) without rush or worry. Plenty of time to read the newspaper or Internet blogs for those 21st Century types.

Here’s another reason to like mornings: It’s the only me time you may get before your children (who, ironically as they age tend to become non-morning persons) come barreling down the stairs demanding breakfast.

Sadly though, there is one con to this malady my friends claim I am “suffering” from.  The trade-off for getting up early means obviously going to bed early also. Unless I am out somewhere already I rarely stay up past 10 pm.  I am more than tired by then.  But just one look at programming on television at that time of the night is enough to send anyone running for the sheets so it’s not like I am missing anything.

Unfortunately, this is where family and friends usually find reason to ridicule me because of my “school night” sleep pattern.

Call me an old man if you must but I’m not ashamed. I prefer to look at it this way: The sooner I fall asleep the closer I am to morning.

Good Morning!