My Old Kentucky Blog 2008 Holiday Interview Series : Jay Bennett

Jay Bennett was a member of Wilco from 1994 to 2001. Since leaving Wilco Bennett has released five albums and has helped numerous artists in both a session and producing capacity. Bennett helped launch the career of indie talent David Vandervelde and has assisted in many capacities on both of Vandervelde's albums. He is also a founding member of the band Titanic Love Affair (often compared to Dinosaur Jr. and The Replacements). He recently released a new free solo album, called Whatever Happened I Apologize, recorded at his Pieholden Studio in Urbana, Illinois.

Jay Bennett - Wicked World (Daniel Johnston cover)

FREE ALBUM DOWNLOAD : Whatever Happened I Apologize (.zip file)

MOKB : Any special musical plans for the Holiday Season? Any specials songs or releases?

Jay Bennett : Well, I just released a new "album" called Whatever Happened I Apologize on rockproper.com, for free, on the Monday before Thanksgiving, so I suppose that would count as a "holiday release," huh? I also plan on finishing up my next solo "album," Kicking at the Perfumed Air, to be released early next year. I usually cover a Christmas song and send it out to my friends and family, as a greeting card---perhaps this year I will stream it on myspace? Though, I usually pick somewhat depressing Christmas songs, and I may have gone through all of them already,... most of them are just so damn full of that Christmas cheer and whatnot,.... the depressing ones you really have to search out...I'll find one though, it's just getting harder and harder.

Read the rest of the interview AFTER THE JUMP...

MOKB : What have you been working on lately?

Jay Bennett : The above mentioned, as well as another Bennett and Burch release, and, a new Titanic Love Affair "album." This was the "power pop"/ "Minneapolis sound" band I was in from the late 80's to the mid 90's, so, it's a "reunion" album of sorts.

MOKB : What was your favorite album or musician of 2008?

Jay Bennett : I've got to say, my buddy David Vandervelde's Secretly Canadian release. I'm very pleased that another of the songs we co-wrote made it on that album, and that it turned out quite well. Didn't really listen to a lot of officially released stuff in 2008, mostly stuff done by my friends, and stuff done at my studio (Pieholden Suite Sound---http://www.myspace.com/pieholdenstudios)...like stuff by Ben Clarke, and Casey Meehan. Can I stil l say that Joe Strummer and Warren Zevon are my favorite musicians of 2008, although, tragically neither one of them is with us?

MOKB : What's the plan for 2009? What secret knowledge can you divulge?

Jay Bennett : Well, I just divulged some of my plans. I suppose that my attending UIUC for another Masters degree is a bit of a secret. Please don't ask why---every once in a while I just get a hankering for the academic life, but, usually this subsides after a few courses...so, we'll see. My long term goal is to continue to make my studio better and better( like, it would be nice to actually be able to locate half of the stuff I know is in there, and also know that when I do locate it, it actually works!), and to do whatever I can to surround myself with lots of talented people, as I have had the privilege, and blessing of doing over the past few years---largely through my studio partner Matt DeWine, and my manager Jefferson Macklin.

MOKB : What is (are!) your most and least favorite things about the Holiday Season?

Jay Bennett : Least: incorrect grammar, like the lack of subject and verb tense agreement in your question (just fuckin' with ya, take my grammar to task, and I'm sure it won't hold an ounce of water). You can delete that, if you want, I just thought it was funny, but the years have taught me that what I think is funny, usually is not, to most people...I simply amuse myself. The continued commercialization of Christmas irks me, but, hell "that's Capitalism," as they say. I love snow, family, and friends. Recently my list of friends has expanded quite a bit, due to myspace, which is cool. I have to admit, that I love those "Griswald houses," with way too many lights, and roasted chestnuts actually are fucking amazing. If you have never tried one, you must. Oh yeah, I hate repackaged music just so the labels can make a few extra bucks, and all you get it is one previously unreleased "bone-us" track out of the whole deal. But, in general I really do enjoy this time of year immensely, it takes me right back to fond childhood memories---everything smells different this time of year, for some reason.

MOKB : What are your favorite holiday foods?

Jay Bennett : Mashed potatoes, preferably with garlic and LOTS of butter---hands down, that's it. Uh, is Champagne considered a food?

MOKB : Any special holiday traditions?

Jay Bennett : Growing up, my family always went with the Christmas eve handing out of presents---a tradition from the Swedish side of my family, so, I kind of like to stick to that. Getting really drunk used to be part of the plan, not so much anymore.

If you could collaborate with one artist this Christmas season, who would it be and why?---Elvis Costello, but, he wouldn't need me, he does quite well on his own. Why?....Bono always said "three chords and the truth"...E.C. seems to be more about 10 or 12 chords and a pack of lies---this is much more appealing to me

MOKB : Favorite holiday movie? song?

Jay Bennett : Movies: "Christmas Vacation," "A Christmas Story," though I have to admit that I've seen them both WAY too many times....any suggestions on something new? Song: "Fairytale of New York" by the Pogues is ALL I'll ever need.

MOKB : Santa or Satan? St. Nicholas or St. Paulie Girl? Kris Kringle or Kris Kristofferson?

Jay Bennett : A few years ago, my friend and musical collaborator Edward Burch put together and released a collection of Christmas cover songs by all of our friends, under the title "Santa is Real"---a twist (mine) on the Louvin Brother's "Satan is Real." I covered "Christmas in Prison," by John Prine, and "Pretty Paper," by Willie. There was lots of other great stuff on there too. Ed also perfectly spoofed the horrible-supposed-to-be-scary album cover art of the original---so, I'll take Santa over Satan. Can I pick St. Paul, not St. Pauli Girl? I've always been a Bud. Light drinker, and I really can't stand any beer with "flavor" per se, and also, I just love the Twin Cities (one of my favorite places in the country). Kris Kristofferson all the way, I had tickets to see him at Ravinia in Chicago, a few years ago, but somehow I ended up not going, ...really regret that---how can you compete with the guy who wrote the best opening line to a song ever: "Busted flat in Baton Rouge...", if Kringle comes up with anything close to that, I'll consider him.

MOKB : Feel free to share any holiday wishes, facts you'd like to be known, your calls, etc... here.

Jay Bennett : I'm not the dick head portrayed in the Wilco "documentary," I w ill probably spend a lifetime living down the after effects of someone else's creative editing. But, anybody who gets to know me even a little bit will paint you a very different picture. So, I guess one wish of mine would be for the world to know me for who I really am, but that's probably a lot to ask. How about "Peace on Earth" and love and health to all man kind...you know there really is some good wisdom stuff in that old Bible thing.

Previous: John McCauley of Deer Tick, Lord Phallus (Rob Crow) of Goblin Cock, Jon Visger of Mason Proper, Cassie Ramone of Vivian Girls, David Adamson of Grampall Jookabox, Casey Dienel of White Hinterland, Rafter Roberts of Rafter, Will Johnson of Centro-Matic, Jof Owen of The Boy Least Likely To, Milo Bonacci of Ra Ra Riot, Aziz Ansari of Human Giant, Nick Thorburn & Jim Gutrie of Human Highway, Vito Aiuto of The Welcome Wagon, Ariel Pink of Ariel Pink's Haunted Graffiti, Alejandra Deheza of School of Seven Bells, Matthew Gerken, Christian Kiefer and Jefferson Pitcher, Eric Bachmann of Crooked Fingers, Sean Walker of Delta Spirit, Eef Barzelay of Clem Snide, Andy Kindler (comedian), Jay Bennett (formerly of Wilco)

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