Whisker-A-NoGo

This is definitely an artist that you want to check out.  I was intrigued from the first second I started watching this video on YouTube.  Turn the lights down, the music up, and prepare to be goose-bumped.

Nathan Dale is a unique blend of Eels, Ours, and Jeff Buckley.  (Three of my personal faves!)  After listening to his 11-track record a couple times, it’s hard to pick a favorite.  My instincts are saying “One Bad Day”, but maybe it’s because I’m a sucker for music videos as they add another dimension to the song.

I thoroughly enjoyed the slanderous-blasphemy portrayed lyrically in “Oh, Messiah”, so you definitely want to listen to that one a couple times. Unless, of course, you’re a slave to what the song’s about.

My rating: 8.3/10

Here’s my Q/A with Nathan:

Briefly introduce yourself, and the band.

My name is Nathan Dale. I live in Sacramento, CA. I’ve been playing guitar for over 20 years. I’ve played in bands for a lot of those 20 years. These days, I’m also doing the solo artist/singer-songwriter thing.

In no particular order, list your top ten inspirations, even if they’re not musical.

The first thing that comes to mind is Alan Watts and his books. They pulled my mind from the small town rut that I was brought up in and into the more universal perspective. 

Charles Bukowski, too; He was enlightening in a different way, of course. 

The language of music created a landmark change for me and continues to mystify my most intellectual sensibilities. 

Computers. I’ve owned a computer since I was about 7 years old. BASIC programming and BBSs were the only thing that could keep me indoors for an entire summer. 

I used to collect vinyl records. Those days are inspirational memories. 

Modern visual arts are a huge inspiration, these days. I’d like to be able to spend, at least, an hour a day taking pictures and 2 hours a day watching a great film. 

Video games have almost become a guilty pleasure, mostly, because of the time-sink factor. They have a profound influence on my songwriting. I find modern video games to be some of the most creative work going on in our culture. 

It took many years for my tastebuds to know such bittersweet bliss and thank goodness it did: Coffee! 

What are your thoughts on the current status of the music industry?

Well, yesteryear’s music business lay in critical condition. The trend of investing large amounts of capital into young artists has faded. Artists are raising their own capital to achieve their goals. This makes it tougher to grow into a large company but easier to be a profitable grass roots company. So, I think the current status of the music business is still being defined. The way things are trending now, fans are deciding what that new business model will be. Technologies have given power to musicians, sure, but technology has given fans inexpensive, impulsive gratification. With radio dying and people wary of “early adopting” new products, streaming music is becoming the replacement for radio. Unfortunately for the artists, this might never convert to a single sale while large numbers of people are enjoying the music on-demand. This puts the artist in a serious dilemma when it comes to releasing records that cost time and money to create. The benefit to the artist is that you can quickly build a potential audience. From there, it’s up to savvy and creative minds to monetize the live and in-person experience.

Are you signed to a label? What are your thoughts on that?

I’m not signed to any label. I think it would be fantastic to be part of a label. There are many labels out there that are doing business for the right reasons. For me, that opportunity would be something I would entertain and joyfully encounter.

What would you hope people think about when they hear your music?

I hope people feel something. Their thoughts are always at play. A busy mind can also be a dangerous one, right? Music provides us a landscape into the abstract, a way out of the corners in our lives. If anything I have ever done, be it music or writing/speaking, helped to get someone out of their corner then I would be content with that.

Have you ever bought an album for its cover? Which one?

Oh man, I used to be enamored by the record covers. I love Jimi Hendrix - Axis Bold As Love. Most of the Rolling Stones covers. As far as buying a record for its cover, I can’t remember doing that. For me, it might have been the opposite. I remember avoiding records because of their covers.

 What’s one place/venue in the world you’ve always wanted to play?

I’ve done a lot of touring and I’ve been very lucky to have played some legendary places. But of all the places that I haven’t played, the Ryman Auditorium, would be at the top of the “to-play” list.

Who inspired you to sing?

Ah! So many people. I love singing and I love listening to a good singer. My earliest memory of hearing a voice that really moved me is listening to James Taylor in my bedroom during the summer of 1989. He’s a wonderful writer and arranger but his voice has an exceptional character of honesty and believability.

What’s your favorite show or tour story?

There are many. Playing the Fillmore is always a blast. The energy there is like nowhere else. Rothbury and Bonnaroo have been notable highlights.

What’s your least favorite thing about being in a band?

The answer changes, often. Some times it’s one thing and other times it’s another. Energy is like that, you know?

What’s your most favorite thing about being in a band?

Chemistry. When it’s right, it’s transcendental. Things work without trying. The smiles are large and wide. The group can become more powerful than any individual. So a band can really reward you with life’s natural highs.

In your opinion, what’s the best way for an artist to make $ these days?

Well I say, whatever way you can make money with your integrity intact is fine by me. But, realistically, the most honest and natural way to make money, anymore, is to perform for people.

If you could go back and change anything in your career, what would it be?

It would, most definitely, be that I didn’t start singing solo until recently. That’s been a regret, actually. I was insecure and self-doubting about my singing because I have always been around good singers. It wasn’t just my lack of confidence. There wasn’t a necessity for another lead vocalist. I spent a lot of time attaching myself to other people and it ended up not working out. When you’re solo, the failures are, mostly, your own. I can deal with that better.

Do you feel like you sell more music online or at shows?

Without a doubt, at shows. Online is a very different experience for fans. The human connection isn’t as prevalent and they make their choices with a lot more ego while sitting at their terminals. At a show, people are reacting to an environment and have a different sense about themselves and the product. They are connected to the artist and the human experience. This provides a sense of trust and proof of where their money is going.

How do you feel about the new “facebook timeline”? 

I like the concept but the layout is much more convoluted than it used to be. I like the idea that things are preserved by their dates. It’ll be fascinating to see what I was doing today 5 years from now. But all of these technologies are constantly rebranding and restructuring. It’s reflective of their corporate environments. Humanity will prevail; It always does. The profound timeline is in your mind. It’s in your memories and your sensory bank- the smell of the grass field that you used to play in as a child, or that weird neighbor’s house after you finally stepped foot inside.

If you could interview any musical celebrity, alive or dead, who would it be?

That’s simple. Frank Sintra. He’s my idol. He optimized entertainment. His class and his eloquence are unmatched, in my opinion. His talent was super-human.

What’s the first concert you ever saw?

Well, I’m not entirely sure about that. I think I saw a few when I was very young. My first memory of a concert was in the 80s. It was Sammy Hagar and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Yes, that’s right. Re-read if you don’t believe it. It’s true. Stevie Ray Vaughan had a bottle thrown at him. Immediately, Sammy Hagar ran out onto the stage and railed his audience for not respecting “the baddest fucking guitar player alive!”. Yeah, The Red Rocker was pretty cool.

Any advice to up and coming bands?

Don’t do it if it doesn’t feel right. Be practical and be honest with yourselves. Watch other great bands. If you can’t come close to moving people like your favorites then you aren’t going to get noticed. The competition is so much tougher now. People aren’t as impressed as most bands hope they are. Showcase your strengths. If you don’t know what they are then ask someone with experience. But make sure they are sober because most of those experienced types are drunk and jaded!

Do you play in the band for a living?

In fact, I do.

What’s the first thing that comes to mind when I say “U.S.A.”?

MedUSA, the Gorgon. She was beheaded, you know?

Random question- Who do you think would win in a fight: Adele or Avril?

Well, Avril has been on the bench for awhile… she’s out of shape. Adele, well… she’s out of shape, too. Hmmm, I’ll have to get back to you on this one.

@whiskeranogo