Member Since: 1/3/2008
Band Website: cdbaby.com/cd/regisjr
Band Members: Me, myself, and my Pino Noir
Influences: It would take a lot of thought to really get into it. But my Friends Jerry Wagers and Anne McCue have had a great influence on me. Jonathan Merril, my former producer, too. And all those fabulous musicians I've had the pleasure of jamming with - People like Drummer Matt Laug and Singer/songwriter Shane Stewart. So have many of the artists I've encountered on a social basis in my travels. I wouldn't trade in any of those or experiences, except maybe if I was really hungry and had no money. Of course there are lots of environmental factors and unintentional influences that go into a person's art. Being accused of something it turned out my father actually did and going to behavior mod for it, for instance. Also, feeling like a fool for defending him the whole time, even helping him secure a movie contract for a film that was supposed to show how innocent he was. Ultimately, that's what brought me out to L.A. where I live amongst all these wonderful flakes. As far as musicians I'll probably never meet(although I have met some, just not intimately)I'd say Stephen Foster has to top the list, because he showed America what it meant to write a catchy pop song(The Camp Town Racers, Oh Suzanna) Of course without music education in schools, his importance might not be well known these days. But what the fuck, anyway. The Beatles were a huge influence, but I have to wonder if one main reason for that was because they were the closest thing to culture that infiltrated Pitston Maine at that time. Heres a by no means comprehensive list of music I've loved: Jane's Addiction, The Talking Heads, old timey church music and Christmas carols, The Ramones, The Kinks, The Who, Ode To Billy Joe, The Barney Miller theme and all those other themes from that era, and any music from the Buggs Bunny Road Runner Show. Elvis, Johnny Cash, Bob Dylan(but really enough with him - though I can't blame him for taking the money)Paul Simon, Tom Waits, Orchestra Music in old movies, Gershwin, Robert Johnson, Muddy Waters, Hank Williams, Pink Floyed, Black Sabbath, Led Zepplin, Joni Mitchel, Beethoven, Haydn, Tom Waits, David Bromberg, King Crimson, John Coltrane, The Police, Miles Davis, Hank Williams, Wilco, The Doors(the good songs)Peter Gabriel(the same)That version of there she goes in So I married an AXE Murderer(the one where the voice gets all raspy, like Fankey Valley's[though I'm not that into the Four Seasons] not the Boo Radleys' version I don't think) Paint it Black, Sympathy for the Devil, Street Fightin Man, Karen Carpenter's voice, Frank Sinatra's voice and a lorde portion of the songs he sings. Elmore James, Frank Zappa, Do You Believe In Magic, Many local talents I've happened to se but never met... okay, I'm getting bored and if you're still reading I imagine you are too. Oh and the Beach boys harmony, doesn't matter if they're singing a second rate song. And Judy Garland(as Dorothy and later at the end of her career whe her voice is tattered. Oh God she is a moving singer)So there's one act I want to mention aside from the rest: The Roches, I just love the hell out of them. This is a much to do with personal taste as to do with their talent(which is prodigious) All those other acts are great, too, as are so many more I haven't mentioned. If I were still able to perform, I would definitely be influenced by their overall unpretentious attitude and straight forward approach to to vocals. I can't stand the way so many vocalists ruin songs by showboating. Just sing the song people. That's are where it's at in my book.Oh, and Carol King. Thank you God for inventing someone with her songwriting talent. I prefer her version of natural woman to Aretha's, though that's good too.
Sounds Like: I've never gone for a specific sound. I've always gone after whatever sound occurs to me. Career wise, this is not good. A homeless man, name George, once told me, "the vast majority of successful artists are stylists, Jimmy Hendrix, Bob Dylan, De-lite" I don't know how De-lite snuck into his head. George, he was right about so many things. Like when he told my roommate his girlfriend was just using him for a place to stay until something better came along. I had to pull Neil off the old coot(imagine that, attacking a homeless guy) But later she did take off to Las Vegas with the bass player from the band War(not on my list of influences - I hate the song Low Rider)
Record Label: Stinky Sneeker Rok
Type of Label: Indie