The Untitled Interview #52: Starring Kevin Murphy (The Moondoggies)

Ladies and gents, I'd hereby like to say that I love me some Moondoggies. Ok, so I probably already made that clear. But I'll just put it out there once again for good measure. Their breed of Seattle's finest twangy chooglin' mountain classic rockin' awesomeness is second to none. If you don't already have their record Tidelands, well, you'll want to fix that. You can bet your last dollar that it's gonna be showing up in my Best of 2010 records. Oh yes indeedy doo.

While you're doing that, why not catch up with Mister Kevin Murphy? The mouthpiece and guitarist for The Moondoggies took a little time out from touring activities to answer these here questions. Read on for some sage advice, and also to find out what the official best dinosaur ever is. Or was, rather. And speaking of that Moondoggies tour, it rolls through this area this very Friday (1/28), making a stop at the friendly confines of Iota. See y'all there, I would think/hope/expect.

Les Enfants Terribles: How the hell are you?
Kevin Murphy: Sitting in the Solar Culture venue in Tucson, AZ. Just had a good meal, which is rare on tour.

LET: Playing music is:
KM: Necessary.

LET: What album most made you realize you wanted to make music?
KM: Meet the Beatles or Nevermind...they both had the same effect.

LET: Beatles or Stones?
KM: John Lennon playing YER BLUES on The Rolling Stones Rock and Roll Circus.

LET: Top 5 albums (of now, of this month, or of ever):
-strategically left blank-

LET: Favorite music-related movie?
KM: D200 Motels.

LET: Half-full or half-empty?
KM: Fempty.

LET: Which of your peers do you think is making the best music these days?
KM: I don't think of it as "best." I think a lot of my peers are doing great things.

LET: What’s the first thing you think when you wake up in the morning?
KM: Need more sleep.

LET: Little-known Moondoggies fact?
KM: Carl didn't play drums when we started.

LET: The greatest record store in the world is:
KM: I haven't traveled the whole world but Easy Street Records in Seattle is my favorite local shop.

LET: Shaken or stirred?
KM: Whiskey and 7.

LET: Best piece of advice you’ve ever been given?
KM: You better be lining them up and knocking them down, not knocking them up and lining them down.

LET: If you weren’t in a band you’d be:
KM: A paleontologist.

LET: Best dinosaur ever?
KM: Utah Raptor.

LET: What do you find most comforting/most disconcerting about going out on tour?
Meeting people and meeting people.

LET: If you were so inclined, whom would you form a tribute band in honor of?
KM: Ted Lucas. This changes daily.

LET: Best song ever written?
KM: This also changes daily. Today? “Tonight Will Be Fine” -Leonard Cohen.

mp3: What Took So Long (The Moondoggies from Tidelands)