EIGHT QUESTIONS FOR ERIC BRACE

Eric Brace fronts the wonderful Washington D.C. band Last Train Home, who freely admit to playing "one jumbled-up mess of American music." He also writes about the D.C. nightlife scene for the Washington Post's "Weekend" section. A long time ago Eric chopped big-time in a Boston-based bluegrass band, and in the '80s even ran a small indie record label right near The White House. So, as you can very plainly see, I had little option than to poll Our Man In Washington…

1. "Munsters" or "Addams Family": Which one’s for you, and Why? Why? WHY???

I could just say "Carolyn Jones" and leave it at that (she is enough of a reason... YOW!), but hell: John Astin! Lurch! The theme song! Thing in a box! 'nuff said

2. Who in the world, living or dead, would you most like to play a game of "Twister" with? See above. That would be Morticia. Carolyn Jones with her octopus legs.... can you IMAGINE!?!?!?

3. How many Sid King & The Five Strings records do you own?

Just one: "Gonna Shake This Shack Tonight," the Bear Family Collection. If you don't have it, Get It. What are you waiting for????

4. If you had been working the front gate at Graceland that night back in ‘76 when a drunken Jerry Lee Lewis showed up, shotgun in hand, to "put that damn Elvis outta his mis’ry", what would you have done?

First, I'd have bought him a drink, then, I'd have let him in.

5. "Ginger" or "Mary-Ann": Which one’s for you, and for How Long?

I like a mature woman: I'd have gone straight for "Lovey" (...that's "Missus Howell" to you, bub). How LONG?? ummmm, as long as the Mississippi River, as long as the sun comes up and goes down, always and forever... or until we were rescued.

6. What single song, living or dead, do you most wish you’d written? And Why Didn’t You? "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry": ahhh, Hank. Why didn't I?? Because I still haven't figured out that less is always more. Plus… Hank ALREADY WROTE IT!

7. Whose guitar would you most like to be reincarnated as?

Can I flip a four-sided coin to decide between Les Paul, Chet Atkins, Doc Watson and Django Reinhardt? Thank you.

8. In 2000 words or less, Your Hopes, Aspirations and Goals, musical and otherwise, for your life and your country?

I hope that corporate radio takes an unforseen nose-dive, forcing those powers that be to try different formats …like playing nothing but great music regardless of style or age. Music will be the social integrator that it once was. We will find peace and harmony through EVERYONE listening to Hank Williams, Marvin Gaye, Alejandro Escovedo, Prince ....and Last Train Home. Barring that, I'll settle for low-power and Internet radio making small but important inroads into people's brains.

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Gary Pig Gold: October, 2000

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