Emeralds- What Happened?

I triumphantly return with sincere apologies and an interview of Ben Kweller.

Ben Kweller could be described as one of the musical badasses of his time--having an album of original piano compositions at age 9, and scores (pardon the horrendous joke) of musical experience before his current age of 27. Shortly before his appearance on Case campus Feb 22, I got the chance to chat with him over the phone--and to ask him a few questions...


Have you been to the fair, shining splendor that is Cleveland before?
"I have, though I've never really gotten to see everything I would like--I've always wanted to go to the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame, and I haven't seen an Indians Game yet."


Well even if you haven't seen America's rockstars' pants, you have seen a lot of the world on tour. Where's your favourite place to visit?
"I love going to New York City, I love going to Japan--it's the most craziest most different place. Anything international. It's always so different, eating different food. I'm really happy anywhere. Within the states, my favourite thing really is going to parks and being outdoors. As far as cities, New York, Austin. I love Georgia."


What is your favourite song in your iPod right now?
"'Welcome to the Jungle' by Guns n' Roses. Mostly because my two year-old really likes hearing it, and he'll get really into it and start singing." (this is the part where he starts to shriek "Welcome to the Jungle," in his best two-year-old voice)


If you could pick one artist to tour with, who would it be and where would you go?
"Well does it have to be a living artist, since we're talking hypothetically?"

No, it could be anybody.
"Kurt Cobain. Doing an acoustic tour with him would be sick. Or you know what? Julian Casablancas from the Strokes. He is one of the only artists I know that when he's playing his music on his own, he doesn't just sound like Julian, he sounds like the Strokes. That's a rare thing. If I was touring with Julian, it would just be seeing the world. Kurt would be like a tour of homeless shelters in the South."


So I'm reading that you won a Billboard contest for your album of piano compositions at age nine--pretty impressive. Can you tell me more about this contest? How did it affect where you are now?
"It really wasn't that big of a deal--I was a kid. I was reading my dad's Billboard magazine when I saw the ad that said "Billboard Songwriting Contest" and that Slash was a judge, and I was sold. It said you had to be an amateur, and I was. So I borrowed a four-track recorder from my dentist and recorded my songs. I got an honourable mention and a placque, that was pretty cool."


How did your experiences with Radish affect where you are now?
"Oh big time, I needed to have all of those experiences to get to this point--I learned a lot about the music business and how fucked up it can be. I took a lot with me, and really kept a lot away."


I know the entire campus was excited to have you here for a show--another popular artist on campus is Ben Folds, who I know you worked with in the past. What was it like working with him for The Bens, and do you know if you'll ever do another album?
"God, I really want to. I know the other guys really want to. I'm working on it, and we really want to try to make something again."


Okay, so. Tell me about this tampon in your nose--have you been known to go the extra mile for your music?
"I DO go the extra mile for my music! You know, I just had a nosebleed, and I didn't have any other way to fix the situation. Sticking a tampon up my nose, you know. I'll do anything to keep the show going."


Have you had a brush with celebrity or a moment that made you just realise you had made it big?
"Yeah, I hung out with Tom Petty once! I was like "HOLY SHIT, TOM PETTY." I met Brian Wilson. And once, I was at a Violent Femmes show and I was invited onstage to play with them, that was pretty great."