AmRusTic

By Paul G. Davis AKA Boston Paul

Greetings! We are in the midst of festival season and what a great time! Spring Scream was a success. Basic Aid, May Jam and PeaceFest are right around the corner. It's been quite an artist/musician family reunion. It was great meeting musicians from around the Island and the world at Spring Scream. I chatted with a few international bands such as ‘Atash’ from Texas (got to jam with them at Roger’s cabin too!) and the funky power trio 'Lowercase P' from Massachusetts. Both ensembles rocked an enthusiastic crowd. Neither group knew what to expect before coming to Taiwan. Taiwan’s booming music and art scene, Asia's best kept secret, has been let out of the bag.

INFORMATION:
MayJam: (May 5, 6) Anping, Tainan. www.therealtaiwan.com
PeaceFest: (June 1, 2, 3) Kunlun Gardens, Longtan
www.hopingforhoping.com
BASIC AID minifest (Saturday May 19 and 20) Moonshine Hill. Look for the Basic Aid Page in this issue! Over sixteen musical acts! Artists! Camping! www.myspace.com/basicaid and www.myspace.com/basicaidmusic
Theater Arts Production: Production is finally going to begin! Come join Gulshan Mia and Boston Paul make "The Other Side" production happen.

THE DAKENG REFUGE:
For updates/music and when the next jam is www.myspace.com/DakengRefugeMusic Come be a part of Taichung’s growing art community.
Bands:If you need a practice/warm-up space before your show in Taichung or if you need to record a video or music demo, contact us.

The Chat: Faye and The Slacks:
This month, our chat is with Faye and The Slacks (FatS); a dynamic trio that produces a raw sound yet filled with emotion and meaning. FatS consists of bass player Geoff North, known for his solid and groovin’ bass riffs, Djembe percussionist Phill Patry banging out a mix of standard djembe beats sprinkled with finger tapping and sexy rhythms, and of course Faye Blais with her original mix of folk, ballad and acoustic style rock and original lyrics sure to make one look inward. The three have certainly filled a void on the music scene. No bells and whistles here, just solid music from the heart. FatS popped by the Dakeng Refuge for a chat that had been postponed three times. It was worth the wait. This wasn't any ordinary interview however. After the studio was set up for our chat, Faye got on the drum kit and began to throw it down, Phil grabbed a djembe and Geoff looked frantically around for a bass guitar and spotted the 'Music Box' filled with instruments. He grabbed some percussion and the jamming began. After about two or three jams, we remembered our chat and got to work. I hope all my future chats are as fun as this one was!

Boston Paul(BP): Christ Almighty.. I like how this turned into kind of a chat/jam.
Phill-(P): Yeah that was fun.
Faye-(F): A chat/jam... a Cham! That was great. Can we do that again?
Geoff-(G): I could hear a new song starting to form there!
BP: Certainly! But let's chat for a few minutes first... I have a deadline. Wow Faye, most people have seen you play the guitar and sing. I bet they don't know you play the drum kit as well.
F: Yes my brother Newt and I used to take turns playing drums and guitar when we were kids. Thanks for having us out by the way, this is great!
BP: Thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule, I know you have been playing a lot lately. Faye, you’ve been playing not only FatS, but recently you have also been playing with Scott Cook (from The Anglers) and his Freemosan Outlaws touring around Taiwan. That must be fun.
F: It is amazing, really. I have been so lucky to be able to play with so many talented people. I never thought this would happen when I got here.
BP: I was able to catch y’all at Spring Scream... what a great show!
G: That was good, what a great crowd.
P: Yeah, that was fun.
BP:  T’was a bit unfortunate that it started sprinkling during your set. What was very cool, and a sign of how much people dig your music, is that NO ONE left your show. I had the perfect vantage point. I could see the stage, the crowd and the entrance. In fact, there were people still coming in. That's got to mean something.
F: Yes the people were so cool. I felt so bad that we were nice and dry under the cover of the stage while some were standing in the rain.
G: People didn't seem to mind though. Still a lot of fun.
BP: By the way, feel free to say whatever you want.
F: Can we say things off the record?
BP: Just make sure you say off the record so that when I’m transcribing I’ll be sure to leave it out.
G: There's no live web feed in your studio is there? You never know what we might say!
BP: You never know! So how did FatS get started?
F: When I first got here, I was trying to sell binlan in a mini skirt. I wasn't into it, so I quit. As I was leaving, I saw two guys in a ditch.
BP: Nice!
F: So I rolled up and I saw that they were foreigners. Perfect. So I hauled Phill up and put him on the front of my scooter and Geoff got on the back... three people on my scooter, very Taiwanese. Geoff didn't know where to put his feet.
G: I drove!
F: Then Geoff, you lost your shoe, we had to go back and get it.
BP: So these guys were in the ditch together?
F: Yeah. I rescued them.
BP: Were they drunk?
G: We're always drunk!
F: I don’t even know if Geoff and Phill are their real names yet! So that happened. Then I brought them back my pimpin' pad and we jammed!
BP: And that was the beginning of the beginning... where did you come up withThe Slacks?
G: Well, before she found us in a ditch, coincidentally, we were called The Slacks when we played with her brother.
BP: Yeah it was Newt and The Slacks before.
G: I believe Newt's girlfriend thought up the name and it stuck.
F: For about 6 months after we became a band, I thought that because Phill and Geoff knew each other for so long, and Geoff wore a pair of slacks all the time and Phill wanted to know how to make them. I thought it was some kind of inside joke with them about the slacks… so I always thought that these were just two really cool guys who wore nice pants.
BP: I never thought 'pants' I always thought lazy ass slackers. But it seems Phill and Geoff are anything but slacks.
G: It’s a bit of both. But The Slacks never wore pants up until winter time. Then it got cold and...
F: Oh my god this is the craziest interview in the world! My mom is going to be reading this! She's going to be like, this isn't Faye, it someone posing as my daughter!
BP: I don't think I have ever seen you wear an actual pair of slacks though.
F: Did you see what we wore for Spring Scream?
BP: Yes, well done.
G: We played in white jeans for Halloween.
F: That was weird.
P: YOU wore white jeans at the show, I didn’t.  And you looked a little gay…
F: Yeah, but you had platforms on!
P: I did, yes, but I looked really cool in them.
F: Those were my favorite costumes of all time.
BP: I also work with Geoff. I am happy that he has taken some of the weight of my shoulders with Militant Hippi. He steps right up. Do you find that with FatS too?
F: He's like a mathematical manager... keeps everything straight.
BP: Geoff is a good man to have the team.  He likes perfection. That pushes me to be better, because I don’t want to make him sad.
G: (laughing) When have you ever made me sad? I'm embarrassed! I hope this isn't all going into the mag!
BP: I'll cut this part out… I promise. So when did ya’ll begin your music careers? How did you get started?
F: I started picking a borrowed guitar when I was about 13 years old and then started writing songs as soon as I started playing. A few of the tracks on my album were written when I was about 14. My brother (Newt) and I used to jam in our basement. We had a drum set and a guitar, so we'd switch-off playing for hours. He really pushed me to learn so he'd have someone to jam with… and I was totally game! So it worked out for both of us! Playing for crowds really started here in Taiwan with The Slacks being my first band. My high school graduation was my first public performance. Though there were some random gigs and a few CD-release launch parties back in Canada (First Tooth), but nothing consistent.
G: I've always loved listening to music. Any real music fan will eventually want to start playing. I started playing guitar in high school but didn't really start playing in bands until I got to Taichung. My first band was Crome Relic and I did a few shows with those guys. Then I did an acoustic duo called the Double Standard.. I started playing bass about a year and a half ago. I loved it immediately and there seemed to be more work out there for bassists. I started playing with Militant Hippi and also for Faye's brother Neil. Then last September I started playing with Faye. The vibe the three of us had clicked right away. It felt good from the first note.
BP: Crome Relic is awesome. Lots of fun. We should do a gig with those guys soon! How about you Phil?
P: I guess you could say it started in University. Career is such a serious word, though.
BP: Anything exciting happening?
F: Well, my CD ‘First Tooth’ will be played on a Jia Yi Planet Radio station. Everything is podcasted, so you won't miss it.  What else? Been touring with the Freemosan Outlaws and we are going to be on TV on a show called Beautiful Life. Scott Cook hooked that up.
BP: What do The Slacks think about the differences between playing with Faye and playing with Newt?
G: Faye is prettier.
F: Neil is prettier.
G: Neil is quite pretty, you’re right. That’s a good question, though. I don’t know… the songs are different…
P: Yeah that’s a tough question, never thought about it.
BP: You’re both playing with an up and coming female artist that Taichung has not seen the likes of since Jess Morwood. Faye is representing, a rarity on the Taiwan music scene right now.
G: I don’t think there is any one on the Island doing what Faye is doing right now. We’ve been together since September last year and we have been playing quite a bit.
P: Yes, it has been pretty consistent for shows. Maybe on average two a week.
[conversation then turns for some strange reason to the Charlie Manson myspace sites. That part of the chat has been omitted. The chat then shifts to how the internet is used as a tool and finally the movie Natural Born Killers, which Faye has not seen... yet. Faye then goes to the restroom and when she comes back she sits down at the drum kit again and we jam again for another 15 minutes.]
BP: Nice! So Phill, what do you think about the FatS sound?
P: I really like what we are doing. Though I would like to add conga to the sound, but lugging those around to every show would suck.
BP:  If y’all could have one super power what would it be?
G: The ability to speak every language in the world.
P: I'd be happy with the ability to understand and speak Chinese.
F: (Laughs) Grrreat question! I would love to snap my fingers and be anywhere in the world. That would really save time! Well, maybe not snapping my fingers, there must be something cooler than that, but you get the idea! Wait, this was supposed to be my chance to say "save the world", wasn't it? Seriously...Peace on Earth AND insta-travel.
BP: Who were/are your musical influences?
F: Well, I'd have to say that my first gust of inspiration came from my uncle. He's an amazing guitarist and singer and always kept the tunes flowing for the family when we got together. As far as established influences go, Jewel's debut album "Pieces of You" was the first album that truly inspired me, both musically and from a songwriting standpoint.  Much of my early stuff came from what that album taught me. Since then, my tastes have grown a lot. My writing comes from a very different place, now. I tend to be inspired more by raw creativity...musicians that are willing to take chances with their music.
P: As for drumming, I don’t really have any particular influences but if I had to name a couple overall influences I'd say the Grateful Dead and Tom Waits.
G: The reason I play music is Jerry Garcia. When I discovered him and the Grateful Dead, I saw how many different things you could do with music. The bands who don't stick to one genre do it for me. Bands like the Clash, Ween, Phish, Flaming Lips, they are all over the place. It's great.
BP: Where do you see yourself in 10 years musically?
G: Hopefully, still playing a lot. Probably not rich yet. Probably still no invitation to the Playboy Mansion... yet.
P: Being better than I am now.
F: Hopefully working on a fourth or fifth album, with a bunch of incredibly talented people... just before heading to a massive sold-out show! No, I really can't say. I just hope to still be making music and working with people as talented as the ones I've been surrounded by lately. Taiwan has been a music haven for me. I feel sooo lucky to be a part of this scene.
BP: One last question… how has Taiwan shaped or changed your life?
P: In terms of music I’ve come to know that I want to play for the rest of my life in some way, shape or form. I’m also big on chopsticks thanks to Taiwan.
G:  I think just traveling the world in general, opens your mind. You quickly realize that most people are the same, that countries mean nothing. To have all these friends from all over the world living in Taichung is great. It's like a big family.
F: Things are really put into perspective here, on so many levels. I feel like I have made many realizations about the world, very interesting ones about people and life in general. I can't say that my life has really changed, but I am definitely more aware now than I was when I landed a year ago. Artistically, I've gained so much. I'm constantly amazed by the talent, support and eagerness to collaborate that everyone shares here. It’s truly an environment that inspires growth. I feel like my music and my personal expectations have grown, as well.  And can I add something?
BP: You can add anything you want!
F: Just a gigantic 'thank you' to everyone who hooked The Slacks and I up in some way or another. There are so many of you out there, not to be underappreciated. Thank you.
BP: Thank YOU, Faye. You are a Goddess. Boys, as always a pleasure. What do you say we go jam again!

Next Month: Chat with Designer/Artist Karishma Krishna. Also look for Peace Fest info, and a Basic Aid report and pictures.

PEACE OUT