1. What are you Listening to in your CD Player?
Blackgrass - a band out of Tennessee... they are gothic bluegrass and I love them! Also Film, from Atlanta, and of course, all the submissions for my internet radio show 'Nette Radio (www.netteradio.com)
2. Who would you like to open up for and why?
While it would be cool to open for someone like Madonna, it doesn't mean that you get to hang out with them, so I am less excited about that than I was when I was younger. We are trying for side stage for Neil Young, because he is so amazing, and one of Doug's influences. We have played side stage for B-52's, Pretender's, Duran Duran, have opened for Missing Persons, Dred Zeppelin, Harlow...The only one we have hung out with is Harlow - Amanda is a great friend. It was cool to see the B-52's dancing to some of our songs!
3. You're the Lead singer. Who would be in your dream band?
Doug Conlon on Guitar
Scott Miles on Drums
Greg Trehune on Bass
oh wait, that is who is in our band... how lucky am I????
4. What's the first record you ever bought?
Oh man... I am gonna age myself here....It was one of those KTel things... It had "I Shot the Sheriff" and "The Night the Lights Went out in Georgia" and the song about Billy Jo somebody jumping off the bridge, and I think that really high song... Marilyn McCoo???? hmmm... It was blue with red lettering... I ordered it C.O.D. Saved up the money babysitting... I was so proud of that record... I listened to it about 800 times!
5. What's the strangest or funniest gig you've played?
Well, The Gentlemen's Club Crawfish Happy Hour would be the strangest. Hands down. Nothing like singing your heart out while a bunch of strippers are taking it off to their own rhythm... (whatever that is... they SO can't dance) while a bunch of fat hairy men are sitting in the pool and a bunch of topless girls are feeding them crawfish... YUCK. Then our drummer (Geno, back then) would miss a beat... I finally turned around to see what was going on... well, he was having a hard time playing AND TAKING PICTURES!
6. Is there a song you wish you would have written?
"Where Evil Grows" by Terry Jacks (The Poppy Family) and "What's Up" by 4 Non Blondes
7. What is your favorite guitar to play and why?
Hmm... I love my two Fenders... I am tied between Pinkie (the Pink Tele) so named because the pink is the same delicate pink as my cat Pamuk's nose, and Vanilla Bean (the white Strat) so named because when I first opened the case it smelled like vanilla, and has kept that smell to this day.
8. What inspires you to write?
Usually nagging melodies and words that haunt my brain. Doug does most of the writing. He is the starter and I am the finisher. I am great at arrangements, completing lyrics, endings, etc. I have a terrible time starting.. .but sometimes I will write a song from start to finish. It really just depends. Doug is very prolific, and the songs just pour out of him. I think that is why he sometimes cannot finish a song... he has already moved onto the next one. It works out, though, we make a great team!
9. Look 10 years into the future. What are you doing?
Playing in a resort town, living on the beach, recording whenever we want, using the internet to distribute songs, traveling and playing whenever and wherever we want and still with the same INCREDIBLE guys. That would make me happy!
This month's signed CD giveaway is from Annette's band Eden Automatic. Sign up to win!
Check out www.edenautomatic.com for more info.
Features Editor Note: Nine to Know You is also a regular feature of the
Southern California magazine, The Scene.
