RL: Did any of the other bands stand out and catch your eye? If so who?
JC: There were so many performers there of all levels and abilities. The great thing about Folk Alliance is that
it's still inclusive and not overly commercial. Whether you're well known or not, you still feel welcomed, like
there's a place for you, unlike many other music conferences out there.
RL: Let's talk about your good friend Jack Johnson. Have you guys ever collaborated on a project?
JC: Jack invited me to be on his new CD that came out late last year. It's live recordings from Bonnaroo and
Vegoose that he's only selling at indie retail music stores. I played Bonnaroo with him a few years ago and he
used our performance of "Island Style." Other than that, we play together as often as we can. He invited me to
come up to the North Shore when Rolling Stone was there doing a photo shoot. My brother Ernie and I sat
around and played guitar with him while the photographer took a bunch of shots, but I guess we didn't make
the cut. They used the one with Eddie Vedder instead!
RL: What do you and Jack Johnson do when you're hanging out?
JC: Play guitar. Talk about surfing. Play some more guitar.
RL: Your new album, One of These Days was released ten years after your debut, Acoustic Soul. And it has
already received plenty of praise and radio play, but after nearly a decade between albums, what was going
through your mind on the eve of the album’s release?
JC: I felt good about the album and knew I had done what I wanted to do with it, but so much has changed in the
music industry since Acoustic Soul came out. I was just hoping that people would still go out and buy the
record and find value in the music.
RL: I know this is a tough question, but what is your favorite song off the new album? And why?
JC: I don't really have a favorite, but I'm really proud of the way Let Us Dream and One of These Days turned out.
I produced the album myself, so from a producer's vantage point, those 2 tracks have everything but the
kitchen sink on them. Let Us Dream started out as a poem I wrote in high school, so to see it evolve into that
song was rewarding.
RL: In the early 80's, you lived on the East Coast. And you used to perform in New York City. After all these
years, how does it feel to be back here with a new album?
JC: I used to live a few minutes away from the Living Room, on the Lower East Side. As much as I struggled
during that time, it was one of the best times of my life artistically. That's where I wrote Island Style. New York
City has an energy and an electricity that is unparalleled in terms of inspiration and creativity. I can't wait for
New Yorkers to hear my new album and to see how they respond to it.
RL: Does New York bring back fond memories? Or was it a tough time for you back then?
JC: I love New York City. There's no place like it on Earth. Even if it's a difficult place to live, it's still worth it
because of everything it offers -- the food, the music, the people. There is something for everyone, all the time.
RL: Your music was featured on Kelly Slater’s surf DVD "Letting Go" He also invited you to play at his surf
invitational. Will we be hearing more of your music in connection with Slater?
JC: Kelly's been incredibly supportive in so many different ways. I never ask him to do anything, but he just
keeps making offers to use my music on his projects. I'd love to work with him again. He's a good friend and a
very cool person.
RL: What are your plans for the rest of 2008?
JC: The plan is to tour and get the new music out to the world in every way possible. Now that I finally have a
new album, I can't wait for as many people to hear it as we can get to listen.
Editors Note: On October 30th, Bonnaroo and Vegoose released "Thank You And Goodnight: Brushfire Records Live
at Bonnaroo and Vegoose" a collection of live tracks from Jack Johnson, G. Love & Special Sauce, Matt Costa,
Money Mark, ALO and John Cruz. The album's release has been limited to Independent Music Stores in the US, at
the festivals, as well as at the artist's websites.
For more information, or to hear and download the new album by John Cruz go to: www.johncruz.com also
check out his Myspace profile at www.myspace.com/johncruzmusic
JC: There were so many performers there of all levels and abilities. The great thing about Folk Alliance is that
it's still inclusive and not overly commercial. Whether you're well known or not, you still feel welcomed, like
there's a place for you, unlike many other music conferences out there.
RL: Let's talk about your good friend Jack Johnson. Have you guys ever collaborated on a project?
JC: Jack invited me to be on his new CD that came out late last year. It's live recordings from Bonnaroo and
Vegoose that he's only selling at indie retail music stores. I played Bonnaroo with him a few years ago and he
used our performance of "Island Style." Other than that, we play together as often as we can. He invited me to
come up to the North Shore when Rolling Stone was there doing a photo shoot. My brother Ernie and I sat
around and played guitar with him while the photographer took a bunch of shots, but I guess we didn't make
the cut. They used the one with Eddie Vedder instead!
RL: What do you and Jack Johnson do when you're hanging out?
JC: Play guitar. Talk about surfing. Play some more guitar.
RL: Your new album, One of These Days was released ten years after your debut, Acoustic Soul. And it has
already received plenty of praise and radio play, but after nearly a decade between albums, what was going
through your mind on the eve of the album’s release?
JC: I felt good about the album and knew I had done what I wanted to do with it, but so much has changed in the
music industry since Acoustic Soul came out. I was just hoping that people would still go out and buy the
record and find value in the music.
RL: I know this is a tough question, but what is your favorite song off the new album? And why?
JC: I don't really have a favorite, but I'm really proud of the way Let Us Dream and One of These Days turned out.
I produced the album myself, so from a producer's vantage point, those 2 tracks have everything but the
kitchen sink on them. Let Us Dream started out as a poem I wrote in high school, so to see it evolve into that
song was rewarding.
RL: In the early 80's, you lived on the East Coast. And you used to perform in New York City. After all these
years, how does it feel to be back here with a new album?
JC: I used to live a few minutes away from the Living Room, on the Lower East Side. As much as I struggled
during that time, it was one of the best times of my life artistically. That's where I wrote Island Style. New York
City has an energy and an electricity that is unparalleled in terms of inspiration and creativity. I can't wait for
New Yorkers to hear my new album and to see how they respond to it.
RL: Does New York bring back fond memories? Or was it a tough time for you back then?
JC: I love New York City. There's no place like it on Earth. Even if it's a difficult place to live, it's still worth it
because of everything it offers -- the food, the music, the people. There is something for everyone, all the time.
RL: Your music was featured on Kelly Slater’s surf DVD "Letting Go" He also invited you to play at his surf
invitational. Will we be hearing more of your music in connection with Slater?
JC: Kelly's been incredibly supportive in so many different ways. I never ask him to do anything, but he just
keeps making offers to use my music on his projects. I'd love to work with him again. He's a good friend and a
very cool person.
RL: What are your plans for the rest of 2008?
JC: The plan is to tour and get the new music out to the world in every way possible. Now that I finally have a
new album, I can't wait for as many people to hear it as we can get to listen.
Editors Note: On October 30th, Bonnaroo and Vegoose released "Thank You And Goodnight: Brushfire Records Live
at Bonnaroo and Vegoose" a collection of live tracks from Jack Johnson, G. Love & Special Sauce, Matt Costa,
Money Mark, ALO and John Cruz. The album's release has been limited to Independent Music Stores in the US, at
the festivals, as well as at the artist's websites.
For more information, or to hear and download the new album by John Cruz go to: www.johncruz.com also
check out his Myspace profile at www.myspace.com/johncruzmusic
| KEEPING YOU INFORMED AND ENTERTAINED |
| RICHARD LIVSEY WRITER AT LARGE |
SPRING IS HERE APRIL 2008 |
| Terms of Service Privacy Contact About Copyright (c) by Richard Livsey 2007- 2008 All Rights Reserved |
| ACTORS ONLY Resources and Talent Listings ENTER |
| WRITER'S CAFÉ Great Links for Writers on The Web ENTER |
| WHAT I'M WATCHING ON |
PANHANDLING TAKES
A NEW TWIST
For people like myself living in New York
City, we are bombarded by panhandlers
every day, and some of them are quite
creative in their approach at getting you
to cough up some cash.
However comedian Bob Wiltfong takes
panhandling to another level with this
hilarious clip that was shot guerrilla style
on a city subway.
Check it out, and for more on Bob
Wiltfong, go to: www.bobwiltfong.com
A NEW TWIST
For people like myself living in New York
City, we are bombarded by panhandlers
every day, and some of them are quite
creative in their approach at getting you
to cough up some cash.
However comedian Bob Wiltfong takes
panhandling to another level with this
hilarious clip that was shot guerrilla style
on a city subway.
Check it out, and for more on Bob
Wiltfong, go to: www.bobwiltfong.com
MANHATTAN STYLE
JOHN CRUZ DELIVERS THE ALOHA
NEW YORK CITY - Hawaiian legend John
Cruz has a new album out, titled One of
These Days. And his tour recently passed
through Manhattan, making a stop at the
Living Room in the Lower East Side.
Despite the frigid 15 degree weather that
night, his fans turned out in droves and Cruz
warmed the room with his soulful music.
Do to a tight schedule, I didn't get a chance
to interview him in person, but thanks to
modern technology, I was able to get a few
questions to him via email.
RICHARD LIVSEY: Your first stop on the tour
was at the 20th Annual International Folk Alliance
Conference in Memphis? How it was performing
there?
JOHN CRUZ: The whole experience was
unbelievable. It was music from the time you
woke up in the morning until you fell asleep
early the next morning. There were over
2000 musicians and industry people from all
over the world, staying in the same hotel.
The whole spirit of the event was incredible
because it was all about the music.
JOHN CRUZ DELIVERS THE ALOHA
NEW YORK CITY - Hawaiian legend John
Cruz has a new album out, titled One of
These Days. And his tour recently passed
through Manhattan, making a stop at the
Living Room in the Lower East Side.
Despite the frigid 15 degree weather that
night, his fans turned out in droves and Cruz
warmed the room with his soulful music.
Do to a tight schedule, I didn't get a chance
to interview him in person, but thanks to
modern technology, I was able to get a few
questions to him via email.
RICHARD LIVSEY: Your first stop on the tour
was at the 20th Annual International Folk Alliance
Conference in Memphis? How it was performing
there?
JOHN CRUZ: The whole experience was
unbelievable. It was music from the time you
woke up in the morning until you fell asleep
early the next morning. There were over
2000 musicians and industry people from all
over the world, staying in the same hotel.
The whole spirit of the event was incredible
because it was all about the music.
John Cruz has a new album out titled, One of These Days. Photo Twain Newhart
| JUST SAY NO... ...TO CELL PHONES |
NEW YORK CITY - I did something radical. I canceled my
cell phone service and threw my phone into the
garbage. And I couldn't be happier.
While my friends all look at me in wonder and ask, how
are you going to live without your cell? I just smile and
say, "Just like I did before."
The fact is, I don't need to be connected to a network
of people 24/7. Neither does most people, but the cell
phone companies would have you believe otherwise.
Their aggressive marketing campaigns have everyone
believing that cell phones are an essential part of life,
which they are surely not.
cell phone service and threw my phone into the
garbage. And I couldn't be happier.
While my friends all look at me in wonder and ask, how
are you going to live without your cell? I just smile and
say, "Just like I did before."
The fact is, I don't need to be connected to a network
of people 24/7. Neither does most people, but the cell
phone companies would have you believe otherwise.
Their aggressive marketing campaigns have everyone
believing that cell phones are an essential part of life,
which they are surely not.
And let's not deny the fact, there are many doctors and scientists that believe that cell phones
have the potential to be worse than cigarettes. But do we really need to be told by a doctor that
radiation going directly into our brains is bad for us? Come on people wake up? It only took the
tobacco industry nearly a century to admit that cigarettes were unhealthy and addictive.
If you can't live without your cell phone, at least keep your calls brief and use your speaker phone.
For more information on the parallels of cigarettes and cell phones. Check out what one of the
world's top neurosurgeons has to say about cell phones click here Also don't miss George Lunt's
great article on the subject at www.corporate-aliens.com
have the potential to be worse than cigarettes. But do we really need to be told by a doctor that
radiation going directly into our brains is bad for us? Come on people wake up? It only took the
tobacco industry nearly a century to admit that cigarettes were unhealthy and addictive.
If you can't live without your cell phone, at least keep your calls brief and use your speaker phone.
For more information on the parallels of cigarettes and cell phones. Check out what one of the
world's top neurosurgeons has to say about cell phones click here Also don't miss George Lunt's
great article on the subject at www.corporate-aliens.com