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 |
BRING ON THE SUNSHINE JUNE 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 |
BATTLE AT KRUGER
The Battle at Kruger has to be one of the
greatest wildlife videos that I have ever
seen. And I've watched many of these
things because I love them.
Maybe the only thing that I've seen that
even comes close is watching a whale
and its calf defend themselves from a
pod of attacking killer whales.
Even still, watching this buffalo escape
the hungry mouths of four lions and one
huge crocodile is just amazing.
But you got to see it to believe it!
The Battle at Kruger has to be one of the
greatest wildlife videos that I have ever
seen. And I've watched many of these
things because I love them.
Maybe the only thing that I've seen that
even comes close is watching a whale
and its calf defend themselves from a
pod of attacking killer whales.
Even still, watching this buffalo escape
the hungry mouths of four lions and one
huge crocodile is just amazing.
But you got to see it to believe it!
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.
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.
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
| SURFWISE OPENS YOUR EYES |
New York City - I saw the documentary, Surfwise at the IFC
Center in Greenwich Village yesterday. I was disappointed to
find that there were only a handful of people in the theater.
But hey, it was the 1:00 pm show on a Thursday, so what could I
expect.
I had heard of Doc Paskowitz, he's pretty legendary in the
surfing world, but I really didn't know his story. Other than he
was a prominent doctor, that gave it all up to travel around
with his family and surf everyday. I was impressed that he had
the balls to do something like that. To walk away from it all. I
was also equally amazed to learn that at 86 years old Doc still
surfs regularly. And he looks awesome too!
Doc traveled lived and traveled around in a 24 foot RV with his
wife and nine children. They had the best of times and the
worst of times, but no matter they walked away from the
experience with memories only some people fantasies about
having for a mere glimpse of their lives.
Center in Greenwich Village yesterday. I was disappointed to
find that there were only a handful of people in the theater.
But hey, it was the 1:00 pm show on a Thursday, so what could I
expect.
I had heard of Doc Paskowitz, he's pretty legendary in the
surfing world, but I really didn't know his story. Other than he
was a prominent doctor, that gave it all up to travel around
with his family and surf everyday. I was impressed that he had
the balls to do something like that. To walk away from it all. I
was also equally amazed to learn that at 86 years old Doc still
surfs regularly. And he looks awesome too!
Doc traveled lived and traveled around in a 24 foot RV with his
wife and nine children. They had the best of times and the
worst of times, but no matter they walked away from the
experience with memories only some people fantasies about
having for a mere glimpse of their lives.
Surfwise takes its audience on an emotional roller coaster as we are told this unique story through the
memories all nine of his children and wife. The documentary also features comments from pro surfers like Kelly
Slater, Andy Irons and Sunny Garcia among others.
This documentary, is a must see for anyone interested in surfing, or living the life that they have imagined. You
may not agree with everything that Doc believes in, but you can't help to admire his courage to do things his
way.
For more information, check out the official website: www.surfwisefilm.com
memories all nine of his children and wife. The documentary also features comments from pro surfers like Kelly
Slater, Andy Irons and Sunny Garcia among others.
This documentary, is a must see for anyone interested in surfing, or living the life that they have imagined. You
may not agree with everything that Doc believes in, but you can't help to admire his courage to do things his
way.
For more information, check out the official website: www.surfwisefilm.com
Doc Paskowitz in SURFWISE. Photo courtesy of Magnolia
Pictures.
Pictures.