Buy Some Stocking-Stuffers
By Chris Rodkey
[ web link ]
Eight-year Missoula music scene veterans Oblio Joes will be releasing their new CD Thursday at the Blue Heron. With Volumen opening, the evening promises to be exciting for one of Missoula's favorite local bands. Eye Spy spoke with John Brownell, vocalist and rhythm guitar player.
Eye Spy: So let us know a little about your music.
John: That's kind of difficult, because it's spanned for so long. We've been around for almost nine years now. At the moment, we have this new CD out so that's really what we're pushing now. We play kind of varied music, it's kind of quirky, pop rock. We like melody, but we don't like things to be too predictable.
What's with your name? I'm totally confused. Where did it come from?
That's pretty much the most common question we get. Oblio is a character, in sort, of a story. It originally came about from an old singer/songwriter named Terry Nelson who put out an album called "The Point." It's the story of Little Oblio, who was born in the Land of Point. We really liked it and we like Harry Nelson. The "Joes" is on there just to make it a little more obscure, maybe a little less meaningful.
So it's getting colder and colder at night. Is it about time for some snow?
I'm not much of a fan of the snow. I'm hoping not. I'd like to enjoy the fall as long as I can.
Winters in Missoula, I guess if you ski a lot, it can be OK, but man, it can be depressing sometimes.
What is the best album of all time?
Boy, you're getting me on that one. Since it changes from day to day for me, depending on what I'm listening to. Right now it's a band called Young Wu, the album is "Shore Leave," and it's all I'm listening to today. But tomorrow it'll be something new as my all-time greatest CD.
Was Snapple just some kind of fad, or is it still going strong?
Fad. Definitely a fad.
Does the band enjoy Snapples during the show?
No, no, usually just straight vodka.
Did anybody have an Atari back in the 80s?
I did not, but I had a Nintendo.
What was the best game for that?
"Excite Bike," easily the best, but that's because it came with it. I remember playing that for hours.
Being such a popular band, you must have groupies. It is Eye Spy's secret mission to discover more about these mysterious people. Tell us about your groupies, and what kind of experiences you've had with them.
Well, I prefer the ones that don't jump up on stage and get in fights with us. I guess our groupies -- we've probably gone through two or three phases over the years. I'm going to have to stick with the occasional drunkard that decides they're going sing along with us, and that's usually not a good thing.
Whoa. Whatever happened to the XFL? Seriously, that had to be a joke.
{Laughter.] Actually, I watched the XFL, and if it was still on I'd still watch the XFL. I actually don't think it was enough like wrestling.
Well that's enough for now. Now's your chance to tell everyone why they should come see the Oblio Joes.
You definitely need to buy some stocking-stuffers, and we've got a beautiful $8 package waiting for you. It's going to be a blast, we're playing with Volumen, there's going to be no better show this year.
|
