March 2, 2002
We had a chance to sit down with Jesse -- just before he left for Spain and the Netherlands -- to answer some questions y'all have sent us over the last few months. If you've got something on your mind, drop us a line.
Some of us really want to know if the Road Kings are defunct? -- Bill If you look at my tour dates, and you look at Shelton's tour dates ("Shelton" is Hank Williams III, and Jason Burns plays bass in his band.), you'll see that Jason and I are both really busy. We just hung out a few days ago and discussed recording the new record, hopefully it will be in the can in the next few months.
Of all the venues Jesse has played in his career to date, which is his favorite, where is it, and why? -- Michelle Willie Nelson's Fourth of July Picnic in Luckenbach, TX. Why is easy ... cold Lone Star, topless girls, and plenty of Mexican lettuce.
Are any videos in the works? -- Fran We're currently working on a documentary of our tour in Europe ... We'll be showing it at some film festivals and it will eventually be out on video. Y'all should be able to buy it on the site!
How do you put together your set list for a show? -- Dean If we're playing a honky tonk, we'll stock it front-heavy with some hurtin' tunes ... if we're playing a punk rock club, we'll stock it front-heavy with some hurtin' tunes and shove 'em down their throats.
What's your favorite song on Hey Nashvegas? -- Roger "Heartbreak California" ... the recording of that song turned out perfect. Just the way I had it in mind. I was thinking of Doug Sahm, and I think he would've dug it.
When you're writing a song, do you write the words or the music first? And do you have any tips for people who are trying to write a song? -- Jessica Sometimes it's something somebody said, sometimes it's from a book or a movie, sometimes it's just a cool little riff on my guitar. They just kinda come from nowhere. I don't advocate becoming a writer, though; the personal trauma from being "checked out" on everyday, normal stuff kinda puts your personal life in the toilet. Look at Willie and Hemingway.
If you could play any venue, what would it be? And if you could get any band to open for you, who would it be? -- Mark I'd like to sell out Radio City Music Hall for a month with Lightnin' Hopkins on acoustic guitar, Stevie Ray Vaughan on electric guitar, Leon Russell on piano, Booker T on B3, Lloyd Green on steel guitar, Flaco Jiminez on accordian, Doug Sahm on bajo sexto, Charlie and Eric on bass and drums ('cause they can follow my ass), and Mandy Barnett and Patsy Cline on background vocals, with Willie as my musical director and Waylon opening the show. It'd be a helluva band, wouldn't it?!