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QUESTION METHOD: GEOFF PEARLMAN
 Geoff
Pearlman is a songwriter, singer, guitarist,
producer, and engineer who has released one album
as an artist — Anything at All.
Currently he is recording a second record, titled
Someplace Like Nowhere,
which will include the songs "The Man with
the Unbreakable Heart" and "Nightmare
Waiting to Happen." Working with a cast of
fabulous musicians, Geoff has self-produced this
new album in the sonic shadows of classic records
such as Neil Young's After the Gold Rush and the
Beatles' Rubber Soul. As a guitarist, Geoff has
toured with Grammy winner Shelby Lynne, producer
Linda Perry, and currently plays with Los Angles
local faves Quincy, AM, Bird York, Buck Johnson,
Garrison Starr, and Heather Waters to name but
a few.
1. Which was the first record you bought
with your own money?
I remember buying Van Halen II and Rush’
2112 on the same day, but probably with
my mom's money.
2.
Which was the last record you bought with your
own money?
Bob Dylan — Planet Waves.
3.
What was the first solo you learned from a record
— and can you still play it?
Oh, that’s easy. The Stones’ "Sympathy
for the Devil." I remember learning this
one in my room in Omaha — I think before
Lennon was shot, even. I can still sing it, play
it, air it for you, note for note. What a crazy
tone Keith has on it.
4.
Which recording of your own (or as a sideman)
are you most proud of, and why?
The Billy Nayer Show — The Villain that
Love Built. They picked my solo over one
Marc Ribot had laid down on the track “Sunshine
All the Time.” And I love Marc. They did
use a bar and a half of him, but the rest is me.
I also like it ’cause I found a different
character for myself. It’s a little more
artsy and melodic.
5.
What's the difference between playing live and
playing in a studio?
About 50 bucks an hour, and the studio usually
has working AC. But you don’t get that seat-of-the-pants
excitement that only the stage can give.
6.
What's the difference between a good gig and a
bad gig?
About 50 bucks an hour. No — actually, a
good gig for me has always been when I leave the
stage thinking, "Wow, I actually made music,"
as opposed to, "Wow, I can’t believe
I finally got through that." It’s not
always hinged on the number of people there.
7.
What's the difference between a good guitar and
a bad guitar?
I don’t know anything other than if it feels
good to you, it must be a good guitar.
8.
You play electric and acoustic. Do you approach
the two differently?
Yes, I had all my electrics stolen years ago in
Boston, and the only guitar I had for the next
six months was an acoustic. I learned the difference
having to play everything on it. To me they're
entirely different instruments with the same fingering,
maybe like a soprano and tenor could be to a sax
player? Also, on acoustic, I always tend to want
to write more songs than play more riffs.
9.
Do you sound more like yourself on acoustic or
electric?
I think electric, because my particular guitar
is a unique custom thing and it has become part
of my tonal identity. I think you can tell it’s
me on acoustic, but my electric tone is probably
more recognizable.
10.
Do you sound like yourself on other people's guitars?
Yes.
11.
Which living artist (music, or other arts) would
you like to collaborate with?
Nick Lowe, John Hiatt, Bill Frisell, Jim Keltner
— so many. Outside of music, maybe the Coen
Brothers.
12.
What dead artist (music, or other arts) would
you like to have collaborated with?
Peter Sellers, although I don’t know on
what. Fats Waller, George Harrison, Pete Hamm,
Tom Dowd.
13.
What's your latest project about?
I’m making a record of songs that seem to
be about different characters that live in a place
called Someplace Like Nowhere. Sonically, I want
to relate the vibe of Neil Young's After the Gold
Rush. I also want it to sound like it was made
a little faster than it’s actually being
made. It’s 10 songs, 33 minutes, and I've
got a whole bunch of ideas for the cover —
like Route 66 on the moon.
Web site: http://www.geoffpearlman.com/
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