13 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/