13 QUESTION METHOD: MIKE COYKENDALL

This is my bye-O
…by Mike Coykendall

I am not important

I am as important

I grew up in Kansas

…I spent the 90’s in San Francisco

……I now live in Portland, OR

I’m pretty good with chord changes
I’m so-so with leads

I don’t  believe in a jealous God
…I believe in the big picture God

I don’t have the answers
…I don’t think you do either

I’m bad with names and it hurts me deeply
…but, I can remember the words to your song

I want everyone to like me
… it’s a sickness
(there are worse things)

I try to find a corner seat, or at least one against wall
…I call this “sitting gunfighter"

I do not carry a gun

I fidget

I walk a lot

I dream a lot

I write music, play music, record music, and tour music

I stink at selling music

I can do bookkeeping

I am a thankful person

1. Which was the first record you bought with your own money?
#1 Hits of the ’60s — as advertised on TV by Micky Dolenz, 4-record set for a whopping 12 bucks or something.

2. Which was the last record you bought with your own money?
Elliot Smith —New Moon.

3. What was the first solo you learned from a record — and can you still play it?
“Nowhere Man” I could still play it, but not without a quick run-through.

4. Which recording of your own (or as a sideman) are you most proud of, and why?
“Driver Carries No Cash” — from my own Hello Hello Hello — because it was written and recorded in 30 minutes and I've never had to play it again. And because it rocks.

5. What’s the difference between playing live and playing in a studio?
Playing live, you get to jump around more.

6. What’s the difference between a good gig and a bad gig?
The next day.

7. What’s the difference between a good guitar and a bad guitar?
There are no bad guitars.

8. You play electric and acoustic. Do you approach the two differently?
Yes — more folky on the acoustic, more abstract on the electric.

9. Do you sound more like yourself on acoustic or electric?
I like to think that I sound like myself on both.

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?
The Everly Brothers

12. What dead artist would you like to have collaborated with?
John Lennon

13. What’s your latest project about?
Friendship and truth.

Web site: http://www.mikecoykendall.com/