In my interview today, I conducted an interview with Charlie “Linty” McGee, age 40, Lead/Rhythm guitarist for the band ‘Fat Cats & Steely Gals!’ The interview took place at his lovely home in Northridge, after a great performance at Catalina Jazz Club. His wife, Leslie, served an amazing Lemonade, but that’s not important to this interview, I just had to mention it by her request. I sat in front of Charlie with my notepad and began to ask him questions, all the while I wrote down his answers and every now and then I took the liberty to write down several anecdotes from his perspective and mine as well, after all, we have worked together in the past. From the moment I entered his house, till we finished sipping our glass of lemonade, he offered a plethora of musical advice and told me of his experience being in a Jazz band, and this is what he had to say:
Glenn: Heya Charlie, can I call you Charlie, or do you prefer Linty?
Charlie: Let’s keep it at Linty, do you want me to call you Strife, the Mutilator of Dreams?
Glenn: (I laughed here) That’s alright, let’s leave my stage name out of this, it’s already quite absurd, not to mention obscene. (Strife is my stage name I adopt when I’m onstage)
Charlie: Alright, well fire away.
Glenn: Okay, thank you. First question, what are your experiences playing Jazz music?
Charlie: Well, I have a ton of them actually. My most important one being that I play the music that I love to play, you would agree with me on that from the times you and I have been on the spotlight, it is the feeling of playing Jazz, taking a cute girl with you to a club and dancing your feet off. My first experience playing this type of music, was that I wouldn’t last out there. I figured at first that I wasn’t going to last a week playing the music that I love, you remember how I you used to talk to me, how you told me to not quit at it?
Glenn: Yeah, I remember (Actually I don’t, I know, it’s mean, but I drew a blank…)
Charlie: It was something that I would have never imagined, I mean, me taking advice from an 18 year old kid. No offence, man.
Glenn: None taken.
Charlie: Like I was saying, I didn’t think I would last long, but then I met a group of people who were as addicted to the fight as I was and all of a sudden, you know, I didn’t feel like such an outsider!
Glenn: So, what do you mean? You thought you couldn’t make it as a Jazz musician because not a lot of people like it?
Charlie: Yeah man, that’s exactly what I’m saying. It’s not like you go to the mall and hear the kids going crazy about the Jazz life, you know I’m right!
Glenn: Yes, I’d have to agree, not many know about the Jazz scene, then again Jazz has always been something for the mature audience to enjoy.
Charlie: Even that, the mature audience you’re talking about, they hardly know Jazz exists in these days, it’s all about Rock, Metal, Pop, American Idol and all that stuff.
Glenn: I didn’t know American Idol was a genre nowadays, but I know what you mean, it might as well be, it’s quite popular among mainstream Americans. Moving on, now that we’re on the subject of mature audiences, who do you think makes up your general audience, Charlie?
Charlie: Well, usually people who have a more contemporary taste in music, that being regular ‘fat cats’ in suits who won’t let go of the music from their childhood. Most of the ticket buyers at our shows stay within the range of 35-60. They like to dance, they like to sweat, and they love to hear their oldies being played for them.
Glenn: Cool, cool. Would you guys say you guys have a good, established fan base? Followers so to speak?
Charlie: I would say we do. Two years ago I would have said no, but last year proved me dead wrong. You see we went on tour and we started out in Tallahassee, made our way around the country and finished in Oakland. Well every single show man, we had a group of people we would see at every show. The same people man! So, I thought I’d get to know them a little better and as it turns out, they were just regular guys, who just enjoy our sounds, man. They were willing, and dedicated to follow us around the country just so that they wouldn’t miss a second of it. That’s what I call dedication, my man.
Glenn: That’s amazing! Now, let me ask you, how long have you studied Jazz, Charlie?
Charlie: Let’s see. I have played guitar since I was in elementary school, my father introduced me to the world of music and it stuck and sunk in hard. I never picked up on Jazz until my first year at Georgetown University. I took all of their music classes, picked up on guitar theory and majored in sound recording and development. Once I graduated, I worked as a roadie for a local Jazz ensemble in Utah, moved here to LA, got married and met all of my good friends who play Jazz with me today.
Glenn: Great. Now tell me, what is the most important thing you have learned as a Jazz musician?
Charlie: Egad, that’s a toughie. Let me see. Probably the most important thing about being a Jazz musician, is one of two reasons, can I give you two?
Glenn: Um, sure. Go for it.
Charlie: Alright then, let’s start from the top! Number one, never give up. It’s hard, really hard. Harder than diamond I would say. The entertainment biz just isn’t very welcoming to Jazz talent, they usually want what’s hot, not what’s not. Number two, you have to know your instrument. When I first picked up a guitar, I honestly convinced myself it would be simple as pie, boy was I wrong. The chord progressions are what got to me the most. I suffer from stubby fingers, I swear, and it took me a lot of practice. At time you have to challenge yourself so hard when you play free-form Jazz. Remember what a pain in the ass it was for you when you joined us for that brief period of time?
Glenn: Yes I do, Free-form Jazz requires you to be on the spot and the switch has to be on the on position the whole time.
Charlie: Yeah, man. When I was a teen, I’d sweat it out with my music teachers on knowing all my scales and chord progressions just to always have something up my sleeve, because everyone knows that the best kind of free-form Jazz, is one that’s never planned and come from the heart and soul. You did real good when you toured with us though, I didn’t think you would have it in you, kid.
Glenn: Thanks, I try. Now, the next question, what is your take on the different forms of Jazz out there?
Charlie: I honestly like them. Wish we could have more. Smooth Jazz is something I enjoy with the old lady, but I hardly hear any of that being played. I welcome any kind of sophistication of Jazz. To me, it takes a certain type of man to enjoy Jazz. I classy type, a man who knows what he likes and like to be a go-getter. The man can have class, but he’s a party animal with the ladies and dances shuffles his feet to our beat. Overall I would love to see more smooth Jazz being played, maybe your band can fill that gap.
Glenn: I’ll try to get on that, thank you so much for this interview.
Charlie: You’re very welcome, make sure you mention my old lady’s lemonade.
Glenn: I will. (And I did.)
Originally posted by Scythe
In my interview today, I conducted an interview with Charlie “Linty” McGee, age 40, Lead/Rhythm guitarist for the band ‘Fat Cats & Steely Gals!’ The interview took place at his lovely home in Northridge, after a great performance at Catalina Jazz Club. His wife, Leslie, served an amazing Lemonade, but that’s not important to this interview, I just had to mention it by her request. I sat in front of Charlie with my notepad and began to ask him questions, all the while I wrote down his answers and every now and then I took the liberty to write down several anecdotes from his perspective and mine as well, after all, we have worked together in the past. From the moment I entered his house, till we finished sipping our glass of lemonade, he offered a plethora of musical advice and told me of his experience being in a Jazz band, and this is what he had to say:Glenn: Heya Charlie, can I call you Charlie, or do you prefer Linty?
Charlie: Let’s keep it at Linty, do you want me to call you Strife, the Mutilator of Dreams?
Glenn: (I laughed here) That’s alright, let’s leave my stage name out of this, it’s already quite absurd, not to mention obscene. (Strife is my stage name I adopt when I’m onstage)
Charlie: Alright, well fire away.
Glenn: Okay, thank you. First question, what are your experiences playing Jazz music?
Charlie: Well, I have a ton of them actually. My most important one being that I play the music that I love to play, you would agree with me on that from the times you and I have been on the spotlight, it is the feeling of playing Jazz, taking a cute girl with you to a club and dancing your feet off. My first experience playing this type of music, was that I wouldn’t last out there. I figured at first that I wasn’t going to last a week playing the music that I love, you remember how I you used to talk to me, how you told me to not quit at it?
Glenn: Yeah, I remember (Actually I don’t, I know, it’s mean, but I drew a blank…)
Charlie: It was something that I would have never imagined, I mean, me taking advice from an 18 year old kid. No offence, man.
Glenn: None taken.
Charlie: Like I was saying, I didn’t think I would last long, but then I met a group of people who were as addicted to the fight as I was and all of a sudden, you know, I didn’t feel like such an outsider!
Glenn: So, what do you mean? You thought you couldn’t make it as a Jazz musician because not a lot of people like it?
Charlie: Yeah man, that’s exactly what I’m saying. It’s not like you go to the mall and hear the kids going crazy about the Jazz life, you know I’m right!
Glenn: Yes, I’d have to agree, not many know about the Jazz scene, then again Jazz has always been something for the mature audience to enjoy.
Charlie: Even that, the mature audience you’re talking about, they hardly know Jazz exists in these days, it’s all about Rock, Metal, Pop, American Idol and all that stuff.
Glenn: I didn’t know American Idol was a genre nowadays, but I know what you mean, it might as well be, it’s quite popular among mainstream Americans. Moving on, now that we’re on the subject of mature audiences, who do you think makes up your general audience, Charlie?
Charlie: Well, usually people who have a more contemporary taste in music, that being regular ‘fat cats’ in suits who won’t let go of the music from their childhood. Most of the ticket buyers at our shows stay within the range of 35-60. They like to dance, they like to sweat, and they love to hear their oldies being played for them.
Glenn: Cool, cool. Would you guys say you guys have a good, established fan base? Followers so to speak?
Charlie: I would say we do. Two years ago I would have said no, but last year proved me dead wrong. You see we went on tour and we started out in Tallahassee, made our way around the country and finished in Oakland. Well every single show man, we had a group of people we would see at every show. The same people man! So, I thought I’d get to know them a little better and as it turns out, they were just regular guys, who just enjoy our sounds, man. They were willing, and dedicated to follow us around the country just so that they wouldn’t miss a second of it. That’s what I call dedication, my man.
Glenn: That’s amazing! Now, let me ask you, how long have you studied Jazz, Charlie?
Charlie: Let’s see. I have played guitar since I was in elementary school, my father introduced me to the world of music and it stuck and sunk in hard. I never picked up on Jazz until my first year at Georgetown University. I took all of their music classes, picked up on guitar theory and majored in sound recording and development. Once I graduated, I worked as a roadie for a local Jazz ensemble in Utah, moved here to LA, got married and met all of my good friends who play Jazz with me today.
Glenn: Great. Now tell me, what is the most important thing you have learned as a Jazz musician?
Charlie: Egad, that’s a toughie. Let me see. Probably the most important thing about being a Jazz musician, is one of two reasons, can I give you two?Glenn: Um, sure. Go for it.
Charlie: Alright then, let’s start from the top! Number one, never give up. It’s hard, really hard. Harder than diamond I would say. The entertainment biz just isn’t very welcoming to Jazz talent, they usually want what’s hot, not what’s not. Number two, you have to know your instrument. When I first picked up a guitar, I honestly convinced myself it would be simple as pie, boy was I wrong. The chord progressions are what got to me the most. I suffer from stubby fingers, I swear, and it took me a lot of practice. At time you have to challenge yourself so hard when you play free-form Jazz. Remember what a pain in the ass it was for you when you joined us for that brief period of time?
Glenn: Yes I do, Free-form Jazz requires you to be on the spot and the switch has to be on the on position the whole time.
Charlie: Yeah, man. When I was a teen, I’d sweat it out with my music teachers on knowing all my scales and chord progressions just to always have something up my sleeve, because everyone knows that the best kind of free-form Jazz, is one that’s never planned and come from the heart and soul. You did real good when you toured with us though, I didn’t think you would have it in you, kid.
Glenn: Thanks, I try. Now, the next question, what is your take on the different forms of Jazz out there?
Charlie: I honestly like them. Wish we could have more. Smooth Jazz is something I enjoy with the old lady, but I hardly hear any of that being played. I welcome any kind of sophistication of Jazz. To me, it takes a certain type of man to enjoy Jazz. I classy type, a man who knows what he likes and like to be a go-getter. The man can have class, but he’s a party animal with the ladies and dances shuffles his feet to our beat. Overall I would love to see more smooth Jazz being played, maybe your band can fill that gap.
Glenn: I’ll try to get on that, thank you so much for this interview.
Charlie: You’re very welcome, make sure you mention my old lady’s lemonade.
Glenn: I will. (And I did.)
This, dude, is f*cking badass. Awesome as Hell.
Originally posted by Scythe
I am too, I want Chinese.
Originally posted by Scythe
In my interview today, I conducted an interview with Charlie “Linty” McGee, age 40, Lead/Rhythm guitarist for the band ‘Fat Cats & Steely Gals!’ The interview took place at his lovely home in Northridge, after a great performance at Catalina Jazz Club. His wife, Leslie, served an amazing Lemonade, but that’s not important to this interview, I just had to mention it by her request. I sat in front of Charlie with my notepad and began to ask him questions, all the while I wrote down his answers and every now and then I took the liberty to write down several anecdotes from his perspective and mine as well, after all, we have worked together in the past. From the moment I entered his house, till we finished sipping our glass of lemonade, he offered a plethora of musical advice and told me of his experience being in a Jazz band, and this is what he had to say:Glenn: Heya Charlie, can I call you Charlie, or do you prefer Linty?
Charlie: Let’s keep it at Linty, do you want me to call you Strife, the Mutilator of Dreams?
Glenn: (I laughed here) That’s alright, let’s leave my stage name out of this, it’s already quite absurd, not to mention obscene. (Strife is my stage name I adopt when I’m onstage)
Charlie: Alright, well fire away.
Glenn: Okay, thank you. First question, what are your experiences playing Jazz music?
Charlie: Well, I have a ton of them actually. My most important one being that I play the music that I love to play, you would agree with me on that from the times you and I have been on the spotlight, it is the feeling of playing Jazz, taking a cute girl with you to a club and dancing your feet off. My first experience playing this type of music, was that I wouldn’t last out there. I figured at first that I wasn’t going to last a week playing the music that I love, you remember how I you used to talk to me, how you told me to not quit at it?
Glenn: Yeah, I remember (Actually I don’t, I know, it’s mean, but I drew a blank…)
Charlie: It was something that I would have never imagined, I mean, me taking advice from an 18 year old kid. No offence, man.
Glenn: None taken.
Charlie: Like I was saying, I didn’t think I would last long, but then I met a group of people who were as addicted to the fight as I was and all of a sudden, you know, I didn’t feel like such an outsider!
Glenn: So, what do you mean? You thought you couldn’t make it as a Jazz musician because not a lot of people like it?
Charlie: Yeah man, that’s exactly what I’m saying. It’s not like you go to the mall and hear the kids going crazy about the Jazz life, you know I’m right!
Glenn: Yes, I’d have to agree, not many know about the Jazz scene, then again Jazz has always been something for the mature audience to enjoy.
Charlie: Even that, the mature audience you’re talking about, they hardly know Jazz exists in these days, it’s all about Rock, Metal, Pop, American Idol and all that stuff.
Glenn: I didn’t know American Idol was a genre nowadays, but I know what you mean, it might as well be, it’s quite popular among mainstream Americans. Moving on, now that we’re on the subject of mature audiences, who do you think makes up your general audience, Charlie?
Charlie: Well, usually people who have a more contemporary taste in music, that being regular ‘fat cats’ in suits who won’t let go of the music from their childhood. Most of the ticket buyers at our shows stay within the range of 35-60. They like to dance, they like to sweat, and they love to hear their oldies being played for them.
Glenn: Cool, cool. Would you guys say you guys have a good, established fan base? Followers so to speak?
Charlie: I would say we do. Two years ago I would have said no, but last year proved me dead wrong. You see we went on tour and we started out in Tallahassee, made our way around the country and finished in Oakland. Well every single show man, we had a group of people we would see at every show. The same people man! So, I thought I’d get to know them a little better and as it turns out, they were just regular guys, who just enjoy our sounds, man. They were willing, and dedicated to follow us around the country just so that they wouldn’t miss a second of it. That’s what I call dedication, my man.
Glenn: That’s amazing! Now, let me ask you, how long have you studied Jazz, Charlie?
Charlie: Let’s see. I have played guitar since I was in elementary school, my father introduced me to the world of music and it stuck and sunk in hard. I never picked up on Jazz until my first year at Georgetown University. I took all of their music classes, picked up on guitar theory and majored in sound recording and development. Once I graduated, I worked as a roadie for a local Jazz ensemble in Utah, moved here to LA, got married and met all of my good friends who play Jazz with me today.
Glenn: Great. Now tell me, what is the most important thing you have learned as a Jazz musician?
Charlie: Egad, that’s a toughie. Let me see. Probably the most important thing about being a Jazz musician, is one of two reasons, can I give you two?Glenn: Um, sure. Go for it.
Charlie: Alright then, let’s start from the top! Number one, never give up. It’s hard, really hard. Harder than diamond I would say. The entertainment biz just isn’t very welcoming to Jazz talent, they usually want what’s hot, not what’s not. Number two, you have to know your instrument. When I first picked up a guitar, I honestly convinced myself it would be simple as pie, boy was I wrong. The chord progressions are what got to me the most. I suffer from stubby fingers, I swear, and it took me a lot of practice. At time you have to challenge yourself so hard when you play free-form Jazz. Remember what a pain in the ass it was for you when you joined us for that brief period of time?
Glenn: Yes I do, Free-form Jazz requires you to be on the spot and the switch has to be on the on position the whole time.
Charlie: Yeah, man. When I was a teen, I’d sweat it out with my music teachers on knowing all my scales and chord progressions just to always have something up my sleeve, because everyone knows that the best kind of free-form Jazz, is one that’s never planned and come from the heart and soul. You did real good when you toured with us though, I didn’t think you would have it in you, kid.
Glenn: Thanks, I try. Now, the next question, what is your take on the different forms of Jazz out there?
Charlie: I honestly like them. Wish we could have more. Smooth Jazz is something I enjoy with the old lady, but I hardly hear any of that being played. I welcome any kind of sophistication of Jazz. To me, it takes a certain type of man to enjoy Jazz. I classy type, a man who knows what he likes and like to be a go-getter. The man can have class, but he’s a party animal with the ladies and dances shuffles his feet to our beat. Overall I would love to see more smooth Jazz being played, maybe your band can fill that gap.
Glenn: I’ll try to get on that, thank you so much for this interview.
Charlie: You’re very welcome, make sure you mention my old lady’s lemonade.
Glenn: I will. (And I did.)