An Interview With Guiding Light

For some reason I recently had Beatles on the brain, specifically the early years of their madness-inducing mop tops. I started to think about those early interviews of theirs, and then started to look up some of those early pressers. I was taken aback by just how many times the foursome was asked about money and marriage, but there were some gems amongst the clunkers. And so, inspired by the early press conferences of the Beatles, I decided to ask some of those very same questions.

The first victims of this experiment are the three fantastic bands playing the Fuzzy Logic 7th Anniversary Show, happening THIS SUNDAY at DC9. If you're in town, you should be there.

Guiding Light is a name you need to know making sounds you need to hear. The dual-threat two-headed magicmaker is comprised of Chuck Davis (this may or may not be an alias, come to the show Sunday to find out) and Jason Russo. These two talented-to-the-heavens souls released long player Guide The Lightning last year (buy it), a wonderful concoction of all manner of complicated, reverential celestial noise (buy it). Come see them make this noise up close and personal, why don't you?

Fuzzy Logic: What has been your most exciting moment in the last year?

Chuck Davis: Tough to answer! I got to do a lot of cool shit last year. Highlights include dancing in Kampnagel's Playlist New York series, traveling to New Caledonia (map it) with Pete Int. Airport, participating in Dave Chappelle's Radio City residency, spending a month on the Bay of Fundy writing GL's new record.

JSR: All of the things Chuck mentioned, but also the Women’s March.

FL: Who are your favorite recording artists?

CD: Unapologetically - Fleetwood Mac, Whitney Houston, Solange, Peter Gabriel, Kendrick Lamar, Emmylou Harris, Air Supply.

JSR: I only listen to non-music podcasts.

FL: Do you feel safe riding in airplanes?

CD: If the people around me haven't bathed in perfume, I'm usually fine.

JSR: Yes, my favorite part is taking off and landing.

FL: Does every city look the same?

CD: Only the new parts.

FL: What message are you trying to get across, if any?

CD: That the concepts of god/gender/love are complex, fluid, and personal. Seek help for low self-esteem instead of oppressing others. Dancing always helps.

JSR: Let’s comfort one another as time slowly murders our bodies

FL: How would you describe yourself in one word?

CD: Irreverent?

JSR: Openminded.

FL: Do you feel that you're setting a new trend in music?

JSR: I want to. The fact that "retro" music has dominated this century is a problem to me. I get it, and love irony as much as the next person, but I’m ready for newness. So, that’s my musical north star at the moment.

CD: We’re definitely not easy to categorize.

FL: What kinds of guitars do you use?

CD: We share a 90's Japanese Fender Mustang bass that I play upside down, and I satisfy my inner nerd with keyboards + clarinets + concertinas.

JSR: Fender Jazzmaster, Telecaster, and the Guild acoustic from the 80s that Tara’s dad finally gave us from under his bed.

FL: Does anybody ever ask you for advice?

CD: Ha. Teen moms, hit me up.

JSR: Every day.

FL: How do you prefer for your fans to act at your concerts?

JSR: Stunned.

FL: How do you go about writing your songs?

CD: Separately. Most of the time, one of us will start a song that we toss back and forth to each other until it feels finished. If the idea is more fleshed-out, the other person will remix it.

FL: What do you call your sound?

JSR: Our answer to that question is the music we make.

FL: Have you ever had a mental block-out on stage?

JSR: Most nights. Off stage too.

FL: What are your unfulfilled ambitions?

JSR: To be more helpful.

FL: What advice do you have for teenagers?

CD: Don't let anyone or anything deter you from becoming the goddamned queen you were born to be.

JSR: Hang in there, we love you.

FL: What is the closest you have come to losing life and limb?

CD: Childbirth. Sweet Jesus, fuck that bs.

FL: Do you think of yourself more as an entertainer or a musician, or do you think it's more of a combination of the two?

JSR: Neither.

[posted 1.24.18]