My guest is Michael Guthrie, A superb performer and talented individual This is the first interview done over instant messaging. I hope you will enjoy the conversational format! So here he is from his Seattle home Michael Guthrie you did a stint on our side of the border namely Vancouver what brought you here? I was a draft dodger in 71, came with my late wife Dare and we settled in Kaslo,BC A man has got to stand firm on his moral stance Yes I believe in life! Do you miss the "magic" of the seventies I sure do? I mean all this exploration in art, music and life I can't say enough about that magic and how much growth I went through in Kaslo with my source of strength, Dare Guthrie, we started the Village Green Cafe / Coffee House and everything seemed to come our way! Speaking of the cafe tell us a bit more about it was it like open mike concept? It was a small organic setting of rough wood and good food ,named because it was a community meeting place and eventually the birth place of the Langham project I miss those days and my song Green Tree is about The Green I also miss that type of atmosphere and I try to do a cyber version of it I think it's great what you're doing Thanks We had local and touring acts, Kenn Hamm, Danny Greenspoon Chris Rollings, Bruce Cockburn even played for his lunch one day. You saved an historical building and turned it into an art center tell us about that abit? The Langham Is a three story building built in 1896 and I concieved of forming a society to purchase and restore it. It was a monumental task and a lot of people gave their time and money to make it happen. See my web site Langham page for more of my history on it. I'm a commercial artists and my music is an art outlet for releiving strong feelings. Let's get back to your music, you have varied influences, but personally I prefer your blues music. Do you also have a favorite ? Blues is my favorite and mostly what I'm into now, I like playing bass in blues bands and I like to think my acoustic stuff I'm doing is blues based, I'm writing lyrics bitching about my govt. Lol a deserved bitching I think! On both side of the border too!Wink! Indeed, I know a lot of people don't want to here, but I get a lot of encouragement at the open mics I'm playing at, Yes it's a global thing! You just returned from performing, how was the gig? Very good I played Burn Baby Burn for Canada and 2 of my political songs, had a good time! sounds like it! Is there a good network for indie artists in the Seattle area? Yes a friend, I used to play with Holley Figuroa, started Indie Girl and there are lots of small clubs for folks to do their thing. I just joined Victory music and they have a great web site and data base for acoustic musicians Kewl so indie out there check out Victory music That is so rare too find good venues in far too many area. Let's talk about your current CD, It's a tribute to your talent and determination that you laid all the tracks and played all the instruments yourself.How long did it take you? I'm almost embarrassed to say it took me about 8 years in my spare time, so some of the tunes I don't even know how to play anymore 8-) Wow! You certainly wanted to get it right... Well, when I started I wasn't really going to make a CD. I was just writing music on the 8 track. What is the main theme of the Cd lyrically? I suppose it's Protest, a little love and personal experiences. yes I find that there is not enough protest these days! I don't know if it's because people feel it's useless or the patriotic fervor is at such a pitch they are afraid.. I heard a stat on talk radio the other day saying no one wants to touch issues, that includes the whole business of music, I would like to find a DJ who will play Military Coup before they arrest me! Heck I'll put it on the juke box! Right on bro you got it! I think it could really draw some interest. I gotten lots of compliments on that song and have made a lot of others think. Then we can go underground on the lam ehehehehe You're alright my man!, the world needs more people like you. Like us friend like us! Everyone or I should say ,most Americans, are taking all this hype and Bs laying down! and it's painful to watch, all the radio here are corporate owned and they can't upset the yuppie bitches that own it! Yes! A corporate dictatorship! I remember a song. "The darkest hour is just before the dawn". I think that is where we are at now. Yes, I do think so, and the alternative is being organized. Some very big names have gone independents, like Cindy Lauper, Prince, Monte Moir, to name a few. The net offers a way out! I know I'm doing all I can to help it along. Keep up the good work! Its good to see some famous folks cutting loose, I was sad to read you can't afford your net station because of the new fees imposed by the music lords. Yes, I had to go with a non performing format like the jukebox to avoid that and still help out indie such as you and myself But I'm going to bring it back soon, I am preparing something hehehehe! Im glad you found a way to keep on truck'n, I think web radio is a great concept and I'm thankful to people like you and Joe Kelly who take an interest in unknown people like me. What is the hardest part of creating? For me it's been believing in my self as a creator and getting out of the box. I want to thank you for taking part in this zineterview;-) Thank you for the interview... It's been my pleasure and I'm eternally grateful!!! I hope you enjoyed this conversation with Michael Guthrie... You can let him know by emailing him at:moorafa@mindspring.com Don't forget to visit the website to hear some tunes: http://moorafa.com Back Retour