Jennie Gundersen: vocals, guitars, snack prep, wrote the words and music, catnip purveyor
John Askew: lead guitar, chucks, pedals
Paula Jones: bass, backing vocals and wry asides
Doug Hoekstra: drums and cool shirts
special kudos to previous members:
John Sutton: drums and rock-em-sock-em robot impersonations
Dawn Dineen: backing Vocals, guitars, drums, bass, keyboards, harmonica, recording, arrangements, production, mastering, and making it all happen and don't forget that she juggles kittens and chainsaws at the same time
Influences
... a peek into the mind of songwriter/singer Jennie Gundersen:
Musical
Being a DJ at WCWM in the heyday of jangly college rock
Willard Grant Conspiracy
Throwing Muses
Grievous Angels
X, John Doe, Exene, The Knitters etc
Bruce Springsteen
HYAA!
Lone Justice
Maria McKee
Shivaree
Grenadine
Dead Can Dance
Jenny Toomey
all my mix tapes from the 80's
Music for Viola
LegoDiva
Let's Active
Parlor James
Steve and Edie
Blotto
The juke boxes at The Hut in Richmond and Big Man's West in Red Bank
Any and all bands that contain Kevin Cordt
Clubs
Iota in Arlington, VA, and not just for the fries and friendly door guys
The Stone Pony in Asbury Park, NJ...back when the drinking age was 18
Movies Satisfaction (the Liam Neeson, Justine Bateman, Julia Robert opus from 1988)
Hedwig and the Angry Inch
Almost Famous
Roustabout
Miscellaneous Formative Experiences
-Doing a conga line with my mom and the neighborhood kids in my living
room to Herb Alpert and Brasil 66 when I was 5 or 6 years old.
-Throwing dirt clods at the "Up with People" people when I was 8. I was
hanging out with a bad crowd...peer pressure made me do it!
-Going to my first real concert with my mom when I was around 9. Steve
and Edie at the Garden State Arts Center. Edie swallowed a bug and they
had to stop the show while she spit it out
-Going to the first concert I chose to see, Leo Sayer - in 8th Grade (with mom and my 8th grade teacher - Sister Margaret Anne).
-Getting bumped into by Bruce himself at the Stone Pony in the 80's.
-Having inside info on when Bruce was going to show up to play at the
Pony and getting permission to stay out late when he was there... Once wishing he would get off stage because he was wasted and terrible...
Airport Boulevard is the moniker for Jersey born and bred songwriter/singer Jennie Gundersen (now of Annapolis, MD); environmental chemist by day, music-chasing fiend by night and rowing-club-supergirl by daybreak.
"Asleep With the TV On" is a fun 8-song EP recorded between 2005 and 2007 as a DIY effort between friends. The CD was recorded and mixed by Dawn Dineen and features 7 originals plus a unique cover of Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues".
Airport Boulevard throws several 3-chord punches on this disc but far from generic, Dr. Gundersen's often whimsical lyrics offer depth and wit:
From the song "Midnight Savant (Hey Fergus)" - Hey Fergus, you say you're a genius but only on Wednesday afternoon. If you're such a genius, what am I supposed to do? Hey Fergus, mayo in your moustache, I sat at the counter on a whim. My midnight savant, where do I begin?
From the chorus of "Paean to Self-Loathing" - Being me just doesn't work, being me I'm just a jerk. I'm so tired of being me. Can I be you for awhile?
"Asleep With the TV On" will be officially released October 23, 2007 on a small Washington, DC-based indie label called Yarner Records. A CD release party is scheduled for Thursday, October 25, 2007. Please check the schedule above for more info!
I'm bummed I missed the Artomatic show! I was all-consumed by liquid carrots, tomatoes and green things and liquid pineapple. Sorry I didn't make it out for what John Askew described as a totally clam-free set! ;)
yeah Jennie & Airport Boulevard! We really, really, love your music/voice/person-hood. Thank you so much for making us welcome and we had such a great time. Perfect way to end the tour. ox's big time,
