Jeff Blake - Guitar, Bass, Banjo, Lap Steel, Keyboards, Vocals, etc...
Influences
I really love a lot of different music. I don't really know how my influences show in my music, but here are some of my favorites:
Late 60's San Francisco/UK Folk/Psych, Bakersfield Country, Jazz (Swing, Bop, Hard Bop, Avant Garde), Bluegrass, Reggae, Krautrock, Classical, almost anything with drones & overtones, All Night Radio, Syd Barrett, Beach Boys, Beachwood Sparks, Beatles, Jimmy Bryant, Tim Buckley, Byrds, CAN, Captain Beefheart, Gene Clark, Cluster, John Coltrane, Julian Cope, Elvis Costello, David Crosby, Cure, Current 93, Dillard and Clark Expedition, Nick Drake, Bob Dylan, Steve Earle, Brian Eno, Flying Burrito Bros, Grateful Dead, Merle Haggard, George Harrison, John Hartford, Lee Hazlewood, Jimi Hendrix, High Llamas, Icicle Works, Incredible String Band, Charles Ives, Jefferson Airplane, Waylon Jennings, Kaleidoscope (US), Albert King, Freddie King, King Crimson, Kinks, Kraftwerk, Fela Kuti, Led Zeppelin, Long Ryders, Loop, Love, Paul McCartney, Moby Grape, Mother Hips, Music Machine, Willie Nelson, Nilsson, Nurse With Wound, Buck Owens, Pentangle, Pink Floyd, Popol Vuh, Quicksilver Messenger Service, Radiohead, early R.E.M., Sagittarius, Ravi Shankar, Soft Machine, Sorrow, Spacemen 3, Skip Spence, Stereolab, Surf, Supergrass, David Sylvian, Talk Talk, Velvet Underground, Scott Walker, T-Bone Walker, Speedy West, Clarence White, Bob Wills, Robert Wyatt, X, XTC, Yes, Neil Young, Frank Zappa
And there's a lot more... a big ol' hodge-podge... I pretty much like a little of everything.
You know those people that just LOVE music too much? The ones that are always listening to or thinking about it, or trying to scrape up some cash to buy some more albums or CD's. If you've ever worked in a record store, you know the type. These frequent customers are likely to be buying a dub reggae CD, a used Les Baxter album, and some honkytonk country in the same purchase. They know the most obscure trivia about the most obscure trivial bands? They live to hear something they've never heard before... I'm one of those guys. Music is like air to me. I couldn't imagine living without it.
Previously, I was a member of the following bands: Broken Arrow (1986), The Withdrawal (1986-1987), Just Population (1987-1989), The Sunshine Truck (1989-1993), Saturn Return (1993-1994) and the Crumbling Lights (1998-1999).
During the years 1993-1997, I recorded five solo albums on my trusty 4-track:
1994 - Smarvelous
1995 - Fozzyburger (Looking For My Marbles in the Chapel Perilous)
1996 - And I Fly
1996 - Pandemonium
1997 - Sunflowers
I haven't done any solo recordings in the last decade, but in January 2007, I resumed writing and recording. I've been enjoying the process of creating again. It's strange how addictive recording is. I forgot how easy it is to get lost in the music. I just love making music, it brings me joy.
I am currently recording my next album, The Mad Capricorn, which I plan to release in 2008.
If you like what I'm doing, know where I'm coming from, or just want to say hello, please write. I'd love to hear from you.
I miss you, Jeff!! I hope that you're doing well and enjoying this gorgeous sunshine. I think of you every day and am always sending lots of love to you and your family.
Hey Jeff!! How are you? Miss your amazing sense of humor,,How is life back home? I sure hope all is well for you and your family,,Take Good care of yourself..Dee
Jeffrey!! How are you, my friend??!! I've been thinking about you, wondering how you, Mary Beth and Jackson are doing (fantastic, I hope!). I am so thankful that I got to share these last several weeks with you, and am forever grateful that you are my friend. I'm always here if you need me. Give my love to your beautiful family.
HAHAHA... I JUST WANTED TO SAY HELLO TO YOU WHEN YOU'RE SITTING 10 FT AWAY IN THE LIBRARY! WE ARE BOTH AT THE LIBRARY ON OUR BREAKS... MYSPACING... GOTTA LOVE RECREATION! (WE DESERVE IT!)
