Dr. Robert's Medication - A Column by Rob Benson

MD: Several things at various sites I guess, (He exclaimed casually, fully aware the whole time that his stuff was indeed remarkable and that one sensible and lucky American-based label could make a million by at the very least licensing it all to the good folk over here)

DR: For those of us that have the new single, when is the full-length going to be available and what kind of stuff should we expect to hear on it?

MD: Next release for The Drugs will be an E.P. with the best of intentions to follow it up with a full-length early next year. Expect the unexpected. (Great, now I sound like I'm pitching for a David fuckin' Copperfield special...)

DR: Why the attack on Burger King? Does it have something to do with a bad childhood experience?

MD: There isn't really anything wrong with any of the fast food chains or products mentioned in that song. But what we're are opposed to is the blanket globalization taking place. I live in a sleepy town in the far west of Sydney and there is no need for the 2 McDonalds, Burger King, and Pizza Hut we have within a five minute direction from town center. These companies haven't become a way of life because they're good. They are successful because they're ruthless and maniacal and that's why we'd even bother to mention them, well that plus the fact all the good rock love songs have already been released by Poison.

DR: What became of the recordings you did while in Seattle with Ken Stringfellow? Will they ever be available to the public?

MD: Good question. I'm currently having them mastered and then I think I'll just advertise them for internet Purchase. I wouldn't bother chasing a deal because there are only six tracks but, having said that, they are my favorite recordings.

DR: How many fingers am I holding up?

MD: This is a trick question. I would say that you don't strike me as a very dexterous type (having heard your songs. Y'Ouch!) so I imagine that you'd be typing with both hands and therefore would be holding 0 fingers up. But I bet after reading this you'll be holding at least one finger up and then the next time we meet it'll be 2 fists.

DR: (laughing at this point) How bout some personal preferences for that 16 magazine feeling... tomato or potato?

MD: Potato. But this is an interesting thing... You know the song "Let's Call the Whole Thing Off?" How did anybody reading the sheet music ever get the whole "mispronunciation" thing? I mean "Tomato, Tomato, Potato, Potato, let's call the whole thing off..."

DR: Tacos or burgers?

MD: Your lovely Girlfriend introduced me to Taco Bell (While visiting your beautiful town) so I'll have to say tacos.

DR: Favorite planet?

MD: Seattle

DR: Has an animal ever bitten you? If so, which?

MD: Several times by several species. But the most impressive was a sick kangaroo that bit the top of my finger off.

DR: Booze or pills?

MD: Occasional Boozing. Red wines and Ciders (Yeah I know, I'm a girl right!?)

DR: Beatles or Johnny cash?

MD: C'mon,man! Like there's even a competition here? If it was The Beatles or Sammy Hagar then we'd have a tough one.

DR: The rich or the poor?

MD: The poor. They know how to shop and they dress better.

DR: Tall and full-breasted woman or short and sassy gals?

MD: We'll assuming I'm straight, short and well-rounded.

DR: Horse or carriage?

MD: The difference is McDonald's.

DR: So what's the last CD you picked up and totally loved?

MD: New Bible Heroes, "The Soft Bulletin" (Flaming lips,) and this Sydney act called Big Heavy Stuff. It's the "OK Computer" of Australia. (They don't sound like Radiohead; they're just fuckin' brilliant.)

DR: If you could go on the road with anyone who would it be?

MD: W.A.S.P. Or the Nevada Bachelors (Same difference really)

DR: Office jobs or outdoor macho labor?

MD: Labor by default of stupidity.

DR: The '60s or the '80s?

MD: I think they are both brilliant and neither help to explain what

went wrong in the '70s.

DR: Are you pissed at this very moment?

MD: You guys and this expression... It means "drunk" down here, and no.

DR: Ever seen a grown man naked?

MD: I used to shower with my dad. Does that count?

DR: Favorite time of day?

MD: Sleep time.

DR: Favorite place to wake up drunk?

MD: Home

DR: When might you be bringing the drugs to America and just plain wreak havoc downtown at the Nitelite again?

MD: Wow, the Nitelite... I vaguely remember using that place as a urinal???? I was so drunk that I cancelled my flight for a week. To answer your question, I'm hoping to get there for the CMJ thing and traveling from there or else maybe SXSW or NXNW or hell maybe we could open for the Rob Benson National sometime???

DR: Well, that should do it for our interview... Thank you sir for your time. Have a wonderful day...

MD: Cheers, mate, for the opportunity to discuss myself at such great lengths. Take care.

If There's a Will, There's a Way

A few weeks back, hanging late at the Showbox on a night I really could care less who was on stage, (the bad cover tunes were flying in as fast as the hippies were,) I was hiding backstage sipping a cold one when a boy from Tennessee was introduced to me as the opening act I really should have been there to see. We talked shop for a few and realized we had (along with fatherhood and songwriter syndrome) a few things in common, so before the night ended, we exchanged CDs and discussed the differences between the Seattle and Nashville scenes. I found out the young-looking Will Kimbrough was actually in his thirties and has made a good living playing music since he was eighteen.

When I had time later in the week to check out his release "This" on the Nashville-based Waxysilver Records, I was pleasantly surprised. Wills sound moves like a train ride through Eagles territory, with ten well-crafted melodic pop contributions. His mature, emotional down-home southern guitar style matches very well with his tenor drawl. The more I listened, the more I felt like he should be doing soundtracks for an emotional Robin Williams flick, you know the one your girlfriend talks you into watching, where although you would never admit it, but you're holding back the tears as well. Yep, he should have some tunes in that flick, or perhaps it's already in the works.

Sparks Fly at the Croc

I was fully expecting former Goodness guitar-slinger Garth Reeve's band Blue Spark to be impressive the first time I saw them, and I can't believe it took me years to make it happen. However they were even greater than my expectations. Garth has a smooth, soulful voice that he lays softly over a blues and alt-country feel. The depth of the sound that the six piece band harvests is remarkably mature, with keys and lap steel, and they weave their way through covers and originals with grace and style. I highly recommend them for the lover of deeply-rooted twang and rock-and-roll with wisdom.

Sangster the Songster Returns

I recently got to spend some time recording with local producer Johnny Sangster. His band, "The Congratulators," have been busy as of late, finishing up a masterful six song EP that hopefully will be in stores on some label soon, (*Hint to all you labels out there!*) One night after we had worked a long studio day at Egg, Johnny gave me a sneak listen to some of his new solo work that literally made me pinch myself. It was his eclectic side for sure, material he's been drumming up in his spare time in his home studio. At first I thought it must be the Makers Mark that had me so wooed by these finely crafted mesmerizing sounds, but a week or so later Johnny passed me the disc to listen to with sober ears. All I can say is, my god, we have a master in our fine city, and no local label pushing him. WHY? We spoke briefly about it that evening. Johnny tends to put most of his time into the producing of other local bands, and that as well as being busy with the family life has pushed his own music to the background a bit. But Johnny vows to change that very soon. His new material is inspiring him to take new steps towards getting his stuff out there. Look out, this guy is gonna turn some heads.

This is the End

That's all for this Medication! I'd like to thank Richard Ray of Roam Records for putting out my new five song solo EP, due in stores in October. And as always a special thanks to my edit man, Matthew Parker, who has to deal with all my awful grammar...

Until next time...

See ya,

Dr. Robert

Email Dr. Robert at Nevadabachelor@aol.com

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