Dolmere Talamasca - Second Life "resident"

Dolmere: Do either of you speak any other languages?
Jaycatt Nico: At one time I spoke French, but I forgot it since I never use it.
Jaycatt Nico: I had to take four years of a language in high school as part of this international program
Jaycatt Nico: Which really was just international subjects with more essays lol
Dolmere: Frogg?
Frogg Marlowe: I took some french in high school. I also spent some time in Mexico, but didn't learn much while I was there.

Dolmere: Do you read a series of books written by Spider Robinson? http://www.spiderrobinson.com/
Jaycatt Nico: Most definitely :D Everything he's written
Frogg Marlowe: Same here - Spider's a hero of mine
Frogg Marlowe: I even look kinda like him in RL
Dolmere: What kind of material does he write?
Jaycatt Nico: He writes mostly science fiction, but he also has a essay column that is really enlightening
Jaycatt Nico: It's in his book "The Crazy Years"
Jaycatt Nico: His "Callahan's Place" series is especially worth reading :D
Dolmere: Which of his works is your favorite?
Jaycatt Nico: The Callahan's ones for me... it's just such a great caring group of people
Frogg Marlowe: Anything with the title "Callahan's" is on the top of the list for the philosophy behind it
Jaycatt Nico: Exactly
Dolmere: Speaking of... It is my understanding that you played at a new pub named "Callahan's" in SL. It's a pub based on Spider's materials which was created and is run by Seanmcpherson Senior, a regular live music audience member.
Frogg Marlowe: yeah
Jaycatt Nico: Yep, that's right! We got to role play as Fast Eddie Costigan, and Jake Stonebender, characters from the novels
Jaycatt Nico: Fast Eddie plays the piano so I was him :D
Frogg Marlowe: and Jake Stonebender plays guitar and sings
Frogg Marlowe: When we heard he was making the place, we practically begged to play there
Dolmere: What was it like performing there as characters from the books rather than in your typical animal avatars?
Jaycatt Nico: Oh yes, we loved being asked... I actually came into SL looking for just such a Place
Jaycatt Nico: That was my reason for coming, before all the music ^^
Frogg Marlowe: lol, Jake is based on the author, who, as I've mentioned, I resemble
Frogg Marlowe: so my av was actually the human AV I made for myself
Frogg Marlowe: just dressed differently than I would dress
Frogg Marlowe laughs
Jaycatt Nico: It's uncanny at times hehe
Dolmere: What about the Fast Eddie avatar for Jaycatt?
Jaycatt Nico: I pieced it together from the books with Sean's help :D
Jaycatt Nico: Not a lot to go on, but it looked okay at the end
Jaycatt Nico: I tried to keep the accent going, as it's in the books :D
Jaycatt Nico: He's kind of a New Yorker type
Dolmere: So a scarface style accent?
Jaycatt Nico: Sort of, yeah

Dolmere: You occasionally play events booked under only one of the famous duo. However, I've noticed when booked as just "Frogg Marlowe" or just "Jaycatt Nico" the other person still tends to pop-in for a surprise duet.
Jaycatt Nico: It's easy to pop in for a song or two together, so I always found that fun at the end of shows
Jaycatt Nico: But some folks are looking for a more individual style, to hear the solo stuff
Jaycatt Nico: Normally the solo songs are just in the two hour shows
Dolmere: Kind of an "extra" or "freebie" thrown in for the booking agent and audience?
Frogg Marlowe: Though I think Muse Isle is the only place I play any solo stuff other than our two hour shows for some time now..
Jaycatt Nico: When people ask me about a show, they generally want Frogg too :D
Dolmere: Has any of the live music you have heard in Second Life influenced your own music?
Frogg Marlowe: definitly Cylindrian Rutabaga. We've learned a fair number of songs because of her.
Jaycatt Nico: I can think of a couple of people... Yes, Grace (Cylindrian), and Kaklick for Freebird, hehe
Frogg Marlowe: and one because of - lol, I was gonna mention Kaklick's concert hud
Frogg Marlowe: :p
Dolmere: What artists would you say you are most influenced by?
Frogg Marlowe: For me it'd be easier to say what artists I'm NOT influenced by...
Jaycatt Nico: For me it would have to be Chip Davis, the front person for Mannheim Steamroller, who does the Fresh Aire series of albums... But also George Winston is a big favorite of mine, and Dr. John's solo piano stuff ^^
Dolmere Talamasca waits for Frogg to determine who he does not like artistically
Dolmere Talamasca expects Britney Spears and Janet Jackson references
Frogg Marlowe: lol
Frogg Marlowe: Beatles and Simon and Garfunkle are some of the strongest influences
Jaycatt Nico: I mean in terms of albums we listened to
Jaycatt Nico: Oh yes, we both had the same musical background growing up, so that helps too :D
Frogg Marlowe: Those two artists you mention I think were kinda factory made

Dolmere: The last time I interviewed the two of you, you were preparing for recording a new CD. You said "We're going to start recording some (or maybe all) of the upcoming album". Is the new album complete now?
Frogg Marlowe: It was "some" not "all" unfortunately
Jaycatt Nico: The eternal struggle: practice or record, lol. Lately we've been just trying to find time to do either.
Dolmere: What songs did you manage to record?
Jaycatt Nico: I think we liked the "If I Grew Wings" for one :D
Jaycatt Nico: Maybe "33.3 Degrees" too for sure
Frogg Marlowe: "Cliche"
Jaycatt Nico: Oh yes, that one too
Jaycatt Nico: Hard to say though, have to listen again
Dolmere: Have you written any new songs recently? Will you include new songs on the album beyond what we hear you play regularly?
Frogg Marlowe hangs his head in shame
Frogg Marlowe: I need to start writing....
Dolmere Talamasca pats Frogg on the shoulder and attempts soothing tones
Jaycatt Nico: Original material has been harder to come by for both of us it seems :D Yeah
Jaycatt Nico: We've been picking up the occasional new cover or two for fun
Frogg Marlowe: I was just telling a friend that I think I need to get away to start writing again, and he offered to fly me down to texas
Frogg Marlowe: lol
Frogg Marlowe: He's still waiting on an answer. I'd get to meet Melvin Took! :)
Jaycatt Nico: That would be cool!
Dolmere: Nice, field trip
Frogg Marlowe: yeah, heh
Dolmere: Have you been playing out live in local clubs at all since you completed your beach house recording?
Jaycatt Nico: Just once so far
Frogg Marlowe: lol, we've not had many dates free, and SL seems to be where our audience is right now...
Frogg Marlowe: That one gig we played was to an empty room - only a bartender
Jaycatt Nico: heh
Dolmere: Yikes - did not realize the crowd size was one
Frogg Marlowe: Then we came home and played to about 70 people in SL
Jaycatt Nico: It was a little early for the place I guess
Jaycatt Nico: Yeah, talk about a change of atmosphere, you folks in SL are the greatest :D

Dolmere: You've been playing your Friday shows in SL at the new AmphibiCatt Gardens for a few weeks now. How do you like the new location?
Jaycatt Nico: Since the first time when each sim crashed multiple times it's been pretty good :D
Jaycatt Nico: Haven't noticed a lot of problems
Frogg Marlowe: it's been great :)
Frogg Marlowe: people seem to like the place

Dolmere: What do you think of the RIAA? What are your thoughts on their lawsuits against music downloaders?
Jaycatt Nico: Ooo the big questions :D
Frogg Marlowe: well, I just find it fascinating that the people who complain the most about downloading are the ones it hurts the least.
Jaycatt Nico: That's true Frogg
Jaycatt Nico: I guess I'm mixed on the subject, it's probably too much to try and go into here :D
Frogg Marlowe: Us little guys would LOVE to get heard more, but at the same time, we're the ones most in need of the income
Frogg Marlowe: lol

Jaycatt Nico: That's a complex answer for that one...
Jaycatt Nico: I think artists should be paid for their efforts and time
Jaycatt Nico: I also think people shouldn't be screwed for buying bad music without knowing they would be
Jaycatt Nico: Or letting obscure works go totally obscure because they are out of print
Jaycatt Nico: Those are just my main thoughts lol

Dolmere: Have you seen SellABand.com?
Dolmere: They have a page that describes how it is designed to work. I think it's an interesting concept indeed.
Jaycatt Nico: Oh, I hadn't seen that yet
Frogg Marlowe: 8)
Frogg Marlowe: nope
Frogg Marlowe: never seen it
Dolmere: I think it would be cool to find a way to emulate the SellABand idea with SL musicians using Linden dollars and real recording studios.
Jaycatt Nico: Interesting though, just reading their web page a bit
Jaycatt Nico: Seems the hard part would be getting the sponsors fo the $50K
Jaycatt Nico: Even if it is in "parts"
Dolmere: Possibly - but with the audience sizes in SL I wonder if the parts could be had over time via Linden dollars donated at live shows.
Dolmere: well, added, not donated
Jaycatt Nico: That's a neat idea

Dolmere: Melvin Took had his first CD mass duplicated rather than burning CD-Rs. Have you considered this option for your new release?
Jaycatt Nico: Depends on how big the initial outcost is
Dolmere: I would suppose there are different packages. Have you investigated any offerings?
Jaycatt Nico: We don't have a lot of money to spend without a short payback these days... Putting a few hundred up front for a minumum of 500 pressings might not be worth it :D
Jaycatt Nico: I've got an idea from Heath, who pointed me to a nice service
Frogg Marlowe: I dont' think we've even sold 500 cd's in this year...
Jaycatt Nico: Have to look into it, I don't remember offhand what it was called. It's in a notecard
Jaycatt Nico: www.kunaki.com
Jaycatt Nico: Is what he recommended, that's right
Frogg Marlowe: or in this century
Dolmere: Cylindrian Rutabaga is using an online CD sales service CD Baby to sell her CD. The benefit is access to selling her songs via online stores. Have you considered something like that for the new and/or current releases?
Jaycatt Nico: Yes, I've heard good things about CD Baby
Jaycatt Nico: We haven't looked into it that much though
Jaycatt Nico: What we've been doing is working pretty well
Dolmere: :)

Dolmere: Get technical - Frogg, What kind of guitar do you play IRL and why?
Frogg Marlowe: I play an Ibanez A/E
Frogg Marlowe: and I got it because it was purple
Dolmere: haha, and it sounds great, let's not forget that I hope :)
Frogg Marlowe: well, I didn't know anything about them
Frogg Marlowe: it's the guitar I learned on

Dolmere: Speaking of purple did you know Reina Quine is blogging now? Mera Pixel is hosting a site for her.
Jaycatt Nico: No, I wasn't aware of that... I'm so lax in reading online stuff lately
Frogg Marlowe: cool 8)
Jaycatt Nico: Yes, very cool
Frogg Marlowe: she's very purple
Jaycatt Nico: Reina is a blast in the #secondlife IRC channel ;)
Dolmere: She has a great personality - always fun to hang out with

Dolmere: What about the harp - do you have different harmonicas for different keys, etc?
Frogg Marlowe: yeah, it took me 5 years to get A, B, C, D, E F, and G
Dolmere: so a complete set ready for any song need
Frogg Marlowe: would be if I hadn't lost the G, and blown the B
Frogg Marlowe: besides, it's a B flat that I need...
Dolmere: schnikes
Dolmere: Jaycatt - last time you said " I have a Yamaha P140 I use as the piano... And we have a USB mixer two microphones, and Frogg's guitar". What made you choose the P140?
Jaycatt Nico: There's a store in town associated with Guitar Center
Jaycatt Nico: Actually it might BE a Guitar Center lol
Jaycatt Nico: Musician's Friend, whatever lol
Jaycatt Nico: Anyway, they carried Yamahas, and I read some good online reviews of them
Jaycatt Nico: I was looking for a piano with it's own internal speakers
Jaycatt Nico: But also a wonderful piano sound
Jaycatt Nico: And that one was a really good find, I've been very pleased with it
Dolmere: Let's move on to the mics. What kind of microphones do you use? Did you shop around? Have you traded up at all? What makes them your choice at this time?
Jaycatt Nico: Frogg got the first one, both are Shure's
Dolmere: 58s? 57s?
Frogg Marlowe: we stepped up to a shure beta for my main vocal mic
Jaycatt Nico: 58a beta
Jaycatt Nico: and a 57 I think?
Dolmere: nice, quality and long the musicians' friend

Dolmere: Since playing at Exile you two played at the NBC tree lighting. Can you tell me about that experience?
Frogg Marlowe: didn't feel all thaT different
Dolmere: How were you contacted/booked for the event?
Jaycatt Nico: I talked a lot with Johnny Ming from Electric Sheep
Dolmere: Were there other live performers at the NBC event?
Jaycatt Nico: I think just us in-world
Jaycatt Nico: There was a person who was supposed to play but I always forget her name
Frogg Marlowe: Regina Spektor
Jaycatt Nico: That's it
Frogg Marlowe: but she didn't like the look of her av
Jaycatt Nico: That's what I heard yeah :)
Dolmere: Did anyone make a video or live recording of it?
Jaycatt Nico: Supposedly they did
Jaycatt Nico: But they haven't let me know how to obtain it yet
Dolmere: please share when you find out - we're all interested
Jaycatt Nico: Oh yes! Well, he talked about letting us use it for our websites

Dolmere: In your last interview with me, Frogg, you said "Frogg Marlowe: (there are still a lotta chords I can't play on guitar)". Can you elaborate on that at all for us?
Frogg Marlowe: my index finger's finally getting strong enough to make a barre chord.... but my pinkey is still weak
Frogg Marlowe: so barre chords are really hard, near impossible for me
Frogg Marlowe: so that leaves out any kind of B chord...
Jaycatt Nico: Heh, I never thought of asking how "barre" was spelled ^^

Dolmere: Frogg, any movement from Jonny Impfondo on putting the old "Jonny Flash and the Exhibitionists" band back together since your last show at Exile?
Frogg Marlowe: afraid not...
Frogg Marlowe: we lost the drummer
Dolmere Talamasca waits for the punchline... lost him....
Frogg Marlowe: he quit
Frogg Marlowe shrugs
Dolmere: ah, not lost as in misplaced
Frogg Marlowe: yeah

Dolmere: Frogg, you recently talked a friend of ours off the ledge. Mel Cheeky had announced that she would be leaving Second Life.
Dolmere: What did you say to keep her spirits and interest up?
Frogg Marlowe: I just shared with her some of my experiences of not feeling appreciated
Frogg Marlowe: and invited her to do something I knew she enjoyed, which was play some music
Dolmere: I would like to say thanks. Thanks, Frogg Marlowe, for helping us keep the wonderful person and the wonderful music of Mel Cheeky in SL for all to enjoy.
Frogg Marlowe: it really wasn't for you, Dol, it was entirely selfish
Frogg Marlowe: 8)
Jaycatt Nico: I'm happy to have her back too :D
Frogg Marlowe: I would've missed her very much, and I told her that, too
Frogg Marlowe: she's been a great friend
Jaycatt Nico: I knew she must have given it a lot of thought, but I told her that I would still keep in touch with her any other way she liked :D
Jaycatt Nico: Heh
Dolmere: Not for me? I rescind my thanks and write you out of my will...
Dolmere: OK, I've calmed down a bit. We can share her.

Dolmere: Jaycatt - how have your Thursday evening Hitchhikers Guide to The Galazy radio show screenings been doing? Where are you in the set?
Jaycatt Nico: They're going really well!
Dolmere: Will you start over from the beginning for losers like me who could not make all the showings?
Frogg Marlowe: lol
Jaycatt Nico: hehe
Jaycatt Nico: Well, I have them available for folks who miss some ^^
Jaycatt Nico: I do also hope to replay it if interest keeps up
Dolmere: ah, there we are with the magic words - "replay it if" :)
Jaycatt Nico: We'll start over in February hehe

Dolmere: Guys, that actually covers all the prepared questions. Anything else you would like to share with the, apparently recently increased to, 2.5 people who read my blog?
Frogg Marlowe: woot! 2.5!
Jaycatt Nico: I'm really glad people like our music so much
Frogg Marlowe: I like cheese
Dolmere: I'm really glad you two allow us to come into your bonus room and listen to the music we love so much.
Frogg Marlowe: ...and that people still listen to us after a year and a half 8)
Jaycatt Nico: That's the joy of SL right there, connections from bedroom to bonus room
Dolmere: It's been fun watching you two grow over the past year that I've been in SL
Frogg Marlowe: 8)
Frogg Marlowe: it's definitely been a learning experience