Louisville, Kentucky’s own Connor Bell is Shedding. In the past he played in groups such as Paden and Parlour, but currently he is playing solo as Shedding and with Louisville mongrels of noisy rock and moody brooding, Wolverine Brass.
It’s a new year, and he’s got a new interview, so here ya go...
JBH=J. Brian Hall
CJB=Connor Joseph Bell
‘interview’ conducted via internet messenger…
JBH: First off, this is not an official "7 Questions," as you're having me do it as some sort of promotional shill.
CJB: simulated 7 questions it is
JBH: With, possibly, more questions. We'll see. Virtual 7(ish) Questions.
CJB: i am comfortable with all of the above
JBH: Well, Connor, last time we talked on record was in 2001. How has your life changed, since then?
CJB: no female friend to speak of, i'm not playing in parlour or paden, and yet things seem remarkably the same. drinking more in public, still in school though.
JBH: As opposed to in private? Secretly?
CJB: or our famed drunken ping pong nights
JBH: So you're comfortable with everyone knowing you're a drunk, then?
CJB: i think it's one of my better qualities more often than not...you've seen me in action.
JBH: Would you eat Panda?
CJB: panda the band who just broke up or the animal? you capitalized, implying a proper noun or whatever...
JBH: The animal. Sorry. Please strike the capitalization from the record.
CJB: today's panda situation is such that i could not, in good conscience, partake of grilled panda. perhaps someday, when the population is reinvigorated, i would try panda.
JBH: What if you did not actively pursue it, yet you were served panda, with no notice. "Here...have some panda!"
CJB: well, it would depend on the context. if i were in a foreign culture and it was already cooked, and if it would be offensive to turn it down...i would certainly eat it. some sort of prime directive kind of thing, not wanting to interfere in another culture's methods, nor imposing my own ethnocentric beliefs on their own.
JBH: So you're saying you would not reject it, out of principle, if it were offered in certain contexts?
CJB: no, not at all...though i would prefer a genetically altered miniature panda friend if i had the choice.
JBH: Fuck it...I'd eat it under almost any circumstances. How often does that happen?
CJB: ha, true...as long as you had A1 of course.
JBH: You could walk into the bar the next night and say "I've done something you never will: I ate panda meat."
CJB: true...very true
JBH: And then smack the nearest passer-by.
CJB: ha, smacking sounds more your game than mine. i prefer love taps or head butts.
JBH: Yeah? Maybe you haven't seen yourself drunk, Mr. Smackey.
CJB: true...it's been awhile since i've slapped people around or bitten, nay, nibbled...
JBH: Did you watch that episode of Rome?
CJB: i did last night.
JBH: So?
CJB: fantastic. though, i'll be curious to see how vorenus will get his kids back in the midst of a war where he is on one side and octavian is on the other. he is offered vindication and a new lease on life...and this makes me happy.
JBH: You can count on Titus fucking something and killing something else, I'm sure...Who was the last person you flew the bird at and meant it?
CJB: hm, probably down at sxsw with the your black star guys...documented in the LEO that next week courtesy of stephen...i think i was telling jeremy to 'fuck off' or some such silliness. alcohol...of course. i rarely 'fly the bird'.
JBH: What's your favorite flavor of Kool-Aid?
CJB: i hate kool-aid...i used to be jealous of the kids who had it...then when my parents finally caved, maybe i was too old for it. i guess i would have to say fruit punch, but i never liked it once i got it...too sugary. my hippie parents trained me too well.
JBH: What's the last "sticky situation" you found yourself in, and how did you get out of it?
CJB: i'm not sure that should be documented...i plead the fifth.
JBH: Did it involve a monkey? or any other primate?
CJB: hm, yes...a primate, but you know how i like to call people damn dirty apes...so take that with a grain of salt.
JBH: What's the last comedy special you watched?
CJB: i can't recall the name of it, i had seen it many times before...Chris Rock: bigger and blacker maybe is the name? it's a classic relationship and race relations stand up special.
JBH: I don't know. You were the one that watched it. I just watched Delirious again, the other day. Quality.
CJB: yeah, we discussed that. i have mixed feelings on that one...just a little dated
JBH: If you say so. Still pissed about getting passed over for the role of Harry Potter?
CJB: ha, is that a legit question...or a comeback?
JBH: That's a question. Answer it
CJB: no, i have moved on with my life
JBH: It was time. You work out that Iron Maiden cover yet?
CJB: no, though a slowed down baritone kind of cover of run to the hills is a distinct possibility at some point. kind of a leonard cohen influenced cover
JBH: Good call. So, you're considered a jet-setting member of high-society, right? When was the last time you slept with a prostitute?
CJB: no, and never...to my knowledge. though sometimes, i feel like a girlfriend is just a long term prostitute...in my more bitter and cynical moments...
JBH: It can be true, at times. Misogyny is underrated, huh?
CJB: i merely feel like you need someone on your side... i lash out so you're not alone.
JBH: I need all the help I can get. So...how has the lack of winter this year affected you?
CJB: well, i've always hated louisville winters...wet and miserable without the joy and beauty of snow. i've had plenty of other reasons for being melancholy, but this lack of snow has bothered me. this morning's dusting brought me some joy, hopefully we'll get more tonight
JBH: I was up late, last night. Watched it snow for a good while.
CJB: nice, i should've stayed up
JBH: I do that. I'm introspective. Write a quick poem about last night's snow.
CJB: if god doesn't give us more than a dustin, i'm gonna give his a lip a bustin' ? ha, gold.
JBH: Quality. If you had to die of a horrible disease, but you got to pick which one, what would it be?
CJB: i don't think i know enough about diseases to say...
JBH: Tough shit. Answer the question. Or make up a disease.
CJB: hm...i really have no idea
JBH: Personally, I'd go with Sudden Death Syndrome.
CJB: haha, is that a disease or a syndrome?
JBH: Who cares? Is this interview for Scientific American?
CJB: well...just trying to be precise
JBH: Precision suits you. How do you apply precision to your solo music?
CJB: well, i either run with it and go over everything with great care and detail - or i fight it and try to ignore my interest in precision. improvisation and living in the moment most often suits that impulse to fight. lately, i've been more about detailed composition than improvisation...i oughta fight that, but it's hard to get anything done before my mood switches...so i'm trying to stick with something.
JBH: So would you say your compositions are more detailed than, say...Slayer?
CJB: i don't know enough about slayer to be sure...plus there's the issue of whether or not the precision comes easily or if it's a laborious task for them. that said, i'd say my music is less detailed than slayer, but perhaps more laborious because i don't have their level of talent
JBH: So you appreciate Slayer and what they do?
CJB: certainly, why wouldn't i?
JBH: If they offered you (Shedding) the opening slot on their next US tour, would you accept?
CJB: without hesitation...
JBH: That would be a good time to whip out that Maiden cover.
CJB: yes, agreed...though it would probably be more interesting to go without a guitar and be as confrontationally mellow as possible. i have my iggy pop tendencies...
JBH: Oh, Iggy. You just wanted to warm my heart, didn't you? If I told you Chuck Norris was dead, would you be inclined to believe me, or would you immediately double-check my work like an asshole?
CJB: double-check. i know you well enough not to trust you.
JBH: What''s the closest you've ever been to a monkey?
CJB: probably working for a landscaping company...the way customers treat you, they don't really give anyone much credit for anything besides manual labor ability.
JBH: I think you misunderstood the question.
CJB: oh, do you mean physically?
JBH: Yes.
CJB: like, standing next to a monkey? hm, i'd say 6 feet or so...but that was through glass or whatever.
