cd release party saturday
Sixteen Questions with David Boone
By Colin Hickey, 10-03-07
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David Boone is releasing his new CD A Tale of Gold this Saturday at the Wilma Theater. Not too many local musicians have what it takes to put on a show at the Wilma. What makes David Boone so special? Well, he’s a damn good songwriter for one and an amazing self promoter. For the rest of the answers, I sat down with David via the interweb to find out what makes him tick.
NewWest.Net: How old are you and when did you start playing music?
David Boone: I’m 26. I started playing when I was 13 years old, unless you include the alto sax—I was about 7 then, but it didn’t allow for much singing.
NW: Who were your biggest musical influences growing up?
DB: I grew up in a somewhat “sheltered” environment early on, but my dad would occasionally sneak me out to his ‘79 Ford and play me Jimi Hendrix’s Are You Experienced, Janis Joplin and Elvis Presley. Aside from that, I would have to say church hymns. I learned a good bit about melody, harmony, emotion and dynamics from the old hymns, so I guess technically, Fanny Crosby was my biggest influence. Later in life, I got into Dylan, Prine, Hank Williams Sr., Patsy Cline and then the grunge era hit, and I was pleasantly intrigued with that throughout my teenage years.
NW: Do you prefer playing solo or with a backup band?
DB: Solo over an extended period of time. It’s lower maintenance. But there’s nothing like joining together with an incredible group of musicians. Every individual brings his/her own experiences and influences to the plate. I learn a lot by working with other musicians, both about myself as a human being and about myself as a musician. Answering the previous question again, I think the band members you play alongside end up being the biggest musical influences in your life. On the negative side though, I just think once you make the band thing an obligation, a lot of things change. It has to be just the right group of people for it to work over an extended period of time, it’s like a family. Compatibility really comes into play: personalities, artistic vision, and the human dilemma known as selfishness.
NW: I noticed the other night that you had two drummers one electronic and one regular. What’s up with that?
DB: The new album had a lot of ethereal percussive subtleties that we created through drum sampling. The two-drummer setup enables us to replicate those parts and moods, and it also adds another level of tightness, fullness and diversity to our set.
NW: How many songs could you play right now? 
DB: While typing, only two, but both of those songs are drum solos that I do with my feet. I think somewhere around 200. I would need to freshen up on quite a few tunes though. He’s funny too.
NW: How many songs do you think you have written?
DB: Probably 300-400. I don’t know if about 386 of those really count. My younger years were defined by innumerable fractured thoughts and all-day songwriting sessions. During the ages of 15-21, I literally wrote every other day. I guess I had a lot on my mind.
NW: What makes this album different than the others?
DB: It’s deliberateness. There is a lot of patience about this album that I have never explored before. I spent a lot of intentional focus on every one of the songs, from their conception to their production. Once I started writing this album, I forced myself to stop writing other material to give it my undivided attention. In the past, I have always just written whenever I felt inspired by a thought or a moment. I would write the song in one sit-down, and then I would call it good. I never questioned myself. This album, I wanted to question myself more.
NW: The layout and packaging for the new album is really slick. It must have cost a mint. What made you go the extra mile for the packaging?
DB: The photographer Joshua Meier. He is a good friend of mine and I think he is a master at what he does. He specializes in black and white photography and uses cameras from the 40’s and 50’s. He does the “old school” chemical development and then dyes his photos with various teas to get his intended color tones. The photography was as grueling and meticulous of a process as the writing and recording. I just figured, if I was going to put all of that energy into the recording, and I had all these great people who were willing to collaborate with me, I wanted to honor their involvement to the best of my ability.
NW: Do you plan on touring with this album?
DB: Yes, I’m not sure how yet. I will probably do a lot of solo touring, and give a lengthy disclaimer at every show, “The new CD sounds way more produced than what you are hearing tonight.” Ideally, we could get a promoter, or small label behind the project, to send us out on the road opening for a national act. But until then, we’ll cross our fingers.
NW: If you do plan on touring will you take the whole band or will it just be you?
DB: Oops, I think I got ahead of you. See answer above.
NW: Where’s your favorite place to play on tour?
DB: I like the Midwest, particularly Minneapolis. There are a few great venues there, The Fineline Café, Gingko’s, Acadia Café, etc. The Midwest seems to really like acoustic music. We also really enjoy the Northeast.
NW: What’s the best food you’ve had on tour?
DB: Philadelphia Cheese Steaks. Good call.
NW: Your CD release show is at the Wilma Theater which is not cheap to rent. Are you nervous about the show?
DB: I haven’t had enough time to get nervous yet. I’m sure come Saturday, the nerves will kick in. As far as event costs are concerned, we had a lot of Missoula businesses who were very supportive sponsors (Missoula Business Capital, Tom Swenson, Bretz RV & Marine, Break Espresso, Missoula Textiles, Rockin Rudy’s, the list goes on). As you probably know, the show is going to be a benefit concert for local non-profit Mountain Home Montana. By having so many supportive businesses, it has enabled me to donate all of the ticket proceeds to Mountain Home. Because the event is going to be about so much more than just my cd release, I think it will be successful no matter the turnout. But I have a very good feeling. We have so many great local acts that are collaborating: Tom Catmull, Tom Allyn, Burke Jam, members of Broken Valley Roadshow, Jacob Kuntz, violinist Beth Youngblood, Max Allyn, Checkers Barker, Brandon Barker, Matt Jones, once again, the list goes on. There should be a little something for everyone. That’s one hell of a lineup.
NW: What’s next for David Boone?
DB: I want to do a double-disc project, half acoustic and half very hard-rock. Conceptually, it would be more of a social commentary. I have been writing a lot lately about industrialization and the desensitization of our society. I have been entertaining the thought of moving in the near future, but we’ll see what happens.
NW: If Roger Rabbit and Bugs Bunny got in a fight who would win?
DB: I would like to say Bugs Bunny, but it seems like Roger Rabbit might have a more sinister side. Actually, I’m going to stick with Bugs Bunny, he’s got the wit. That is the correct answer. Bugs Bunny would dress up like a woman which would make Roger Rabbit shoot steam out of his ears.
NW: Joe gives Nick and Tom as many peanuts as each already has. Then Nick gives Joe and Tom as many peanuts as each of them then has. Finally, Tom gives Nick and Joe as many peanuts as each has. If at the end each has sixteen peanuts, how many peanuts did each have at the beginning?
DB: 26, 14 & 8. The real question Colin, is why didn’t Nick and Tom just eat the peanuts Joe gave them? Wow, smart and witty. Well done.
Colin Hickey is New West’s Events Editor. Keep an eye out for his “MVP Events” or check here to find your own: www.MissoulaEvents.net.
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