DK: If you were to make me a mix tape of earth
shattering tunes what would be your top ten picks?
CZ: "Isis" Bob Dylan
"Turn it On" Flaming Lips "Working Class Hero" John Lennon "Magic
World" the Eels "Shit Loads of Money" Liz Phair "Los Angeles I'm Yours"
The Decemberists "Village Green Preservation Society" The Kinks "Lived
in Bars" Cat Power "Range Life" Pavement "The Way We Get By" Spoon
DK:
As a musician myself, creating music is my primary passion, collecting
vinyl records is second, what are your secondary passions? Do they
play a vital role in the creative juices for Hello Dragon?
CZ: I like
science, atheism, Sapporo in the big silver cans, and fostering kittens.
DK: Give me a brief synopsis of what you are currently reading. What
is your all-time favorite book and for what reason?
CZ: Currently I'm
reading a novel by Jostien Gaarder, called "Sophie's World."
It's basically a primer on the history of philosophy. An all
time favorite is beyond impossible for me to pick. But anything
by Gabriel Garcia Marquez would be up there. "Crime and Punishment"
was a key cog in my thesis a while back. As far as current writers,
I think Haruki Murakami has written some pretty great books.
And though I wouldn't list it in my all time favorites, I need to
put in a word "For This Book Will Save Your Life," by A.M. Homes.
It got terrible reviews, and I'm convinced it was because she betrayed
the East Coast Literati by writing a novel about Los Angeles.
And that's just petty; it's a really good book.
DK: Are you currently working on
any non-musical artistic endeavor?
CZ: I'm writing an episode
of "It's Only Sunny in Philadelphia" in my head. It's called,
"The Gang Goes to Meat Fest!"
DK: Any favorite tour stories you would
like to share with us?
CZ: Instead, how about some tour advice!
In general,
if you ask for weed from the stage in the Midwest, someone will give
you a joint after the show. Don't stay in Gary, Indiana even
though it's close to Chicago and the motels are cheap. Don't
book shows with Christian promoters. Don't book shows with Canadian
promoters who want to hop in your van and travel around with you.
Don't get lost in Detroit. Don't go for a hike on your day off
in Moab national park and fail to bring water. Order "Moons
Over My Hammie" at Denny's. Play shows in Nebraska. Play
shows in San Diego. Don't play shows in Kansas, but do play
in Kansas City. Knock yourself out onstage. Throw up in
your mouth onstage in front of thousands of kids at a festival show,
but swallow it so no one will know.
DK: I'm not a big gear head, but
it's only appropriate that I ask you what brand of musical instruments
do you play? what would be your dream set up?
CZ: We play mostly Gibson
guitars, and a couple of Fenders. A guitar is just a tool, like
a typewriter or a pen. I've yet to find a piece of gear no matter
how cheap, crappy, or expensive and coveted that I couldn't find a
use for at some point. I regret every piece of gear that I've
sold. I would kill to have back my old Boss Octave stomp box!
It's the cheesiest thing in the world, but there have been several
times in the past year where I could've used that thing. My dream
set up right now would be an acoustic guitar with a reliable pick
up. Sad but true.
