THE FAMOUS ELSEWHERE QUESTIONNAIRE: Eli Paperboy Reed

Long an Elsewhere favourite, Eli Paperboy Reed's 2008 album Roll With You made the list of Best of Elsewhere for that year, and his follow-up Come And Get It of 2010 also got very favourable notice.

Reed is a conduit for the great soul voices of the past -- Sam Cooke, James Brown, Wilson Pickett, Otis Redding and others -- but he brings deep understanding and genuine enthusiasm to his originals in the soul-style which sets him apart.

Boston-born, he learned his craft in Clarksdale in Mississippi (the home of the blues) and then in Chicago, and he has a tight and one-punch band to back himn up. He is a thrilling live perfomer too as You Tube clips attest, so the good news is he is coming to New Zealand for some shows. (Dates below)

But before then he took time out to answer the Famous Elsewhere Questionnaire. 

The first piece of music which really affected you was . . .

Probably something my dad played around the house when I was growing up. He would sing songs like I'm a Pilgrim or Red, River Valley. There was always music around my house growing up. The first music I ever bought for myself though was Travis Tritt & Marty Stuart, The Whiskey Ain't Workin. I was probably 9.

Your first (possibly embarrassing) role models in music were . . .

I guess my Dad? Later on it was Ray Charles.

Lennon or Jagger, Ramones or Nirvana, Madonna or Gaga, Jacko or Jay-Z?

None/All of the above? All are worth listening to at least once except for Lady Gaga, who should not be included in the company of the rest.

If music was denied you, your other career choice would be . . .

I'd probably do what I was planning on doing which was some sort of work in cultural anthropology or sociology.

The three songs (yours, or by others) you would love everyone to hear are . . .

Wow that's a tough question. The answers could change drastically tomorrow but for now they are: Conway Twitty - Making Plans; Jimmy Lewis - Ain't No Man that Can't be Caught; and Willie Nix - Just Can't Stay

Any interesting, valuable or just plain strange musical memorabilia at home?

Lots of all of the above, but mostly records. The weirdest thing I have is probably a King Biscuit Flour bag from the company that sponsored Sonny Boy Williamson's radio show starting in the 40s, King Biscuit Time.

The best book on music or musicians you have read is . . .

Deep Blues by Robert Palmer or Sweet Soul Music by Peter Guralnick.

If you could get on stage with anyone it would be . . . (And you would play?)

Bobby Womack and we'd play I've Come a Long Way.

The three films you'd insist anybody watch because they might understand you better are . . .

Eh, I'm a musician, I'd rather define myself through music than through film. I like The Big Lebowski, that's a good movie.

The last CD or vinyl album you bought was . . . (And your most recent downloads include . . .)

I'm not really a downloader, I just bought a copy of Timmy Thomas' Why Can't We Live Together LP at Charlemagne Records in Birmingham, AL.

One song, royalties for life, never have to work again. The song by anyone, yourself included, which wouldn't embarrass you in that case would be . . .

I'm not sure I understand the question but if I guess you're asking if I could have written one song to get the royalties for life what would it be? Probably like Lust for Life, I'd be a millionaire.

The poster, album cover or piece of art could you live with on your bedroom forever would be . . .

We have a big French poster from the movie Gone with the Wind in our bedroom now and I'm ok with that.

You are allowed just one tattoo, and it is of . . .

Not in to tattoos really.

David Bowie sang, “Five years, that's all we've got . . .” You would spend them where, doing . . .?

Exactly what I'm doing now, touring the world playing music.

And finally, in the nature of press conferences in Japan, “Can you tell me please why this is your best album ever?”

Because it's the one that just came out.

Eli Paperboy Reed with special guests tour dates

Friday April 29 -- Galatos, Auckland

Saturday April 30 - Bodeg, Wellington