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IN THIS ISSUE: Dude, Where's My Hobbit? & Philly Dambuilders/Noho The Reviews News & Links TTOY Hall of Fame Archives |
A Q&A WITH ENGLISH DAVE It's your lucky day Street Serenade readers! After months of wrangling, we finally convinced the Editor-in-Chief to sit down for an intimate interview answering some of the burning questions floating around for him. So, without further adieu, here's your chance to get to know the enigma known as English Dave.
AmEmPbdy & Bolony7: When did you first discover the magic of Better than Ezra? English Dave: It was March of 1999 and I was having, what has to be,
the crappiest week of my life. It was the week my mother passed away and
one night I had the choice of staying in or going out to see BTE at
Northern Lights which is my favorite local venue. I decided to go out
and it turned out to be the greatest show I'd ever seen. After that, I started going to shows within a few hours of home. I met some great people who were kind enough to share bootlegs etc. The first time I really met the guys was at the listening party in New Orleans in March, 2001. I introduced myself using my real name and was walking away when Kevin said: "Oh, you're English Dave?" I guess he'd actually read some of the stuff I had posted on the BTE message board. Am & B7: What are your top three BTE shows you've ever been to? ED: The best show was August 12, 2000 at The Trocadero in Philadelphia. A band called the Rustic Overtones played with them and it was the best show ever. They played for over 2 1/2 hours. They played 17 of their own songs and something like 15 covers. During "Use Me", they were joined by the horn players of Rustic Overtones. Last summer in Newport, Rhode Island was an amazing show as well. It's hard to pick just three shows. That list keeps changing. Am & B7: Where the heck do you find the information you find? Did Tom help you hack into the NASA spy satellite? ED: No, everything is out there. You just have to know where to find it. Am & B7: What do you do for a living? ED: I have a super secret government job. It's very esoteric... Am & B7: Are you the 4th Beatle? ED: Nope. I have no musical talent whatsoever… I did record "Good" with friends once but no one will ever hear it. Am & B7: How extensive is your collection of BTE memorabilia? ED: It's pretty good. Last time I took inventory I had over 100 live shows, radio shows and interviews of varying quality. I have some video as well. Am & B7: Was starting the Street Serenade one of the last steps toward total world domination? ED: (mischievously) It's the first step…I'm still planning my invasion of France. Actually, I realized that people have so many great stories and pictures to share and I wanted to create a place for them. People like CJ and Therese McKeon (creator of the former "Ezralite Alert") did all the hard work. I just decided to put stuff together in a central location. Of course, none of it would have been possible without the able assistance of West Coast Bureau Chief, ChrisK and all the wonderful contributors (yourselves included, ladies). Am & B7: Are you Stella? We won't tell…wink, wink, nudge, nudge, say no more, say no more... ED: (chuckles) I am definitely not Stella. I don't know who she/he is… I know nothing. Am & B7: Are you really English? We heard you use that accent just to sound intelligent. ED: Yes, I am English but I've been in the States for over 25 years. The name "English Dave" was just a silly message board thing that stuck. Besides, I get tired of people mispronouncing my last name! I come from a town south of London called Reigate. B7: Do you have Hugh Grant's number? ED: (sarcastically) Sorry, ladies. But in the next Serenade you might just get to hear Kevin's Hugh Grant imitation. Am & B7: So, how bad is KG's English accent? ED: (laughs heartily) Bloody awful! He doesn't know what he's doing. He's attempting something he is simply not qualified to do. It's funny, when people do English accents, they think there's only one, but actually there are so many different ones. Look at the guys from Oasis. They must be the only native English-speaking band that had subtitles during a MTV interview. |
Am & B7: Is it true that BTE doesn't make a move without consulting
you? ED: They never consult me about anything. Why would they? Am & B7: What?! You mean you're not on speed dial?! ED: No. No one asks me anything. One of my goals with the Serenade is to include some good content while bothering the band as little as possible. Am & B7: In your opinion, which rarity shouldn't be a rarity? ED: That's a great question. There are so many but I would have to choose "I Don't Give a Damn." That or "Tell Me Something" because it's such a great song and it tells a great story. Am & B7: So how many versions of "Hollow" are there? ED: Lots. It's the oldest new song in the world. The first time I heard it was in August of 1999 in Hershey, Pennsylvania. It has definitely evolved over time. I personally think it would make a great single because the story it tells has a hook that could catch radio's attention. Am & B7: What's your favorite venue to see BTE at? ED: Maybe Irving Plaza in New York City? It's a bigger venue, but it's comfy with few hassles and they don't rush you immediately when the show's over. It's a big city venue with a little bit of a small town feel. Am & B7: Are there any venues you would love to see a show at but you haven't had the chance yet? ED: Sure. The Varsity Theater in Baton Rouge and the 40 Watt Club in Athens. The bootlegs from those venues sound amazing and the guys always seem to have such extraordinary performances when they play there. Am & B7: What's the best bootleg you have? ED: The November 16, 2000 show at the House of Blues in Los Angeles. It's probably one of the best bootlegs (quality-wise) and it was a great show. KG and Tom were really picking on each other (playfully) that night. I've listened to it so many times. Am & B7: Time for a tough question…what is your favorite BTE album? ED: Without a doubt, "Friction, Baby." I love the way it flows, the transitions between songs. It was a gutsy move to put out an album like that when everyone was expecting "Deluxe" part 2. That album is like a studio version of their live shows. It captures that energy. Am & B7: That's an interesting choice. We expected you to say "How Does Your Garden Grow?" ED: Garden is entirely different. I hear something different every time I listen to it. It reminds me so much of the Robert Fripp and Brian Eno stuff I used to listen to as a teenager. What really amazes me is how the band took a complex studio album and translated into a great live rock 'n' roll show. Am & B7: Which songs do you think should make a return to the set list? ED: I know I've said this many times before, but "One More Murder." It's a political song, it's a socially conscious song… It captures the laconic attitude toward handgun violence in this country. "Speeding Up to Slow Down" is another great song I'd love to hear live sometime... Am & B7: Are there any places you would really like to travel to for a show? ED: I want to make it out to the West Coast and the Midwest. Am & B7: What is your greatest BTE moment? ED: One was a private show at the Camden Aquarium sponsored by Samuel Adams. I finagled some tickets from a radio station. I told them I was taking my daughter to an Aaron Carter concert the night before and "if I had to sit through that, they had to help me out with some BTE." Sadly, the outdoors show was rained out. After a few hours of trying to decide what to do, the band decided to play an acoustic set right in the foyer of the aquarium. Kevin was standing right under a giant submersible and they did a cover of Styx's "Come Sail Away." It was surreal watching them play with sharks swimming in tanks right behind them. Anyway, as the new set up was happening, everybody kept drinking the free beer. When the guys actually began to play they were in fine spirits (to put it mildly). I was standing against a pillar. Then, during "A Lifetime," KG jumped, pointed, and yelled this. It was an experience I will never forget. I'm glad I had the chance to be there. Am & B7: What's the one thing about Ezralites that confuses "outsiders" the most? ED: The distance we are willing to travel for a show! When I went to see Graham Colton a while back they were impressed that I had driven 1 1/2 hours see them. I told them that for an Ezralite, that length of a trip is like going out for milk... Am & B7: Now for another really serious question…are you Allison Foley? ED: (suspiciously) No… But I kind of think she's a real person. Unlike many BTE stories, that one doesn't change much which lends a certain credence to it. Am & B7: Then, you must be Mr. Greaves in the conservatory with the candlestick! ED: Something like that… Don't worry Dave. Your secret is safe with us… Editor's Note: If you would like to suggest a fan to profile for future editions (a profile of yourself included), please email your suggestion to ED@streetserenade.com |
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