JamBase Questionnaire: Greg Humphreys
By Team JamBase Mar 16, 2011 • 10:38 am PDT
Some music is so seemingly effortless that it feels snatched from God’s songbook, something so natural it was simply meant to be. It’s a misconception because music like this relies on buckets of talent and years of honing one’s skills to pull off. Greg Humphreys is the model of this sort of well-made, consistently excellent music, and has been for decades, first with Dillon Fence, then HOBEX, and most recently an increasingly interesting solo career. Humphreys possesses that uniquely southern knack for combining cool ingredients, snatching what he likes (and seems to always work in his tunes) from rock, soul, blues and country and stirring up something that makes sense. His latest album, Realign Your Mind, throws his arms wider than ever, skipping between genres on light, agile feet while singing words that hit like bohemian gospel in a voice that’s pure Stax/Muscle Shoals heaven. ‘Thoughtful’ and ‘enjoyable’ are two words that readily spring to mind with Realign Your Mind and Humphreys in general, who manages the neat trick of being a quality artist and easy to listen to nearly every time at bat. (Dennis Cook)
Greg Humphreys will perform a solo acoustic set at SXSW tomorrow – Thursday, March 17 – at Romeo’s at 4 pm. Greg will also be backing up his friend Chip Robinson at the Double Down Lounge on Friday, March 18th at 12 pm.
Here’s what Greg had to say to our inquiries.
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Instrument(s) of choice: Voice, Acoustic and Electric Guitar, Steel Guitar
Nickname: Grumphreys
1. Great music rarely happens without…
Great musicians and great songs
2. The first album I bought was…
“Runnin’ On Empty” by Jackson Browne on 45. Bought for 25 cents at a yard sale.
3. The last song or album to really flip my wig was…
Jonathan Byrd’s “Diana Jones.” New Classic.
4. When I was a kid I wanted to grow up to be…
A comic book artist
5. My favorite sort of gig is…
One where the front-of-house mix is great, and people are really listening.
6. One thing I wish people knew about me is…
My music
7. I love the sound of…
Nature, in all its forms.
8. One day I hope to make an album as fantastic as…
The Beatles’ Revolver, Stevie Wonder’s Talking Book, or The Smiths’ The Queen is Dead
9. The best meal I ever had on tour was at…
no reply
10. I always find the coolest audiences in…
Prague, CZ! At least they were last Summer.
11. The worst habit I’ve picked up being on the road all the time is…
Forgetting people’s names. “You don’t remember my name, do you?” “Uhh…”
Led Zeppelin or Radiohead, which flips your switch the most and why?
Led Zep . Played many of their songs while learning to play guitar in high school.
13. The craziest thing I ever saw was…
Mardi Gras in the French Quarter,’98 or ‘99. Drunken Bedlam.
Greg Humphreys Tour Dates :: Greg Humphreys News
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