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an end of 2009 interview with Dave Hill

Dave Hill

I already used the above picture on the top of Dave Hill‘s Best of 2007 post, but thought it deserved an encore performance in light of the recent bad news. Get well soon Dio!

Dave Hill. A man of many talents. Huge in more than just Japan (if you know what I mean). Check out what he had to say about 2009, 2010, 1989, naked dudes, murderers, rapists, Janeane Garofalo, and more. below:

You released a music video in 2009. How’d that go?

Dave: If you like incredible videos featuring music by my rock band Valley Lodge, then you will probably agree it went very well. There a lot of naked dudes in the video and also one super hot chick in her underwear, so you’re pretty much set whatever you’re into. As far as music videos not featuring monster trucks, chimps, fire, or Ronnie James Dio, I tend to think it’s as good they come. You can and should watch it right here:

What was your most memorable musical moment of 2009?

In March, Valley Lodge toured Japan. Our last show was in Tokyo and it was a blast, full of people who knew our songs as soon as we played the opening riff. We are not wildly popular in America or even in New York, so it was bizarre to go to the other side of the planet and have people singing along to our music.

What was your most memorable comedy moment of 2009?

In July, I performed my Dave Hill Explosion show at Sing Sing prison for about 300 maximum security violent felons. I was pretty scared to be in the same room with a bunch of murderers, rapists, and other historically irritable people, but I ended up having a really nice time in prison. They were all a bunch of sweethearts who at no point attempted to shiv me or do anything else really prisony to me.

A possible tie would be when Dick Cavett and Gordon Gano were on the Dave Hill Explosion at Upright Citizens Brigade and Dick Cavett joined Gordon and his band the Ryans in a 15-minute version of “Blister in the Sun” that morphed into Dick Cavett reciting Rudyard Kipling poems over improvised jams from the band. I realize the young people today use the word epic a lot, but this truly was.

What was your most memorable metal moment of 2009?

Seeing Pentagram at Webster Hall in March was pretty awesome. They are one of my favorite bands of all-time and completely underrated. I rarely get intentionally wasted, but I thought it made sense to do it at that show. I’m told I had a really great time.

Another memorable metal moment was getting an e-mail from one of the guys from Venom telling me how much he enjoyed my Witch Taint e-mail exchanges at www.theblackmetaldialogues.com. Being Venom-approved is pretty much as metal as it gets in my book.

What about non-musical moment?

The birth of my first child, Isaiah Timothy Hasselbeck.

Favorite place to play in NYC?

For comedy, the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre and Union Hall. For music, the Bell House. I tend to have a nice time anywhere though as long as no one throws anything at my head. My needs are simple.

Best new NYC-area band?

As far as bands that actually formed in 2009, I would have to go with the Walter Schreifels Band. I’m not even saying that because I am the guitar player either. Walter has been writing great songs for over twenty years now and I’m psyched I get to play them with him.

Best new NYC-area comedian?

Lately I have been encouraging people to check out Todd Barry, a bright young fellow with something to say. Watch out for him. I also find Brent Sullivan ridiculously smart and funny. And she’s not new either necessarily, but I think Sandra Bauleo should be wildly famous. I would like to mention some others but I would be here all day and I really need to move on to the next question as I have surgery shortly.

What’s the best and worst thing about being in a performer in NYC in 2009?

Bathroom sex and bars that serve those mini-hamburgers. I can think of no other things that fill me with equal amounts of delight and shame.

What were your favorite albums of 2009?

I will probably be able to answer this question better in twenty years as I’m just catching up with the ’80s at this point, but I liked the new Daniel Johnston album and the new Valley Lodge album Semester at Sea, of course. Other than that, I probably listened to the Kinks more than anything else in 2009.

Favorite Singles/Songs?

“Time is Nigh,” Doug Gillard
“The Horse,” Alessi’s Ark
“All You Need Is Me,” Morrissey
“One Season,” the Roches (this came out in 1980 but I decided to release it as a single in my apartment this year)

What was the best show you saw in 2009?

Pentagram at Webster Hall was awesome as was Morrissey at Carnegie Hall, even though he always seems to skimp on the hits live. I saw Janeane Garofalo in London and loved that. Tig Notaro at the Bentzen Ball in DC was great. And this doesn’t really count, but I watched a DVD of Queen playing Rio de Janeiro in the ’70s in this tiny bar in Osaka one night. I can’t remember what the bar was called, but they had a big poster of Ritchie Blackmore out front so it was pretty much made for me.

Favorite Michael Jackson song?

It’s hard to pick just one, but I just checked my iTunes play count thingy and based on that apparently I like “Rock with You” the best, which- now that I think about it- is probably true. I think the one good by-product of Michael Jackson’s death was that immediately afterwards you could hear Michael Jackson songs everywhere you went. That’s a world I want to live in.

What is the proper way to incorporate “Meh” into your name?

I don’t think this is doable, but I encourage someone to take a crack at it in the comments section. Also, if someone could call me a fat faggot who sucks that would be good too.

Shitgaze, Glo-fi or Dark Wave?

I had to look these things up to find out what you are talking about, but it turns out I like Dark Wave the best.

Quicksand or Gorilla Biscuits?

It’s a tough call- they are both awesome. I just did the iTunes play count test I used for the Michael Jackson question and based on that I seem to listen to both of them pretty much equally. I will say that Gorilla Biscuits were/are the best New York Hardcore band ever. Quicksand was the best band at being Quicksand and a lot of other bands have certainly tried. Bam!

Walter Schreifels’ plans for 2010?

Walter might be able to answer this question better than I can, but I do know his awesome new solo album “Open Letter to the Scene” will be out in 2010 as will a new Rival Schools album, which I haven’t heard yet but I have no doubt is also awesome. And I’m sure there will be lots of live dates from both Rival Schools and the Walter Schreifels Band. Other than that I am hoping he and I can maybe get a sandwich or something.

Your plans for 2010?

I am hoping to get a sandwich with Walter. In the grand scheme of things, I would also like to join Fleetwood Mac and- if that doesn’t work out- become a member of an underground society of mole people easily given to handing out their own swift brand of justice. Other than that I am doing comedy shows in London and also the San Francisco Sketchfest in January. I am also doing my new one-man monologue show “Big in Japan” at UCB on January 6 and 28. On the rock front, I hope to record a new Valley Lodge album, play some rock shows with both Valley Lodge and Walter Schreifels Band, and also finish the Witch Taint debut, which will be the most satanic and brutal album of all-time. I will probably do a lot of other incredible stuff besides all that, most of which will center around my love of dance and also medieval weaponry. I’m also thinking about become one of the top Ultimate Fighters out there today.

Plans/predictions for 2010?

We will all learn to love again. Also, I think the original lineup of Dokken will get back together, which in a lot of ways is pretty much the same thing.

Dave Hill – 2010 Tour Dates
Jan. 6, 2010 – Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, New York City – “Dave Hill: Big in Japan” 8:00PM at the Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre in New York City. Cost: $5

Jan. 14, 2010- Hen and Chickens Theatre in London “Dave Hill: Big in Japan” 9:30pm

Jan. 21, 2010 Hen and Chickens Theatre in London “Dave Hill: Big in Japan” 9:30pm

Jan. 22, 2010- Hen and Chickens Theatre in London Dave Hill Explosion 9:30pm with special guests

Jan. 26, 2010- Cobb Theatre, San Francisco