I’ve got a flight to Philadelphia that leaves in about an hour, so stay with me for a few more days until I get get my breath back from being all over the place the last week. I’m happy that Garrison from IndieInterviews.com was able to answer my questions for our Get to know your blogger feature. I’m sure that the majority of you are familiar with Garrison’s site, but if not I strongly suggest you make it a weekly stop. With recent interviews with Clem Snide front man Eef Barzelay and Mates of State, Garrison really offers up some great podcast interviews, and is a great guy as well. Check out his site and I hope you enjoy his answers to my questions.

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Let’s get some general background on you. Where do you live, how long, etc.

I currently live in Plano, a suburb of Dallas. I have lived here since I moved from Austin in August 2005.

Before that I lived in Austin for the summer post-graduation. Before that, I lived in San Marcos (30 minutes south of Austin) where I went to the university Texas State University for 4 years.

I want get an idea of your musical taste evolution if you will. What were some of the first albums/tapes/CD’s you bought?

The first cassette I remember owning was a ’50s mix w/ Buddy Holly and Fats Domino - that I got at the craft store Michaels. I listened to music way before then in the car with my dad - The Beatles, James Taylor and NPR.

The first CD I ever bought was Ride The Lightning by Metallica. When I was in high school, Metallica opposed Napster so aggressively that I ripped all of their catalog onto my hard drive and sold them to Half Price Books. I think I got $9 but I had made my peace and haven’t listened to them since.

How about some of the more recent CD’s you’ve purchased?

Luiz Bonfa - Solo in Rio 1959. It’s a beautifully minimalistic work. Lovely guitar virtuoso work with this Brazilian bossa-nova core.

Electric President - s/t.

I bought some of the Bob Dylan live records over the summer. I buy old music I just now come across (recently it was Joni Mitchell’s Court & Spark and Nico’s Chelsea Girls). For new music, I buy more music at shows than at a shop.

Where do you buy the majority of your records? Do you support a particular record store in your area, buy online, and if so, where?

Good Records is the only place in Dallas worth your time. They just moved. It’s now on Lower Greenville. If I can’t find it there, or they can’t special order it quickly, it’s not available. Period.

When I started listening to music, there were certain musicians that led me in the path of a lot of other bands. Did you have any similar experiences with bands growing up?

Totally. I have a list, a short list, of the bands who like wildfire led me on journeys. Built to Spill is one. Sunny Day Real Estate is one.

But more than bands, it’s been friends of mine. People who wouldn’t let you leave without hearing this or that. They know who they are. It makes me be just that aggressive with sharing bands to those with a desire for something new to their palette.

What are some of your favorite records of all time?

Ryan Adams - Heartbreaker.

Modest Mouse - Lonesome Crowded West.

Boards of Canada - Music Has the Right to Children.

Godspeed! You Black Emperor - Lift Your Skinny Fists…

Clem Snide - Ghost of Fashion.

The Long Winters - When I Pretend To Fall.

Hank Williams Sr. - Original Singles Collection…Plus

Any idea how many albums are in your collection?

I have a weak vinyl collection which I have been hesitant to boost. I have been reducing a lot on music spending and thanks to amazing promoters, I have still had the ability to hear amazing new things without the enormous cost. 200 cds & 200 vinyls approximately & an iPod full.

If you could spend time with 3 musicians, who would you choose?

Jeff Tweedy, John Roderick, Beck

I’m sure you’ve seen some great concerts. Can you tell me what the first concert you saw was and when? To follow that up, are there any particular shows that stand out in terms of being favorites?

My first concert was Nickelodeon’s The Elephant Show with Sharon, Lois & Bram at the Michigan State campus in Lansing in 1990. I was 8 and it was surely one of the highlights of my first 10 years on the planet.

I saw David Dondero in Dallas 8 months ago (during the Hurricane Katrina/Rita evacuations) and it was just me and my former roommate. Dondero was our summer addiction. To have the night with just us and him was bizarre but incredible. He took requests by asking “What do y’all want to hear?” followed by a snicker. It’s also moment where it became perfectly clear to me Dallas ISN’T Austin.

Other cool shows have been Jimmy Eat World @ Fitzgerald’s in Houston (2000), The Promise Ring at a Chicago street festival (2001), Andrew Bird @ Hole in the Wall in Austin (2003), Bonnie Prince Billy @ Triple Crown in San Marcos (2004), The Polyphonic Spree @ Stubb’s (inside) also in Austin (2003).

What are some bands that you haven’t gotten the chance to see live, but would really like to?

Do Make Say Think, The Baptist Generals, Cat Power, The Coral, TV on the Radio (Dallas - 4/23) and bands that don’t exist (Dismemberment Plan, At The Drive In, and Halo Benders)

How did you choose the name of your blog/podcast?

I knew I wanted to start doing podcasts with independent artists and not just the ordinary playlist podcast, but interviews coupled with music. So IndieInterviews.com was just a basic addition of those ideas. I was also trying to avoid paying for shows. If I had gone and found IndieInterviews.com not available, I had considered the domain Guestlisted.com. I never got there because IndieInterviews was available. I don’t know if the other is open or not.

Can you tell me what got you into blogging, and are you surprised by the popularity your blog has attained?

I was reading an absurd amount of blogs and it was informing me of a ton of music. I wanted to somehow involve myself within that. I had just got out of school where I had worked for the college radio station (KTSW 89.9) and had this need to stay involved somehow with that. And to the latter, absolutely. I am really amazed. Some days even just knowing that my podcast is on iTunes is cool and surprising.

What are some of your favorite blogs? Music or otherwise.

LargeHeartedBoy.com, Gorilla Vs Bear.net, YouAin’tNoPicasso, My favorite podcasts are Tracks Up The Tree, a few NPR podcasts & the alt/modern rock channel on IndieFeed.com.

How important do you think music blogs are in general? Do you think they will continue to be as popular as they are today?

I think they are amazingly important. I love that fact that most blogs are clearly the taste and perspective of one person. Not the averaged tastes of a staff all working within the publication’s parameters. I think this alone is success. Word of mouth translated onto screen. I hope it all becomes more popular, trusted and successful.

Let’s get away from music for a bit. What are some of your favorite movies and television shows?

I am really into Hitchcock and Woody Allen films. Rear Window is my favorite film ever.

I don’t have fancy cable television so I Netflix HBO & Showtime series like Deadwood, Carnivale and Six Feet Under.

Outside of music do you have any other interests or projects?

I just got my cousin’s PlayStation2 and I play Katamari Damacy after work sometimes.

A lot of people have a favorite concert t-shirt, do you have one?

No. I have donated most of mine as my interest is lost in the bands. I think the only remaining band shirt I have is for the Denton band Midlake.

In your opinion, what’s the best place to eat on your city?

I don’t really have a favorite in Dallas yet. As for Austin, the vegetarian restaurant Mother’s, Jimmy John’s Subs and Thai Kitchen on Guadalupe.

Animals dressed as humans. Funny or not?

Yes. But a human dressed like an animal, that’s even funnier.