Almost three years ago hurricane Rita prohibited what would have been my first trip to Austin City Limits by cancelling all flights into Texas. While certainly upset, we managed to pick our spirits up enough to head to Cafe Montmartre that night and take in the Great Lake Swimmers. The idea of missing out on three days worth of great music in the blistering Texas sun was enough to drive any music fan into a qasi-depressed state. However, for that one hour plus that Tony Dekker played his songs (and a few by Springsteen and Waits) there was absolutely no place I would have rather been at that moment.

With the recent release of Ongiara, a strong and natural progression in his repertoire, we were thrilled he agreed to answer our questions below.

The last time you played in Madison, I was eating dinner while you were sound checking and you did a really great cover of Tom Wait’s “Innocent When You Dream,” which has always been a favorite song of mine. If Tom Waits was to return the favor and cover one of your songs, which one would you want it to be?

I think he could probably do a really great, scrambled up version of “Imaginary Bars” (from ‘Bodies and Minds’). Or maybe “Where In The World Are You” from the new album.

This time out, will you be touring with a group, or will you be playing the shows solo?

We’ll be touring as a four-piece band; guitar, banjo/harmonium, bass, & drums.

Could you describe the songwriting process for Ongiara? Were the songs ones that you wrote in the studio, or had you written them while touring?

I have a hard time writing on the road. I usually have to get into a quiet space somewhere or out into the woods or something and find a place without any distractions, where I can be alone. But that being said I think that the different environments that I found myself in leading up to the bulk of the writing for this record played a part in how it took shape. Writing about internal and external environments like the landscape or geology and geography has always been something that I have found valuable and worthwhile and rewarding but I think it came to the surface a lot more sharply with the new record. I was trying to get into that blurry place where the internal and external landscapes overlap and commingle.

The internet has dramatically altered the way bands can reach an audience. With things like blogs/myspace/etc, what are your thoughts on the power of the internet in terms of helping (or hurting) your music?

I think the way the internet has affected music gives great hope for music in general, but especially for the independent artist in particular. I know it’s been said before, but I really think it levels the playing field so to speak, and gives good music a chance to be discovered and listened to. It’s a soap box that pretty much anyone can step up onto if they want to, and I think that translates into good things as far as creativity and the exchange of ideas goes. I’m idealizing it a little, but I think it is amazing that someone on the other side of the world can be throwing their pebbles into the void and that someone hears it and understands it and is potentially moved by it. It’s like global word of mouth and I think that is a good thing.

What was the last show you went to see, as a fan?

The last show I went to see as a fan was A Silver Mt. Zion, in Hasselt, Belgium. Although they were playing a festival we were also playing, but in a different venue. These days I’ve been talking about shows that I would have liked to have gone and seen, had I not been so busy with touring. For example, Buffalo Tom have a new record coming out and are doing some touring, and I totally missed them in Toronto because we were on the road. I am a huge fan of them. Also, Gillian Welch was in town recently, as well as The National who I really would have liked to have seen live.

The Great Lake Swimmers return to Madison to play Cafe Montmartre on June 29th. Tickets are $8.

Myspace: Great Lake Swimmers
MP3: Great Lake Swimmers – I Will Never See The Sun
MP3: Great Lake Swimmers – Moving Pictures, Silent Films
MP3: Great Lake Swimmers – Various Stages
MP3: Great Lake Swimmers – Bodies & Minds
Youtube: Great Lake Swimmers – To Leave It Behind