![Julian Castaldi Chats with Dave Hill [Paris]](http://www.juliancastaldi.com/cdn/shop/articles/Dave-Hill-Julian-Castaldi-04.jpg?v=1783579930&width=3840)
HEY DAVE, WHERE WERE YOU BORN :
Cleveland, the Paris of Northeast Ohio.
AND WHERE DO YOU LIVE :
New York City.
DESCRIBE YOURSELF IN 3 WORDS :
Taller than expected.
WHAT WAS YOUR FIRST GUITAR :
A Vantage Avenger that I got from the store down the street from my house, which mostly sold school marching band equipment but also had two electric guitars, one after I got finished with them.
HOW DO YOU FIND THE TIME TO DO STAND-UP, MUSIC, AND COMICS, DO YOU EVER SLEEP :
I do too much stuff, probably, but it's all fun stuff that I would do anyway if it weren't my job to do those things. I'm glad it's all my job, though, so I can just do that stuff all the time. But I mostly like to hang out with my girlfriend and dog and eat snacks with a focus on cheese.
WHERE DID YOUR BAND NAME VALLEY LODGE COME FROM :
My band Valley Lodge is named after the homeless shelter in Manhattan that I worked at for a few years after college.
AT WHAT AGE DID YOU KNOW YOU WOULD BE A MUSICIAN :
Probably five or so. I just had the will to rock. And the hair. Obviously.
YOUR TOP 5 GUITAR HEROES :
Jimmy Page, Johnny Marr, Eddie Van Halen, Albert King and Dr. Know
IF YOU COULD SPEND A DAY WITH ANY MUSICIAN ALIVE OR DEAD, WHO WOULD YOU CHOOSE :
Françoise Hardy in 1967. I don't speak French, though. Dammit. Or maybe some irritable lutist from the Middle Ages. But just for the stories.
YOUR TOP THREE TOUR MISHAPS :
Recently, I rented a car and drove it away from the rental place. When I parked it later, I realized they had given me the wrong key fob, so I had no way of restarting it. The place had already closed, so I was screwed. I ended up not making it to the show that night. Another time years ago, I was playing in a band and shit my pants while waiting for the keyboard player to unlock the van. I played it cool, though, and I don't think anyone noticed. Until now. It was a different time in my life. I'm kind of reliving the pants shitting thing in my mind right now, so I'm struggling to come up with a third.
YOUR FAVOURITE THING ABOUT TOURING :
The shows. And also the cheeses. It's also nice to have just one main thing to focus on during the day. I mean the show, but also the cheese.
WHAT WAS THE BEST GIG YOU EVER SAW :
I've seen a ton of great gigs, but the time my buddy Phil and I saw Peaches play on the beach in Miami during Art Basel in 2007 always sticks out in my mind as one of the best shows I've ever seen. She ended it by taking off her clothes and diving into the ocean as half the audience chased after her. I stayed behind because I am a gentleman and also didn't want to spill my beer.
WHAT WAS THE WORST GIG YOU EVER SAW :
Brian Jonestown Massacre at Brooklyn Steel a few years ago. I like that band a lot, but it was awful, like watching the first rehearsal of a bunch of musicians who had just met in a room to try and play someone else's songs. Unforgivably awful. I left after about 30 awful minutes. That said, I still think they're a great band. I just came on the wrong night, I guess.
YOU CAN CHOOSE ANY MUSICIAN ALIVE OR DEAD TO BE IN YOUR BAND, WHAT'S THE LINE UP :
I think it's just Led Zeppelin, only there are five of us. Or Black Sabbath, and there are five of us. Or the Smiths, and there are five of us. Or Bad Brains, and there are five of us.
YOUR LEAST FAVOURITE THING ABOUT TOURING :
Being away from my girlfriend and our dog.
WHAT'S ON YOUR RIDER :
I am a simple man- usually just some fruit and vegetables, crackers and cheese, water, and wine, and I'm good. Though some days I think that also makes me a diva.
WHO MAKES YOUR AWESOME JUMPSUITS :
I get my jumpsuits from Risen Division and Anna Herman and then add patches I got from the Internet. I highly recommend the jumpsuit lifestyle. I'm one temperature from head to toe, which makes it easier to move on to life's next challenge.
WHAT IS YOUR EARLIEST MEMORY :
I have a memory of walking in my backyard and discovering a snail was crawling on me, and yet I felt no fear. I was maybe four years old.
WHAT WERE YOU LIKE AS A KID :
The same but shorter by most accounts.
WHAT IS YOUR MOST TREASURED POSSESSION :
My mom's ice skates. They are the only thing I took from her after she died. They are hanging above my fireplace at home.
WHO WOULD PLAY YOU IN A MOVIE :
The Rock, but with a wig.
HAVE YOU EVER BEEN STARSTRUCK :
Yes. Most recently, I've been playing shows opening for Bill Murray and His Blood Brothers. I was pretty starstruck meeting Bill, but he's such a nice and welcoming guy that I felt comfortable pretty quickly. After my set opening the first show, he walked up to me wearing one of my T-shirts, which blew my mind. And then he introduced me to another hero, Don Novello, aka Father Guido Sarducci. I was starstruck by him too.
TEA OR COFFEE :
Coffee but every time I have tea, I feel like I've been missing out.
CATS OR DOGS :
Dogs. But I love cats too. I'm allergic though, so I can't rub them on my face as much as I'd like to.
CHOOSE A SUPERPOWER :
Flying!
WHAT IS YOUR WORST TRAIT :
Self-doubt.
DO YOU LISTEN TO PODCASTS :
None regularly, though there are plenty of great ones, I know. I'm too into music and there is endless music both new and old to discover, so whenever I'm listening to a podcast, I just think about all the music I could be listening to instead.
WHAT'S YOUR GUILTY PLEASURE :
I don't believe in guilty pleasures. I like what I like and feel no guilt or shame!
RANK YOUR TOP 5 MUSICIANS / BANDS :
Led Zeppelin, the Smiths, Bad Brains, the Kinks, the Beatles. But my answer might be totally different tomorrow.
WHAT'S THE BEST THING YOU EVER STOLE :
I stole a pack of gum from the grocery store once when I was five. My mother made me go back to the store with her and tell them I stole it. I haven't stolen a thing since.
YOU ARE HEADING TO THE ISS / INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION, CHOOSE 4 PEOPLE TO TAKE A LONG :My girlfriend, an Abraham Lincoln impersonator, Olympic figure skating great Nancy Kerrigan, and Noddy Holder from Slade.
WHAT WOULD A PERFECT DAY FOR YOU LOOK LIKE :
Hang out at the dog park all day and then have a nice dinner with my girlfriend.
IF YOU COULD BE FRIENDS WITH A FICTIONAL CHARACTER WHO WOULD IT BE :Amelie. Duh.
WHAT IS THE LAST BOOK YOU READ :
Popular Music from Vittula by Mikael Niemi
WHAT WAS THE LAST GIFT YOU GAVE SOMEONE :
I gave a guitar to a children's music school recently if that counts.
YOUR FAVOURITE DESTINATION :
Paris or Tokyo or London or home.
YOUR LEAST FAVOURITE DESTINATION :
The post office.
WHAT IS ON YOUR BUCKET LIST :
I really want to go to India.
DO YOU LIKE BEING INTERVIEWED :
Yes. It usually makes me think about stuff I haven't thought much about before.
WHAT'S THE CLOSEST YOU HAVE COME TO DEATH :
I almost fell out of a four-story window in college, but a buddy pulled me back in at the last second. I'm sure there are other times.
IF YOU HAD A BOAT, WHAT WOULD IT BE CALLED :
Gary.
YOUR MOTTO OR MESSAGE :
Be kind to all, including yourself.
Follow Dave :
davehillonline.com
instagram.com/mrdavehill
Photos ©Julian Castaldi / Dave Hill
0 comments