Conducted by Capt. Obvious

Obvious: Congratulations on the release of “Cancer And Delirium”, it’s one of my favorite albums of the year. How did you hook up with Yer Bird Records?

Tillman: Thanks, I’m glad you like the record, Captain. Morgan King had asked me to contribute a song for a compilation he was putting together {There is something scrolling on the left side of my screen that defies description and is jeopardizing my attention completely. Pulsing, vibrant colors and sparkling icons, one of which is a handgun, hidden among wizard hats and teddy bears.}

Obvious: You released some very limited albums, “I Will Return” and “Long May You Run”, under Keep Recordings that are out of print, is there any way fans can get a hold of these songs?

Tillman: You can order the double-disc, non-limited, manufactured-in-France reissue of my first two albums at sonicboomrecords.com. The people at Sonic Boom are kind enough to let me consign my records there and then handle the mail order for me. If you wanted to hunt down one of the original versions of 100 you might have to look on eBay or something.

Obvious: Richard Buckner is one of my favorite artists, and you got to tour with him, what was that experience like?

Tillman: Well, I was a hired gun on that tour, playing drums for Damien Jurado and bass for a Portland band named Dolorean, and Damien would give me a chance to play a song of my own during his set. He and Buckner were trading headlining slots. That tour was just a lot of fun, and gave me some of my first exposure on a national level. Buckner is great, and never made fun of me for throwing up that one time in Birmingham, Alabama.

Obvious: When I try to desribe your sound to friends, “Nick Drake high on Alt. Country” is the best I can come up with. Is Drake one of your influences? Any other key influences?

Tillman: Yeah, people always throw the Nick Drake influence in there, but I see that mostly as an umbrella term now for sad, Anglo-male, acoustic music. I’m not an accomplished enough guitar player to really cite him as an influence. Joe Boyd has a pretty entertaining level of disdain for all subsequent male singer-songwriters in “White Bicycles”, after having worked with Nick Drake. I guess Neil Young is probably the closest thing to a true north for me artistically and in principle.

Obvious: I covet your singing voice. I’ll trade you a grape soda and some barbecued ribs for it. Deal?

Tillman: Everytime I want to sing? Or is this a one time deal? I would have to run a cost-benefit analysis and try to figure out the odds that playing music will ever afford me the opportunity to eat very well. The Little Mermaid did alright without her voice, and ribs are way better than legs. What the hell.

Obvious: Aside from your musical talent, you have very admirable beard-growing skills. Has anybody ever mistaken you for Jesus?

Tillman: Yes, but that had more to do with my miraculous healing powers and the prostitutes I hang out with.

Myspace: http://www.myspace.com/jtillman