FACEBOOK FAN FRIDAY: Interview With Greer Carlson
Today on Facebook Fan Friday, we bring you Greer Carlson, who enjoys In & Out, the Zac Brown Band and hiking…read more below.
If you want to be featured on “Facebook Fan Friday” and share some things about yourself:
1. Like Cat ‘n Mouse Promotions on Facebook.
2. We’ll select a new fan each week to feature!
1. What’s your name?
Greer Carlson
2. What do you do?
Random Jobs! Promotions, Trade Show Spokeswoman, On Camera Talent (commercials, hosting, corporate videos, etc).
3. Favorite places to eat in Arizona?
Anything owned by FOX Restaurant Concepts (Blanco & Sauce are my personal favs). Also, In & Out Burger, it’s a guilty pleasure!
4. Last show you went to?
Hmmm….Tucson doesn’t have many shows, but it’s an outdoor oasis!! My husband and I do a lot of hiking and biking.
5. Describe a perfect day for you?
Day on the lake with friends and family.
6. What bands are you really into now?
Zac Brown Band, Sara Bareilles
7. Shout-outs?
Check out my blog – www.randomdayjob.blogspot.com – There is lots of solid advice about getting into promotions or the acting world! I’m also currently giving away a $25 Gift Card to Amazon!
8. Words of wisdom?
Never Give Up. Those who succeed just didn’t quit!
Stacy from KROQ stops by for a chat
Stacy Lee is a promotions assistant at KROQ. She let me pick her brain about what she does for the station. Please enjoy the short but sweet interview.
1. Tell us about life as a promotions assistant at KROQ?
It’s unique! It’s an awesome job.
2. What exactly do you do?
We are essentially the street team. When we are out driving in the KROQ rigs, we are moving billboards. Our crew of about 35-40 works all the events. We typically set up a tent on-site, play music and give away free stuff like stickers, tshirts and often tickets as well.
3. What’s the best part of your job?
The best part of my job is meeting the fans. At all the gigs we get to meet and talk to fans. Sometimes we run into the same people over and over again, which is really cool. I love seeing the reaction of the people who win big prizes. Last year we did a lot of Del Taco gigs where we had some great giveaways — one girl CRIED when her mom gave her the Paramore tickets she won. It was awesome to see.
4. Who are you listening to lately?
Mumford and Sons is my number 1. Their album is great.
5. If someone wants to do what you do….What do they need to do?
Go to cbsradio.com and apply! Be knowledgable about the station and music.
6. Shout-outs?
To all my coworkers and bosses…you rock. It’s been a pleasure working with all of you 
Swingin’ Utters, a truly tasty Punk Rock treat
Swingin’ Utters are playing a FREE show at the Slidebar in Fullerton this Saturday, March 19th. The Utters are sure to rip the bar a new one. Check out the interview below with guitar/vocal/accordion master, Darius Koski.
1. Dead Flowers, Bottles, Bluegrass, and Bones was a masterpiece. What can we expect from the new album?
Another masterpiece I hope. 14 songs, no filler!
2. What influences you as a band?
Everything.
3. When you’re in Southern California what are some of your favorite bars to visit?
Wherever my friends are going… I go to Alex’s in Long Beach more than anywhere else I guess, because all our bands play there so much.
4. You guys are in more than a few side projects, can you tell us about those?
I’m in Filthy Thieving Bastards, Spike’s in the Gimmie Gimmies and the Re-Volts and Filthy Thieving Bastards, Johnny’s in Filthy Thieving Bastards and Druglords of the Avenues, Greg fills in for a bunch of bands all the time (he does Dirty Filthy Mugs now, at least I think he still does that…), Jack’s occasionally in the Re-Volts and was in Dead To Me til he quit…
5. Favorite songs to play live? Why?
Five Lessons Learned (because people like it), As You Start Leaving (cuz I like it), any new song is always more exciting than an old one. My new favorites are Time On My Own and Brand New Lungs.
6. What bands do we need to listen to?
Swingin’ Utters. That’d be cool. I like Modern Action, American Death Ray, Dirtbombs. The Spits! I really mostly listen to shit like Radiohead, Elliott Smith and Arcade Fire.
7. Five all time favorite albums?
right this second off the top of my head:
1. Kinks: Village Green…
2. Beatles: Rubber Soul
3. X: Under the Big Black Sun
4. Townes Van Zandt: Our Mother the Mountain
5. Elvis Costello: Get Happy
8. What can we expect in 2011 from the Swingin’ Utters?
a new album and more touring. a second wind!
9. Last words? Shout-outs?
see you somewhere out there…
Fishbone taking over the big screen
Fishbone is my all time favorite band. You can only imagine my excitement when I heard a film was being made about the Ska-Punk-Funk-Metal mob. “Everyday Sunshine: The Story of Fishbone” is an incredible piece of work and a funktasticly awesome time! Co-directors, Lev Anderson and Chris Metzler were kind enough to chat with me about the experience.
1. Why did you choose to tell the Fishbone story?
Lev Anderson and Chris Metzler (co-directors) – As co-director’s, we like to tell stories about those of us that live on the margins of the mainstream as there are a lot of fun and interesting characters out there, but also because exploring these stories can tell us a lot about the mainstream, or we as Americans in general. Fishbone has had rock ‘n’ roll dreams like a lot of us but they were so unique in their approach and their abilities to blend all kinds of influences that it is a distinct American story. How these guys go from Black Panther breakfast programs to integrating the L.A. punk rock scene, and further shaping the alternative music scene seemed like a great story to tell.
2. I loved the film and am so thankful you guys made it. What has the response been from others those who have seen the film?
Lev Anderson and Chris Metzler (co-directors) – In general, the audience reaction from all over has been great. Whether the film has screened on a Sunday night in a heavily Mormon town in Utah, or Little Richard’s hometown of Macon, Georgia or punk rock hipsters in San Francisco, people seem to dig it, even if they weren’t familiar with Fishbone before they stepped into the theater. Our hope is that in telling the story of Fishbone, we are telling a story about ourselves and people can identify with it. They are not aloof punk rock stars in a little bubble but really are fun, charismatic guys that deal with a lot of the same issues we all do in this world. So people seem to get that and we couldn’t be happier with how the film has reached people thus far. .
3. How long were you on the road getting the footage? What was that experience like?
Lev Anderson and Chris Metzler (co-directors) – We were on the road and at home with the band over a period of 3 to 4 years. Shooting stuff with them in Europe or different spots in the U.S. We learned that it can be an exhausting experience touring and that it isn’t really all that glamorous. The band was fun to follow because they’ll put on a great show whether it is for a dozen people in a small Austrian resort town or 10,000 people at a music festival in France. And it is amazing how Fishbone, not a big band in the US, has a large contingent of fans all over the world. I think their legacy of punk-funk, and the reactions they get from their live shows, is what keeps the band going and what made us appreciate them as individuals and artists.
4. What have you learned about the band?
Lev Anderson and Chris Metzler (co-directors) – A lot of bands do not function as a democracy but it really did shape Fishbone’s sound and led to their early success. All the different personalities that made up the band really created their unique sound that would be hard to replicate if it was any other way. At the same time, when you are making music with others, you need to strike a critical balance of cooperation and mutual respect on the one hand, and the need to satisfy your individual artistic aspirations on the other. And these guys are loyal to their visions. Even if they may not get played on the radio, they are staying true to their art and leaving it to the rest of us to catch up.
5. “Unyielding Conditioning” is my absolute favorite Fishbone song, what’s yours?
Lev Anderson and Chris Metzler (co-directors) – We’re not sure that we have a favorite Fishbone song but “Ma and Pa”, “Bonin’ in the Boneyard”, and “Monkey Dick” are among our favorites.
6. Where can we see the film?
Lev Anderson and Chris Metzler (co-directors) – Right now, we continue to screen the film at festivals in the US and abroad. The best way for people to keep track of these screenings is to go to our website, www.fishbonedocumentary.com and to join the film’s fan page on Facebook. We are planning on a theatrical release later this Summer where we will be hitting all corners of the U.S. and hope to have the band hit some of the cities in conjunction with screenings so that when the film opens you can go see the band play that night.
7. Any advice for aspiring filmmakers?
Lev Anderson and Chris Metzler (co-directors) – With all documentary films, you have to work your ass off, and be patient but persistent. If you have a good idea of the story you are trying to tell and have solid, honest relationships with your subjects, that provides the foundation on which to build.
8. Shout Out’s
Lev Anderson and Chris Metzler (co-directors) – There are a lot people we’d like to thank, as is evident by our long list of thank yous in the film’s credits, but we’d like to give some props to our ever faithful and creative D.P. and editor, Jeff Springer, who traveled with us to the ends of the earth and the darkness of the editing room to craft what we think is a pretty kick ass film. And additional thank-yous to Steve Tozzi and Click3x for designing a really neat poster for the film and Fat Albert on acid style of animation, Silverback Management for their guidance and assistance in making this movie happen, the fans, and of course to each member of Fishbone, past, present, and future. We are honored to tell the story of your zany and wonderfully creative legacy.
Calling for cabs is a thing of the past
GoFastCab is a kick-ass company that let’s you send a text message to order your cab. Who wants to wait on hold while you’re puking your guts out? Co-Founder, Josh Komenda, talks to me about the company in the interview below.
What is GoFastCab?
GoFastCab is a service that lets users order a cab anytime, without calling a cab company. Right now, you can text your address to 777222, and your order is confirmed instantly. Look for our iPhone and Android apps to be launched this spring!
How did you come up with the concept?
We came up with the concept a few years ago in San Diego while trying to order a cab on a busy Friday night. The hold time on the phone was like 10 minutes. We thought there had to be a better way.
Where is the service available?
Throughout Southern California, Arizona, San Jose, Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Nashville, and Charlotte.
How has the response been so far?
Great! GoFastCab hopes to process about half a million orders in 2011!
What’s coming up for GoFastCab in the future?
Look for our Smart Phone Applications with GPS assisted ordering, web ordering, and many new cities coming soon!
When you’re not texting for cabs, what are you doing?
Love working out, hanging with friends, eating out, hiking, and travelling.
Favorite place to eat in San Diego?
Patio at George’s at The Cove in La Jolla
Where can we find out more info on GoFastCab?
Check out our website: www.gofastcab.com, or become a fan on Facebook: www.facebook.com/gofastcab
Shout Out’s?
Thanks to Cat ‘n Mouse!!!