Reader Mailbag!
Somebody suggested this, and I thought it might be a good idea. We’re going to do a bit of a “Reader Mailbag” type thing. Do you have any questions about what’s behind a song, a guitar sound, some opinion we’ve discussed? Leave your questions as comments on this post. Thanks! Hope you guys have a great week.
I go back in the studio tomorrow to cut drums and bass, so I’ll have photos and, if I can get my iMovie working correctly in time, some video too. Stay tuned.
May 5th, 2008 at 8:08 am
I’d love to hear a run down on all of your guitars: what they are, where and when you got them, what type of sounds you use them for, and any special memories you have with them.
May 5th, 2008 at 8:28 am
Since you’re in the studio where the unexpected can occur, which studio recording of yours (not necessarily favorite song) are you most proud of and why?
May 5th, 2008 at 8:46 am
What inspired “Man of the House” off the Photographs record? Russ’s question is a good one too… and what is your favorite moment live?
May 5th, 2008 at 8:53 am
I know from experience that song writing is an intensely personal venture. I struggle to play my own tunes for other people because of the vulnerability that this act creates in me. What song in your catalog was the most difficult to play to other people for the first time?
or
What is your favorite color?
May 5th, 2008 at 10:26 am
Dude you’re gonna have to go back to that “I need and intern” phase with implementing this.
That being said:
How ’bout some pics of those new pedalboards and an explanation?
Also, are Normals songs you wrote up for questions too?
May 5th, 2008 at 10:28 am
Any hopes of songs like “The River Golden” or “The Piper and The Prophet” seeing the light of day on a real album?
May 5th, 2008 at 11:18 am
when is the andy’s record coming?
May 5th, 2008 at 11:49 am
What do you use to amplify your acoustic guitars? Are you an under-saddle piezo guy or a passive transducer (a la K&K Pure Western) guy? Do you have any internal mics in your guitars? Does your technology and/or technique differ between your various guitars?
I’m just askin’ cuz, man, they always sound *good*.
May 5th, 2008 at 12:01 pm
what’s ailing norman?
May 5th, 2008 at 12:10 pm
Why do you hate me? Im in Spamalot.
May 5th, 2008 at 1:14 pm
are you planning on going on tour anytime soon and hopefully near atlanta?
May 5th, 2008 at 1:22 pm
Props to Nick for “What’s Ailin Norman.” I totally forgot about that.
Almost as classic a moment in Andy’s career as “Styrafoam Pellets” Korban (Circa 1995) played on a $75 Goya with a slide in pick up.
Rock and Roll man….Rock and Roll.
May 5th, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Why won’t you put the seat down?
May 5th, 2008 at 3:46 pm
I saw you in Hickory NC playing with Caedmons and the live version of Hold the Light blew me away. It’s my favorite song on the album but you added so much to it live. Still, I can think of the moment and my insides pause in transcendent awe. Is there any place where one could download a live version of that song? I’d be willing to pay.
May 5th, 2008 at 4:39 pm
When you write songs that mention specific people - “Early In the Morning,” for instance - how close to reality do you let them be? Is it always everyone’s real name? Do you ever change circumstances or details so people don’t know?
May 5th, 2008 at 5:18 pm
Tammy, there’s this beautiful thing … called indieriver.net.
May 5th, 2008 at 5:25 pm
where do babies come from???
this has plagued me for years.
May 5th, 2008 at 7:14 pm
i read the liner notes wanted and i’m not looking for any other answer than a yes or no…..would you consider this song to be a love song? i don’t necessarily mean a romantic love song either.
May 5th, 2008 at 10:09 pm
Question of the day: Are you gonna let Alison get away with her question?
May 6th, 2008 at 12:24 am
As an addendum to Ben’s question:
Have you ever declined to write about something or write something that came to mind because you thought the people it was about might hear it and be hurt/offended/changed in their relationship with you?
May 6th, 2008 at 8:44 am
If you were to build a guitar pedal board from the ground up, what pedals would you select and why? Would you also give a rundown on what your amp settings are?
May 6th, 2008 at 1:09 pm
In “White Dove,” what do you mean by “Every sad thing will become untrue”? I’ve never been quite sure of what it means, but that lyric is one of my favorite of yours, because of how it makes me feel–it makes me long for the completion of all things in Christ, sort of a waiting-for-the-redemption-of-our-bodies kind of thing.
Maybe I answered my own question ….?
May 7th, 2008 at 5:16 pm
How can I pray for you?
May 8th, 2008 at 12:32 am
are you ever coming to california?