Thursday, July 14, 2005

Rosie Flores: Mainstream Country Doesn't Rock My Soul

Rosie Flores is coming to the Narrows on Saturday, July 23rd. She played here about three years ago, really long before the Narrows became the hip, hot spot it is today.

Rosie just came in off the road for a few days, and took time to answer my email questions, as we get ready for her upcoming triumphant return to the Narrows.


Steve the Humble Emcee: For those of us who have never seen you perform ( I have not; I missed your previous show at the Narrows), what might we expect at a Rosie Flores show?

Rosie: FOLKS CAN EXPECT TO HAVE GREAT TIME DANCING AND SINGING ALONG WITH ME. I BRING A LOT OF FUN ENERGY TO THE AUDIENCE AND REALLY ENJOY PLAYING MY TURQUOISE WILD CAT EPIPHONE ELECTRIC GUITAR AND DANCING AROUND ON STAGE TOO.

Steve the Humble Emcee: Other than your home area, where is your strongest fan base?

Rosie: I DO PRETTY WELL IN NEW YORK CITY, CALIFORNIA AND TEXAS AND IN EURO COUNTRIES LIKE SWEDEN, FRANCE, GERMANY, BRITAIN AND SWITZERLAND.

Steve the Humble Emcee: What is "right" about "mainstream" country music, and what would you say is wrong with mainstream country these days?

Rosie: I DON'T CARE TO LISTEN TO MAIN STREAM COUNTY MUSIC, IT DOESN'T ROCK MY SOUL LIKE THE OLDER DAYS WITH HEARING JOHNNY CASH, MERLE AND WAYLON JENNINGS AND OF COURSE TAMMY WYNETTE AND GEORGE JONES. THOSE ALL WERE MY MAIN INFLUENCES ALONG WITH OTHERS LIKE GARY STEWART AND CHARLIE PRIDE. IN THE CASE OF WHAT I DO THINK IS RIGHT ABOUT THE MAINSTREAM RADIO, IT'S PROBABLY ALAN JACKSON AND GEORGE STRAIT.

Steve the Humble Emcee:Is touring difficult for you, or do you enjoy the road?

Rosie: IT'S DIFFICULT WHEN THE HOURS ARE LONG IN THE VAN.... BUT I LOVE THE ROAD AND THE CHANCE TO PERFORM FOR A LIVE AUDIENCE.

Steve the Humble Emcee: Any funny road stories you can share?

Rosie: WELL, LET'S SEE......THERE WAS THIS TIME WHERE WE WERE DRIVING ACROSS COUNTRY ONCE AND THE TIRE BLEW OUT AND SO WE TRIED TO GO AND BUY A TIRE BUT THIS GUY COULDN'T UNDERSTAND THAT WE ONLY NEEDED ONE. (HE DIDN'T SPEAK ANY ENGLISH .) SO HE WAS TRYING TO SELL US TWO!

HE WOULDN'T GO FOR JUST THE ONE APPARENTLY. WHILE WE WERE WAITING TO GET THE TIRE PUT ON HIS DOG CAME INTO THE WAITING ROOM AND STARTED BARKING AND TRIED TO ATTACK MY BASS PLAYER.

WHEN I WENT TO CALL FOR THE TIRE GUY TO GET HIS DOG CALLED OFF, I CAUGHT HIM PUTTING TWO NEW TIRES ON AND TOLD HIM TO STOP.

SO HE TOOK BOTH NEW TIRES OFF. WE STARTED A YELLING MATCH, ALL FOUR OF US AND THE DOG. WE STUCK THAT TINY SPARE ON AND WE WENT ON TO DRIVE NEARLY 100 MILES ON THE TINY SPARE BEFORE WE FOUND A SEARS. AS WE LAUGHED IN DISBELIEF AS TO WHAT WE'D BEEN THROUGH FOR THE REST OF THE DAY.

Steve the Humbe Emcee: What CDs are you listening to these days?

Rosie: THIS MONTH, I'M DIGGING ON DIANA KRALL, JET, DJANGO REINHARDT, AND TOM PETTY, MARSHALL CRENSHAW. DON'T ASK ME FOR TITLES OF CD'S. SORRY, JUST VARIOUS STUFF THAT I HAVE ON MY IPOD.

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