The earliest influences I can think of, in terms of listening to rocknroll, for me, is the Beatles and the Beach Boys. I started playing the piano and trombone at about age 10 and than the guitar at 13. I got a U2 songbook and learned all of the Joshua Tree songs. I got way into U2 and than punk bands than all of the cool 90s bands. Soundgarden, Pearljam, Nirvana, Screaming Trees, Smashing Pumpkins, Janes Addiction. I saw a lot of cool music in my teens. U2 on the zoo tv tour with Public Enemies and the Sugarcubes. Porno for Pyros, Fishbone, Primal Scream, James. Didn’t see Janes Addiction till they reformed with Flea in 97. I was 21. I also got into Patti Smith, Lou Reed, Velvet Underground, and Television. When I was 25 I got really into the Clash, who are probably one of my top favorites. At 30 I rediscovered how awesome Echo and the Bunnymen were and they became one of my favorites as well. I also like Beck, Devendra Banhart, Tom Waits, and Bob Dylan.
In 1992 when I was recording my first demo a guy turned me on to Tom Waits and I bought Bone Machine. I was fascinated by that album and also by the fact that he lived in Sonoma County, where I grew up. I like some electronica like Aphex Twin but I still have to discover more along that line. I love the Rolling Stones, particularly Exile on Mainstreet. My favorite Pearljam Albums are the first five. I may like the later stuff but haven’t listened to it as much. I like the Police a lot too. I love a lot of Bob Dylan. My favorite album is Desire and all of his early stuff. I also like his gospel album. I like Elvis too. I love the Pogues and Sinead O’Connor. Now that we’re on an Ireland kick, I love a band from Ireland that was around in the early 2000’s and only had two albums called jj72. I saw them play in Dublin. I’m finally getting into the Frames and I like Damien Rice too.
Growing up I liked some musicals like Sound of Music, Oliver, and Hair. Now I don’t listen to those so much. British bands I was into include (besides previously mentioned) the smiths, cornershop, spritualized, oasis, blur, etc. I like Radiohead but not all of their albums. I prefer OK computer, Kid A and Pablo Honey. The last few years I really like surfer blood, band of horses, and ariel pink. Delta Spirit is one of my current favorites. Other stuff i like in moderation is stuff like nin, metallica, and a few others. I like hip hop too. I love Wu Tang Clan, busta rhymes, and Tupac, tribe called quest and too short. i like the beastie boys but don’t listen to them that much. Same with pink floyd. i like blues but mainly just old blues like muddy waters and robert johnson. Not into many new blues guys. I love living colour. I like Talking Heads, also Fishbone. Flogging molly is a band I’ve seen recently that I could get more into. I like traditional irish songs, and Moby. There’s a lot of music that I get guilty pleasure out of just on the radio, certain pop stuff that I don’t want to admit to. OH! also the Cult. And GunsnRoses. But I don’t listen to them much anymore.
Out of Jazz i like om ah oom by Mingus and I like miles. I like the RHCPeppers, mainly their early stuff. Some of their newer stuff has cool moments. I would say there’s still tons of music I need to get into. indie pop i like is pavement, archers of loaf, superchunk, and a few others. I like a lot of bands that had singles on mix tapes, like jets to brazil, unwound, unrest, slint, far and hum. I sort of feel like my taste in music is very basic. I could delve farther down. A lot of times lately I’m listening to music to chill out more. I like some reggae, Jimmy Cliff being my favorite. Also Bob Marley and Desmond Dekker. OH, I really like David Bowie, and used to sing Life on Mars in karaoke and I did a cover of it on my soundcloud with an acoustic guitar. OH! The killers are awesome too. And Weezer.