Soundz
Will Elliott
Singer/songwriter
Arizona Daily Star
Tucson, Arizona | Published: 04.06.2006
Age: 22
For the record: Will Elliott won't be playing any gigs around Tucson this summer. The New England native is heading back East in May to avoid the wicked summer heat, and he is bringing his guitarist and manager with him.
Having spent only five months in the Old Pueblo, Elliott guarantees he is coming back in the fall.
In the meantime he will be giving several performances and dropping an EP, "The Devil's Drought," this month for you to remember him by.
How did you first get into music? "When I was about 15 years old I was forced to make the decision to sell a guitar that I had never used as a child. I decided to hold on to it and started playing it. I started writing songs at around 19."
You grew up in New England. Why make the move to Tucson? "My friend and manager, Sasha (Lewton), lived down in Patagonia. I recorded in Tucson for half of my last record, "The Doorman." I enjoyed my stay in the city. It seemed like a middle-sized city that had some really interesting things happening musically. I was always a Richard Buckner fan; he lived down here. And obviously I was familiar with Calexico and Howe Gelb and all those folks. It just seemed to make sense. It seemed like a city that I could cut my teeth on musically. There are some great established clubs here in town like Congress, Plush."
Musical influences? I would say Leonard Cohen as much as anybody. I think he is a consummate professional and he puts together an amazing song and lives a life worthy of creating those songs. Certainly, Johnny Cash is looking over my shoulder. I always feel like he is peering in on everyone. Other than that, I really believe today there is some really good music happening. I think it is a great time to be playing music today with bands like Wilco out there."
What is your opinion on Tucson's music scene? "I like it. I was only here for a brief while and the first couple of months it was just getting my feet wet anywhere so there was really no Tucson music scene. But it really started for me on the first Congress date that I had. We found out about it two days in advance and we were supporting Al Perry. That was my introduction to the scene.
"I'm still catching up with a lot of what has happened here. The Sand Rubies and the Sidewinders and Giant Sand and all that. I'd say it is a really nice town for creating the music that I want to be creating. On a personal level, I like it. We met a ton of people who have been very supportive. That is another thing about the scene. It is very very supportive, and we appreciate it very much."
Any concert highlights while you were here? "Well, certainly opening for Al was a lot of fun. We also opened for the Gourds at Vaudeville. We open-ed for Mary Gauthier when she came through. I'd say that about covers it."
Any nightmares? "Early on. As much as we love to play cafes and such, there are times when you are starting out that it seems never-ending and you are always staring at the back of a laptop. Other than that, just the occasional nightmare. All in all, the audiences are usually pretty listening-oriented."
Hardest part of being a musician? "It is somewhere between keeping the day jobs going strong and keeping yourself convinced that what you are doing is unique and worthwhile."
The best part? "The moment the song is completed and the first few times you play it for people."
Can we expect to see you braving the Tucson summers with the rest of us in the future? "There is a chance. This is looking like the last time we'll be going out to Maine."
Soundz
Gerald M. Gay. To nominate someone for this column, email ggay@azstarnet.com.
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