BRAD ALLEN: Q&A WITH MUSICIAN BRENT AMAKER >>>

Before Brent Amaker and the Rodeo spread their old-style country music in Europe for three weeks they will drop by The Royal Saturday to show Olympia what five black-clad cowboys can do musically. I caught up with Amaker before the show.

WEEKLY VOLCANO: What’s the most unusual thing you’ve done for your craft?

BRENT AMAKER: Hmmm, I'm not sure. Seems like traveling the world with five guys in matching black cowboy outfits would be unusual, but that's beginning to feel pretty normal. It's interesting dealing with all the hats on the long flights to Belgium.

VOLCANO: Have you ever been in a rodeo?

AMAKER: I haven't, but Sugar McGuinn (bass guitar) did some bull riding, and I've seen him go home with some pretty big women.

VOLCANO: Secret fantasy?

AMAKER: Our new music video has a scene where three hot chicks feed me a big juicy steak. This all occurs while me and the boys hang out on a space station and battle the sissy versions of ourselves. I gotta admit, I was excited about the steak thing when director Kris Kristensen was setting up the story boards. I've always wanted to have a gang of women feed me steak.

VOLCANO: What’s your guilty pleasure?

AMAKER: Reality TV. Have you seen that show on VH1 - Rock of Love? Now they're up to Rock of Love II.

VOLCANO: In a past life, you were . . .?

AMAKER: Probably a butcher. I like to use knives.

VOLCANO: You’ll be reincarnated as . . .?

AMAKER: Well, I'm definitely not moving up on the food chain. I think I'll probably have to move down a notch or two to pay for some of the s*** I've done. Let's say a dog. Probably a hound.

VOLCANO: What are you most looking forward to in Europe?

AMAKER: The last time we were there, it was for 10 days. This time it's gonna be three weeks. I'm looking forward to finding out if the novelty has worn off. Last time we were there they couldn't get enough of the cowboy thing. They might be sick of it after 21 days straight with the Rodeo. Either way, it's gonna be great. Fun s*** just happens when you roll with our crew.
I'm also looking forward to meeting the folks from our new record label GraveWax. Some of them are living in Jena, Germany, and we have a show there. They're gonna get a big crew to come out and raise hell.

VOLCANO: Last week a riot broke out in Olympia after a Dead Prez show. Are you concerned about a riot after your show at The Royal?

AMAKER: Only if the bar runs out of whiskey. We've had that happen at our shows. Our fans like to drink … a lot.

VOLCANO: At 70, Brent Amker will be … ?

AMAKER: Playin' music and doin' the same old s***, except I'll be really old, and I'll have a pair of those new robot legs. I'm looking forward to that.

[The Royal, Brent Amaker and the Rodeo, The Dirty Birds, Saturday, Feb. 23, 9 p.m., $3, 311 N. Capitol Way, Olympia]