SUZY STUMP: INTERVIEW WITH AN INTERN >>>

“Basically, her music is so powerful it will get you pregnant.”

That’s how Andrew Reeder describes the music of San Diego musician Gayle Skidmore, who performs tonight at the Mandolin Café and tomorrow at KJ’s Garage in Olympia.

Who the hell is Andrew Reeder?

He’s a 24-year-old intern at Skidmore’s record label, Raincoat Records.

Reeder’s promotional e-mail morphed into a Q&A with the intern. Enjoy.

ANDREW REEDER: Hello, I have a show for your calendar... Tue Nov 24, Gayle Skidmore (indie/folk, multi instrumentalist) @ KJ's Garage, Olympia. 7pm, all ages. Thank you and take care.

WEEKLY VOLCANO: Thanks Andrew. Is Gayle a solo artist? Are you her agent?

REEDER: She is a solo artist and yes I am her agent. I run a high profile agency here in San Diego. I am basically a big deal you know whatever no big deal. LOL. No I am just joking. I am actually her intern. She started a label a couple years ago and I am helping her out with promotions right now. But she really needs to hire a promoter or an agent.

VOLCANO: How would you describe her music?

REEDER: I would have to say straightforward indie singer songwriter first. But of course she puts her own quirky twist on things by bringing different instruments into the mix. I really love her song "the muse" cause I like that classical plucking dramatic acoustic style, but if you like more folky stuff you’ll love "crazy". You can hear them at Reverb Nation.

VOLCANO: Is Gayle touring behind an album?

REEDER: Does touring behind the album mean touring after the album has already been released? I mean that makes the most sense but she just finished recording, literally a couple days before she left. She will at least have a few eps to sell on the road. She is doing that sell a band website to try to get enough money to release the full length properly.

VOLCANO: Does she have support on the tour?

REEDER: The artist that was scheduled (Travis Oberg) for the whole tour just backed out of the first week. So she might be playing by herself at the Mandolin and KJ’s Garage.
 
VOLCANO: What do you enjoy most about working at Gayle's label? Does she make you get coffee?

REEDER: You know to be honest she hasn’t asked me to get her coffee yet, but she was considering asking me to help pack her clothes. I said if I have to pack your clothes I'm going to have to ask for a raise. She thought that was funny.  That’s the thing a good intern needs to know how to set some boundaries. Even if they don’t exist but serve to just make yourself feel better. For example coffee â€" of course I wouldn't mind bringing her coffee; everyone should bring everyone coffee whenever they need it, it’s just a decent thing to do. Now I need to draw the line with cocaine. I would not bring that for her.

VOLCANO: Why must people see her shows up here?

REEDER: Oh my goodness where to start. The positive rewards of seeing a Gayle Skidmore show are infinite. Looking at the big picture, I would have to say you should see her show because you are a student of life, and you love music and you love people. She will channel the sonic energy of the earth to wash your mind and body with nurturing sound waves that will bring unity to your soul and connect you to your fellow brothers and sisters. It’s just simply physics really.

VOLCANO: Do you have a photo of you I can post with a preview?

REEDER: Here is a picture of Gayle. I swear every picture I have of myself I’m making some really weird face.

[Mandolin Café, Monday, Nov. 23, 7 p.m., no cover, 3923 S. 12th St., Tacoma, 253.761.3482]
[KJ’s Garage, house concert, Tuesday, Nov. 24, 7 p.m., Olympia]