Hello friends...

Freddy Freedom here with another Stunmen update. Thanks again for voting us as best Roots Rock band in the Valley. We will be playing from 8-8:30 at the beautiful Pines theater in Northampton on Saturday, 9/8. The show is free and it's gonna be a hoot. There's other bands of course on the bill but you'll have to check out the Advocate for the dt's.

In other news: I have a fun solo show to tell you about. I'll be opening for our dear friends The Fawns (no pun intended) at the Baystate. Yes, I said THE BAYSTATE don't tell me it's called something different unless you want me to bring up Great Woods. (41 Strong Ave. 'Hamp) So, it's free as well, and it's this thursday, 9/6. I get a free meal out of it and if you want to have dinner with me, show up around 8:30. I'll cover your tip...with a napkin! Kidding.

Also I wanted to share this with you all. Firstly I had to go to Springton to ABC40 and do a thing that should be running during commercials. I haven't seen it yet but you might. Part of the winning the Band Slam entails answering the Advocate's questions. They sent me a few and this is what my brain came up with (it's longish just so you know). I don't know what they'll print in this weeks issue but keep and eye out (ouch). It's mostly true and the parts that are embellished will be fun regardless.

So, to recap:

Alex Johnson: The Baystate thursday, 9/6 opening for The Fawns 9'ish.

Stunt-Quart-tet Saturday, 9/8 8-8:30.

As always, we love you and we hope you come.

1) list Band name: Drunk Stuntmen

2) list hometown(s): Taunton, MA (Steve Sanderson, J. Scott Brandon), Fall River, MA (F. Alex Johnson), Westford, MA , (Scott Hall) and the man who is an island unto himself, the pride of Long Island: David A. Durst

3) list members and the instruments they play:

Stuntman Steve Sanderson: Vocals, Guitar.

F. Alex "Freddy Freedom" Johnson: Guitar, Pedal Steel, Vocals.

"Bow-Bow" J. Scott Brandon (FYI- Bow is pronounced as if it were an action not a pretty tied ribbon atop a present): Bass, Trumpet, Vocals.

"Soft-Rock" Scott Hall: Keyboards.

Dave Durst: Drums.

4) list website and/or contact info:

http://www.drunkstuntmen.com

http://www.myspace.com/drunkstuntmen

Steve Sanderson Stuntmansteve@drunkstuntmen.com

1-(413)-218-7833

5) Are you regularly pelted with underwear? To what do you attribute this phenomenon or lack thereof?

A: In an upcoming stunt inspired by TV, I, Freddy Freedom will attempt to bungee jump from the top of the Unitarian church steeple using a bungee cord made exclusively from bras "donated" from adoring fans. The panties have been sewn together to form the world's sexiest safety net should I need it (it also doubles as a lovely summertime blanket). Does that answer the question?

6) What is your favorite thing given to you by a fan (besides underwear, that is)?

A: For me personally? A compliment.

This may sound corny but it is absolutely true. I was sitting at Hugo's a few weeks back enjoying a refreshing beverage. A guy in his mid 20's came up to me and said that he had recently moved to Northampton. He said he had been unsure where he wanted to relocate to until he saw Drunk Stuntmen. (I swear I'm not making this up) The show was at The Basement. It was hot and loud and crowded. The man told me it was then and there that he decided he had found where he wanted to be.

I've been doing this music thing here since '92. It gets very frustrating at times. I wonder if it all really maters. I wonder if we're makng a difference when I look around and it seems that all anybody (outside of our little oasis) listens to anymore is sterile, formulaic pap.

When that happens I think about what this complete stranger said to me knowing that I made a difference and it makes me smile.

7)If you have travelled with your bandmates, please describe in as much detail as possible the smell of the vehicle you travelled in. Bonus: describe in as much detail as possible the smell of your most fragrant bandmember.

I must answer this in a timeline format.

1 day before tour: The van gets an oil change, car wash, and a full cleaning. The trash is removed, the dash gets Armour Alled, the floor gets thouroughly swept, and all the incriminating evidence is expunged from their hidey holes. For all intents and purposes our van smells neutral, clean, and ready to add on to the 340,000 miles we have put on it in 5 years.

Rolling on out of town: Everyone (presumably) has had a shower and a thorough de-lousing. Somewhere around "South of the Border" (South Carolina) the smell of harmless tobacco substitute has disipated leaving us with an odor which I would describe as last night's blackout with a hint of coriander. It's most fun to get out of the van after that first 12 hour ride for a meal and then hop back in. That smell, like a devoted pet, feverishly anticipates your return. It welcomes you like the band mascot wagging its tail and knocking you over as it settles in for the next 300 miles or so. They just don't tell you about this kind of stuff in the liner notes of Zep 4. You have to find out on your own.

From there on in it's a little different each day/hour/minute/second. It is *so* easy to forget sometimes that food goes bad. It's also hard (for me anyway) to throw away the leftovers in the hotel pan from "wing night" that the club gave you at 3 in the morning (as a tip of course). At the time it seems like the most thoughtful act of altruism. After that fifth beer, fourth shot, and last cup of rum soaked cherries you just *know* that everybody's going to thank you in the morning when you unearth that aluminium to-go box. Just keep 'em out of the sun and they should be fine...right? Shortly thereafter, the "Buffalo" part of the Buffalo Wings earns its cred and some of us are frisked before re-boarding the van. How embarassing. I will never learn.

Musk, grease, gasoline, grey socks that used to be white, brine, easy cheese, hard cheese, chlorine, peanut butter, beer, whiskey, salt water, pheremones, determination, and the unrelenting desire to do this for the rest of our lives (yes it does have an odor but you kind of have to be there). Oh and pretty flowers, I almost forgot. On tuesdays, Dave (our drummer) picks a beautiful boquet of local flowers from wherever we are and leaves them on top of the van overnight. He always tries to convince us that some girl must have left them for *him* because there's always a little note attached with his name on it. We never argue, we just arrange them neatly in the drink holder and look forward to next tuesday.

8) If you could meet one currently dead musician, who would it be? What would you like to ask him or her?

A:Gram Parsons I would like to know how he felt about the fact that in the room at the Joshua Tree Motel where he died in California (which you can rent for an exorbitant fee), there is on the wall a framed poster for a Byrds show that happened well after he passed on.

9) What does Mixolydian mean to you?

A: I can't describe it to you, but I know it when I hear it.

10) Do you think music constructed from loops and samples is better or worse than music played on live instruments? Why?

I don't have a problem with samples. It's my favorite part of food shopping. But seriously, I write with an acoustic guitar a micro cassette recorder and a notepad and it makes sense to me. It lends itself to the flow of the stream of consciousness which in turn makes creating music so full of surprises. The drawbacks for me are that I am at the mercy of my brain to remember what came before and if it will fit. I can't say it's better or worse it's just the way I do it. If I had a studio and was rollin' with Timbaland I'm sure I would utilize some samples and loops as a way to evolve as a musician. As for dance music... it stinks! it stinks! it stinks! Except for "Funky Cold Medina" and "Ray of Light" Those two are ok.

11) Who do have to thank most for your love of and/or skills in music? Tell us about that person.

I was all of 4 years old at Quincy Marketplace in Boston. I was with my Mother and Grandmother and we were sitting down having a delicious, ice-cold soda. There was about 25 tired shoppers sitting around listening to a gentleman playing some impressive ragtime on the piano. My mom encouraged me to get up close and see how he was making such pleasing rhythmic music. I had always liked ragtime.

I was shy and didn't want to make a scene. Reluctantly at my mother's urging I got up and made my way over to the semi-circle piece of slate in front of the piano. At that point my feet took over. I had no control whatsoever. I started to dance a soft shoe. Initially I was just looking at the piano man and forgot about the crowd behind me. I heard my mother's voice encouraging me to keep going. I eventually turned around and much to my surprise, the shoppers who just seconds before had had their heads buried in a bowl of chowdah now were watching this kid dance. I noticed smiles on all the faces of what was now *my* crowd. I tossed in a flashy move or two in my brown Thom Mccann's. Suddenly hoots and hollers were cast my way and I just let go. When the song ended there came a roar of appreciation which I shall remember forever. Validation. My mother in tears. That day I became a performer. The next year I was given a violin, shortly after that, a guitar. I eventually had to choose one and the rest is history. Just for the record, I do still own a pair of tap shoes and am *not* afraid to use them. So, I thank my late mother Judy for teaching me early that inspiration's only enemy is self doubt.

12) If you were stuck on a desert island in shark-infested waters with 1) an inner tube for one, 2) Celine Dion, and 3) Elton John, what would you do?

A: I would train the sharks to jump through the innertube while Celine hit a note high enough to shatter all their teeth (sorry PETA but I got gigs to play). I'd help Elton with the bridge he was working on and then ride the gummy sharks to safety. Yeah, I know, what happens to Celine and Sir Elton? Well, I don't have all the answers.

13) What's the worst thing that's happened (or you've done) onstage? I was playing pedal steel at Theodore's a while back while out of my mind on Absinthe. I stood up to show off my chops and Bow Bow took my chair away. Then I tried to sit down. Then Steve poured a pitcher of ice water on me, then I was in a lot of trouble. But that's just me.

14) How did you get people to vote for you? (And no, it doesn't necessarily have to be the truth...)

A: Have they voted yet. I thought this was a job application. Please let me know if we win.