Howdy folks and happy Monday to you. We are kicking the week off with some kick butt music for your kids that doesn't suck. This music is courtesy of Daddy A Go Go. It's a definite winner with catchy tracks like "Your Not the Bossa Nova Me" and "I Wanna Be an Action Figure". Within minutes you'll find yourself rocking out and bobbing your head.
Daddy A Go Go is the creation of Oklahoma native, John Boydston. Boyston a hardcore Sooner writes, records, plays and produces all his own music. Prior to his rockstar life, John spent a number of years as a TV News producer. In the early ’90s, however, John left that life behind to become a stay-at-home dad.
The genesis of Daddy a Go Go came out of that hands-on parenting experience and the realization that we parents have that our kids like to rock out to music. John grabbed a guitar, 3 chords, one microphone, an old beat-up set of Slingerland drums, a little multi-track recorder and began playing. Over time the Daddy a Go Go-style began to take shape. 12 years later, his sons are teenagers and John is still rocking out.
John was kind enough to sit down with me and answer 10 of my toughest questions. Enjoy the interview and afterwards don't forget to check him out.....
How did you end up where you are, what led you to this career?
I ended up doing this Daddy a Go Go thing completely by accident - I graduated with a Masters in Journalism and spent 10-years in the TV news business, when I got married and we had a child with another on the way, and my wife suggested I try staying home with them. I thought THAT would be a meaningful way to spend time, so I did and it was. Along the way as a stay-at-home dad I started my home recording hobby and that led to doing songs that sprang from every aspect of our family life, From "Daddy's Diaper Blues," to "The Sports Song" (their little league sports and my coaching), to "Get Off The Computer" (one of my kids said that to me one day, and he was right, about spending too much time there). Our family life is all there in the songs and I think there are pretty universal family moments.
Talk to me about your creative process. How does it all come together?
No hard rules, but generally I have a piece of music I think would make a good song, and then I try and match with it with an idea floating around my head that I think would be a good subject to write about. I can't write lyrics without a music bed so I guess that does come first. But sometimes the idea is first - like the title. "Eat Every Bean and Pea On Your Plate" was a phrase my y mother in-law used to say that to my wife when she was a kid, and it got repeated to me and with a title like the song was half-way home before you start. But usually music first. "You're Not The Bossa Nova Me" started as an instrumental, but I liked the title (and this was pre-Malcolm in the Middle) and melded the two. The hard part of bringing it all together is the moment when you realize this can be a good song, I hear an inkling, but you realize you've got a LOT of work to do before you get there.
What's the best thing about performing?
Nothing better than a receptive, enthusiastic audience, so the actual performing is best. The heavy lifting before and after, not so much.
Whats your favorite song to perform? "I Don't Wanna Go To School Today," because my son and I sing that pretty well together. He goes high and I go low. Plus "Eat Every Bean and Pea On Your Plate" because we each take a guitar solo back to back, and he goes first and he likes to mess with me by playing what he knew I was going to play. Sometimes he does that, sometimes not, but I never know so it keeps me on my toes.
What's your least?
A lot of my songs have a lot of words that are hard to sing in a live setting - so those I've dropped. Like "Snoopy Vs The Red Baron." Probably my fault for speeding up the tempo on my cover of it.
What are you listening to on your iPod?
All over the place these days, but My Morning Jacket; Beatles, I just loaded up a Chuck Berry Box Set I found used in a store and realizing how many songs of his I don't know; and believe it or not, I have the Ultra-Lounge Capitol Records CD's (all 15 or so) going all the time in our house, because they are amusig and require no effort. Its like living in a department store.
If you could hang out with any artist alive or deceased who would it be and why?
Of course, The Beatles. I have never wished I could have been a Beatle but I have always thought it would have been fun to be either Mal and Neil (their 2 roadies from the beginning onwards). Bring you some tea? Sure thing. New guitars for you and George? Be right back.
What's the best advice you have ever received?
It's not the mistakes you make, but how you react to them that counts the most.
What's your favorite time of the day?
6am. I love being up early. Nothing like being awake just before the sun starts coming up.
Describe your work in 3 words.
ROCK, PAPER, SCISSORS
