Illinois Entertainer March 2017 | Page 8

Ann

alone , alone together , and there ’ s no conversation . Our language is going downhill fast – I would say it ’ s devolving . So I guess
we don ’ t have to worry about books being burned in the future , because there won ’ t be any around anymore .
IE : You feel a great sense of accomplishment when you finish a book these days . AW : Yeah , I know . And if you ’ re like me , I make it through once because I ’ m really hungry for what it ’ s saying . Then I get to the end , and I ’ m like , “ Oh , my God – that went by too fast ! I ’ ve got to go back and read it again , really check in on it .” I just read the long narrative poem John Brown ’ s Body by Stephen Vincent Benet , and it was a challenge because it ’ s thick , deep , heavy poetry , and it ’ s a whole book , totally
extended . And I just loved it – I ’ m on my third time going through it now , because you can drop in anywhere and it just takes you . It ’ s really beautiful stuff .
IE : You ever thought about doing poetry yourself ? You and Nancy have already put out a children ’ s book , “ Dog and Butterfly .” AW : Yeah , we did that . And that was basically the lyrics to “ Dog and Butterfly ,” expanded on a little bit . And I write poetry all the time , but I always feel like it ’ s never good enough for my internal critic . Which I have to learn to get outside the

03 • 2017

box when I write . But I always end up going , “ Oh , schoolgirl hyperbole !” and I crumple up the paper .
IE : Is it different when you sing the words ? AW : Yes . It opens the doors to all kinds of nuance and reflection , and each one is full of information . And if you really pay attention to a singer , like the late Jeff Buckley , just an amazing story is told with each performance . And it ’ s a big experience to listen to somebody who really throws their voice behind words – wellwritten words , hopefully . Ones that can stand all that nuance and twisting .

March 10

Bush Black And White Rainbows Cameron Avery Ripe Dreams , Pipe Dreams Can ' t Swim Fail You Again Circa Waves Different Creatures Damaged Bug Bunker Funk Flagship The Electric Man Greg Graffin Millport The Shins Heartworms

March 17

Conor Oberst Salutations Depeche Mode Spirit Pulled Apart by Horses The Haze Real Estate In Mind Rick Ross Rather You Than Me Sorority Noise You ’ re Not As __ As You Think Spoon Hot Thoughts

March 24

Craig Finn We All Want The Same Things Jethro Tull The String Quartets The Jesus and Mary Chain Damage And Joy Soulwax From Deewee Aimee Mann Mental Illness Bob Dylan Triplicate British Sea Power Dancers Inherit The Party Goldfrapp Silver Eye
Depeche Mode
Goldfrapp
10 illinoisentertainer . com march 2017