Quick Q and A with Joe Crookston
 by Kathy S-B  ·  29 October 2007

Joe Crookston is one of this year’s Falcon Ridge Emerging Artists who was voted “Most Wanted to Return” by the audience. He’ll be going out on the road to promote the folk festival with Lindsey Mac, Randall Williams, and Anthony da Costa next spring. Joe’s CD “Fall Down as the Rain” is a masterful recording. The title song is a memorable song about the mystery of life: a must listen for any lover of contemporary acoustic music. Take a moment to listen to Joe’s music on his MySpace page and on his official web site.

You were awarded a grant to travel around New York and talk to and interview people, is that the basis of which your new album, which is due out in 2007, is all about? Is “Blue Tattoo” on of the songs from your travels? It’s a very profound and moving song.

Yes,”Blue Tattoo” is my newest song. . . It’s based on a woman I met named Dina Jacobson from Elmira, NY. . . She’s 87 years old and a survivor of the Holocaust. . . I’m extremely proud of that song. . . . Thanks. . . This last couple years has been a tremendous adventure for me and my music. . . I’m extremely honored to be part of the Falcon Ridge Tour next May. . . . Living out on the west coast for 9 years, I was aware of all the festivals and venues out east, and now living in Ithaca, NY, I am able to be a part of the music community out here. . . It is a dream for me. . . .

I lived in Seattle and performed in WA and throughout the Pacific Northwest. The Washington State theme song is “Roll on Columbia” written and sung by Woody Guthrie. In 1941 Woody received a federal grant to travel around the state of Washington, collect stories and write songs. . . As a songwriter and performer, I’ve been very influenced by traditional and early folk music, and I’ve always imagined and fantasized about what it would be like to receive a grant to do something such as Woody did. I have always been fascinated with travel, meeting people, and even more, asking questions and listening.. I believe below the radar of our mainstream culture, there is enormous richness and stories that remain buried. . . . I’ve been approaching my writing as sort of “social archeologist” . . . one who asks questions, digs, and unearths the stories buried beneath the clutter of our daily modern world.

As a songwriter, right now, I feel like I’ve spent years telling my story, and it became more and more important to me over the last few years to find the universal in other people’s stories. . . I found that I have a knack for, and am very interested in helping others tell their story as well.

The gems and stories are out there, and they often go unheard or told. . . My aim is to celebrate and honor those living stories that are often buried beneath big media entertainment and a consumer culture, and to explore deeper themes and threads that connect us all.

This quote below from Woody Guthrie has been framed on my studio wall for the last 10 years: The first time I read it, a light bulb in my mind went off!! The words that he spoke resonated with me on a core level.. It spoke to my core belief and the way I had approached my art, music and facilitation for years. . . .

I am out to sing songs that will prove to you that this is your world and that if it has hit you pretty hard and knocked you for a dozen loops, no matter what color, what size you are, how you are built, I am out to sing the songs that make you take pride in yourself and in your work. And the songs that I sing are made up for the most part by all sorts of folks just about like you.
—Woody Guthrie

When you were starting out and were in college, you saw a folk festival, what was it like to see that and think that could be you, was it one of those things you knew could happen or one of those instances where it just felt right and you knew you had to be a part of it?

In 1987, The Kent State Folk Festival changed my life. I was a sophomore at Kent State. . . After attending the workshops and evening concerts, I was blown away! I sold my electric guitar, bought a steel string and never looked back. Seeing performers like John McCutcheon, The Horseflies, and Nanci Griffith. . . I knew right then what I wanted to do with my life!

What do you feel could be different about the music scene in general, anything you hope to change, with your music in the scene or hope to see change now that you have gotten involved and your music is spreading.?

I am a big fan of being actively engaged in creating culture. Something I’d like to Change?. I think our culture breeds a certain passive quality as it pertains to artists and musicians..meaning you are either up on stage in front of 1000’s of people, elevated with the status of “popular Performer” or you are nothing. . . I see our western culture elevating a few people to this iconic status and tending to overlook the rest of the hardworking life-long dedicated artists. I’ve watched the internet and technology really begin to level the playing field when it comes to independent musicians being able to make a living at it. Including myself.

What has been the hardest part about being where you are today with regards to your music and what would you like to do with your music and where would you ultimately like to be with your music?

I think the hardest part is dealing with all the fame and fortune and how to spend all the money I make as a folk musician. Hahahaha joke. . . really I think the hardest part is the day to day re-commitment to staying dedicated to being an independent artist despite lack of finances, popular appeal etc. Just to wake up every day and trust that I am doing what I’m here on earth to do, and despite all the hurdles and obstacles, I can keep creating magical; musical moments, and it will lead me where I’m supposed to go. I’ve found the folk community here on the east coast to be extremely welcoming and receptive to what I do. . . I’m in this for the long haul and look ahead to many more years of it. . . .

You’ve played with some influential folk artists, what have you learned from performing with them?

I remember playing a concert once with John McCutcheon. . . we were hanging out back stage and he had a laptop, and on it he had every set list that he had played over the past several years, which venue, and which songs he played the last time he was in that specific town! (so as not to repeat the same show) THAT level of organization and commitment to his audience was a huge lesson for me. Even though we are artists, there is immense organization and detail that needs to be worked out if a living is going to be made. I also learned to ALWAYS play each song like it’s the last time I’ll play it. Either mean it, or don’t play it.

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