I first discovered Aaron Lee Tasjan when our mutual friend Kelly Jones introduced us at The Living Room. That friend had told me that Aaron – then in his early 20s – had played guitar with The New York Dolls, Marc Cohn, Ben Kweller and Semi-Precious Weapons, among others. I’d then found out that Aaron was also the frontman of The Madison Square Gardeners, a band that The Village Voice had once called “the best NYC has to offer.”
Fast forwarding a few years, Aaron has had his songs recorded by artists including Pat Green, BP Fallon, Peter Block and The Spin Doctors’ Chris Barron. He has produced music for Tim Easton, Sons Of The West, Adam Levy and JP Olsen. He has toured extensively as a member of Drivin’ N’ Cryin’ — also collaborating with the group’s singer Kevn Kinney on music for the hit animated show Archer — and Alberta Cross. But in 2013, Aaron relocated from New York City to Nashville and began to spend more time on his solo career.
On Nov. 19, Aaron returns to New York for an album release show at The Slipper Room. In support of that gig and the In The Blazes full-length, I had the opportunity to do some Q&A with Aaron. While Aaron was funny in a lot of his responses, he clearly explained why he no longer seeks regular work as a sideman and why he is finally where he had always longed to be professionally. More info on ALT can be found at www.aaronleetasjan.com.
Photo by Curtis Wayne Millard.
Your show on Nov. 19 at The Slipper Room is an album release show. What made you decide to do that in New York?
Aaron Lee Tasjan: I’m doing them all over the place. One in New York City, Nashville, Atlanta…anywhere within reason, really.
For people familiar with your prior work, how would you describe your new album by comparison?
A: It’s not for everyone.
You left New York a while back for Nashville. What do you miss most about New York?
A: The NYPD and the traffic.
What was the first venue in New York City that made you feel like it was a home venue? A place where you had carte blanche to regularly perform?
A: Rockwood Music Hall.
What do you think that Nashville offers local musicians who live there that New York does not?
A: Bad pizza.
Given your extensive work with The New York Dolls, Drivin’ N Cryin’ and other bands as a hired guitarist — rather than a principal member or songwriter — do you see yourself as a singer/songwriter that plays in other bands? Or more of a musician that also writes songs?
A: I see myself as a fairly-comfortable guy in the wrong place at the wrong time.
You’re known to be prolific, and before you fully went solo, you made albums with The Madison Square Gardeners and Golden Lion. Do you have any solo projects in the works these days? Any chance any of those old bands may get back together?
A: Every year someone asks The Madison Square Gardeners to perform and it seems like they’re busy. I will put out another solo album next year and tour on it.
Aside from your soon-to-be-released album, what have you been working on lately?
A: Patience and some tickets to the Kenny Rogers farewell tour.
Is there something you wish more people knew about you?
A: Not really. There’s a lot of stuff I don’t know about me. That’s mostly where the songs thing comes into play for me. Most of what I know about myself I found out after writing songs.
Do you have any goals for your career?
A: Nope. I will probably die before any of them would happen anyways.
If you could control your working schedule, what would it look like? Would you be touring as much as you do? Would you be primarily focused on your solo career?
A: Well, it’s been more than a year since I did anything other than my own music, which was always the main focus anyways. I played guitar for people because I felt an enormous amount of pressure to be “successful,” so I did the thing that required the least amount of effort to make it look on paper like I was successful so that people would stop acting like I should be more famous than I am. I have never cared about that at all and I finally got so sick of it all that I had to bail. Hence, folk singer. Now that I’m irrelevant I live a life that most people only dream about.
What’s the best career advice you ever received from a veteran artist?
A: David Letterman once told me “Go Pacers.”
Having played big venues here and abroad, worked with heroes of yours, had songs recorded by other artists and experienced, and been praised by major writers, do you have a professional accomplishment you’re most proud of?
A: I got an e-mail forwarded to me from [former Rolling Stones bassist] Bill Wyman that he liked a song I wrote called “Get Gone.”
When you get an e-mail from someone like Bill Wyman, what do you do? Do you seek to collaborate or do you just take it as a compliment?
A: Nah. I have no business trying to collaborate with a Rolling Stone. Let alone a retired one. They are one of my most favorite bands though.
When you’re not recording or touring, how do you like to spend your time?
A: Sleeping or listening to Todd Snider, Kevn Kinney, Elizabeth Cook or Guy Clark.
Who is the best band from East Nashville that our readers may not know about?
A: Margo Price.
Finally, Aaron, any last words for the kids?
A: If you’re a kid and you’re listening to anyone you’re doing it wrong.
-by Darren Paltrowitz
