Frankhouser, Sean 2010-08-31
Sean Frankhouser talks about his childhood and where his musical influence came from. He talks about the beginning with a tuba, and how he essentially taught himself to play the bass. He also talks about the different bands that he was in, and the people he knows, in connection with the musicians from West Texas
General Interview Information
Interviewee Name: Sean Frankhouser
Additional Parties Recorded:
Date: August 31, 2010
Location: Lubbock, Texas
Interviewer: Andy Wilkinson
Length: 02:29:37
Abstract
Early Life, Reading, PA- Born, All brothers – Musicians, John- Pianist, Kimberly-eldest sibling, Music did not interest her like the others, Eric – younger- percussionist- lives in Austin, Jason – Baby brother, Can play any instrument at a professional level, Lives in Austin too, Works for Bob Dylan, Folks, Mom played Oregon and Piano, She listened to music at really loud volume levels, Saw original cast of West Side Story, Dad does not play a single instrument, But Sean thinks he has perfect pitch or really refined pitch, Levitian- wrote a book about music in your brain, The children were told that they were going to play an instrument, It was not an option, Dad was a DJ, Johnny on the spot, Sock hops, Got the highest score of his class on the LSAT, Georgetown accepted him but did not go, Went to Albright, They lived in York, PA, Properties, He would live in a location until it was profitable, And then move into the next area, Georgia- they would have pine cone fights, Huntington, WV, Records, Jackson 5, Neil Diamond, 1979, Moved to Lubbock, Junior High started in two days, McKenzie Junior High, Atlanta, Foreign Language- Mandatory, Band- started in 4th grade, 1977 got his first guitar, Lubbock, The counselor told him he would be good at Tuba, Euphonium, Once he got bigger he was 1st chair of symphonic band, Lee Hipp- Tuba teacher, Song writing, Several students have theories classes now, He had to learn about scales himself, The fact that Lubbock has a symphony is amazing, Especially for the size of the city, They do not get taught harmony in band, Sean says he does not think he learned as much music aurally, His mind needs to be blown, Interested in seeing new things, Never did any drugs,Teaches, Guitar, No one wants to play bass, He used what he already knew from playing Tuba to learn bass, 10th grade, Lubbock High Honors program, Middle School, Moved into the Coco Inn, Dad bought KLLL, High school, First experience with a heavy Hispanic influence, The schools got bussed, Victor- Guitar, George- Singer, Sean- Bass, After the 10th grade talent show- game over, Billy’s – funky, Right after that he started taking lessons with Tubbs, Put together Bed Rock Venues, C.K Busey, Erick and Keith would play for 2 bottles of Boones each, 300-400 dollars a night, Band Tap was 25 pitchers of beer- for free, 1985-86, That band went hay wire after a while, The Jam, Joe Harris – Joe Time, Dennis Jones, At Fat Dogs for a beer, The Nelsons, Avant-garde, His band in high school after the talent show, Dianne –, Anna, Carlos, Brian Jenson, New wave punk, 72 super beetle, Abby Road, Their moms would help them unload, Lucky Strikes Un filtered, LSMFT, The band together would make original songs, “I want candy” – everyone covered that song, They didn’t like Madonna- just because everyone did like it, Madonna sold on the same basis as Lady Gaga is to this day, Pop Corn Hat, Stubbs- went up in 3 feet of flames, Singing Mother Pop Corn, College, Classical guitar, Jim Vocal, Los Tornados, Carlos Hernandez, Huge success, 1986, Richie Valens, Buddy Holly, Modern Rock, With a punk aesthetic, Considers East New Mexico; West West Texas, K.K Stowe, Main Street, Never had a full time job, Music Man, Sting Ray bass, The Stiletto’s, 1987-88, The replacements, Meat Puppets, Early versions of alternative, Dijets, Soul asylum, Mostly rock n roll, Brian Ledford- sounded too much like Eddie Vetter (pearl Jam), Gary Kirk, Roswell, The reason why music comes from this area, there is nothing to do Allan Madison, Married Donna Gilmore, Jimmy Dale’s sister, Cast Iron Shovel, Lubbock, So quick to undermine Lubbock, And reach for anything not in Lubbock, Notoriously “clique-ish”, There is no way you are not going to overlap with people, That is in the west Texas area, Lubbock Music Center, Perkins, Gents, El Ray, Tarpley’s, Al’s Music Machine, 1989, Bass player for the Nelsons, Donnie became an “artist”, Steven Shaw, Belly, Three piece band, If they played the song well enough, The people would be able to imagine the song, South Plains, Taught at South Plains College for a little bit, Branding guitar center, What’s next, Currently playing with Bugs Henderson, “American Music”, “How blues must rock”, Explanation type songs, His version of garden party, Places musicians come from, And places musicians go, Austin is where they go to, Lubbock and Oak Cliff is where they come from, Maines Brothers, They had weight, Sean loves being from Lubbock, It makes him mad when people say Lubbock does not have, A music scene, Next, He does not have a family, Does not have a girl friend, Considers himself a bore because he talks about music, Says he may just come off the road and teach, Europeans love Bugs and want him to sign records
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