more Cowbelle

1) So who are you and where did you come from?

My name is Alexander Hudjohn. I’m working on 30 years of age and I was born in San Antonio, Texas. I spent my childhood in northern California and have since spent my formative years here in Portland.

2) Describe the music you make.  How would you like people to describe your sound?

I’m not a trained musician as most people can probably tell. I play by ear, very simply and to the point. I want so badly to be able to tell stories the way my heroes have. Joe Strummer/Steve Earle/Johnny Cash/Springsteen/Bob Dylan–there’s nothing better than a really good songwriter in my opinion. I’m working on it.

I guess in the end I’m a rip-off artist just like everyone else. I hear something I like and I take from it. I’m not reinventing the wheel here. The “dude with guitar and harmonica” thing has been done and is being done. A lot. This is just my take on it. Some people like it. Some people think it’s garbage. That’s art, I guess.

How would I like people to describe my sound? I guess, for what it is. A 30-year-old guy who used to be in punk bands, grew up on country, and now plays acoustic. I’m pretty sure that’s a genre now.

3) How would you/do you feel when people describe your music as punk-folk?

I don’t really care one way or the other. Genres and musical labels are so suggestive anyway. It’s just a way for people to categorize you or “file” your music if you will. Call it whatever you want. I call it “Acid Bluegrass”… not really.

4) Are you from Georgia or do you just write songs called “Georgia”?

Nope. I never lived there. I drove through it once. I just love the term Georgia Peach. I think if I was a lady I would like to be referred to as a Southern Belle or Georgia Peach. Hell, I just wish I was a southerner.

5) I really like this lyric: “A $40 bar tab just to feel resurrected.” Discuss.

Yeah, that’s one of my favorite lines in that song. I work a full time job. It’s a good job but not exactly what I wanted to do with my life. I’m willing to bet 90% of the population feels the same way. You wake up, go to work, come home, watch The Biggest Loser and go to sleep. Day in, day out, the same routine. It grates on you. Sometimes you just need to blow off some steam. Life can wear you down pretty fast. That’s why god created Whiskey.

6) I asked you to write a song about what you love and one about what you hate about Portland and I got this track. Tell me about it.

Alexander Hudjohn: Portland Garden

Well. I think it sums up Portland nicely.  I think you and I have the same love/hate relationship with the Rose City. There is so much that I really enjoy about Portland but there is a lot that really gets me down as well. I tried to incorporate that all in the song. It just seemed like it should all be in one song. That, and I’m lazy.

7) What will you do if it keeps raining? For real, are you gonna shoot yourself?

Nah, I’ll just get really drunk and pale like everyone else.

8 ) What have you been listening to lately? What do you recommend the rest of us listen to?

I’ve been listening to Joe Pug lately. He’s very Dylan-esque. Also Trampled by Turtles, Kevin Seconds, Cory Brannan, Chris Wollard, Chuck Ragan and Drag The River. The new Menzingers Record is pretty bitchin’ too. I just went three days listening to nothing but Samiam. That tends to happen every three or four months though. I love that band.

Recommendations include, Bryan McPherson, Possessed By Paul James, Micah Schnabel, Tim Barry, anything on Suburban Home Records and anyone that’s friends with the Lubricated Magazine folks.

You can download Alex’s EP, Acreage, for free on his bandcamp site. While you’re there, check out the Nashville Flood Relief compilation he put together that can be yours for a dollar or more. I know you have a dollar.

You can also follow him on Twitter, get more info on his myspace page, and Portlanders can catch him at the following shows.

June 10th @ Satyricon w/ Insomniac Folklore

June 19th @ Dante’s w/ Drag the River, I Can Lick Any SOB in the House and Power of County

July 6th @ The Hawthorne Theatre w/ Kevin Seconds and Dylan Summers

July 10th @ Bombay’s Redding , CA. w/ Austin Lucas, Cory Brannan, Brian Stevens and Curt Baer

July 30th & 31st @ Lake Shasta, CA. Campfire Fest 2010.