Ask Farmer Dave

Dear Melanie, That rendering of the sly and mysterious Mona Lisa was commissioned for the tour, and painted by two great artists from L.A., Alia and Mackenzie.... you can see more of their work together and separate at http://www.aliapenner.com

I've always really admired how Jenny involves herself with words, music, feelings, and people.... I must warn, however, that if you're a word with an "s" "h" sound in the middle, like "sushi", or "confirmation", you may be abbreviated. I think she gets to Canada as often as she does other places... we've had good times in up there, and will again soon......

I did most of my work on the other side of the glass, meaning from the control room... , I remember playing a bit here and there ...we'll both find out exactly where and when once the album comes out and we can read the credits. As for affordable pedal steel guitars, they are everywhere... the Carter starter is good, so are Shobuds and old Fenders... take your time and hunt around....

Ever consider what a collaboration between her and Ms. Lewis would sound like? Yeah, man. Exactly. Make it happen. Plant the seed, Farmer Dave. Plant the seed.

Love,
Jeremy

Jeremy,

Marissa is a very talented young lady... I had fun working on her record... that's an interesting idea...

Honestly man your so talented playing for such great artists like Jenny and the boys from New York known as Interpol. Any advice for aspiring musicians?

Been playing keyboards for ten years pretty much.... I followed that dream... my advice for aspiring musicians is to listen as much as you play... and to pay attention to the humans you're playing with.... the music continues after you shut your amps off and put your instruments away.... you are the instruments! People skills are as important as musical ones... tune in, listen, and have a blast... not everybody agrees, but fun and laughing work wonders...

I mostly farm ideas and situations, but have also roasted almonds and installed drip irrigation systems for gardens, cleaned swimming pools, and grown hemp....

To not suck at lap steel, you need to limit the scope of your ambitions with the instrument... start off by getting tones out of it without sliding all over the place! Just keep your sliding hand in one position and get used to applying pressure to the strings and getting a pretty sound... use a tuner and get that squared away...also, put on a record of the sounds of the ocean, or video footage of nature doing it's thing.. a field of bees or something, and play along to that.... I have to note however, that you can't be afraid of sucking... everybody has to to suck sometime, and you have to take risks! But be sure to celebrate your achievements along with the hardships, don't go tipping the canoe.

I'm Dave Scher... "Farmer's" a nickname...

I worked on Jenny's new album, and play keyboards and lap steel guitar in her band.. I'm from Long Beach, California....

I am an agrarian economist as well as a fan of Jenny Lewis, and was wondering what your farming abilities bring to the group. Are you looking for further members of the farming community to join the band? I am intrigued to hear your thoughts.

Yours sincerely,
Old Mac

Dear Old Mac,

You pose great questions... I hope all's well in the world of agrarian economics... my Mother's family are from a farming background in Indiana, going into the 1700s/1800/1900s... Being more of a farmer of ideas and mental systems, myself, I think I bring compartmental notions with a cultivator's aim to a musical environment.... Everyone in this band loves the traditional American farms and hope they don't disappear... please let us know how all that's going! We're not looking for farmers to join the band right now, but they're welcome to share their harvests, and we'll share our musical ones.