Part one of a very funny, OUTRAGEOUS interview with Jim Bianco, the guy billed as the "sexiest man on the Hotel Cafe tour".
Eclectic musican/singer/songwriter Jim Bianco is definitely outside the box. He’s so far outside that you wonder why you haven’t heard his "stuff" before.. well quite frankly so do I!. I am a sucker for musical "outsiders" and this one bit hard. Having seen him "live" at the Hotel Cafe Tour closing night at the House of Blues in Anaheim, I was impressed with what I saw — since I knew little of the different people who were actually going to be there and went in with no preconceived notions.
The announcement that the "G rated portion" of the show had just ended was the kick off of Jim Bianco’s set and truly is not a "G rated" person– as you can tell from this part 1 of the podcast. Be AWARE THAT THERE IS SOME MATURE SUBJECT MATTER AND LANGUAGE in this podcast.
Ok.. so you have been warned. No harm, no foul and don’t blame me.
I had previously met Jim Bianco (wonder if anyone calls him Jimmy?) for all of 5 minutes after the HOB -A Hotel Cafe Tour in the stairwell where most of the musicians were getting pretty well blitzed which was fine since it was midnight.. but rough when you need an interview.
Jim Bianco was cool enough (yeah dude, you is cool) to let me interview him the day after Thanksgiving and he called me from JFK and we talked for a hour. Sort of like talking to someone in the dark since I didn’t know him at the time (I can’t say I know him well now.. and since I did do some editing on this podcast– just a touch mind you.) but I would say that I know him a touch better now– though I have infinitely more questions particularly since I have listened to his CD " Handsome Devil" which rates right up there with Justin Timberlakes’ Future Sex Love Sounds" in my musical estimation . (yeah I do have the chops to review it.. I have a Master Degree in Humanities- minor in Art History and Music and did my fair share of studying music academically as well as playing piano)..
Here’s how Handsome Devil compares to JT"s music-1) it’s the same sexual subject matter, except Bianco is a heck of a lot more subtle in a more jazz- inspired way. Less hip-hop, pop inspired than JT’s disk, Bianco’s CD has the feeling of being more raw, real and definitely has the ‘tude that makes you realize he’s seems to have lived that life. You can "see" him doing the things he’s talking about. Not sure if he’s kidding but just enough of an edge and grit to make you wonder if he’s ‘safe’ or if he’s truly the "Handsome Devil". There is little there that isn’t "real life" and it’s the same gritty feel that invites previous comparisons to Tom Waits, except that Bianco has more humor.
Back to the interview, feeling like I am talking to someone in the dark with perhaps a lit-match snapshot of what he really is like- both physically and personally, this podcast gets crazy and the other parts are even C-R-A-Z-I-E-R!! Don’t you just love it? He walks the edge and yeah sometimes he falls over .. which edge is the question. Odd to find out that he’s been in LA this long and never been on Space Mountain till recently. (more about that in another podcast).
What would you have me say about him? He’s insane, he’s fun, his musical chops are definitely something to behold. LOVE the CD Handsome Devil and yes it’s worth buying. Every single song is a great one and he is all those characters and so much more. He’s got imagination and he’s not afraid to put the dreams/characters/feelings ou there– and he takes you right along with him.
I get the feeling that the song "Sorry" is from real life– and most of the songs seem to have that real life feel.
Here’s the Handsome Devil Reprise from Jim Bianco
I love the European influences, the "old bar’ feel and even the almost burlesque, gin joint evocations from this tune. It’s all over the place and makes you wonder who he is. This podcast isn’t going to answer that — it’s only going to make you wonder more. Rather than give you all 60 minutes of it, I have split it into pieces and so you will get them bit by every lovin’ bit.. leaving you longing for more….. of Jim Bianco– the Handsome Devil. If there was ever a guy who could get you into trouble without you truly realizing it– it’s Bianco. But it sure would be fun!
Check out Jim Bianco at www.jimbianco.com
and at http://www.myspace.com/jimbianco
Till part 2..
Stevie Wilson
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