Interview with the Great Lake Swimmer's Tony Dekker

By Old Man

I got the chance to have a little internet chat with lead singer of one of my personal favorite bands, the Great Lake Swimmers - the focus of a song review I did a couple of months back. Their new album, Ongiara is a gem - my wife and I listened to it while driving through Yosemite and it PLAYED. Oh yes. So here's what Tony has to say:

OM - What are the last 5 albums you’ve listened to on your Ipod/CD Player/Tapedeck/Record Player.

Tony - The Carter Family “1927-1934 – Disc A” , Bob Dylan “Highway 61 Revisited” , Gillian Welch “Time (The Revelator)” , Timber Timbre “Medicinals” , Billy Bragg & Wilco “Mermaid Avenue."

OM - What is the band working on now?

Tony - I’m working on new songs, some of which will probably eventually be taken to the band to work on some more. We are also playing some festivals this summer and doing a short US tour in the Midwest in August.

OM - How are your new projects a departure from previous albums?

Tony - The new projects are really a continuation of what we’ve done to this point. I’m always trying to become more concise.

OM - What is the worst restroom you’ve been in on tour?

Tony - There have been lots of terrible ones, but thankfully none that stick in my mind. Any restroom without locks (or doors for that matter) gets my vote.

OM - What is the oddest request you’ve had from a fan?

Tony - I haven’t received any requests that have seemed that odd to me. I had one fan inform me that he was our stalker. Nice guy actually. We put him on the guest list.

OM - There is a fine sense of place in all of your albums – and a keen awareness of the physical environment. What worries you about the direction of the worlds view of the environment?

Tony - I think we’re too concerned with thinking about the environment as this other thing that is different from what’s all around us. Like the environment is a concern or something. I think we need to regain our respect for it and fear of it.

OM - Western Civilization: Decline, Incline, or Recline?

Tony - Decline.

OM - Your albums all have a spiritual sensitivity to them – what are your theological and philosophical leanings? Any particular thinkers who have influenced your worldview?

Tony - I was raised as Catholic so that is pretty much in the mix whether I like it or not. Rilke, Bukowski, Faulkner, Hemingway, and Salinger are some thinkers that I have been affected by.

OM - What is a common misconception folks have about your music/lyrics?

Tony - I think the lyrics encourage misconceptions. They leave a lot of things open. In a way it takes the listener to do some work on their part to complete the story or apply it. The songs are set up so they can be interpreted in a lot of different ways, and I am certainly in no position to give the final answer on anything.

OM - When do you plan on visiting the west coast again?

Tony - Soon, hopefully next spring.

OM - Thanks Tony, for taking the time to do the interview. We hope to see you next spring!