Well folks this month I had a hard time comin' up with ideas for something to write about. So what I did was....took it to the forum! We have a LISTSERV group with around 250 people on it...a nice little community. I asked the group what they would want to hear me talk about in my next jambands.com article. I got back several responses including: (...I tried to answer these as fast as I could like if I was in an interview, that way I didn't think too much about it. Its the way to approach things like this I think???)

your biggest influences?

I think Bob Dylan is my biggest influence. Why? Because to me he seems like the common man speaking the truth. I am influenced by the Dead in that they are five pretty regular guys with regular voices singing with all their might and you know they are giving it the best they can every night. I think they started a style of playing rock music. They represent listening to the whole more than the individual. They also symbolize the common man speaking to the people and they can take my to blissedout-world where I can get overwhelmed. I love that! I love listening to just about anything though...Neil Young, Disco Biscuits, Percy Hill, Phish, etc. are some of my favorites.

your/the band's perspective from the stage--what do you see? what are you thinking?

I hear a lot of musicians say that they are trying to think about nothing and just let your mind relax and let the music spill out. I think that best describes what's goin' on with me on stage. I guess that would be what's going on in a jam. When I'm just playing the structured part of the songs, I'm thinking: "What can I do at this point in time to add to the collective sound?" I tend to get lost in what's going on so my head is down much of the time. Its a bad habit because I'd rather look up and connect with someone in the audience and kinda dance with them...but then I start making goofy faces so its better to stay down.

How do you decide to do what you do?

We have a setlist before we go on but often times things can go other places. We don't really decide where the jams go...it's all a spontaneous process.

What are some surprises you've had while on stage?

There was one time when I saw Kyle from String Cheese in the audience at a Ft. Collins show. I thought to myself, "with all the dates Kyle has to play himself and the very little free time I'm sure he has...it's really a pretty nice thing to see him at our show". Then he got up on stage and we played a very cool Rocky Top. That was fun.

What does the music mean to you now as opposed to it when you wrote it?

Sometimes I find different meanings in the songs. Sometimes lyrics stick out to me more now, then when it was written. There is one line that Chris wrote that I really like: "I count my blessings on my right hand and I'm a lucky man". I enjoy when that part of the song comes along.

your favorite songs to play?

My favorite cover tune to play right now is Wild World by Cat Stevens, prolly because I like the way Terry sings it. My favorite tune to play of our own is Save Our Ship because I enjoy the chord progressions and the way the lyrics flow along with the song. It also has a nice middle section that can get weird.

What 'pictures', stories, ideas go through your head when you play a particular song?

I guess that depends on different things. Some nights we play I'm more into whats going on than others. I mean, it's hard to say. I guess I'm not really thinking about pictures or stories...in that song Save Our Ship, the music can bring about images of stormy raging seas in my head...but not always. Sometimes those seas are barely makin waves! Sometimes I see funny things out above the audience but usually it's just the glare of the lights...

the one thing that makes you keep on keepin' on?

I don't know. There came a point along the road where it just seemed as though this was the right thing to do. I think it's like that for everyone....you just know you've found where your supposed to be when you find yourself in a groove.

what makes the big wu who they are?

I think we're a bunch of unique individuals who come from different backgrounds. I think we come together to make a sound that is different and familiar at the same time. We all have pretty similar values and share the same approach to playing music. I think we listen to each other well sometimes...sometimes I think we're all deaf too! We all enjoy being around a lot of people....and making something come alive together.

your favorite venues?

There is a venue in Southern Minnesota called HARMONY PARK and not enough people in the world know about this very special place. Its set alongside one of Minnesota's finest lakes. Has room for about 5000 and has the potential to produce magical weekends. Its outdoors and filled with oaks and things to distract you. The sound that comes off the amphitheater stage is very cool. Check it out: http://www.harmonypark.com. I also enjoyed playing at Nelson's Ledges Rock Quarry in Ohio, just south of Cleveland....very cool venue with blue-green mineralized waters that you can take a bath in by day, and then enjoy the vibrations that come off the lake at night. Their website is: http://www.nlqp.com.

what you hope for in the future.

As far as this band goes, I'd like to continue writing good songs and hopefully putting out more CD's. It would be nice to continue playing some of the festivals and being able to hear some of the other great music going on right now. I really feel like what we do involves an audience just as much as a guitarist. I would hope we could continue to keep that kind of a thing growing and going. I'd like to continue keeping the Big Wu Family Reunion going and continue making it a shining example of what its like when people get together with the same idea: to keep a weekend full of good vibes, while keeping the scene clean, and making sure everyone is respectfully enjoying themselves together. The last Family Reunion was too cool in that it blew us all away how very conscious the crowds were of the grounds and everyone else.

how much progress the band has made in the last few years?

I think our sound is getting tighter. I think most people know that we aren't all "virtuoso" musicians (cept for AL our keyboard person, who's pretty nutty). We all have a way that we play together that sounds pretty good. I think that sound is evolving and becoming more funked up and more wacked out. At the same time, I think we are developing our songwriting skills and getting better at writing.

what kind of things are you doing to help the band progress for the future?

One thing we have been doing is touring constantly. In 1999, we will have played over 225 shows. Bringin' the show on the road...and so forth has helped us. We try and develop our listening skills as best we can. Its important to stay focused and at peace. The best way to do that is to practice being good listeners to one another, both on and off the field.

what are your goals?

My biggest goal is to become a better listener like I said up above der. I think it will help my ability to play as a whole. I hope we can continue surprising people...I think that's important. I hope to continue meeting different people as we continue driving around. I hope to continue saying continue....