NMF Wrap-Up Part 2: Dirty Projectors

OK. I’ll admit it. This is not my best interviewing work. And it’s a real shame because Dirty Projectors hadn’t done any interviews since January, so we had an opportunity to get a scoop of some sort.
But the interview was a bit complicated by the fact that their manager had originally told the NMF PR team that they wouldn’t be available for any interviews whatsoever. The PR team stalked them down during their dinner at Blu anyway. We thought we had them talked into it until I pulled out the Flip cam. Then Angel Deradoorian said they’d rather do the interview in their dressing room an hour later.
We went to their dressing room under the Sooner Theatre stage an hour later and found out they were at their hotel instead. So we lined up a mole to call us when they got there.
They finally showed up at 8:00 and we mysteriously showed up five minutes later. Their manager told us to come back in 15. We were almost going to call it quits, but were enjoying our backstage view of The Non’s show so much that we decided to wait it out and give it one last shot.
Upon making our last trek down to their dressing room, totally expecting another letdown, we were excitedly greeted by their manager. He had lined up an interview with drummer Brian McOmber and bassist Nat Baldwin.
Brian and Nat led us to a dressing room, proceeded to put on a wig and a hoopskirt that were randomly hanging on a rack, and kindly offered us a beer. I knew this wasn’t going to be a serious interview. So I threw them generic softballs and ended up with a generic interview. My bad.
To their credit, though, Brian and Nat were extremely nice. Even after I confessed that the NMF PR team drank a good deal of their rider beer (Choc 1919) the night before. They even made a point to say hi when we ran into each other again the next morning at Gray Owl Coffee and pointed out that I had on the same awesome TV on the Radio shirt as a guy in their entourage. Angel, Amber and Haley beamed when I told them they sounded amazing at their show. Now that would have made a great video.

NMF Wrap-Up Part 1: Wayne Coyne

We took lots of great videos at the Norman Music Festival this year and wanted to kick off our NMF wrap-up with Wayne Coyne.

We sort of stalked Wayne Coyne at The Non’s NMF show. We got word he was at the show, rushed to the Sooner Theatre, spotted him in the audience, didn’t let him out of our sight, and then followed him backstage after the show. He was gracious and eloquent and our favorite interview of the day.

Side Story No. 1 — The beer came from his wife Michelle’s purse.

Side Story No. 2 — Wayne and Michelle wanted backstage during the Dirty Projectors’ show, but security didn’t recognize Wayne. Fowler VW GM Jonathan Fowler saw it all go down, so he went over and let them in. A few days later, Wayne ends up sitting next to Jonathan and his family at a Thunder playoff game and Wayne comes up to him and shakes his hand. It made Jonathan’s year.

Side Story No. 3 — Security also didn’t recognize Dirty Projectors frontman Dave Longstreth, so they kicked him out of the backstage area. Jonathan rushed over and gave Dave his all-access pass. Then security tried to kick Jonathan out. It took some pleading, but the walkie talkie and NMF staff t-shirt finally convinced them.