[blockquote cite=” short bio from RodPicott.com” type=”left, center, right”]The son of a welder from rural New England, Rod Picott is a masterful songwriter and soulful singer who carries with him as fine a suitcase of songs as you’ll find anywhere. Slaid Cleaves, Ray Wylie Hubbard and Fred Eagelsmith have recorded Rod Picott songs. A former construction worker who hung up his tools when he released his debut CD in 2000, Picott has carved a career for himself with a run of 6 beautifully crafted self released CDs over the last 13 years and a well earned reputation as a engaging, emotion fueled performer..[/blockquote]
I drove up to Haugesund at 11:30 on Friday Sep 26, plenty of time to find a place to park before I would get to talk to the great singer/songwriter, Rod Picott. Or so i thought, but there where nowhere to park, I had no coins to put on the meter and I when I finally found parking space I had to run to get to Amanda Hotel where Mr. Picott was waiting. I hurried in to the hotel lobby and found Rod Picott sitting and smiling in a sofa in the lobby. We said hello (I was a bit stressed out and even forgot to tell him my name) and we started to talk.
I must also say that I saw Rod Picott in concert later the same day at Smio, Vea, Karmøy. He gave a fantastic, intimate and funny show, exceeded all expectations. I will post picture from the concert all through this interview.
Alldylan (A): I’ve been listening a lot to your records lately, and in the car on the way over I listened to your latest album…
Rod Picott (R): Does it work in the car? (smiling)
A: … oh yeah, especially the car-song, 65 Falcon. The car is of course a metaphor.
R: Yes
65 Falcon:
A: … a metaphor for freedom just as Springsteen’s Thunder Road..
Rod Picott laughs and says: but not as elegant
A: Oh, it is very good and it rings very true. Most people in these parts has a strong connection to USA and understands the significance of cars, not just to get from A to B.
R: The song is a bit of a throwback, there aren’t many car songs right now, but I love songs that paints pictures. It’s a small song with many details, I really like those kinds of songs. To me it speaks of freedom and a little rebellion, You know, in the states a car, in some ways, communicate who you are. Not just in a matter of finances, it communicates other things…a sense of how you see the world. I used to have a 65 Falcon. So it’s all true.
Continue reading Rod Picott: An interview and some pictures from Smio 2014
