Q-and-A with singer-songwriter John Craigie
By Timothy Behuniak EBS CONTRIBUTING EDITOR
Thirty-nine-year-old
John Craigie is an American musician known for his soulful and comedic tunes
reminiscent of John Prine and Arlo Guthrie. Born and raised in Los Angeles,
Craigie discovered guitar patterns and chords through a friend when he was in
high school. The musician left home at 18 to study mathematics at UC Santa
Cruz, but also dabbled in music classes. Although the academic side of music turned
him away, he found musical inspiration in Santa Cruz’s free-spirited, laid-back
community.
Since
taking to the stage, Craigie has performed with or opened for Jack Johnson, Trampled
by Turtles and Sean Hayes, and sold out shows in New York City, Boston and San
Francisco, among others. His songs “I am California” and “Highway Blood” both
erupted past 1 million Spotify streams shortly after being released in 2017. Currently
on tour through the Mountain West, Craigie spoke with EBS before his March 1
show at Bozeman’s Filling Station to discuss process, his feelings about
Montana and why he loves Adam Sandler.
Explore Big Sky: What started your pursuit of creating and playing music?
John Craigie: We had no musicians in
my family. I think I became obsessed with music because it was kind of a
foreign thing, and playing music almost seemed like a fantasy.
EBS: Besides
the guitar, what other instruments do you play?
JC: Harmonica and anything
similar to the guitar like the banjo, ukulele or bass. But the guitar is really
just a vessel for storytelling – it gives me legitimacy. If I started telling
stories without the guitar I’d just be like Garrison Keillor.
EBS: From which artists or bands do you draw inspiration and
influence?
JC: John Prine, Todd Snyder,
Greg Brown, Bob Dylan, Neil Young, Paul Simon … all of the storytellers and
risk-takers. I like artists with diversity. When I found the Beatles, Led
Zeppelin and David Bowie as a kid, I liked that I could track their careers
with different sounds.
EBS: How would you describe your style?
JC: Humorous, storytelling
folk music. I always want to have some humor but also have some sadness or some
truth. I think the best songs are like the best movies or books – ones that can
tap into emotions.
EBS: How do you decide on a setlist for each new location on
tour?
JC: I’m very anal about my
setlists. I carry a book with me in which I write down my setlists so I can
refer to what I played each time I’m in a new city. I try not to tell the same
story twice or place the same song at the same location every year. Songs will
vary based on many things: what I feel is working for me at that time, new
material or things I think the crowd will be happy to hear.
EBS: You’re known for humorous storytelling on stage while many
musicians take different approaches to songwriting and performing. What
inspires this direction?
JC: I was always the class
clown in school, but was nervous when I was younger that I would never be taken
seriously. When I discovered artists like [John] Prine or Arlo [Guthrie], I was
able to see how it was done. But it’s always something I struggle with because
I never want to lose credibility as a caring person when sometimes I just want
to sing an Adam Sandler-esque song.
EBS: How has living in the American West influenced your singing
and songwriting?
JC: Nowadays you can soak up
so much influence, and there is plenty of angst and calm on both coasts. But I
think the West is a little more laid-back and it’s obvious when thinking of
something like the Eagles versus The Velvet Underground.
EBS: Why did you choose to tour through Montana?
JC: I mostly fly when on
tour now but when I was first starting out I used to drive around the country
in my Astro van. I always enjoyed driving through Montana and the crowds are
great. The type of music I do doesn’t work everywhere, but I think Montanans
really connect with the style.
EBS: Do you have a particular song that reminds you of Big Sky
Country?
JC: I don’t have a particular
song, but I put out a record in ’09 called Montana Tale. I wrote a lot of those
songs while driving through Montana and I always think of the state when I put
on the album.
