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Home > Austin Music Source > Archives > 2009 > June > 23 > Entry
Interview: Scott Miller
Scott Miller shapes sin and salvation into breathing highway poetry on his recent album ‘For Crying Out Loud.’ Restlessness fully obliges reflection only once: Miller’s gorgeous Patty Griffin duet ‘I’m Right Here, My Love.’ ‘I met Patty through a mutual friend before she moved to Austin,’ the former V-Roys leader says. ‘Last year I toured with her for a good four months. It was a no-brainer to have her sing on the record.’ Miller performs Wednesday (June 24) at the Continental Club and Thursday (June 25) at the Cactus Café.
American-Statesman: Seems like self-financing your new record was a smart idea.
Scott Miller: Yeah, I opted off Sugar Hill, and a lot of people told me I was stupid. But I took the guitar and vocal demos, made handmade covers for them and put them up (for sale) on my Web site. That increased my Web site traffic, because people were coming on right as we put them up to pick their covers. You know, at 20 bucks a pop, everyone gets an individual one signed and numbered and there’s my 20 grand to make a record.
Do you think creative fundraising like that is the future of the music business?
Totally. As an independent artist, I can reach my consumers through the Internet. Record labels are gonna be like buggy whips. There’s just no need for them anymore. Today, it’s not about making more money, but keeping more money.
Of course, there still can be an argument made for signing to a label.
Well, sure, if you’re gonna swing for the fences. If you’re gonna be selling millions and you’re willing to give up your rights, then by all means, man. Never stop anybody from dreaming.
Your latest blog ends with meeting a coal lobbyist in a bar. Is there a song in there?
No, man, that was probably just me getting kicked out of a bar in D.C. (laughs). You know, my mom’s from Kentucky, and I thought I was talking from somebody back home. As we got further into the conversation, I realized that, no, he went to a private school in Connecticut and just has his schtick down. He was a lobbyist for mountaintop removal. That’s a big deal where we’re from.
Influence from Woody Guthrie makes sense, but what about Steve Martin? You have photos of both on your Web site.
Well, after Jimmie Rodgers, Woody Guthrie created it all, didn’t he? As a singer-songwriter, I went through all the stages. I was in the middle of farm country Virginia and it was like, ‘Love Woody Guthrie.’ Then I went from Woody to Dylan to John Prine. It was the natural progression. Woody was not the simple Okie that he portrayed, you know, he was a smart artist who hated fascists. Steve Martin: Name me an album and I can recite it from start to finish, word for word.
You hooked on anyone right now?
Right now, I’m on a big Los Lobos kick. You could argue a point for Credence being the best American rock band, but I’d say Los Lobos just for the consistency. I have never heard anything bad.
Scott Miller performs at 9:30 p.m. Wednesday (June 24) at the Continental Club, 1315 S. Congress Ave. Tickets are $8 at the door. 441-2444. Miller performs at 8:30 p.m. Thursday (June 25) at the Cactus Café, 24th and Guadalupe on the UT campus. Tickets are $10 at the door. 477-6060, texasboxoffice.com.
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