February 6, 2007

Heck's Kitchen presents An interview with Christen Greene I was virtually introduced to Christen a couple years ago by DC singer-songwriter/lawkid Sarah Bolen, who also gave me my first listen to Chris Pureka. Let's cut-and-paste from Christen's bio here for a more complete idea of why you should care.... Christen Greene is the CEO of faux pas productions: a booking agency and management firm. "fpp" was founded in 2002 and currently works with three national and three regionally touring clients....Christen personally manages Chris Pureka, Matt Hebert (Haunt), Andrea Gibson, The Amity Front, and David Goodrich...Christen was recently hired by The Velour Music Group to handle the daily operations and managerial tasks for Kaki King, Sonya Kitchell and Dar Williams. She was born and raised in a Washington, D.C. suburb and now calls Brooklyn, NY home. Christen was nice enough to submit to this messy interview, and nice enough to humor my Pureka crush. Christen: I have a new office now. On Broadway. Does that make me important enough to interview, yet? And I just got my first song-in-film placement, too.... Jenny: On Broadway! Ok, you're important enough now. So, can you tell me what the film is, what artist, what song? Christen: See...you say Broadway and the bitches come running. Thus begins the, Is She my friend? Or Only My Friend Because I Have A Futon For Her When She's In The City debacle. Awesome. Jenny: I've got enough friends in Park Slope to crash with, so you don't have to wonder about me. Except for the, Is She My Friend or Just Trying to Get a Date with Pureka? angle. Christen: Anderson's Cross is the name of film. Illumination Pictures, Inc. features music from Josh Rouse, Pink Martini, The Matt White Band, The Plot Thickens, Jonathan Clay, Bob Gentry and Wideawake and our very own Haunt (at right). It's a clever and not lame and cliché coming of age story of a small town and its inhabitants. It's got some big names in it, subtle gender/sexuality and drug themes. They're shopping for distribution now. "Run Run Run" by Haunt is prominently featured in a montage in the middle of the film. As the story goes, Iron and Wine had the original song for that sequence but were hard to deal with financially. Around the same time the major labels were giving the producer a headache, the faithful dyke network connected said producer and myself and we sent her a bunch of Cds. She fell for Haunt's sound (think Leonard Cohen meets Jacob Dylan) and asked for permission. We said yes, they cut the sequence, showed it to the big man and his minions and they all were floored. We liked it, too...and we're currently doing paperwork. We're all very excited. Josh Rouse and Pink Martini are two up and comings, I think. With really good teams behind them....it could get picked up for a soundtrack if the film gets distribution...we'll see. That's the story. Jenny: This is very interesting, but are you sure I can post all this? Christen: Ok, I edited it a bit. Because WHO REALLY wants to be quoted as saying CENSORED. Not me, said the hen. A date with Pureka. Hahahaha. How many faithful readers do you have? Jenny: I've got about 200 readers a day, but I can't vouch for their fidelity. According to the internet, "Upon graduating from college in 2002 with a degree in film and video production, Christen has re-located to Northampton, Ma, where she runs faux pas...productions out of a modest 2 bedroom apartment." But now you're a slick record exec on Broadway. How will faux pas change? Do the bitches really come running? Christen: You're so popular. "Modest 2-bedroom" is the understatement of the year. My first apartment had gaping holes in the old windows. Drafts like hurricane-force winds. It was the coldest winter in New England in like 200 years or something. There was a week or two where it was consistently -30 degrees. I ate Easy Mac almost every day. And drank Golden Anniversary tall boys because I couldn't afford PBR. I was bartending and waiting tables at night at this fine-dining joint where our owner drank more vodka than we could keep in house. We had to hide the bottles from him some weeks. On the other hand, those were the days. Good times, great friends, etc... I was learning how to run a business on my own because no one locally knew me or would hire me. There were two really reputable music management and publicity companies here and I interviewed with one. She turned me down because I said I wanted to work for her so I could learn how to structure my own business (note to self: bad thing to say in an interview). It worked out for the best. She occasionally hires us to work for her, now! Five years later....I'm in an office on Broadway...with a secretary named Megan who rules. I was hired by The Velour Music Group to handle management stuff for three of their wonderful clients. It's a musically diverse company, which I love and respect. As for fpp, I don't think we'll change too much. I've got a very grassroots DIY mentality that I think is the way to go in the industry now. With all of its changes in recent years, I'm seeing that successful artists are the ones who have a good team in place (management, booking agent, publicist) notice I didn't say record label....The touring acts are really succeeding and making money and that's how I've always worked our clients. Get them on the road, build an audience in your hometown, your region, then another region, then it's time to hit the road for real — Nationally. It's worked for us and I'm going to stick to it. I will, however, have to learn how to actually get dressed in the morning...no more working in my PJs, I suppose. Seriously, though, I think it will open up a new world to the fpp artists. We're going to be using the Velour infrastructure and they're very well connected nationally. Personally, I'll be developing and acquiring a lot of connections and relationships that will help fpp artists gain more exposure and thus, advancing their careers. All of my clients are thrilled that I'm relocating. If you're in music, you have to be LA or NYC. I'm not really one for tube tops — so NYC seems like the best fit for me. There's so much going on every night. Great, diverse music on every corner. As for the bitches...who knows? I've honestly been hit on two times in my life. Once by a Marine in the Silver Diner who really was after my friend and who had "your name" tattooed on his ass. And once last weekend at a college reunion by some girl named Liz who had on glasses, a gel-slicked greasy ponytail and a blue tube top with a behind the neck tie thingy. She gave me her number on a matchbook. Jenny: So, you saw the Marine's ass? Christen: It's all true. Ask Bolen. Yeah, I saw his ass. He got drunk and showed us his ass after repeatedly saying, "no really. I have your name on my ass. You're so pretty!!" (to my friend, not me) and down they came. And there is was, shining like a beacon in the night, "Your Name" in like a Courier New font. Jenny: Did you know that I work in my PJs? Are you sure you made the right move? Christen: I was not aware you worked in your PJs, no...from home? Or do you sleep in a pantsuit? Jenny: So, let me clarify, because I don't know anything about the music biz, and also I am kind of slow since I started working from home. You got a day job with this Velour company managing three of their bands? And then at night you turn back into CEO/Founder of fpp? Christen: I got hired by Velour. I will work out of their offices, have business cards and work on Kaki, Sonya and Dar's daily managerial shit that has to get done. I will also be working for fpp. So, I'm just picking up more responsibility, basically. Jenny: I see Dar Williams is on this Velour's roster. Have you met her? Christen: Yes, indeed, Dar Williams. I speak with her daily and have met her a few times. She's cool. I'm accompanying her to the Sirius interview next Thursday where she'll be talking to Senator Bill Bradley. I don't know when it will air...but it could be cool. We're looking for journalists to cover it....interested? Jenny: Would you mind telling the people how you got your start in the business? Christen: So..I read over my responses to you last night, when I was drunk...watching The Devil Wears Prada (yes, and it was GOOD. ha) and I realized there are grammatical errors...help me out and edit them? thanks. Jenny: My editing will always include trying to make us both look better. Christen: Um, the business.....you asked for it: I was a bball player at NC State — very disillusioned and unhappy with the actual life I and the folks around me were living. It's a weird thing, college sports at a high level. It's really fucked up if you, say, actually want to get an education... I knew I wanted to be in the music business and I knew I didn't need a degree for that — just experience. I had done benefit concerts in HS, zines in HS and college and had a decent idea about how musicians were bought/sold/marketed for someone at the age of 18. In college, I decided to major in something "fun" since my education was free and I knew I didn't necessarily need it. So I was a film major, specializing in documentaries. I really love FILM— all its little nuances and quirks and imperfections. I thought (and still think) that documentary film is the closest you can get to real life on a big screen. This digital stuff is for the birds. I'm digressing... So I quit bball and was finishing my last year of school, got on a few film sets, and started a documentary on a very famous touring musician who bailed on me the day I bought tickets for me and my crew to fly to the west coast and follow her for three weeks to document her life, juxtaposing it with MTV-style/major label. I wanted to show a wide audience that this "indie" thing was not just a "thing" but people were doing it, every day, making a (good) living... So she bailed...I was completely sad and depressed, living in the shit hole I call Raleigh, NC and running out of money. My lease was running out and I had NO PLANS now — whereas before I had an answer for What Are You Doing When You Graduate. During my research for the "famous person" documentary, I met a writer who had become sort of a mentor and I called her upset and depressed. She was like, "get off your ass, find a new subject, you have to know someone." Indeed...I knew this chick I had met at a keg party a few years back. Lo and behold at a keg party the next night, she stood across from me, pumping while I poured. Sarah Bolen, shining like a beacon in the night. I was like, "wanna be in a film about indie musicians?" she said sure and we were off. I needed live footage, booked her a few shows, she said, "wanna be my manager?" I said don't tease me, it's my dream job. She said let's do it. And we were off... with no fucking idea what we were doing. It was brilliant. She moved to Northampton that summer after she graduated and asked me to be her roommate. I had nothing else to do and I didn't want to move home, so I went. I put down $800 for first and last. With the $45 I had left to my name I bought salvation army plates, silverware and some easy mac. I got a job slinging coffee and soup for a crazy guy who's wife is the daughter of L. Ron Hubbard and started fpp from my "modest 2 bd apt." Northampton is a hot bed of music. Most people don't know that...but it's perfect routing between Boston, NYC and Burlington, VT — all major tour stops. So I met a ton of people, signed clients, dropped clients, learned how to make money...and here I am...five years in. Three years without supplemental income and I'm happy. Really happy. Jenny: Tell me a good Road Story. Christen: Hm....There was the one where Pureka and I were touring together and we were in Richmond, VA at some seedy gay bar. It was just awful. But there was this 90-year old woman at the bar...drinking whiskey...fucking sweet. Pureka immediately fell in love, and goes over and talks to her for like an hour. Then she disses Chris and starts cutting some SERIOUS rug — at which point I fell in love with her. We took pictures with her and gave her drunk ass a ride home. Sally Mae West. Always in my heart. My last tour was on a big bus — my first bus tour. It was with Kaki King (above) and her band. It was the most fun I've had in a long time. So many stories there...those are for in person, though — not sure I want those printed...ha-ha. Jenny: What tracks can I link to from your stable o' artists? A few Faux Pas peeps: 1. Poisoner Haunt 2. For Eli Andrea Gibson, from When the Bough Breaks 3. Cruel and Clumsy Chris Pureka, from Dryland 4. Momentary Thief CP, from Dryland Jenny: Who are you listening to lately? Christen: This is a great, not asked-enough question: Thanks. Kristen Gass has a new ep coming in April; Spouse (so brilliant); Band Of Horses (buy this cd now. Listen to it all the way through..lights dim with red wine, weed or bourbon — you'll have an experience); Chris Pureka (I listen to her new record once/day...easy); Ana Egge; Anais Mitchell (haven't heard the new album, but can't wait to get my hands on it — she's an industry darling and I love her). Tonight, I'm going to see Parker House and Theory for the hell of it. They're big out of Boston and may be a good fit with The Amity Front down the line. The Amity Front's new material is really great — reminiscent of early Wilco/The Band.... Jenny: You're very mysterious. Tell us more about cg. The ladies want to know. Christen: I'm not too mysterious, really. All you have to do is ask — and people rarely do. About me.... Brutally honest and up front. I speak my mind. 6'3" and I don't mind when people ask...as they do every day...as long as it's not the ice-breaker...then I tell them I'm 5'6" I love fine scotch and am becoming a connoisseur of sorts — or trying anyway. Red wine is okay, too but gives me a weird buzz and a bad headache...I think I may have an allergy. Most people don't believe me when I say this, but I'm fairly shy until I trust you not to run your mouth. My bravado is convincing to those who don't bother to look past it. I do abs regularly. The way to my heart is honesty, good music, integrity, selflessness and thoughtfulness. It helps if you can cook. I hate the word Lesbian and identify as queer or dyke. I make a mean grilled cheese. 2 cats. Berklee and J-rock. They're unreal. Really. I have two, 18-inch titanium rods connected to my spine with 6 hooks, 8 wires and 4 screws due to a scoliosis surgery I had when I was 17. Yes, sometimes I set off metal detectors. I lived next to a crack house when I was in Raleigh. People would go on the porch (of the house next door), bang on the window, it'd open, they'd buy crack and take off. One time, they knocked on my window and were just screaming at me, "open it up, bitch, I need my shit" I was hiding in the bathroom going, "WRONG HOUSE!!" awful. I'm into dogs, and GOOD dog owners, but hate dating people who are good dog owners b/c I'm not ready for that kind of commitment. I like cheese a lot. Especially Saint Andre, Gorgonzola and Goat (especially with those wasabi rice crackers...) The fast track out of my life for good is lying. I don't eat red meat, chicken or pork but will throw down some shellfish like it's my job. I'm allergic to most women's deodorant and wear old spice because of it, not to aid in my gender expression. I have many, many acquaintances and very few friends. The friends I do have...I love with everything in me and I would do anything for, including but not limited to: driving all night to get to your house to help with a break-up help you move drive you to the airport at an ungodly hour cook you dinner get you drunk when you're poor be your D.D. when you need a night out. nurse you to normalcy the next morning cat-sit dog-sit house-sit hate your ex b/c they did you wrong. make out with you when we're drunk cook you my infamous "UDON NOODLE" dinner or my tofu scramble or my grilled cheese Jenny: Hahahaha...My favorite part is you hiding in the bathroom, screaming "WRONG HOUSE!" Really, you hate the word lesbian? I did when was in high school. Though my (lesbian) coach used the word "queer" then, which made me want to die. As in, "She's cute. Do you think she's queer?" Now I don't care at all. Christen: I don't hate the word I guess. I just don't think I AM a lesbian. It's very old gay feeling to me. I don't identify that way. Jenny: Speaking of gay old feelings, did you happen to go to Women Rock! in Florida last March? My sister and my ex were there, probably hanging around, trying to meet people. Christen: I didn't go to, but booked that Festival in FL for Chris. I heard it was fun. Dar was there, too. And Alix. Florida is a weird musical place. Very strange trends there...it's like its own country almost. It's hard to explain. But people don't really tour to Florida. Jenny: Florida is dying for music it seems like. Because no one goes there, when anyone does, everyone goes. Or so it seems to me. My sister and her friends go to everything. And here I am in DC, missing more in a month than happens in Tampa-St. Pete-Orlando-wherever all year. Do you think DC is an unfriendly place for singer-songwriters? Seems like girl+guitar (or boy) are too sincere here. You have to go to Northern Virginia, IOTA, (the terribly named) Jammin Java, or the Birchmere.... Maybe the new H Street venues might take up some of that slack. What towns have you found to be the best or most disappointing for your bands? Christen: D.C. has been very hard for all of our clients except Andrea Gibson--a political poet.... I've found Western Mass to be a great place for all of our acts. NYC has been great to us. San Francisco is amazing for Pureka, Asheville is great, Portland, OR is the best fucking city around. Home of the Decemberists who should also be listed as who I'm listening to lately. And Winterpills. Um, LA has been the most unfriendly city. Shocker. The scene there is so fake and Hollywood that I think music with honest, low(er) budgets don't stand a chance against the major label Kelly Clarksons in LA. Plus, they're all industry folks, so no one wants to pay to get in. DC has been a big disappointment for us and I can't put my finger on it. Some times we hit, some times we flop and there seems to be no rhyme or reason. Just consistently inconsistent. Cedar Rapid, IA is awesome. Lawrence, KS is awesome. There's a real need and LOVE of music in Baton Rogue. I was surprised by that. Boulder, Co has a super supportive music and arts scene. It's one of my favourite tour stops. I have a grudge about Ann Arbor as Pureka's guitar was stolen from the green room there. Jenny: Screw Ann Arbor. Go Bucks! I just found a few performance vids of cp on YouTube (Porch Songs ). Also, odd: Rainy Day Roadside . Christen: God, I remember recording this song. I love this tune. Jenny: Me, too. Woah, this For Eli is some spoken word. I must admit to having a hard time listening to folks do poetry. Christen: Andrea Gibson will knock you on your ass. Jenny: Oh, I don't doubt it. I sure wouldnt say sing anything but praises to Andrea Gibson in her presence. I am only saying, I have a hard time listening to poetry without the lubricant of some nice melody.... Christen: Not Andrea. I'm telling you. She's unbelievable. Jenny: Ok ok. I'll have to come to a show sometime. Jenny: I like this Poisoner song, and also the Run Run Run. Christen: [Matt Hebert] writes songs that are meant for the movies. I'm bargaining for this run run run right now. it's hard. they're using the ENTIRE song with lyrics and want me to practically give it away. Jenny: Are you negotiating more for your company or for him? Would he want it in the movie no matter what the offer was? How do you do this? Christen: I'm negotiating for him. I will get a manager cut, but mostly I think that what they're offering is insulting for the amount of song they're using. Granted Diana Ross and Josh Rouse are on the soundtrack which will suck up most of the cash...but, I'm asking for an honest wage. He wants in. I won't lose the deal b/c of money, but I have to ask for more. Jenny: When will we finally get a CP show down here? And can you please talk me out of my crush? Tell me she abuses kittens or something. Christen: Check her schedule. It's locked in next month. Peter Mulvey w/ Chris Pureka Tuesday, March 6 Jammin' Java ps. I wish I could dish on her...but even off the record, she's my client and my best friend...so... you know. She's VERY crushable, though. This much I understand. Make sure you introduce yourself when you go. Jenny: Eh, I don't think so. If she knows anything about me, it can't be good. Christen: Pureka doesn't know too much about you. But, she told me your sister was hot. And I want a picture of that kid. Jenny: Jesus. Ok, that did it. Thanks. Parting thoughts? Christen: Thanks for having me and for humoring me. I think in terms of last words, I just want to reiterate a few things (I can't think of anything witty right now...sad): 1. Burning cds sucks. Make a mix with 2 or 3 songs on it--encourage your friends to buy the record. I don't care if you're broke. We're all broke. Especially the person whose record you just stole. 2. Stop talking during shows. Please. And for that matter, don't be shy to ignore/shush your friends who are talking to you during shows. 3. Go see live shows. It's the easiest way to support live music and most, if not all of this money goes directly to the artist. Jenny: May I call you Green Bean? Christen: That works.