1. What was the first band you saw in concert?
I honestly don't remember now. I think the first real 'concert' (ie not garage bands or high school auditorium gig) I went to was the Montery Festival in spring 1970. That included such bands as the Beach Boys, and such artists as Joan Baez. Also sometime during high school I saw Phil Ochs with the Dillards opening, Judy Collins, Procol Harum, Frank Zappa and the Mothers of Invention, Grateful Dead with New Riders of the Purple Sage opening, and a few other random bands and artists. After graduation, when most of my classmates got on buses to Disneyland, I went with a couple of friends to see Cheech and Chong, with the Temptations opening.
2. Who is your favorite artist/band now?
No one particular artist. I am fond of many singer-songwriters, and my husband just bought me the Marie Bellet CD "What I wanted to say" to which I am listening a lot. I really have pretty broad tastes in music - I just dislike the majority of what is out in the genres of opera, hip-hop, and rap. But even then, there are random items I enjoy. Genres I really enjoy include guitar based singer-songwriter stuff, folk, bluegrass, Tejana, Norteno, rock, chant, renaissance, world, baroque. I guess there really isn't much I don't like, but the stuff I dislike makes me nuts!
3. What's your favorite song?
Again, hard to say. It really is situational, unlike my ethical values. I think one of my all-time favorites (when well sung and complete) is the hymn "For All The Saints' sung to the tune Sine Nomine. I just think it rocks. I also like Amazing Grace sung to the tune of the folk song "House of the Rising Sun". I am currently enthralled with Johnny Cash's song "When the Man Comes Around". But I like lots of stuff.
4. If you could play any instrument, what would it be?
I play flute and guitar pretty decently, used to be OK on the piano (out of practice now) and can play the mountain dulcimer. I would like to be able to play the hammered dulcimer.
5. If you could meet any musical icon (past or present), who would it be and why?
Another tough question! I think Johann Sebastian Bach, because of the sheer scope of his music. I would play him some of the musical themes running through my head and ask if he could compose a mass based on them.