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VOYAGER: In
the interviews I've read you talk about your love
of Indian classical music. How did you discover
that kind of music, or someone like John
Coltrane?
DT: I
think once you open up to the music of the world
you just start searching for different things,
and names like Coltrane are going to come up. And
the same with the Indian classical guys, there's
a realm of 50 or 60 masters that a lot of people
know about. As long as you're asking around and
looking for it you can find it. Its the pure
music. |
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| There's music that has
entertainment value, on the earth plane, which is
radio music. They can be great singers and
musicians, but it doesn't really have any meaning
behind it. Then there's people on the musical
search, the search for truth in music. |
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VOYAGER:
So your dad played guitar a little bit.
How did it happen that you picked it up
and then by the time you were nine,
you're touring?
DT:
It was pretty random. I had played guitar
in a garage band. I had no desire to be a
musician. It just kind of happened.
Sometimes things happen without you
knowing it. I didn't really want to be
out playing music, it just kind of took
over.VOYAGER:
Isn't that what I read though, that by
the time you were nine you were on atour?
DT:
Yeah, that's when I started touring. At
first I was just touring weekends and
here and there. It was just enjoyable to
be out playing with older musicians.
There was really no thought of making it
a career. There's still no thought of
that! I'm still trying to avoid that (laughs)!
VOYAGER:
Oh, you're just doing this until
something better comes along?
DT:
Oh, no! I don't plan on doing anything
else, though.
VOYAGER:
Those other guys are probably glad to
hear that! Glad you're not going down to
Allstate for an interview!
DT:
I don't think any other business would
look at my resume and hire me. They
wouldn't know what to think.
VOYAGER:
So eventually you got tapped to join the
Allman Brothers. Maybe since your uncle's
in the band and you know them its
different, but if someone like me who
only knows them from the radio was asked
to join, I would hear harps and see
stars. What was it like for you?
DT:
It was still a surprise. I actually
figured that because I was related to him
I had less
of a chance to be in the band. The other
guys all have kids that play, and I think
it probably took a little longer to get
it because of that. It was definitely a
shock; that wasn't in my plan. It was
definitely a detour in a way, but a
positive one.
VOYAGER:
The first time you sat in with them, what
was the feeling?
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DT:
I had sat in with them many times before,
and filled in for Jack Pearson a few
times when he was sick. But when you step
up and do it full-time you approach
things differently. You almost try to
change it or add something to it.
VOYAGER:
And what is it like to go from their
audience, which is probably 20,000 people
every time, to doing your own shows in
theaters and clubs?
DT:
Its definitely a big jump going from
ampitheaters to clubs. Its nice to have
both, because I get my fill of playing
the big venues with all the hype. It
doesn't neccesarily sound good in an
ampitheater. And its not really about
music at that point, a lot of times. It
is on the stage, but the promoters could
kind of care less about music; its all
about numbers and money. So its nice to
get back to where we can just be
idealistic and play music and not worry
about the other stuff.
VOYAGER:
Do you enjoy being a band leader more, or
being part of someone else's band?
DT:
I like being "anonymous" on
that level, playing with the Allman
Brothers, but I think when you're doing
your own thing you feel a little more
connected to it. You feel like you have a
chance to do something, to change things
and open people up to what it's about, so
I think I enjoy that a little more.MORE >
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