Briefly, since the issue runneth over: Angie used to be drummer for the godlike Corndolly, who regrettably disintegrated before they ever had the chance to become A Big Deal. Since then, Angie has gone on to briefly play in Liquorette (with other ex-Corndolly members and Matt Friedberger), and has since struck out on her own. Her first album, CALAMITIES AND RESTITUTION, now out on Mud, is immensely brilliant and should be required listening. DEAD ANGEL had the opportunity to blab with her recently and here are the results:
DA: This album is not what I would have expected from your prior involvement in Corndolly. Were you making a conscious attempt to do something different?
AH: No not really....I was "just the drummer" in Corndolly, I didn't have much to do with the actual song writing... that was Amy. As for my own music, I guess you could say I'm "a lttle bit country, a little bit rock n'roll." The songs just come out of me... I don't make a concious effort as to what 'style' they will come out.
DA: How long were you pulling this material together before the record was actually made, anyway? does any of it predate Corndolly's implosion?
AH: I'd say none of the songs are over two years old... probably about half the songs are a year and some old, and most are new, and the result of a personal trauma.
DA: It's a very "human" album... how much of it is autobiographical?
AH: It's all autobiographical... when it comes to music, I'm not so good at fiction... I have too much I want to write about that's real to be making stuff up, ya know.
DA: Are you pleased with the way the album turned out?
AH: I'm very pleased with the cd... it's one of the first things I've >ever completed in my life... it gives me great satifaction, if nothing else.
DA: What motivated you to sign up for the music biz, anyway?
AH: My father is a musician... he's one of my biggest influences. And my mom was a drummer in high school, so they would always buy us little toy musical instruments. But, I think it was after I got my first Go-Go's record, and I knew if I couldn't be Gina Schock, I at least wanted to be a rockin' drummer. I used to think she was so rad!
DA: Judging from the "hidden bonus material," I would assume that working with Henry was a good one... want to tell me more about the sessions themselves?
AH: Henry and I camped out at his house almost every night for a few weeks to record the record... it was fun, but I think those bonus tracks were made during states of delerium [DA: that's putting it MILDLY] ...it was all very new to me. Henry and I have been friends for a while, so it was very fun and comfortable. I recommend that way of recording to anyone.
DA: Speaking of the sessions, I see that "Bill" is somewhere in the background on "trans am" -- might that be the esteemed Bill Johnston, he of the now-defunct Honcho Overload?
AH: Yes indeed, Bill Johnson of Honcho Overload is singing and clapping, and how so. that "Chicagoooooo" in Trans Am... BJ.
DA: I've cleverly deduced that you must like Johnette Napolitano :) ... but who else ranks up there with her?
AH: I really respect Johnette N... she's one of my favorite poets... as for as other sonwriters that I have the same appreciation for... Ani DiFranco is one....
DA: So tell me about Matt Friedberger, since I've never heard of him and "gold comes from broken hearts" is so totally brilliant. :)
AH: Matt's a great song writer... the first time Matt played "gold comes.." for me I just about freaked... I knew it was one of my favorite songs. It was so beautiful, and simple to me. Matt's one of my favorite writers too. He's brilliant... he can make a great song about anything....
DA: Dunno how you feel about discussing the past, but I have to know -- what's the story behind the cover of the posthumous Corndolly CD?
AH: We had this womens dictionary... where we found the name Corndolly... along with the corndolly was another doll-- a puppet -- supposed to be the offspring of the corndoll. The spike through the heart; we like to think instilling love to someone. However, people are always like, "Why do you have a voodoo doll with a nail through its heart on your shirts"... (it's the same thing we had on our t-shirts). [DA: The moon unit knows, for he possesses one of these shirts.]
DA: And weren't you in Liquorette for about five minutes? What happened there?
AH: After Amy quit Corndolly, Matt, Wendy and I stayed together and played mostly Matt's songs as Liwuorette for about a year and a half.... We weren't really playing out that much, and things started to get a little weird. And I really wanted to record and play my own songs. So, I quit Liquorette and recorded this cd. We are all still good friends though. I love Matt and Wendy. Wendy and I have been playing "surf rock" together, and she has some great songs too....
DA: Back to your album -- any plans for touring behind it? A video? Any of that good stuff?
AH: Yeah... I've been playing with Nick Rudd and Charlie Dold... we have a blast together... they're incredible. We want to play Chicago, and St. Louis, and we've talked about touring, but we don't have a plan yet. It's still very new... but hopefully we will get to do some traveling this summer....
DA: Thinking yet about the next album (assuming there's going to be another, which i certainly hope there will be)?
AH: The next album... sure... I have a lot of new songs already... and Nick and Charlie and I have been writing a lot together too.... Let's give this >one a little more time though, ok!?!?
DA: Final random question: Now that Metallica's handlers apparently think they're an "alternative" band (which might explain their sudden fetish for dressing like the guitarist from Shudder to Think), what punk/ alternative classic do you think they should horribly butcher at Lollapalooza this summer? :)
AH: Funny you should ask that... I just went to my first Lollapalooza last Sunday. I didn't stay for Metallica, but I did have a Lars sighting. I think they would look really koooooollllll covering "boys don't cry" by the Cure... maybe it's the eyeliner talken... I dunno.
But let me tell you this... a really fun thing to do is watch Disney's FANTASIA with the sound off, and listen to Metallica's KILL 'EM ALL... I've done it twice... both times... amazing. You won't regret it! :)