FEATURED IN THIS ISSUE

1. THE PONY INTERVIEW WITH ROGER CLYNE
2. LIFT THURSDAYS LADIES NIGHT AT THE STONE PONY
3. CALENDAR OF EVENTS

This Week at The Stone Pony: ROGER CLYNE & THE PEACEMAKERS (Thursday),
MATT O'REE BAND (Friday), SEKOND SKYN (Saturday)

New On The Stone Pony Calendar: THEY MIGHT BE GIANTS (May 11),
BARRY & THE PENETRATORS (May 27), JESSE MALIN (June 1),
STEVE FORBERT (June 2), JOAN ARMATRADING (June 7), PHIL BENSEN (June 8),
LEE 'SCRATCH' PERRY (June 13), NEW RIDERS OF THE PURPLE SAGE (August 10)

Buy tickets online with Stone Pony Fan Club Ticketing!

Visit The Stone Pony on MySpace.com at: http://www.myspace.com/ponyrock

ROGER CLYNE AND THE PEACEMAKERS
TOUR INTO ASBURY PARK

Supporting their latest album, "No More Beautiful World," Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers continue their East Coast tour down the Jersey Shore on Thursday evening, April 26. Released in March, "No More Beautiful World" is a double album including 14 new songs plus a DVD.  The album should continue a long line of successes released by the band, which is the only independent act to have five consecutive albums debut in the top 10 of Billboard's Internet Sales chart. Lead singer/songwriter Roger Clyne first broke on to the national scene as part of The Refreshments, a late-1990s rock band who released the cult-classic album "Fizzy Fuzzy, Big & Buzzy."  He is now considered one of the premiere songwriters touring today and RCPM's musical style is as colorful and expansive as the deserts of their home state of Arizona.  Starting off with a solid foundation of classic Americana rock, there are numerous Southwestern, Country and Spanish influences woven throughout the band's music to make it instantly accessible to both long-time Clyne followers and first-time record buyers.

The Pony Newsletter caught up with Clyne in the midst of a very busy touring schedule to ask him about the new album and where it'll lead the band in the months ahead.

The Stone Pony: "No More Beautiful World,” your latest album, has been another critical success.  When you are producing and preparing to release a new album, how much do you think about what the critical reaction will be or how well it will sell compared to the last record?  Does it become easier as you build a history of success to disregard such things, or does it force you to push to maintain that success?

Roger Clyne: The most frank answer I can give is that I am endeavoring not to be concerned at all with chart position, sales, even critical acceptance (or rejection) of my work. It is a fine line to walk to be unconcerned with the good opinion of others and still care about its Humanistic impact.

The Stone Pony: The new album was just released about a month ago.  Have there been any surprises in how it’s been received, either from fans or by critics?  Are there certain songs that fans seem to be especially taken to or other tracks that you really loved when you in the studio, but haven’t become a part of your live set?

RC: I think I am most surprised at how it's been compared to "Fizzy, Fuzzy Big & Buzzy." My best guess is that they are both generally upbeat albums.  I, however, feel that the subject matter is somewhat different, more mature, yet still positive. "Contraband" seems to be, to me, an early contender for a favorite amongst the audience. I personally enjoy performing "Hourglass," of late.

The Stone Pony: You’re the only independent band to debut five entries in the top 10 of Billboard’s Internet Sales chart.  How do you feel the Internet has changed the way an indie band establishes itself and promotes its music and now that the distribution model for music is changing, do you foresee a day when the major label will be unnecessary?

RC: A major label is unnecessary. If an entertainer's primary goals are fame and fortune, by all means, seek out a major label. If an artist wishes to present his or her viewpoint to an audience without commercial filters, be independent.

The Stone Pony: There was a three-year break since your last studio album, “Americano!”  Are the songs on "No More Beautiful World” written over that whole time period, or did you sit down to write when you knew it was time to get into the studio?  Is the writing process a long and laborious one for you, or do songs ideas tend to come at you and complete themselves fairly quickly?

RC: Usually the song writing process is, for me, a long labor of love. This time, for the first time, I found an ease in the creative process I have never before experienced. I do not wish to say that the process was by any means careless, or that I was carefree, but it was wonderfully effortless. I really felt in tune, in flow, and, almost perpetually inspired. And grateful for it.

The Stone Pony: When and where was "No More Beautiful World” recorded?  Do you get heavily involved with the technical aspects of recording an album, playing around in the studio and doing a lot of post-production on the record?  Do you enjoy the process of recording an album, or it is a necessary evil to help get the music out there?

RC: "No More Beautiful World" was recorded in Tempe, AZ at a studio next to a good microbrewery. Its location, the timing of the recording, and the people we worked with were all just right. I couldn't have enjoyed it more. That is, for me, it was as enjoyable as it could have been. I don't very much like being in the studio. I purposely do not get involved in technical aspects of recording; we had experts we trusted to do that. Producer Clif Norrell and P.H. Naffah were basically the stewards of that aspect of the project. And almost everything they did I liked. I wielded my veto power very seldom on this project. I was in-studio for the majority of the recording of the record, though. I believe a good captain should be on deck when his ship is at sea.

The Stone Pony: Talk a little bit about the local music scene in Arizona.  Are there good local live venues and other outlets for bands who are starting out or looking to break nationally?  Are there local places that are favorite places of your own to perform?

RC: Tempe is a university town and as such always has a new infusion of art and artists. It is always a vital place. The places I went to see and perform music/art have changed, but what's important is that they haven't disappeared. In Arizona, there are good places to perform for any band who wishes to put its art to the test with an audience. I believe that if art is going to resonate, it can do it anywhere. Some of the best shows I've seen and performed have been in the most dreary of locales. Just because a club has a good stage doesn't mean the band can give a good show. It's the music and its interaction with people that matters.

The Stone Pony: Some fans might not know that you wrote and performed the opening theme song for the Fox animated comedy, “King of The Hill”.”  If we can go way back into your history a bit, how did you get that opportunity and did you believe at the time that the show would have such staying power?

RC: Fox TV put out a casting call to all the labels (major and minor) to ask their bands to submit a 30-second theme song, with lyrics, for a new animated show, written by Mike Judge ("Beavis and Butthead" fame at that time) and Greg Daniels. Since I had no idea what the characters would be like, I did not try to create lyrics for the song. I wrote up that little "Bonanza on Steroids" riff and showed it to PH. He liked it and we both showed it to the rest of the band (The Refreshments) at a sound check. At the end of that night's show, I coaxed the audience to cheer like hell after they heard that song. We played it, they cheered, we sent the live recording to Fox. We forgot, though, to cut off the part of the tape where I was coaching the crowd. The producers of the show called me next week and said they loved the song and the whole spirit in which we recorded it. We got the job and it's been a cool little thrill to see "The King of the Hill" become so successful.

The Stone Pony: A huge event that’s coming up for you is the Circus Mexicus in Rocky Point, Mexico.  For the uninitiated, can you talk about the show and what fans can come down for in May?

RC: I believe that we have, pound for pound, the finest audience in Rock and Roll. Peacemakers fans are people I can hang out with. They give off positive vibrations. Put 5000 kind and cool revelers under the stars and homemade fireworks in a dirt lot next to a cantina across the street from the beach and let them wear big, bad hats and bigger smiles and sing and dance and buy each other drinks and tip big and eat tacos and go skinny dipping after the show. It's a good place to be. And once you've been, you never leave.

The Stone Pony: Do you have any favorite ways to pass the time while on the road?  Do you get much time to sightsee when you’re touring and are there any places that you make it a point to visit when you’re in any new city?

RC: On the bus, I read a lot. Whenever we make port, I get out my journal and find a coffee shop. Once caffeinated, I usually try to walk a few miles and take in the town. I am always on the hunt for a good Mexican food restaurant, too. I cased the Stone Pony a few times before we were invited to play. I dreamt of the day we'd get to add our name to so many legends who'd been there before.

The Stone Pony: You’re in the middle of a busy touring schedule through the end of May.  Do you plan to continue to stay on the road for most of the year?  Are there any other upcoming projects or special events that you would like fans to keep on the lookout for?

RC: We plan to be on the road most of the year. We have a few breaks, for sanity's sake and to see our families at home. I'm very excited to share "No More Beautiful World" with our audience. I almost don't want any time off. But, if I were always on the road, that's likely all I'd write about. I look forward to time off tour to view and participate in the World around me. Time away from the stage is necessary for me to continue to develop my self and my art. I need time to be a father, a husband, a friend, an entrepreneur, a citizen, an activist, a tourist, a person of conscience and spirit in any field in order to continue to become whatever it is I will become. Time on the stage is my time to share that. Time off the stage is my time to be that.

The official Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers website can be found at www.azpeacemakers.com. Their latest CD, "No More Beautiful World," can be purchased online or at fine music retailers like Jack's Music in Red Bank, NJ.

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LIFT THURSDAY
THE SHORE'S HOTTEST DANCE PARTY

Christopher Zigarelli and Nick G. along with Cugini Productions presents
LIFT THURSDAYS LADIES NIGHT
Ladies 21+ Free All Night & Drink Specials All Night
Doors Open 10 PM • 10-11 PM Free for Guys 21+ • $5 Under
$5 Guys 21+ • $10 Guys and Girls 18-20 • Dress To Impress!
DJ FRANKIE PEP (Sin Sin NYC) Spinning Hip-Hop, Reggae, House/Trance.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS

For updated information, set times and directions, visit www.stoneponyonline.com or call the Pony box office.

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