Panache Magazine

Michelle: So tell me a little history on the instrument that's basically your other half...the warr guitar... It's the union of a five string bass and a seven string guitar right? How did you take it up?
Brian: Well.. the Warr guitar is a new type of instrument that enables the player to just press on the strings, rather than picking, strumming or bowing, as on a conventional stringed instrument. Instead, each hand plays independently, as on a piano. It's built by Mark Warr, hence the name- although it is giant and COULD be used as a weapon the Warr guitar is a custom version of the Chapman Stick (tm), and there are many different configurations and tunings. Some with 8 strings and mono outputs. Mine is a 12 string with 5 bass 7 guitar strings. It has separate bass and guitar side outputs for splitting the instrument to 2 different signal paths. When I was 19 I saw a band called "Kittyhawk" that featured sevaral stick players orchestrating amazing parts between them. That was the 1st time I had seen the instrument live, and outside of the Tony Levin mostly- bass- only approach. They were doing full blown arrangements that really showed the power of the instrument as both a ensemble voice, or a super vehicle for a solo singer to ride upon. Eureka!'s own Randy Strom played in that band and was as much a hero to me then as he is now. I knew from that point forward I HAD to play that instrument. So I set about owing the local music store a pile of money. Two instruments were coming in so I spoke up for the 2nd. It sat on layaway and as a demonstration model at the 'sound stage' for over 6 months while I slowly chipped away the balance with money from washing windows. I was enrolled at the city college next door and would go to the store nearly every day and practice in a back room thinking about how the lucky bastard that just ORDERED AND PAID for his was practicing diligently at home getting better and better than me each moment. My local neighborhood pot dealer ended up loaning me the last $335, and yes, i paid him back. I got the warr guitar a coupla years back when Mark threatened to go public with my little problem if I didn't try his guitar, and I grew to love it exclusively.

Michelle: It sounds like a painful beginning experience. How common is it to find other musicians with warr guitar experience? I I know of Randy Strom whom you mentioned... but that's about it.
Brian: I know only a few musicians that play this type of instrument, but it's only because I kind of lay low and generally avoid instrumental issues if you know what I mean. I don't listen to much music these days, and I try to avoid music that is ABOUT an instrument. For example Shredmaster Wanker God Ingvay Malmsteen (Who I happen to sing a tribute anthem crucifixtion about) represents the guitar, and not music. However amazing he in fact is. Oh right, sorry, the answer to your question is extremly uncommon- most musicians have never seen this type of instrument. I know there are lots of them out there though, it's a gigantic world!
Michelle: And it's a pretty gigantic instrument. You have a lot of comedy in your performance as well as music, what are some things that make you laugh?
Brian: Well I'm like most people, in that someone else's pain and or suffering is a good place to start laughing, of course followed closly by my own pain and suffering. I haven' really had any, which is why my true friends wish tragedy upon me. The absurd also fascinates me, as well as sharp dichotomies and ironies and other "ies" that make you laugh. Things you're not supposed to laugh at are especially hilarious for some reason, especially at the EXACT wrong time, like funerals... people have a lot of guarded preferences and brand loyalty when it comes to styles of music. So I find that you can TAKE a laugh from the most arm- folded- not- gonna- give it up- kinda audience. Laughing is more urgent and immediate, and cuts right to the core of a persons emotions. Like a punch in the gut-it's universal- if it's a good punch you WILL respond. This works far better for me than convincing them that me or my song is cool, and that you all should like me and buy my cd and tell your friends and make me famous and rich. Hopefuly all of those things will just happen anyway because or in spite of that.
Michelle: Where do you get a lot of your ideas and inspiration for your songs?
Brian: I live in Fresno and that is one of my non-enforced guidelines, or mission parameters. I sing modern folk tales, urban legends, and epics of the absurd in a sing along format, and a lot about Fresno. Marijuana makes me think up wacky stuff, but I do try and temper the stoner syndrome with ACTUALLY DOING the things I think of. Or try to, there's a lot and life is short... I write down everything all of the time-stupid little notes everywhere that torment me to action.
Michelle: You mentioned how you might be on campus at HSU on the 19th for an instrument demonstration, has your knowledge on the warr guitar taken you to various odd places?
Brian: I've played at the largest feed barley mill west of the mississippi!! I used to regularly play at the local alzheimer/cancer centers, but that was years ago, back before I was banned from Fresno altogether. One time I played at the officers' club in the presidio in Frisco (ARMY BRASS)!! They HATED the band I was with, and the bayonet equipped rifle seremonial- toss-around (color guard?) was omminously surrealistic on the dance floor.
Michelle: I've heard talk about raisins being a theme and a common snack at your shows, can you delve into the raisin obsession a little more?
Brian: Yes! Raisins are a vital part of fresno counties economy, next to chop shops and meth labs,and we're famuos for them, so it helps people get in the mindset of what the fresno experience is all about without getting they're car stolen or toxic chemicals dumped in they're etc. it's also a group experience thing;everybody tasting the same thing at that same moment in time -singing together-and when you throw in the "WHOOO!" or "FRESNO!",(everytime i say fresno), you can't help but have a good time! try it! they also represent a willingness to come along for an interractive experience, to accept this dried fruit from a stranger. it often tells me more about the crowd than it does them about the lunatic handing them out. smell and taste are among the strongest memory triggers...memory of a fun time and me are what i want you to think of when you eat rasins or say FRESNO! eat them, for they are my flesh. please don't throw them, cause it makes me angry; food is'nt for throwing and their's kids starving in fresno. rasins also help protect you from el chupacabra, the goatsucker, for they are repulsed by the smell.
Michelle: The town Fresno comes up a lot, I mean it's part of your name as well. Is that your home town?
Brian: well yes , since i was five. sprawl, flat-don't let it happen to you- at one time the central san joaquin was covered in giant redwoods and mountains, with a giant river that ran thruogh it, but greedy landowners harvested them all bit by bit, until there was only a flat ugly scar where few could survive. the mountains were shipped to santa barbara, the river piped to los angles, and the redwoods trained to up near what is known as eureka! today. few people realize that. men who became rich from their selfish action became known as devellopers, and the people that they bought with their newfound riches were called "city counsil members" and "supervisers", so their's a lot fresno has in common with municipallities everywhere.
Michelle: I read somewhere that you were described as "a very entertaining supersized seventh-grade stoner," what were you like back in those hazy days of junior high and those painful growing years? Did you foresee yourself as being a one man band/entertainer?
Brian: Well, I allways wanted to be a big rock star if that's what you mean, but I never thought I would be so repulsive or base, and proud of it. I was a progger, and would have cringed, no BRISTLED at the word "entertainer" which I now embrace. In terms of solo stuff, this new type of instrument is what makes it possible, so no I don't think so. But my teenage years? Aahhh... I didn't go to junior high or high school 'cause there was no department of education in Fresno until 1968, and my records got lost in the big flood of 69, so I kind of slipped through the cracks in '76. In 7th grade, I used to ride my bike along the ditch banks through the endless fig orchards eating figs and rasins and swiping oranges and pomegrantes, which amazingly enough ALL HAVE THE SAME AMOUNT OF SEEDS, all of them! I would ride endlessly with no hands, practicing my guitar and smokin pot out of a giant bong I kept strapped to my handlebars. We'd sneak out at night and rearrange survey stakes, or take 'em and fashion fishin poles out of 'em, just to frustrate the fat cat developers who drove around in cadillacs full of hookers and cocaine.
Michelle: The last time you came through Humboldt County at the Vista, what were your first thoughts when you walked in?
Brian: Friendly place, cool dinner guitar guy, best burger anywhere!
Michelle: Is there anything else you'd like to say to Humboldt County?
Brian: Yes, I understand that Humboldt County grows a lot of medicinal, recreational and inspirational fuel for my wacky stunts and as yet undeveloped pieces. I think my faith based activities qualify me for underwriting as a nonprofit if anyone needs a tax write-off, reported loss on their crop, or is feeling philanthropic about the arts etc.. Also if any one is interested in doing a house concert my next time threw, please don't hesitate to ask! Keep the developers out of your beautiful paradise and thanks for all the fish!
Contact: Brian Kenney Fresno: bkfresno@attitude.com (559)224-2132 and when you see me on the street yell, "FRESNO!"