JH: Will there be any other artwork on display?
JP: I am raffling off two guitars to benefit music education and the arts in Baltimore. One is a painted acoustic guitar and one is a Paul Reed Smith electric. Originally, I was going to paint the PRS too, but decided not to because it’s a 25th Anniversary Limited Edition Scarlet Red Custom SE 24—i didn’t know that that was what they were sending me until it landed on my doorstep— and it’s too pretty to paint.
JH: You had mentioned to me that one of the inspirations for putting on this show is that the music scene in Baltimore isn’t so hot.
JP: Well, I don’t feel that it is [laughs]. I mean, after living in New York and being able to go to Prospect Park for free music all summer long, I don’t see why that’s not available everywhere! If I can make it a personal crusade to bring that excitement back to Baltimore, that’s reason enough for me.
JH: What bands are playing?
JP: I’m a definite supporter of amazing guitar players, it’s kind of my thing. Some Cat From Japan is playing and they are an exceptional group of guys to come together to explore Hendrix’s music. They’re just taking it to another level and going somewhere with his catalog that no one else has before.
And [guitar player] Scott Metzger, as far as the whole Andy Warhol correlation—he is like my Lou Reed. His dedication and work ethic to become a better guitar player every day is just so motivational in itself. So, having the support of someone like that in this project is just… not to sound corny, but it’s a little bit of an honor.
We have Eric McFadden from Stockholm Syndrome coming out from San Francisco. He’s a good friend of mine and a sick, sick shred machine. I don’t even know what he’s doing up there half the time, but it’s jaw dropping. He’s just such a presence on stage. And a little secret is that he’s going to get up on stage with Some Cat and do some of his Experience McFadden.
We also have Tom Hamilton and American Babies. He’s also a wonderful guitar player who is expressive in his own way since he started doing this acoustic stuff. It kind of opened up a new style of writing for him. It’s exciting for me to watch him play a different genre of music than Brother’s Past and hold his own.
Then we’re doing a showcase of Baltimore bands. There’s Rakkasan which is a three piece and one of their biggest influences is WEEN—I fully support that. And then a great duo called Tek SubPort and they are pretty much going to keep the energy alive while we’re switching over the stages so that there’s music throughout the day. They’re brand new and it’s impressive how tight they are for how long they’ve been playing together.
JH: What’s next for POP Rocks!?
JP: We’re doing another show at Sullivan Hall on 7/27. It’s a celebration of the permanent residency of the Alfred E. Newman paintings from my last show there, plus some new pieces. A new band from Brooklyn, Into the Sun, will start the evening off. Then, the Scott Metzger Band will open for the Eric McFadden Trio. I have spent so many evenings in Sullivan Hall, and now that I no longer live in NYC its fun to know that my work is still hanging out in that room, even when I am not.
Then, a few days later, I’ll be installing 12 7-foot painted photographs at Gathering of the Vibes on the gating that surrounds the main stage. It’s literally the biggest crowd I’ve ever shown to, 30,000 people—which is kind of blowing my mind.
JH: Any plans for the future?
JP: In the spring of 2011, I’ll be painting one of the Rocks Off! Boats. The particulars are top secret. Jake and I have emailed back and forth on how it needs to get done and frankly it’s so cool it’s too cool to even repeat how we are doing this. It’s so top secret that even the Coast Guard has to be in on it. My art will be on the outside of the boat and will accommodate windows and decks and everything visible to you from the dock. Remember those NYC taxis with the flowers, Garden in Transit? Like that but BIGGER and BADASSER and on a BOAT.
The next place I’d like to go with POP Rocks! is San Francisco. When Andy and the Velvet Underground went out to San Fran and completely bombed out there because at that time the whole darkness and understanding of the Velvet Underground was offensive. They didn’t quite understand the whole dinginess behind the band—couldn’t appreciate that. They were all flowers and rainbows and you know the Velvet underground is the total opposite. So, I’d love to take Scott Metzger and Heroin out there, but this time we’ll blow them away!
