Getting Sassy with...The Western States Motel

We here around THE CULTURE OF ME were once obsessed with all things relating to Sassy and Dirt magazines.  And while those titles are long gone, the sentiment of how they covered the culture industries has indeed left its mark on writers and culture vultures everywhere.  It is because of that influence that we are proud to present our features post, "Getting Sassy with...", wherein we bring you that much closer to your favorite bands by way of a simple Q&A session that's both painless and informative.  Ha!  Beat that, FOX News!

This time: The Western States Motel.

Delicate and sunny, the music of The Western States Motel is decidedly California, through and through.  There's a sense of open air and constant zero-cloud days, intricate emotions and purely blissed-out moments, all wrapped up in principal singer/songwriter Carl Jordan's simple and smooth 60s-infused lyrics.  AM radio hasn't sounded this good in maybe 30 years.  It's folky, yet modern, and the tracks off of their latest release, the EP titled Painted Birds Flying In The Orange Mirror Sun instantly remind you of rusty cars on empty highways and the feeling you get when you find that perfect song for whatever moment you're in and you fight that moment's end by putting that song on repeat.  We sent our questionnaire off to Mr. Jordan and he talks to us about a childhood spent with his mother's records, jobs at golf courses and, unexpectedly, his favoritism towards M.I.A, MGMT and AC/DC.

Name?
Carl Jordan

Hometown?
Monterey, CA

Current place of residence?
Los Angeles, CA

Number of states visited?
I’d say around 20, plus I’ve been to all the North American countries, Central America, and Europe so far.

Favorite hometown haunt?
One of my favorite places to go is Grand Central Market in downtown LA.  I also often find myself wishing I was at the El Pique taco truck at around 52nd and York in Highland Park.

First album bought on your own?
My mom took me and my older sister to a record store in Monterey when we were very little kids, I was probably like 5 years old…we both bought Beatles records, I think I picked out some sort of compilation and my sister got Revolver.

Favorite song memorized as a child?
My mom’s old record collection from the 60s and 70s was kind of my introduction to rock music.  She had a lot of the greats, Pet Sounds, Beach Boys live in the UK, Sgt. Pepper's, Dylan, the soundtrack to the movie “FM”.   I remember learning the words to “Me and Julio Down by the School Yard” by Paul Simon at a pretty young age off of There Goes Rhymin' Simon.  “Life’s Been Good” by Joe Walsh intrigued me as a kid.  I was also completely mesmerized by “I Am the Walrus.”  The whole Magical Mystery Tour album was a real favorite in the kindergarten years.  But I basically taught myself how to play guitar in eighth grade be learning all of Cosmo’s Factory by CCR, also one of her records.

Last book read?
Into The Wild

Favorite book ever?
That’s pretty tough.  I went through a major Kerouac phase a couple of years ago, then read the Johnny Cash autobiography. After that it was Mark Twain’s Letters from the Earth.  I have probably yet to read my favorite book.

Favorite thing you bought this year?
I’m trying to own less and less things as opposed to acquiring more.  Have you ever seen those sorts of modern/Japanese inspired home interiors, where there’s literally nothing but mats on the floor, maybe a small table with a teapot??  That’s sort of where I’m headed.

After the jump, more with Jordan about his guilty (and not so guilty) pleasures.

Instruments played (chronologically)?
Started with the saxophone in grade school, then pretty quickly got into playing the tennis racket.  My parents were kind enough to buy me an actual acoustic guitar when I turned 13.  Once I got into high school, a friend lent me a Gibson Melody Maker so my parents drove me up to Santa Cruz and I bought at a little Peavey guitar amp to go with it.

Least favorite day job before getting this gig?
I’ve had some interesting ones, Baskin Robbins, painting houses.  I used to work maintenance at a golf course in Carmel Valley, which actually wasn’t so bad.  I’d start work at 6am, hop on a four-wheeler with a drop-down rake attachment in the back and cruise around the whole course raking sand traps.  Working outside is actually a pretty good deal, though I did take a golf ball to the head once.

Favorite record this year?
Is MGMT this year?  Seems like it’s getting a little played out now, but when I first heard it, I was definitely way into it.  I like the new Ratatat, and am just kind of diving into the new TV on the Radio.

Favorite record ever?
That’s just unanswerable, I apologize.

The one record you'd save from a house fire?
Probably that copy of Sgt. Pepper's from my childhood.  I also have Paul’s Boutique on vinyl, which would be tough to see burn.

Guilty pleasure record you don’t want us to know about?
Is Highway to Hell by AC/DC something I should feel guilty about?

If you didn't play music, what would you be doing?
That’s not something I can really comprehend.

Last illegally downloaded song/album (be honest)?
I have never illegally downloaded a song or album in my life.  People have burned plenty of albums for me though.

Latest TV addictions?
I literally just got cable for the first time a couple of weeks ago, and think I’ve watched even less TV since.  I really liked that episode of "The Office" where Dwight went along with Michael Scott to buy that condo, but I think that was like four years ago.

Who is in your dream band (must be living musicians)?
Tegan and Sara singing over some tracks by Caribou.  I’m not sure if I would call it a dream band, but it might be good for a song or two??  Nate Dogg could come in and sing the choruses.

Best concert you attended this year?
I don’t think I’ve been to an official Ticketmaster service-charge type of concert in a while.  But I’ve seen some great shows at the likes of the Echo and Spaceland here in LA over the past couple years.  Too many to mention.  It really doesn’t get any better than seeing great local bands in small clubs.  I couldn’t mean that more.

Recent song you can't get out of your head?
“Paper Planes” by M.I.A was a big one recently, I guess for a lot of people.

(mp3)    The Western States Motel - Oh World

Godspeed!