KEVIN LEE

1.0  Is “Dusk Till Dawn’ your best record?  I think whenever you finish a new record you think it’s your best at that point in time or why would you release it?  I’m hands on with everything on my records from the first written chorus to the final touches on the cover, no stone is left unturned. At that point it’s really up to the people that buy and listen to the record to decide. This is my fifth released record and I’ve been lucky enough to have  fans point out each one as their favorite.

2.0  What song on the record are you most proud of?  My songs are like my kids, I’m connected to all of them and proud of them all in different ways. There’s two songs on “Dusk Till Dawn” that I’m really happy with. “Time Won’t Stand Still” hit # 1 at WMWX Cincinnati, Ohio in July 2010 and the production, performances, and amazing backing vocals on “Invisible” really make the song stand out.

3.0  How did you approach recording it – piecemeal or in one session?  I always record the bass and drums first at the same time and then over dub everything else.

4.0  Who are “The Kings”? do they play on the record?  The Kings are Dann Morr – bass & Erik Strommer – drums who play on “Dusk Till Dawn” and in my live band. A studio guitarist friend Brett Ratner also played some guitar on the new record. Johnny Million plays guitar in my live band.

5.0  What’s more important, the ‘Big Hooks’ or the ‘Crunchy Guitars’?
They need each other like hookers and crack.

6.0  How do you approach your song titles / lyrics?  I always have my song writer hat on and observe situations everywhere i go, I get ideas from books and articles i read, conversations i have the list goes on & on. I’m constantly making notes of a line or title or an angle to a lyric, there are song ideas everywhere. Songwriting is a zone and frame of mind you have to get into, so I never let myself fall out of it and work on new material everyday.

7.0  Do you have a favorite stage guitar?  I love Gibson guitars. I’ve been playing a black Les Paul Standard for the past few years. I recently bought a Gibson Les Paul Special that I can’t put down and is now my favorite stage guitar. The combination of the P90 pick ups and the Orange amp i use make for the best tone I’ve had to date.

9.0  What is your favorite club to play in Chicago?  There are a number of great venues in Chicago but my favorite is the Abbey Pub. It’s a great room to play and also see a show.

10.0  When was power-pop born?  There are a number of opinions on this subject going back to the Who, Big Star, etc. I think the band that defined power-pop was Chicago band Off Broadway with their first record “ON”.