Ask A Straight Guy: Lambchop' Kurt Wagner

This post was written by TNG-founder Zack.

Kurt Wagner (left) and his hairless, bespectacled, piano-playing dog.

Poor Kurt Wagner. The core of rock/folk/country/whatever collective Lambchop does not mix well with Google. Search his band's name and Shari Lewis comes up. Search his own name and you'll find Nightcrawler. These results are not accurate. Though he may be mournful and melancholy, Wagner is not actually blue. He has been releasing music since 1994 but has nothing to do with "The Song That Doesn't End." His newest album "OH (Ohio)" is a gentle mix of Bob Dylan and Leonard Cohen's most admirable qualities. When he performs it tonight at The Black Cat you will find neither puppets nor teleportation. If you know that going in you will not be disappointed.

Kurt was nice enough to answer some of my questions about being straight. You can find the full interview and a Lambchop mixtape below the fold.

Lambchop Plays tonight at the Black Cat backstage. Doors at 9. $15.

The New Gay: When did you first realize you were straight?

Kurt Wagner: This morning, when the booze wore off from the cold war film festival I
went to last night. Vodka, red wine, smoked salmon: a heady mix to be sure.

TNG: What is your least favorite stereotype about straight people?

KW: That they convert to Christianity once they stop their substance abuse….
wait a second… you’re not talking about the 12 step thing here?

TNG: What obligations, if any, do you feel that you have to the gay community?

KW: Not to be a knucklehead.

TG: What are the biggest challenges faced by a straight person in today's culture?

KW: The same as an un-straight person I suppose: The economy, the war, finding a good cheeseburger in an ever-growing meatless society.

TNG: If you had to "go gay" for one member of the same sex, who would it be?

KW: Marvin Gaye?

TNG: Given the seemingly endless number of "indie" artist in existence today, how do you think you set yourself apart from the crowd?

KW: I’m old.

TNG: Finally, why should Washington, DC come out and see you play tonight?

It’s inside. After watching all those people stand around in the cold last [month] to see some live music this strikes me as a plus.TNG

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