Stage

The Clodhopper Speaks

a Q&A with writer/performer Michael Perry on his all-new double-disc album of live comedy

V1 Staff |

Local writer, humorist, and chicken kisser Michael Perry
 
Local writer, humorist, and chicken kisser Michael Perry. Photo: c. J. Shimon & J. Lindemann

Michael Perry is famous for his books (Population 485, Truck: A Love Story, and Coop), but he’s first and foremost a storyteller. Whether he’s playing with his band Mike Perry & the Long Beds, doing a book tour, or releasing a humor CD, strong storytelling and engaging a crowd is at the core. With the release of his third comedy album and an upcoming new memoir, we decided to give Mike a call and he graciously took time away from a book deadline to answer some burning questions.

What can we expect from Clodhopper Monologues?

Michael Perry: Well over the years I’ve done a lot of speaking and performing and it’s sort of evolved from doing poetry readings and book readings into something closer to humorous monologues. Last winter, we decided to rent a couple of old refurbished opera houses and just send me out there with a microphone and these stories. Some of them are stories that I’ve been telling at book readings, some are drawn right from my books, and some are material or stories that don’t necessarily work on the page but will work from the stage.

And this was recorded live, correct?

MP: Yes. Our own Jaime Hansen came along, and we recorded three different shows and we ended up using the show from Stoughton, Wisconsin, which has an amazing opera house down there. Just a glorious building in a small town. We used that recording because a lot of things came together for us. It was a sold-out crowd, the sound was good … We really did our best to keep it cinema verité, if you will. In this day and age when you can tweak and polish everything – we did go through and cut a few extraneous noises, but what you hear me saying is what it was. For instance, one of my favorite lines, I mess it up. I remember at the time being very disappointed because it’s a good joke about my brother eating cereal, so we went it and looked at the other shows where I did it well to pull the flub out and replace it. But at the end of the day I just decided it would be better to leave one flub in there to let people feel as if they’re really listening to the real deal: one show from beginning to end.

We’re assuming a lot of these are anecdotes like those in your books and stage banter at music shows.

MP: Yeah. What I learned early on in writing and tours is you have to find a way to take three to four stories from your longer-form book and present them in such a way that it conveys the essence of the book. But also keep folks entertained and interested and hope they want to read more. So some of it comes from that experience and some of it is going off and rambling a little bit. I don’t have it scripted, but I know where I’m headed and where I need to get to.

How do your book gigs, music gigs, and the Clodhopper Monologues compare as a performer?

MP:One thing I try to do is never ever lose track of the fact that, if I don’t sit down every day and pay attention to the writing and do the best I can, nothing else follows. There are just rafts of musicians out there who are far more talented than I am, and we’re at an epicenter where musicianship is thriving and I know my limits. And the same with humor, I know my limits. I enjoy telling stories and that people get a chuckle out of them, but I also know I’m not a red-hot stand-up comic, either. I’m just a guy telling stories. So I come at it knowing it starts with the writing. But what I enjoy is that the music and one-man shows are a way to expand the application of the material. They’re also a way to get terrific real-time feedback, and nothing can replace that. And, invariably, I love writing books and hope I get to do that forever ... but the one negative about writing is you never get to look someone in the face and thank them for reading your stuff. With live, you actually get to thank people face-to-face.


So once again you’re performing at the Mabel Tainter, but to show the full spectrum, could you talk about some early “paying dues” performances or Spinal Tap moments?

MP: Well the good news is, I’m not a big shot. I’ve dipped into Spinal Tap territory on a regular basis. But I remember three of my favorites. One time I did a poetry reading while standing on top of a heavy equipment trailer in the middle of main street at Cable, Wisconsin. I once gave another poetry and book reading standing on a piece of plywood on a pool table in a health foods store in Chetek, Wisoconsin. But probably the best one is the only time I’ve ever had to ask the organizer to intervene. I was asked to tell humorous foggy crossing stories at a fair, and they put me directly adjacent – within 10 feet – of a booth where a guy was demonstrating blacksmithing. So I’m trying to tell my little subtly nuanced humoresque tales of life in rural Wisconsin and this guy next to me is whanging away on a gigantic horseshoe.

Tough thing to compete against.

MP: Yeah, it was the one time where I couldn’t compete. I said, ‘Either he goes, or I go, and he has a 300-pound anvil so I’m assuming it’s me.’

What can you tell us about the next book projects?

MP: I have three books under contract. I have a memoir that’s a little about me, but mostly about this old guy who’s my neighbor. I have to finish that by Oct. 1 or it won’t be out til 2013. It’s supposed to be out this spring, but it depends on how the next five weeks go. Then I signed on for a two-book series of young adult novels. And that’s due out in 2013, but I have to have it finished by January. So after this memoir, I’ll dive right into those. I’ve already got the first one about halfway done.

What do you find more rewarding, creating or performing?

MP: The creating is what drives me, and I just feel so fortunate to do this. It’s a year-to-year thing and you’re constantly trying to come up with stuff that’ll keep you doing this. But I love the polishing and the hiding out and the time alone and the writing. What the performance is, is the treat. It’s the opening your presents. When you get to actually come out and operate in a live setting, all performers thrive on the live setting and I’m no different. It’s fun to recite a line you’ve worked on, hoped was funny, and then hear people laugh. And I try new material live all the time, it’s a way of getting immediate feedback on a book.

Is there anything else you wanted to add?

MP: I hope folks turn out because it’s gonna be fun. I’ll be doing material from the CD, but also new material from the next book. And we’ve already booked the Stoughton Opera House to try out The Clodhopper Monologues Part 2, so I’m gonna try out lots of new stuff.


Bonus Interview Goodness!

Looking back, how does Population: 485 hold up, personally and artistically?

MP: Well I never comment on how I’m perceived artistically because I’m not the best judge of that. And I’ve nenver made any bones about the fact that I’m a freelance writer trying to feed the kids and pay the mortgage. Your books are like your kids, you don’t necessarily choose favorite, but there’s no question Population will always be foremost in my heart because, A) it was about a place that I loved and still love and, secondly, it opened doors for me that I never anticipated. I never dreamed when I was doing poetry readings in Eau Claire in 1992 that I’d get to actually write for a living. If I had to go back to work as a nurse tomorrow, I’d still be the luckiest guy in the world. There were 10 years of lots and lots of hard work before Population, but there’s no question it meant a lot to me and allowed me to try a lot of things.

How is your gig going at Big Top Chautauqua?

MP: Good. I enjoy going up there and performing. It’s a wonderful space. I used to go up there for shows as a fan, before I ever got to perform up there. It’s an evolving thing, because of logistics and time, but we’ve already talked about some things for next year so I’m hoping that becomes a reality.

What authors and musicians have been inspiring you lately?

MP: Lately? Well last night I went over to Minneapolis. There was this kid who used to play in my band, and then he wandered off to start some silly side project called Bon Iver. (laughs) So I went to see him last night. I’m so disappointed in how far he streayed. He’s clearly just lost it. I’m sure very soon he’ll show up at my door, begging to be a Long Bed again. (laughs) Naw. I do take constant inspiration from singers and songwriters. Even way back before I knew a D chord on my guitar. I loved poetry first, then singers and songwriters because of their ability to tell a story concisely and with refined emotion. So lately, let’s see. It’s kind of embarrassing when I talk about what I like because I get into weird backward loops. I recently discovered a band called Smokie that apparently had a hit or two in the 80s and became big in Europe. It’s very schlocky pop. I’ll go on a binge of listening to that. Yesterday when I was writing I spent two hours on classical music in the morning, because for about two hours a day I can see myself as refined and culturally relevant (laughs). As the day progressed, I found I needed new energy so I put in some Buck Owens. I’m all over the map. I also recently listened to some John Lydon, formerly known as Johnny Rotten of the Sex Pistols. I can take inspiration from just about any music. It also depends on what I’m writing. If I’m talking about driving back roads I’ll put on Jeffrey Fouccault or Steve Earle, or if I need fireflies and love (laughs) I’ll put on some Bon Iver.

Which is looking better, the upcoming deer hunting season, or the upcoming Packer season?

MP: Aww. That’s not fair. Let’s just say I look forward to getting my deer early so I can get in on Sunday and still watch the Packers. (laughs)

Would you consider yourself a wordsmith with bumpkin tendencies or bumpkin with wordsmith tendencies?

MP: Oh definitely the latter. I’m a writer with a small ‘w.’ I’m not that sharp. I do a lot of revision.

Out of your whole artistic output, would you say you have a favorite?

MP: I wrote a song called Tiny Pilot for my nephew, and if people every listen to anything of mine, I would hope it’s that.