"The integrity of a beard is not judged on its length alone."
After two long years, Build-A-Beard reconnected with Scott Hutchison of Frightened Rabbit before the band rocked the stage at San Francisco's The Independent last week (with not one, but two encores!). Over the past few years, Scott has gone from grooming a proper mustache to growing a full, mature beard.
The entire interview is available below via Frightened Rabbit's SoundCloud account and it's worth a listen. Don't believe me? - Well, here's some fun facts you'll discover --
Scott has a name for his beard. Any ideas?
He *almost* lost a relationship over shaving.
A US city that impresses him the most with facial hair... is on the East Coast
Learn how facial hair inspired the band's latest EP, State Hospital.
Would beard hair make for a good guitar string? Y N M
Hear more:
Special thanks (as always) to the gracious Scott Hutchison (and his incredible beard):
"Why keep shaving when I can have a werewolf fist on my face?" -- Jason Miller
Jason Miller (@itsJasonMiller) was an intern at the Elvis Duran and the Morning Show (aka Elvis Duran and the Morning Zoo, aka the Elvis Duran Show, aka the number 1 syndicated radio morning show in the country) this past summer, and yes it's a show I am a fairly devout fan of. I went from a hater to a convert this past year, when I started to drive towork from time to time in the morning. I used to listen to this show all the time a long long time ago, when my brother would drive me places, and I hated it... Why? I can't possibly imagine now... it's a motley crew of characters, topics, and verbal mayhem, which is squarely up my alley.
Jason stood out from this year's cadre of interns at the show... mainly because he did a hilarious video series for elvisduran.com called The Intern Interview, and, he had an awesome beard... Though everyone on the show is talented in their own right, Jason is clearly the only one with any facial hair to speak of, definitely the most fierce.
Wanting to give a the beardo like him the spotlight he deserves, I reached out to the show to make an interview with the owner of The Double Goat (see photo below) happen. When I found Jason, he was back in Iowa, scratching his chin and still hoping that the male cast of the show would indulge him in a Beard-Off... so, c'mon Elvis, Skeery, TJ, et al PROVE IT!
Photo credit: Eric Miller1) Tell us about being an intern at the Elvis Duran Show, was it a Zoo?
Interning for Elvis Duran and The Morning Show was easily the most incredible experience I’ve had. It was such an amazing opportunity to work with best in the business and share my passion with them. Never a dull day and everyone has a blast working every day. I don’t think I can even call it work because it was just pure fun.
2) Is being on the radio a good pickup line still? Do you use it often? I’m sure Skeery Jones used it at least 5 times just today…
You honestly wouldn’t believe it but yea it definitely works. I’ve never flat out used it on purpose but when you are at a bar remote broadcasting live with headphones on and looking the part, girls definitely notice you. If anything it’s just an easier way to approach women at the bar and have a reason to talk to them. After that it’s more on your personality.
3) Do your stache hairs every get caught in the mic?
So far I’ve done a good job at keeping the beard out of the mic when it counts. But I would be lying if I said I haven’t rubbed my chin on the mic to see what it sounds like…
4) Is radio on the way out like sideburns or roaring back like the handlebar mustache?
Well I would have to say neither; it’s really just changing. Internet radio is becoming more prominent which is why they launched iHeartRadio. I think morning show formats are really what’s keeping traditional radio alive.
5) Do you think Elvis will look good with a beard, or a stache… maybe a nice Dali will suit him, or a chin strap?
I think Elvis would look great with beard! I think he should go for the Kimbo Slice / Rick Ross look. But I also think he could pull off a clean Fu Manchu.
6) We hear TJ has/had some gnarly body hair… would he grow the biggest beard on the show,should there be a challenge?
TJ does a great job at keeping it just under the stubble zone. But I see the potential for greatness. If anything I think Skeery would be the biggest competitor. I’m always down for a Beard-Off.
7) What was your favorite Intern Interview of the series you spearheaded for the show?
Oh boy that’s a tough one. All four interviews were different in subtle ways, which was really me trying out different things. I definitely loved the Greg T interview because it was the first one. Had a blast with Carla Marie, she was hilarious to work with. The Ronnie interview was mostly us goofing around and seeing what we came up with which was a riot. But my favorite one in terms of conducting the interview was Skeery. Only because he was the one person that would make me drop character and crack up. I think it was because I caught him so off guard with it that his reactions just got me. But end result wise I can’t say, I enjoy them all!
8) What’s with your career path: you’re been to college, went to the #1 syndicated radio show in thecountry HQd in the best city in the world, and then left for… Iowa? What gives?
Hahahaha well let me explain…Born and raised in Duluth Minnesota but I go to college in Des Moines Iowa where I also work at the radio station KISS 107.5. We broadcast Elvis in the mornings so that was really how I first was introduced to the morning show. I then landed my internship for the summer and unfortunately had to come back to finish my last year of school. Don’t worry I don’t plan on being in Iowa much longer…
9) What advice would you give the young kids reading this interview about starting a career in Radio or show business broadly?
Well what I would say for not just radio but most industries is get your foot in the door. At a younger age the easiest way is via internship. But interns come and go so you have to stand out from all the interns before you, the other possible interns you will be working with, and the interns they haven’t even had yet. You have to be doing the things no one else is doing and let your passion and hard work ethic shine above the rest. After that it’s all a matter of constantly pushing yourself and learning as much as you can. Ultimately it comes down to passion. You can teach people the skills and for the most part how to do things, but you can’t teach passion. So follow your dreams and never stop till you get where you want to be. Don’t be afraid to show it and people will start paying attention to your actions.
10) What advice would you give non bearded men looking to take the plunge and dive head first into facial hair growing.
Everyone knows coffee and whiskey are the keys to a face full of hair…but really if you aren’t gifted in full force beard growth abilities, then I would say grow what you can and stick with it. Everyone has a transitional phase where you start to look like a freak…you just have to be dedicated to getting it as full as possible and then deciding what look to best roll with.
This past week, SoundCloud encouraged me to throw a "master class" in beard & mustache growing with a specific focus on The World Beard & Mustache Championships. But no beard and mustache presentation would be complete without the expert opinion of the incredible Phil Olsen, captain of Beard Team USA. In the following sound, Phil gives a brief history on the global sport of bearding, while also presenting an alarming fact about Sweden & one momentous challenge to one of my colleagues in particular....
Reminder: don't miss the third annual Beard Team USA National Beard and Moustache Championships taking place on Sunday, November 11, 2012, at the Clark County Government Center Amphitheater in Downtown Las Vegas, Nevada. The amphitheater has lawn seating for 3000 beardsmen and their fans!
Justin James Muir wants you to buy his book, "A Book of Beards," but not for reasons you might assume. It's a not for profit book capturing the rugged elegance, style, and glamour of beards with all funds from the first pressing going to help his friend who was diagnosed with testicular cancer. The second pressing will benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
The first pressing consists of 500 books and he's sold roughly 250. "A Book of Beards" is self-published so Justin is relying on word-of-mouth marketing to push the $45.00/book donation. His goal is to start the second pressing in the next couple of months. Let's help him reach it, and in the meantime, get to know more about Justin...
BAB: What gave you the idea to compose a beard book -- you noted you took 10 beard portraits in April 2011, but why did you even do that? What's your fascination with beards?
Justin: When I moved to West Chester, PA, I noticed that the beard culture was a bit bolder than other places I had been; it was a little uncharacteristic of an otherwise neat and tidy town. All the while, I was sharpening my portrait photography skills, and decided to focus my lens on all of these beards. From the first portrait, I knew the black and white format would fit the mood of the men who sported these gnarly beards. I started photographing friends, which then grew into approaching strangers on the street. I was obsessed with beards, always on the lookout, wherever I went. So I built a tiny portable studio that was easy to travel with. Now, I could take portraits anywhere—houses, bars, my living room, backyards, and eventually I found myself at beard competitions. You can see my portable studio in some of the photos.
Do you have a beard? Right now, yes. Not anywhere close to the ones in the book. A while back I had a really long beard, but now I generally let it grow for a month or two then shave.
All-in-all, how long did this book take you to compose/put together? I started taking photos last March, and the books landed on my doorstep this June. So all in all just over a year.
Have you been in touch with Beard Team USA? No, I haven't, but there are a couple guys in the book from that team. There are also a couple of guys who were on the IFC show Whisker Wars!
How did you choose what beards you'd photograph? Are all of the subjects living in West Chester, PA? A lot are from West Chester, but there are beards from all over the country. Some I met while traveling, some I met at beard compitions, and some were friends.
Anything else you'd like our audience to know? So, I actually have not been into photography for terribly long. My mom bought me my first camera 2 christmas's ago. For the first year I just shot friends family functions and learned how to use my DSLR. My mom said I was good, so I thought she had to be right. My second year of photography, I entered into a 365 challenge with myself. Take a picture every day for 365 days. you can view the entire project on my flickr account. This forced me daily to get better at photography. I learned so much that year and although I hated the project at times, its made me a better photographer. And as you can see from the project, I got some great shots, but also A LOT of really horrible ones. I went to college for design and have been creating and directing art for years. So it was easy to apply my knowledge from those fields into photography. An advantage I don't think everyone has. Now in my third year of taking photos, I get to release my first book!
In 1997, my twin brother was diagnosed with leukemia. It was a surreally experience and made it stranger because we were twins. Although it was a long fight, he is now, thankfully, 100% healthy and cancer free. A huge part of his success and the success of current leukemia survivors is due to the help of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. My family has actively taken on the cause, and for the past 10 years my mother has volunteered and worked for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to further their efforts.
... it would look like Jim Dalrymple's. The editor-in-chief of The Loop has been writing about Apple for more than 17 years, but growing his 15" beard since 2007. You must be somebody pretty special if Steve Jobs once recognized you (with or without facial hair). BaB had the esteemed privilege to speak with Jim about how his beard "kind of snuck up on him and took over his life," the craziest moment he's had playing with another serious bearded professional, what his beard likes to drink, and the best conference to attend for true facial hair scouting.
BaB:So Jim, how long is your beard currently? What’s the longest length it’s been?
Just sitting on my face, the beard is about 9-inches. However, it's curly, so if you straighten it out, it measures about 15 inches. I think that's about the longest it's ever been -- to be honest, this is the first time I've ever measured it.
BaB: You have a stellar professional career, most notably your position at Macworld – was the outlet supportive in your efforts to grow your beard? Did anyone try to make you shave?
The folks at Macworld were great about the beard. Nobody there ever put up any kind of a fight about me shaving. Of course, they made fun of the beard, but that's fine, I can handle that. If you are going to have a beard like this, you have to expect some of that.
Steve was inspirational to me in a lot of ways, but not with the beard. Zakk Wylde was my inspiration for growing the beard. I did meet Steve once, but I didn't have the beard then. It was a very short conversation -- he said he knew my writing and I said thanks and left. What more could you ask for than to have Steve recognize you.
BaB: You’re an avid guitarist with over 20 years of experience playing – what’s the craziest moment you’ve had with your beard as a musician?
Wow, that's tough. Maybe hugging Zakk Wylde before he went on stage with Ozzy in Chicago. I played "Summertime Blues" with Roger Daltrey in LA and he looked at me and said "Do they make all Canadians like you?" Those were both great moments for me.
BaB: What's the best conference to attend if you're hoping to scout tech beardos?
The conference I like the most for beards is NAMM. So many great beards there, but not necessarily tech beards. If you go to CES you'll see lots of baby beards, but nothing substantial.
BaB: Who is your bearded hero? Why?
Definitely Zakk Wylde. I love Zakk's music and his approach to his fans and the way he plays guitar.
BaB: Anything else we should know?
I was surprised two years ago to see that my beard had its own Twitter account (@dalrymplesbeard). I tell people that I don't do it, but I'm not sure they believe me -- it's true, I don't do it. Every once in a while, it'll speak up on something and then goes quiet again.
Another interesting note -- the beard loves Heineken. Only Heineken.
(Photos courtesy of Jim's Facebook page -- taken with permission)
Whenever I am in need of a rad gift, it doesn't take me long to click on SEIBEI's website to see what latest designs are being printed on t's, pins, or bags. I came across the infamous "Make Me A Sandwich" dinosaur shirt that instantly catapulted me to "best girlfriend ever" status with my boyfriend who proudly wore it around Six Flags in LA garnering much jealousy and attention from onlookers.
But if there ever was an interview to read - this is it! --Why? For starters, there is a coupon code below, dear bearded reader, only for you. Secondly, SEIBEI is awesome! Finally, SEIBEI is the pseudonym of David Murray, a self-taught illustrator who "draws upon his love of comic books, bright colors, and offbeat slogans to create a unique line of graphic tees and accessories under his name."
Bab: How long have you rocked a beard? What's the best part about having one? David: I've had a beard off and on for about six years, I think? It's hard to remember. I had great sideburns through most of college, and then after I graduated I think I hadn't shaved for about a week due to laziness and just decided to run with it. Every few months or so I get tired of it and go back to sideburns, but the fact that I look like a middle schooler under this thing, along with my girlfriend's love of the beard, sends me running back to it pretty quickly. The beard lends me a rakish quality that I like, and also makes it so there's less of my actual face to look at, so everybody wins.
As the Commissioner of the Intramural Zombie Hunting League, have you ever spotted a bearded zombie?
Growing up I'd always heard that hair and nails continued to grow after death, but I think I remember reading that what actually happens is the skin of a corpse shrinks and recedes to a point. So, presumably, no one will grow a beard after becoming undead. However, we can also assume that none of the undead possess the faculties necessary to shave off a beard that they already have, so if they died with a beard, they're going to keep it until the bitter end, or until they lose the lower half of their face through decay or some kind of attack (or if someone sets them on fire, thereby burning the beard off). Once bearded, ALWAYS BEARDED.
Who is your bearded inspiration? Zach Galifianakis, for sure. He gives a lot of us bearded dudes hope. Please reference the following Venn diagram for further explanation as to why I love him (below). I've also been compared to Ryan Dunn (of CKY/Jackass fame), which I am perfectly fine with; he seems like a rad dude.
As an artist, does your beard give you more artistic inspiration? Is it magical? It's therapeutic. I often work with one hand on the pen and one hand on my chin, and it's nice to feel a soft, luscious beard and mustache (mine is enough for me, though; I don't have a thing for touching other people's beards). It's like having a Tamagotchi and a stress ball all in one, on my face.
Anything else you'd like to tell us....
I wish there were more good bearded Halloween costumes that weren't lumberjack or hobo or island castaway. The past few Halloweens I've had to shave for various costumes (Barney Rubble, Randy Marsh), which isn't a big deal, but I wouldn't mind running the beard as part of a rad costume. As my way of saying thanks for this interview (and you lovely people reading it), you can use the coupon code BEARDSRULE (all caps!) for 10% off at SEIBEI!
Yesterday, BaB had the honor to sit down with Tom Merritt, host of Tech News Today and the infamous Dan Patterson, leading expert on media, technology, mustaches (and zombies) of ABC News Radio to discuss SXSWi, beards, mustaches, and being American. Thanks to sluggish Internets in the hotel (and let's not even start on the Austin Convention Center), our videos are slowly being uploaded.
"I think both Digg & Twitter are very welcoming of facial hair. That is, unless, you stroke it longingly in meetings while staring at executives or colleagues."
We were all set on a preview story hitting just before South By Southwest Interactive - one that would showcase the potential strength of the tech beardos & mustache growers we were flying down to interview for the coveted "best beard or 'stache" of the event (side: if you're attending SXSWi, come find me if you have what it takes to compete). That is until Trammell sent us a DM confirming that he would gladly partake in an interview after he had a drink.
As such, we scratched our original post to take a moment to learn more about the magnificently bearded & bespectacled specimen known as Mark Trammell. After all, what better way to kick-off a tech facial hair series than to interview the beard who has worked at PayPal, Digg, Twitter and a brief stint as a Navy journalist (not joking). The bar has been set, gentlemen.
BaB: When did you start growing your beard? Trammell: 1998 - Shortly after my tenure with the United States Navy. I shaved it off in 2008 for Movember and immediately began to grow it back. Recently though, I cut about 50% of it off so my Twitter picture reflects the most up-to-date version (see above).
BaB: Being a committed beardo, how was it when you grew a mustache for the cause of Movember? If it was measured in tweets - "#creepy" - would have been trending.
BaB: Wouldn't the Fail Whale be less threatening with a mustache? Maybe a handlebar...? Well, there are a lot less fail whales these days; however, there might have been a point where the whale needed a disguise - a mustache would have been considered.
Bab: What's the design philosophy behind the beard? It's about letting go. Most people decide after a life changing (mostly negative) event to grow a beard. Yet, those same people decide to shave it soon after. I say - let it go. Allow the beard time to fill out, find the potential in the hairs, and then shape it accordingly to your style.
BaB: Would your beard provide an adequate nest for birds to Twitter in? This reminds me of The Family Guy episode where Peter grew a beard for a family of birds. I wouldn't kick the birds out. I'd always be welcoming.
BaB: Does your dating life suffer because of the beard? There is no data to support the contrary, but no [it suffers for other reasons], but not because of the beard.
BaB: Favorite bearded band or musician based solely on their facial hair? 1. Megafaun 2. Scott Hutchison of Frightened Rabbit 3. Wayne Coyne of Flaming Lips (*Listed in no particular order)
Also, Brian Wilson has a beard of awesomeness and I approve of the dye job. The dye adds to the intimidating factor and awesomeness. If he didn't have that beard, there would be so much awesomeness coming from him, it would be distrating to batters.
BaB: What's it like for you to not be sporting a beard? I'm a hermit without it.
BaB: What's the best thing about having a beard? For starters, I don't have to shave. Mostly though, I don't consider the alternative. I wouldn't leave my house without pants on, so I wouldn't leave without my beard.
BaB: Have you ever met Zach Galifianakis? No, but a bunch of middle aged, Soprano-looking gentlemen at a club in Vegas were once fully convinced that I was Zach.
BaB: Twitter has helped our blog uncover so many amazing stories & a lot of new relationships have sprung from us using your platform, such as our blog's friendship with Scott Hutchison. Small world. For "Tonight's Beard," I am San Diego's 'The Trammell'
Ben (or Benjamin as facebook calls him) Davidson is a man who needs an introduction... his stache however, does not.
At the 2009 World Championships, By Mathew Rainwaters
I first met Ben back stage at the National Beard and Moustache Championships in Bend Oregon this past summer, and his stache followed him everywhere, so i met it too, and what a stache it was... while of course not a match to the winner of the natural stache category in Bend, Ben's tache is something to behold, envy and of course in our case, commend.
This gent is a quiet yet fierce competitor whom has taken the gold (and bronze) both nationally, locally and even internationally (full scorebox for Ben's stache is as follows, all for natural stache category: 1st place, 2009 NYC BMC; 3rd place, 2009 World Championships in Anchorage AK; 1st place, 2010 Coney Island BMC; and most recently 1st place in the 2010 Ohio BMC, Dayton OH).
Given this track record and this being the month of the stache (Movember), we decided to award Ben the coveted (and arbitrary) title of "Beardo of the Month!" I sat down with Ben and talked bearding (or stache-ing), grooming, thunder, arm wrestling, and much much more... read on!
When did you first grow or start growing it? how long as it been since your upper lip saw any sun? I started growing facial hair in 2007, I think. I had a small beard for a while and then shaved that off leaving just the stache in the summer of 2008. So it's been about 3 - 3 1/2 years since my upper lip saw some sun.
How'd you get into competitive bearding (or staching in your case)? I basically just happened upon an ad for the First Beard and Moustache Competition in Coney Island, NY in September of '08. I really had no intention of entering the contest, and just wanted to check out some crazy and hilarious facial hair. When I got there everybody said I should enter, I did, and won first place in the natural moustache category. That spurred me on to go to future competitions.
The staches are always well represented at competitions, but think often also get a back seat to the beards, why is that? I assure you, I don't know. I suppose it could be because it can take a lot longer to grow an immense beard. I can grow my stache out in 6 months or so. Also beards are easier to see from a distance.
Aren't you happy/thankful that (THE) Jack Passion trims his stache and does not (yet?) compete in your category... be honest. Haha, I love Jack's beard as most people do, but he derives most of his power from his beard's immense volume, and the fact that said volume is bright ass orange. If he were to shave down to just the stache he would lose some of his shock and awe. I think it would be a pretty close competition between us. I don't think I've ever seen a large orange handlebar moustache. That would be pretty sweet. But I suppose in the end, I'm pretty content with him competing in the beard category.
You had to arm-wrestle a guy at the Coney Island BNC for your title... not quite the traditional way to win, but it seemed to work in your favor (what was the age of that guy, 95?). Do you like traditional rules of say the national Competition or those on the local circuit like at Coney Island? No way, that guy was 75 at the most! I'll take traditional rules any day. At least arm wrestling could be considered kinda manly. If anybody asks me to start singing and dancing it's over for me. I don't go there.
Let's talk grooming... Your stache is glorious, and it really really suits your face... how'd you train it to do what you want, or are you just blessed with the coveted stache gene our scientists are working tirelessly to isolate? Well, I could go on all day about this, but I'll keep it short. I do have good moustache genes cause my hair grows fast and really straight. If you have really straight hair and a somewhat thick moustache, you can probably have a moustache similar to mine. Anyway, make sure you condition it in the shower but not too much. I have to find a happy medium, if you condition too much or too little, it frays out a lot and is harder to manage in general. Immediately when I get out of the shower I smooth it into the general shape, and put two little clips into it to hold it back away from my mouth. I leave them in just a few minutes then take them out and add some lotion. Regular hand moisturizer will do, you may have to try a few different kinds to see what works best. That's basically it. If you want to know more, hit me up on facebook or at a competition.
Seriously though, what are top 3 tips you can give on stache growing and upkeep?
When you first start growing your stache, don't trim the hairs that grow from the middle of your lip. There's an awkward period when all those hairs will go in your mouth, which is kinda a pain in the ass. If you stick with it though, they will get long enough where you can spread them to the sides and they stay out of your mouth 90 percent of the time.
Stay Healthy. If you're healthy, your facial hair will grow faster and more luxuriously. Have you ever seen a really fat guy with a terrible beard?
Try using Elmer's glue to hold your styled stache in place. It dries in seconds and holds better than any wax I've ever tried. It washes right out with water, is non toxic and safe for kids.
Who are your top 3 stache wearers through the years? Rollie Fingers for sure… Ben Davidson (a football player from the 60's and 70's, he had a great stache)… I don't know... Tom Selleck?
It's Movember, or nearly the end of it, why do you think it's the staches that get the largest facial hair donations to charity each year? Our good friends at Bearduary is a distant second, but overall Movember is in a class all its own... is it just because its' easier to show the growth progress on a daily basis with staches, or is there something magical in the wax? Because moustaches are funnier? Maybe because you have to make a concerted effort to grow a moustache. You could accidentally grow a beard, but you have to make the effort of shaving most of your face to have a stache. Also, people just want an excuse to grow a moustache.
Would you ever shave yours and start again if you couls have some high paying sponsors? Oh Hell yes! I'd do it for low paying sponsors as well, if anybody has an offer.
Are you going to bring the thunder for the New York BMC? I will be in attendance although, I'm still undecided about bringing the thunder…
P.S. While Ben's stache is amazing, and awesome, and hairy and all that... dont be fooled, Ben can grow a pretty sick ass beard too. Kudos!
Back in late September we met up with three of the most magnificent souls in music, four counting our lovely beard loving folkster Sophie Madeleine, namely Emily Hope Price, Jeremy Styles and Jocelyn Mackenzie of Pearl and the Beard (self described as: three voices, one cello, one guitar, one glockenspiel, one melodica, several drums, one accordion, ninety-six teeth, and one soul).
This team of lovely souls, voices and laughs hit us right where it hurts, and it's been hurting SO good ever since. Not to mention the fact that they sell beards at their shows, Emily and Jocelyn went out of their way to make sure my (super) pregnant wife had a place to sit at their EP release... and trust me when i say there was NO room. Thank you again ladies.
Emily introduced me to the rest of the band as 'the guy that will make us famous'... which is laughable and humbling all at the same time... so, to try and live up to such hype, and to give back to a band that has changed the way i look at harmony, whether musically or socially (seriously)... Build-a-Beard stopped by the band's tour bus (cause we do that now) and the sublimed interview is below, and what resulted is our longest and most engaging Q&A to date.
Trust me, buy their EP, then their CD, then go see their shows... just trust me.
EHP = Emily Hope Price JM = Jocelyn Mackenzie JS = Jeremy Styles
So, this is the chance for us to make you famous... we are honored, and humbled you think this will help your cause... either way, tell us the 'story' behind the name of your band, Pearl and the Beard. JS: We tend to keep that a bit more vague, and open to interpretation, but as far as the Beard portion goes, when coming up with the name I was pretty obsessed with beards. They are sort of like a great butt or boobs on a man's face. I would just stare at a beard and be captivated with my lookin' balls.
You sell plush beards with a single pearl on it (a la Cindy Crawford's mole)... do they sell well? We get the feeling that people that can't grow beards FLOCK to fake ones, what say you? and where can our beardly deficient readers get their hands on it? EHP: We made them in order to support our beardless market. JM: Yes, and they’re actually selling quite well! They are made in America by the nimble hands of two fine young American art school graduates, our friend and former photographer Juliet Hinely, and myself. They are made by hand, individually crafted by Juliet and yours truly. They are time consuming to make, and a labor of love. The ONLY place you can get them is at a show! So come on down!
You have one beardo among you... who sometimes shaves... do you guys push him to shave or does he go willingly? JS: In the years we’ve playing I’ve only shaved once. EHP: No, you’ve shaved more than that! JS: Well, maybe one more time. I shave willingly. But I like going extreme. I’ll shave when it starts driving me nuts and I start twisting it in my fingers. JM: But you do trim, though. JS: Yes.
You're on tour to support your new EP, what are some crazy facial hair stories you've had on the road previously. bad hair days would qualify if they are on the chin... we'll also take the weirdest facial hair style that may have attended your shows. EHP: Well, we could talk about Franz Nicolay and his awesome moustache… but that’s it. JM: Our friend Brandon Mastrangelo [of Burning Oak and Larcenist] had a really sick beard going for awhile. EHP: We also talked about beards being one of the requirements of making a song a sea shanty. JM: Yeah, between Pearl and the Beard and our friends in Larcenist (formerly known as Vessel), I think we determined that for a song to be a sea shanty, there have to be at least six guys singing at the same time, and at least four of them have to have beards (see our old Sunday Brunch Episode for more specifics... notice Jeremy's lack of a beard) JS: Occasionally we’ll rub beards with people. EHP: Yes, we love the occasional beard rubbing. It’s better than a brass rubbing. It leaves more of an impression. JS: What’s a brass rubbing? EHP: You know, like in Indiana Jones, when he rubs the thing on the thing… JS: Oh yeah! EHP: It totally makes a good “impression...!” ALL: LAUGHTER! JS: Who else had good beards? EHP: Justin Tam [of Humble House] had a good beard for awhile… JM: Yeah, but it was pretty under control. JS: Oh, but don’t forget E-S Guthrie… JM: Yeah! His hair was so long, and his beard was like down to his bellybutton or something. Then he cut it all off. I liked it long, but he still looks good. So really our answer is: we’ve only encountered incredible hair.
I gotta say all the stuff written about your band is very ethereal, very soul and depth related... hell you guys even listed Gospel as a style on your FB page... that said, if we created a religion of worshiping facial hair (i.e. theopogonology), would you write our gospels and join in on the cult, erm club? JM: Well, only if we get really great titles. EHP: Jeremy, you would be the King of Panda Express. I would be the Queen of Tornados and Electronic Disturbance. JM: What would I be? EHP: You would be Queen of Tears. JS: I’d rather be Jeremy the Boob Grabbler. EHP: What did I say you were before? JM: The stupid King of Stupid Panda Stupid Express. But that doesn’t have anything to do with beards. JS: Well, would we be in the gospels, or would we just be writing them ourselves? EHP: I think we could write some. JS: I personally like to keep my options open when it comes to clubs, but I’d be happy to contribute to some of the literature.
Seriously though, how would you define your style personally, there is so much in your music from strings to stomping, bells whistles, a glockenspiel, call and answer whooping (which i love) and other layers upon layers of goodies... for god's sake there are only three of you! JS: Acoustic. JM: Done. Answered. JS: Other people have said we’ve created a new genre, whether I agree with that is arguable. EHP: I’ve never heard that. JS: I’m just saying what other people said. If you quote other people then you’re not wrong! EHP: The newest description we got was “Andrew Lloyd Webber sitting around the campfire.” But I talked to a musical theater guy who totally disagreed with that. JM: I don’t know. I just think we make music that we like to listen to. [Composer and multi-instrumentalist] Jim Altieri said to me once that if there’s music that you want to listen to that doesn’t exist yet, you just make it yourself. That’s what my favorite part of our sound is… we’re making music that we ourselves want to hear. You can’t go wrong with that.
What is your musical training has been? know that it couldn't all be learned on the fly... JS: I started taking very uncomfortable guitar lessons, then I was self taught with books and covering songs. Now I just watch other guitarists on stage and learn from what they’re doing. And I’ve been singing for always. JM: I’m a total faker. These two tricked me into learning how to play instruments, and I’m glad they did. EHP: Jeremy and Jocelyn found me passed out on the side of the road carrying a simple clover. JS: We replaced a forty of Colt 45 you were holding in your hand with a cello. EHP: And they were like, “Play something!” and I was like, “Okay.” JM: Yeah. EHP: And I was like, “Guys, I don’t know how to play this thing!” and they were like, “That’s just fine.” JS: Yeah and I said, “Just play like you drink.” EHP: Yeah. What’s funny about that is I don’t drink.
We've heard some of your tracks (like Lost in Singapore) compared to classical giants like Brahms... whom are actually your inspirations and what gets your creativity flowing?
EHP: Macaroni and cheese! Only from Kraft! Also, Annie’s is great. JM: And the box has bunnies on it. JS: Yeah. JM: I get inspired by everything I see! And I love They Might Be Giants. But my friends bands are the best bands I love. I can’t tell if I love their music because they are my friends or they become my friends because they write great music or both. JS: Last night I saw this guy Jacob Augustine and he really flipped my skirt up. It’s sort of a bittersweet feeling to see a new artist that makes me feel challenged, like I need to go back to the drawing board and write something better. EHP: I love Lady Lamb the Beekeeper, Franz Nicolay. JM: Holy Ghost Tent Revival, Uncle Monsterface, O’Death, Emilyn Brodsky, Tatters and Rags, Dinosaur Feathers. EHP: Anna Vogelzang JS: Radiohead has helped me write more songs than I care to remember. Oh and bee tee dubs, Jacob Augustine has a phenomenal beard. Fudge about.
Anything we didn't ask, that you are DYING to share? JM: Just that our new EP is for sale from our website www.pearlandthebeard.com and www.blackvesselep.com, through our label Family Records, and on iTunes, Amazon, etc. JS: Sounds good! JM: Also, when I was little I would watch Mtv and secretly wish that I could grow a beard like ZZ Top. My mom would tell me that if I really wanted to grow one I just had to wish for it and keep trying, and then I would realize my dream. Little did I know that she duped me.
Last night at Terminal 5 in New York City (the worst venue to trek to on a weekend), Frightened Rabbit took the stage and rocked out. But the real thrill happened hours earlier on the tour bus... Scott Hutchison graciously offered to meet, sketched us our very own "Tonight's Beard" (real fans will understand), and how he's going to keeping growing his 'stache dread-lock style (i.e. twisting it yourself and not using wax) when it gets to the appropriate length.
We also hit upon: How Ben Bridwell of Band of Horses should do a Q&A with us, the odor of the tour bus, Movember, and how San Francisco's "Fear the Beard" is wrong. To quote Scott: "They shouldn't be fearing the beard - they should be building it."
Operation Best Night Ever was a success. (Oh and Scott, as fate would have it - we ended up running into the fan who got #TonightsBeard and snapped his photo).
We've interviewed a lot of awesome beardos & stache enthusiasts, but getting the opportunity to speak with Jayson Werth's beard is by far the biggest thrill. OK, perhaps Scott's interview tops it, but we were very excited to get this beard to respond to our emails for a Q&A.
It's been interviewed by The Philadelphia Inquirerto The Los Angeles Times, but now that The Phillies' season has tragically ended, the beard had time to speak with us. So it let us know why Philadelphia rules, how being the "best beard in baseball" is exhausting, and why Phillies fans have exceptional taste.
BaB: How long has Jayson been growing you for? Off and on since last winter. He usually grows me in the offseason and then the razors come out in February, but this year I got to stick around.
From one beard to another, what do you have to say to Brian Wilson's beard? I don't comment on fake beards. However, I will say that Cody Ross' beard is a travesty.
Do the ladies love you? Of course! Well, maybe about 95% of them fell in love. I think I grew on a lot of people (no pun intended).
How have you impacted the city of Philadelphia? Hopefully I left a good mark on the city, especially if this is the end of our time here. We had our ups and downs, but the love for the beard never seemed to wane.
Do you find the city receptive to beardos? Very much so. From Eric Bruntlett to many of the Flyers playoff beards, the city of Philadelphia has been graced with some of the greatest beards in sports over the last couple of years. The fans definitely know a good beard when they see one.
Who do you think will win the World Series? Do you even care? At this point, I'm indifferent because we should still be playing. On paper, the Rangers should win this, but who knows with this pesky Giants team. Throughout their run, they've found a way to keep getting big hits.
What's your best tip for growing a beard? Be patient and just let it grow. And no matter what people may say, there's absolutely no good reason to ever use "Just For Men."
Are you surprised by your # of Twitter followers? Absolutely. I never anticipated so many people to actually want to follow what I have to say. I think what may have surprised me even more is the amount of fans from other teams following, which is pretty cool.
What's up next for you?
It's all up in the air right now, so I'm going to enjoy the offseason. Being the best beard in baseball is pretty exhausting.
Anything else we should know? Never put metal in the microwave.
Build-a-Beard spotted on the Twitterverse that social media & tech guru Aaron Strout , host of ZDNet's Quick'n'Dirty podcast, was participating in Movember.What is Movember? Come on now... it's been the buzz since 2004 (started in '99) and even supported by our favorite Rocky & Balls, but for those who have been living under a beard, it's the month formerly known as November - dedicated to growing a mustache for 30 days while raising funds and awareness for prostate cancer.
How big is it? Well, in 2009, global participation of Movember (Mo Bros and Mo Sistas participated) climbed to 255,755 - with over 1 million donors raising $42 million dollars for Movember’s global beneficiary partners!
Aaron has rocked a soul patch for well over 10 years - a public demonstration to his "commitment to staying youthful." Learn more about this Mr. Movember participant below & let's help inspire him to go handlebar or go home!
BaB: How did you hear about Movember? My friend, Todd Defren (principal at SHIFT) roped me in 2 years ago.
What inspired you to participate? It's a great cause and I felt like it was a way for me to use my social megaphone to give back to the community.
Do you think you'll rock the 'stache after or be inspired to keep growing? Last year, I couldn't wait to shave come 11/30. This year, I am considering keeping my mo for at least a week or two after.... I might even try and go handlebar.
Have you always had facial hair in partic the soul patch? I've had facial hair (soul patch OR goatee on & off for a good part of the last 10 years). Not anticipating changing that any time soon. ;)
What does the patch mean to you? I work in a space where many folks are younger than me. I also live in Austin, TX -- a city that has a very hip vibe. My soul patch is one way to show that "I get it" and can visibly demonstrate my commitment to staying youthful.
Do you feel Quick'nDirty would have even more listeners if they knew you were planning to grow it out? You know, that's a good question. I may think about making that announcement on today's show.
How does your wife/family feel about this dedication to the 'stache during November? She loves what Movember stands for and fully supports me...but as far as the 'stache is concerned, she (and my kids) are all more than ready to see me shave it off come December.
Are you doing a Team Mo or individual? Planning to be in the platinum club? I am running Austin's entry for the digital challenge. We're facing off against 20+ cities from across North America.
Anything we missed/care to share? Hopefully this year will be a stepping stone for Movember to make it an internationally recognized organization that's doing great things to create awareness around men's health issues.
Meet Annie Hunter, who’s been a devout fan of B-a-B since nearly our begining, why you ask (why not, damn it!)? Well, in her own words: “I love beards. I love mustaches. I love men. I love men with beards and/or mustaches.” Indeed sums us up pretty well, we are in effect a beard porn hub, full of hairy and facial fuzz filled kings among men (and some women). Cheers!
What caught our eyes was Annie’s amazing art (find all of her drawing, paintings and sketches here: www.octodream.com) which personally reminds me of Ralf Steadman's approach (i.e. caricature of the evils within versus the beauty outside) and her dark perspective, coupled with her devotion to facial hair, has yielded some amazing beard porn in and of itself. Really a huge way to #proveit, over and over again.
You can emailAnnie Hunter directly to secure any one of her awesome art pieces... think about getting all the Best beards in the world suite, we'd like an early Christmas gift, thanks.
1) First let me tell you how awesome your art is... do you have a philosophy that drives your dare I say dark perspective? Well I have been watching horror movies and listening to Rock and Roll since I was a baby, which is probably the main reason I love everything horror and dark. I also have a fascination with gross stuff and my all time favorite band is Gwar, so I get a lot of inspiration from them.
2) Who are your major influences? Any from our Top 10 Artists with Beards? I would probably say my main influences would be Alex Pardee and Salvador Dali, I just recently discovered the art of Killer Napkins (http://www.iamkillernapkins.com/) who is amazing. I do enjoy Van Gogh but Dali has a better mustache.
3) Tell us about your site, it's pretty bitchen... and we love us some Tumblr goodness. I love Tumblr, and I feel like a website through tumblr is, in a way, better than just a regular website because instead of having to bookmark it on your computer you could just follow me and get instant updates on your tumblr for whenever I add a new piece or update.
4) Do you love beards more or less than Gwar? HA! This is probably the most difficult question I have been asked time and time again. I honestly feel as though this cannot be answered. The only thing that would be better than Gwar OR beards would be Gwar WITH beards.
5) Speaking of bands, which is your favorite musical beard? It's a tossup between Dallas Taylor from Maylene and the sons of Disaster and Kyp Malone from TV on the Radio. But I couldn't answer this question without mentioning ZZ Top because obviously no band could beat those beards.
6) Of all the beard art you did, which is your favorite? Does Jack Passion win another contest? Actually although Jack's beard is mighty mighty, I would say my favorite out of the three would have to be Myk O'Connor's drawing I did, mostly because of the colors.
7) I think it's safe to say you love beards... what's your favorite beard style? My favorite beard would be a big grizzly beard with a handlebar mustache. The bigger the better.
8) If you had to kiss someone with a goatee, stache, beard, or handle bar mustache - which one would you pick - and why? Haha well the handlebar mustache is my favorite but I don't really discriminate. As long as the person who is attached to the beard/mustache is to my liking there shan't be a problem.
9) Have you ever dated anyone with a full face of hair? If so, have you ever felt the urge to cut it off while they slept? How about to put some rogaine on it? I dated my best friend for a few months and he had a magnificent beard. He was one of those lucky ones that looked good with or without a beard but it would have been blasphemous for me to even think about cutting it off. If you have something so beautiful why kill it? And although the rogaine idea seems enticing I like my men all natural.
10) You RSVP'd for the New York City Beard and Moustache Competition... you gonna compete? Haha, If only I could grow a beard. I can't wait for it though, I've never been to a competition and luckily NY is just around the corner from me so I'll finally be able to go.
One such awesome person was Myk O'Connor an awesome natural beardo we first met at Magnificent Specimens exhibit by Dave Mead in NYC, and we haven't been able to untangle us from his beard. Myk took home the Natural Beard championship title at Coney Island, and for the 2nd straight year... as such we sat down with this awesome Brooklyn Beardo... whom, truth be told, can give Mark Krayenhoff - The Brooklyn Beard King a run for his money, and title.
Before we dive into the 10Qs, directly below are Myk's invaluable top 3 tips for beardos everywhere... heed his word!
1. Be true to yourself- if it doesn't look good, then don't keep it. If your hair grows patchy, try a different look. Don't let anyone, girlfriends/boyfriends, wives/husbands or job sway what you want to do with your face. It's yours!
2. Take care of it- Make sure you are setting aside time to groom your beard. Wear it proudly. People are already apprehensive about dudes with beards, at least make the first thing they notice look good. Trim those split ends and DON'T LET ANYONE LIGHT A CIGARETTE FOR YOU!
3. Be patient-a great beard takes time. Yeah the first few months suck because its super itchy. Grab a bottle of Jajoba oil and make sure you are getting to the dry skin underneath your beard. Don't give up...even during summer months.
1) How long have you been bearding? Are you competitive by nature or does it increase as your beard grows? My conscience decision to enter the world of competitive facial hair was in Jan of 2009. I was told about Beard Team USA by a colleague of mine and thought, "hey this is something I could get into." By nature I am pretty competitive. With each competition I have been in I have felt the need to win...there is something special about winning a beard competition. It's not like winning the Super Bowl...more like winning World War 2.
I definitely feel all eyes on me when I walk into a bar or the subway. I've been told I can look a little intimidating... but then I smile and all preconceived notions of badass-ness are lost. I get the usual reaction of "Hey ZZ Top!", which I can't fucking stand...because they aren't the only dudes with beards and their music sucks. I've had little Hispanic women bless themselves ad hold their rosary because they think I look like Jesus. First off if Jesus existed, he wasn't a white dude and second of all, my beard is better than his. He didn't have a boar hair brush.
3) How long have you been growing your beard and what's your process (if any) in up keeping that massive chin mane?
I've had some form of facial hair at all times, but this is the first time I have let it grow fully without trimming. I am working on a little over a year and a half. One thing I have learned is to definitely take care of it, since it's part of your body. Make sure to get enough vitamin E and keep away from open flames.
Shower everyday, rinse out all the pollutants and never brush when wet. I have 2 brushes that I use, one to detangle and the other (boar hair) to shape. I apply JaJoba oil for shine, moisture and the skin underneath....do a once over with both brushes and I am good to go.
4) Tell us about taking home the local gold in Coney Island... you're from Brooklyn and so that fez must mean a lot...
The Coney Island Competition is a lot of fun. Drinking and sideshow freaks go hand in hand...but it's even more fun when you throw a Beard and Moustache Competition into the mix. This is the 2nd year I have competed and taken home the coveted Best Beard. It's an honor, because honestly you never know how the competition will go. Ben Davidson had to arm wrestle in order to win....
5) Our thinking the CIBMC was too heavily slanted on the stache side... what are you feelings about the stache as facial hair, being a devout beardo.
Moustaches can either make you look really good, or really creepy. I tried a moustache once, it wasn't for me. A lot of people grow one for the "irony"..whatever the fuck that means. Some dudes look bad ass with a moustache, others look goofy. It all depends on your attitude and your personality. If your an asshole, the moustache makes you look like a even bigger asshole.
6) How does such an uber local event compare to your experience at National's?
Local events are always hit or miss with me. Sometimes the judging is a little bizarre. If the audience is the judge then the criteria may be "longest" beard...instead of the "best looking". Size doesn't matter, it's girth...right ladies???
But I also find the local events have a charm about them, where we are all packed into one space, meeting new people and making real connections.
7) How'd you like Bend? could it ever replace Brooklyn for you?
Bend is fucking gorgeous. I love Oregon period. Honestly I am not really cut out for big city life. I wanna live in the outskirts of a small town surrounded by mountains or the ocean. Bend also has a shit load of breweries...and I love beer. Who knows...maybe one day.
8) You've competed in the World's as well, what's it like? How can you face (THE) Jack Passion, or even share a stage with him (when he's not MCing that is)?
The World Competition of 2009 was my first introduction to facial hair competitions. I didn't know what the fuck was going on...except that I was having the time of my life. After meeting those dudes for a week, we all made lasting relationships.
Now competing against Jack...we haven't had that opportunity yet. But I've told him many times that I have the ability to take him down. I know a lot of dudes want to, but I have the stamina and my beard grows really fast.
Myk, Burke and Jack at National's9) What'd you think of Dave Mead's exhibit and launch party? I believe that is where we first met... and what was the deal with your 'brother'? Ha! Honestly, I was drunk before we even arrived. I was doing interviews with a documentary crew ad they followed me around all day and I just kept drinking...by the time we arrived I was all emotional because I saw all my friends pictures hanging up all over Chelsea Market and was just in awe. The pictures tell one side of the story...but no one will ever know all the great times we've all had together.
My "brother" Kris Payne is truly my brother in a lot of ways. When I met Jack and Burke in Alaska they told me I reminded them of him and that we would get along well. During our parade in downtown Anchorage this dude comes up behind me and says..."You must be Myk."...and I said "You must be Kris." and right then we became long lost brothers. From loving BBQ, beer, hardcore and shit talking, we get along like no other.
10) You've now been immortalized in art from Annie Hunter(of www.octodream.com)... it's very zombie-esque... does your beard crave brains? My beard craves the beards of lesser men, both alive and dead. It's like highlander...damn that sounds familiar...I hope Jack didn't already say something like that....fuck it, my beard will rip the pouch off a kangaroo if given the chance...that's better.
Annie is so talented and I am very honored to have her immortalize me in that manner.
Any parting words? loose hairs, split ends worth of sage advice you want to bestow onto our hairy readers?
If you come out to a local beard event, get ready to party. I am putting together the NY Beard and Moustache Competition in the next few months to benefit The Feal Good Foundation....details to come soon!
Don't vote for a president until they have a beard.
Build-a-Beard is starting a new weekly column - interviewing gents and ladies about their thoughts on dating a guy (and in rare cases a woman) with some facial fuzz. First up, Ms. Amy Wright, a NYC resident who lives by the motto "there was really no excuse, except that I felt lucky." We talked to Amy about her life growing up with a stached father (kick ass proof below), how Johnny Depp is her favorite everything, rules on dating those with facial hair, her luck (if any) with beardos, and how she resists the urge to cut a man's stache 1/2 off for a laugh...
BaB: How old were you when you 1st realized your dad was rocking that sweet stache? Amy: When I was born, Dad had the handlebar/beard combo with hair down to his waist, so I guess its fair to say Ive always been aware. I've heard stories that I liked to grab at it as a baby, and I remember as a child my Dad liked to scratch my face and belly with his beard to tease me. I called his beard “Billy Goat Scruff," thinking that I was cleverly citing the fairy tale.
Did you like it? I cant say that I liked being scratched by his bristly beard, no, but I did like the attention the hair/facial hair combo seemed to get. Growing up in the south, mustache/beards have been in style since the civil war, but he was obviously a hippie/biker/Willie Nelson type, so he would get some looks. I liked feeling like my Dad was mysterious and cool, and that he scared teachers and boyfriends sometimes. To be honest, he looks better with the face hair than clean shaven.
How do you feel about facial hair now? What's acceptable to you vs. not? I generally don’t like it…. It doesn’t feel good against the skin, it chaffs places, and it makes me break out (wow... I just totally made other people's face hair all about ME!). It looks good on some dudes, like it belongs there, but as far as romantic partners go I can't do a full beard/stache because it's weird to make out with someone that feels like you're making out with your Dad.
Also, there's this epidemic of novelty face hair- where people act like they are doing some sort of magic trick if they wax their mustache - that’s a bit annoying. I do think it's cute when guys get lazy and haven’t shaved for a few days - and I have dated a few guys that have the permanent weeks worth of scruff on their face. I guess I take it on a case-by-case basis. If you HAD to kiss someone with a goatee, stache, beard, or handle bar mustache - which one would you pick - and why? Famous dude- Salvador Dali when he was like 25 or so, cause he was cute. I would name a not famous dude, but I might get myself into trouble…
Have you ever dated anyone with a full face of hair? If so, have you ever felt the urge to cut it off while they slept? Yes, I have… a fellow who grew a very thick beard and mustache for a play. I didn’t have the urge to cut it because the discomfort I endured during the production was offset by the promise of a shave after the show closed (and for the record, I think he does look better without it). I do sometimes have the urge to cut a big patch out of those really long, ZZ Top-like beards when I see someone that has one, or one half of someone's mustache just because I think it would be funny. I will admit certain face hair can be a deal breaker for me… I'm sure it doesn’t feel awesome to shave your face, but since I basically shave from the neck down, I don’t feel like its an outlandish request for a fellow to not have a crazy beard that hangs to his belly button.
(Miss Amy Wright)
What's your favorite movie star with facial fuzz? What star do you think would look better IF they shaved? My favorite movie star with facial fuzz is Johnny Depp. He doesnt grow much because he’s part Cherokee, but hes been rocking the bit that he can grow for a few years now. There is nothing that could make Johnny Depp look better, except if he was sleeping next to me... I think that would make him look better, although I'm sure many women would beg to differ. He is pretty much my favorite everything, not just movie star with facial hair. I also like George Michaels Diablo look, and think he looks better with than without.
Anything else you'd like us to know/share..... I recently saw a guy that was about 75 years old wearing a t-shirt that said “my mustache brings all the girls to the yard” and nearly fell over laughing. Frank Black has an awesome song about growing a beard called “My Fu Manchu” that you should add to this site, if you haven’t already.
It's been brought to BaB's attention by the fabulous Dr. Zachary (PhD in scruff & duck fat) that Kevin Gillespie's beard won Atlanta's "Best Local Celebrity" by Creative Loafing Magazine. Forget that Kevin is a James Beard finalist, and not to mention a favorite on Top Chef, it's his red, flaming facial hair (and his eerily similarity to Yukon Cornelius) that has the country in total awe of him.
Bab:What does this award mean to you? Scruffmaster: It means a lot to me, but it means a lot more for all of us. It means a lot for freedom. If anyone had beaten Kevin's Beard, it would have been explicit proof that the terrorists had won, that God doesn't exist, and that Good never triumphs over Evil.
How do you feel that your FB fan page helped to propel Kevin into the national spotlight? The Facebook page "Fans of Kevin Gillespie's Beard" certainly helped propel Kevin into the spotlight, but you're looking at it all wrong. We simply provided the conduit for the message of the Beard. Truth be told, the Beard is what propelled Kevin Gillespie into the zeitgeist.
Do you think Kevin should compete in a beard tournament? Kevin owes it to his Beard to physically bring it before the eyes of a wider audience, so yes!
Has Kevin contacted you directly to say thanks for the beard support? Have you even touched his beard? I spoke with Kevin briefly at the Party for the Fans of Kevin Gillespie's Beard at the W Hotel. As for touching his beard: are you completely insane? Didn't you see what happened to the Nazis at the end of Raiders of the Lost Ark when they opened the Ark of the Covenant? Everyone at the party was (gratefully and reverently) averting their eyes.
Anything you'd like to add, Dr. Z? A parting message: Kevin's Beard loves you and wants you to be happy. Even more so, it wants you to be bearded. Grow, grow, grow!
Back in March, when I wrote the Q&A with Rocky and Balls, I didn't actually meet up with Sophie Madeleine and Hannah Rockcliffe to do the interview... B-a-B staffers don't get an expense account (yet) to fly transatlantic... I did the interview not in person but via the Internets. There, I said it... So, when finally having an opportunity to meet half of the duo on my own turf, aka Brooklyn, I jumped at it.
Still groggy from a crazy night in Coney Island, I stumbled to breakfast with the full intention of impressing our fair neighbor to the east, as well as her local beardo by wearing my newly acquired Rocky and Balls T-Shirt (number 2 of 50, #justsaying). Yes, I was THAT guy, but so be it, it was the right occasion... besides, my wife told me I looked very cute 'in that little T-shirt,' so there.
What followed was a great lunch with even greater people. Sophie, Sonya, Tim and I talked beards, scruff, music, Brooklyn, Lady Gaga (yes, really), relationships, England and US geography, and much much more. Distilled below are some key findings.
To my surprise, the UK and Brooklyn facial hair scenes are very similar. Sophie wasn't going to indulge me with "Brooklyn is SO CLEARLY so much better"...
Like me, Sophie does not listen to the radio and preferrs the countryside to the metropolis. However, very much unlike me, she does not drink coffee.
Understandably, both Rocky's and Balls' boyfriends are beardos. More over, Sophie's beard is also her guitarist.
On September 24th Sophie has her 2nd NYC gig. 7pm at The Living Room (154 Ludlow St.)
Also playing that night, at 9pm, are Pearl and the Beard who aparently have fake beards for sale at the show.
Honorable mention: Sophie and Sonya played footsies while Tim and I blabbed on about music and media.
What makes for the best day ever? For starters, when Scott Hutchison of Frightened Rabbit tweets back at you that he would happily partake in a Q&A on your blog.
Confession: I screamed, danced around the room, IMd three of my friends in all CAPS, tried to keep my hands steady and not drool all over my keyboard (I failed), and not gush over the fact that one of my favorite concerts of all time was when Frightened Rabbit played this past April at Webster Hall (#FAIL). But despite all my failures, I somehow summoned the courage to focus on what was really important - it wasn't Scott - it wasn't the band - it wasn't the lyrics - it was THE MOUSTACHE.
The following is one of the best Q&As to ever result on BaB. So without further ado...
Scott, you've written a lot about keeping yourself warm... is that why you decided to grow a moustache? Tell us what inspired you to rock facial hair... Scotland does get cold, and it's a secondary benefit. The main reason is simply to try shit out. I think it's a blessing that we, as men, are able to change the shape of our faces with varieties of hair growth and clipping. Originally I grew it out of laziness, but over the years and miles on the road I've met many a finely constructed beard/moustache, and that encouraged me to do something new.
How long have you had facial hair? What age did you 1st start experimenting with the growth process? I remember my elder brother telling me when I was 17 to 'just let it grow out'. So I did, and it was initially quite poor (a fact I am reminded of every time I open my passport (see photo below: barely visible fluff on the chin)). But I persevered, and have pretty much stuck with it in one form or another ever since.
Growing up, what's the beard scene like in Scotland? Or Selkirk specifically? It's not great. There is a handful of cracking ones down in the Borders region, due to the large farming community. But there are a few too many 'metal' styles emerging in the youngsters. Long goatees and such.
Is this new moustache an extension of your growth as a songwriter or is your growth as a songwriter an extension of your moustache? The songwriting came first, but I'm hoping to turn a corner in every way with this new moustache. I feel more artistic already, and the longer it gets, the more progressive (aka 'prog') the music shall become. Capes and wizard hats have already been ordered online.
Tell us the truth - did you get signed to Fat Cat because of your facial hair? You would have to ask them, but I do suspect that it was a very big reason behind the label picking us up. There is a clause in the contract that forbids me to have "facial hair shorter than 1cm in length". If I shave, I get sued.
Will this mustache ignite a rivalry with former Hold Steady multi-instrumentalist Franz Nicolay? I don't think of us as rivals. It's a brotherhood. Hopefully, I can now get access to the famously exclusive 'Super Lenin Hot Nightz' club in downtown Manhattan. That's where I have heard all the good 'staches go to share stories and dance.
Does your girlfriend love your stache? She does. If Sally didn't approve it would be a non-starter, but I am still surprised as to how encouraging she has been... It bodes well for the future of my growth.
Thoughts on the current hipster/moustache handle bar movement? Well, I can't really take them to task, as I am now involved in the scene. I dunno, I guess mine is an honest moustache, grown organically and by sustainable means. I feel like there are a few fakes out there who are hiding behind it, thinking it can detract from their essentially mundane existence and terrible stories. A good moustache can only be an extension of your character, not your raison d'être
Would you cite Salvador Dali as a principal influence? He was an absolute groundbreaker in so many ways. I actually hate his paintings, but rather like his 'tache. My main influence is an English artist named Billy Childish. Now there is a man...
Scott's passport photo:
BEHOLD. Scott's sweet 'stache:
Many thanks to Scott for participating in this interview. We will see you on October 30th in NYC, and readers go support Frightened Rabbit.
The exclusive "Ode To A Beard" T-shirt is a short run of only 50 and is available to the world. The shirts are made from 100% organic cotton, screen printed by hand with eco-friendly ink by greenteeprints.co.uk The price is £16.00, plus shipping... sizes Small and Large only.
The shirts go on sale promptly at... like, well somewhere within 2 hours, or so. In the meantime feel free to check out the reworked and in fact brand new video for The Beard Song from the duo by clicking on the bearded chin man below.
