Interviews, Biblio File
Rock 'n' Read: Cloud Nothings
If you're looking for alternative rock that channels the angst of your favorite '90s bands without being unabashedly derivative, Cloud Nothings fits the bill. Now several LPs in, each release shows an immense amount of growth, both musically and personally for frontman Dylan Baldi. Early tunes were more lo-fi and noise pop, with honest yet simpler lyrics of typical early 20s emotions. Attack on Memory (2012) marked a decidedly funereal shift for the band, with Baldi's maturation shining through lyrically. Each album may be unique, but the common denominator is intensity. Is Dylan Baldi intensely bookish, as well? Read on to find out, and rock 'n' read forever!
What role did libraries play in your youth?
I spent a ridiculous amount of time in libraries as a kid, and have been a heavy reader my whole life. I would find every excuse I could to spend time in the library when I was in school, and outside of school there were a lot of pretty great public libraries in and near Cleveland that I would visit often. As a kid I would only get books, and as I got older I got into checking out like 30 CDs at a time and having massive late fees.
What was your favorite book growing up and why?
When I was really little I remember loving a book called The Ghost's Dinner. It was a book about ghosts who were having a dinner party, and they would turn the color of whatever food they were eating. I actually just took a break from responding to this question, went on Amazon and bought a used copy of this book. Hope it holds up.
Has any one book in particular had a lasting effect on you?
Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell. Just kidding. I remember being unhealthily obsessed with this Star Wars book series called The New Jedi Order, which I most likely wouldn't be quite as into today, but the Star Wars universe really was all I thought about for a decent portion of my young life. I really liked reading descriptions of planets and exotic landscapes, and genuinely envied the characters in these books for being able to hop on a spaceship and zip off to whatever insane place they wanted to. Being such a big fan of that aspect of the books has to have played some part in the huge amount of joy I get out of travel now.
What is a classic that you've never gotten around to reading but would like to one day?
There are a lot of classics I haven't read, so I'm not sure. I had a teacher in high school named Ms. Keel who was the only high school teacher that I liked, and we were supposed to read The Handmaid's Tale in her class. I didn't really want to, so I just didn't read it and faked my way through tests and essays regarding the book. And infinitely kind Ms. Keel gave me good grades on these clearly idiotic papers. So out of respect to her, I'd like to read that book someday.
What genre do you prefer? Are there any you can't get into?
I've always been into sci-fi. Lately I've gotten into sort of "adventure travel-writing" I guess, books by people who went on wild trips and documented the whole thing. I'm not a huge fan of autobiographies, but I'll read biographies any day. Who knows why.
What are you currently reading? If nothing at the moment, what was the last book you read?
I'm reading The Journal of Albion Moonlight by Kenneth Patchen right now. Jim Woodring recommended his writing in an interview he did in an old issue of The Comics Journal that I found in Boston, and so far I'm enjoying the book. The source of the recommendation makes a lot of sense.
"The songwriting stuff kind of happens in its own little world and I try not to think about what's influencing it or making it happen."
While on tour, are you able to get much reading done?
Definitely. I don't drive the van too often because I'm bad at driving big vehicles, so I've always got a little bag full of books to work through.
Do you have any tour memories involving books or libraries?
Cloud Nothings was playing a show in Iowa City (at Gabe's—shout-out to Red, the redheaded sound guy) and we wandered over to Prairie Lights bookstore, which is a great place. I found this book of Richard Siken poems that I'd been searching for since I lost my copy in like 2009, and I was really excited to have found it again so I bought it. And then I proceeded to have too many Bud Lights or something and left it onstage at Gabe's, where it could still be for all I know. And I haven't found that book anywhere since. Very sad story.
Do you do any other writing aside from songwriting?
I used to write a lot of poetry, and I took a poetry workshop class in college during my semester there that was the only class that I got anything resembling a good grade in. I've kind of slowed down on that though, but it's something I always think about getting back into.
Have any specific authors, books, and/or poems influenced your songwriting in any way?
I'm sure, but not that I'm actively aware of. The songwriting stuff kind of happens in its own little world and I try not to think about what's influencing it or making it happen.
Do you have any favorite memoirs by musicians?
I read the Keith Richards book [Life] not too long ago and it must have been a pretty good advertisement for Jamaica, because after finishing it I more or less immediately booked a trip to Jamaica with my girlfriend. And it was the best vacation I've ever had. Thanks Keith!
Do you prefer physical books, e-books, or no strong opinion either way?
I wish I could prefer e-books, because physical books are taking up a stupid amount of space in my home right now. But physical books are just too cool to ever do away with fully. They even smell good!
Do you have a library card? If so, which library system are you a member of?
I have a couple of library cards. Some for various public libraries in and around Cleveland and the Cuyahoga County library system, which is where I grew up. And I just moved to Western Massachusetts and got a card for their system over here. It's a pretty literary zone so I've got to assume that their libraries are top notch.
Check out past Rock 'n' Read interviews with Colleen Green, Chastity Belt, The Thermals, No Joy, Crocodiles, Screaming Females, and Thee Oh Sees!
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