Espumas
to host record release party
for Murphy's InLaws & Pass the Chicken Wine
Former Laredoan Michael
Jackson and his music partner Craig Calvert, who perform
as Murphy's InLaws, will be in Laredo Nov. 11 for
a record release party at Espumas. Copies of Pass
the Chicken Wine will be available at the event which
begins at 7 p.m.
LareDOS caught up with the duo to get an idea of what
the two think about their music and each other. Read
on.
LareDOS: What's with the chickens, guys?
We have been playing Thursdays at Donn's Depot in
Austin for a few years and we've been known to have
a glass of wine or two during the evening. One particular
night some wine was sent up that was, well, not at
its best. Mike said, "This tastes like Chicken
Wine," and thus the phenomenon was born. We later
came to find out that there was actually a picture
of a chicken on the label of the wine bottle. After
that, our fans began to bring us all things chicken.
We now have have a veritable barnyard of chicken paraphernalia.
LareDOS: For any of us who may be slow on the draw,
tell us about your name.
We started off calling ourselves Murphy's Law. We
eventually learned that there was a punk band from
New York by the same name. Their mohawk-wearing, pierced
and tattooed fans would come to our shows on Thursdays,
walk up to the stage and ask, "Dude, when does
Murphy's Law come on"? Craig has an Irish brother
in-law called Murphy, so we changed our name to Murphy's
InLaws. Makes perfect sense to us.
LareDOS: How long have you played together?
We have played together since 1980 but we became partners
in 1988. We had played together in a rock and roll
band called Hotcakes since the late eighties. We have
performed for corporate functions across the US and
Europe. We formed Murphy's InLaws several years ago
in order to get back to our acoustic roots.
LareDOS: What first seemed to make your music compatible
to one another and what occasioned collaboration?
We are both fans of the Beatles. Their use of harmony
and song structure is an inspiration to this day.
That is the common denominator with our musical compatibility
and collaboration.
LareDOS: What are your respective backgrounds as musicians?
We both have been in bands since junior high school.
Mike is from Laredo and has been in a number of bands
including The Eight Balls, Saffron Mist, Your Move,
and Duck Soup.
Craig is from Houston and was a member of Wheatfield,
St.Elmo's Fire, CPR, and The Sweaters before teaming
up with Mike.
LareDOS: How would you characterize your style as
performers?
Relaxed and at ease with the audience. We perform
our songs as if we are playing in the listener's living
room.
LareDOS: What is your favorite and most responsive
venue for performing?
Donn's Depot in Austin. It's our living room away
from home.
LareDOS: What is one venue you'd like never to re-visit?
The Dallas Cowboy in Boy's Town. . . . No we haven't
played there yet but . . . we really did hate Momma's
Worry, a night club in Beaumont.
LareDOS: What is your niche as performers?
Covering a wide variety of musical genres with lots
of vocal harmony.
LareDOS: Fun appears to be one of your work ethics.
Why is that vital to what you do?
Our fans come to our shows to forget about their troubles.
We love what we do for a living. We have a great time
performing and the fun we have on stage is infectious.
LareDOS: Is it true that Glen Jackson is the promotional
mastermind behind the success of Murphy's InLaws,
that he secretly writes poignant lyrics under an assumed
name, and that he plays air guitar on the cut called
"Domingo"?
All of that is true but he only plays fair air guitar.
