Thursday, February 02, 2006

In Conversation: Actor Dirk Benedict and Chewbacca discuss the state of indie music.


Dirk Benedict is best know as Templeton Peck aka "Face" on the A-team. He also appeared in the original Battlestar Galactica and the movie "Ssssss".

Chewbacca is best known as the co-pilot of the Millennium Falcon. He also helped Yoda escape from Kasshykk and as well as fighting along the Ewoks during the battle of Endor.

Both are huge Indie music fans.

DIRK: As someone who is a fan of nothing more than simply good music i think that independent music is as strong as it has ever been. I would say we are in the golden era. There are great albums coming out every month.

CHEWBACCA: rwwwarrrrww rrrrrwwwwwwwwaaaar.

DIRK: well yes, i do suppose that there is some crass commercializtion going on, but hasnt that always been the case?

CHEWBACCA: wwwwrrrrrrrrrraaaaaaaarrrwwraaaaaaaa

DIRK: uh oh, he's on the jazz.

CHEWBACCA: awwwwwwwwaaarrraararrwwwwwaaarr

DIRK: Look at the last year or so. Death Cab went to a major, Arcade fire hit big, indie music is all over the tv. I see the crossover as a validation of the scene, not the death of it.

CHEWBACCA: rwwar. aaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrraarararaaaaaaaaar. ararararwwwwwwwwwar.

DIRK: Well i have never thought of it that way, but i suppose Bloc Party has stolen some riffs from the Mos Eisely cantina band, but what does that have to do with anything?

CHEWBACCA: rwwrar.

DIRK: Ok. But the majority of indie musicians are hard working people who are giving of their time. If they choose to wear their influences on their sleeve, how can we fault them? I think Indie musicians are great people.

CHEWBACCA: raaraaaaaaaarararawwwwwwwwa.

DIRK: We'll yes i suppose we have all had the urge to tear Ryan Adams limb from limb, but i can't say he reflects the entire indie community. Already this year we have seen good albums from Clearlake, Electric President, Cat Power, The Elected. Have you listened to any of them?

CHEWBACCA: rwar. Rwwaraaararwrwrwaarara

DIRK: I am going to have to disagree with you there Chewie. I think the new Cat Power is quite good, and comparing it to the screams of the Tusken Raider is disrespectful to Chan Marshall and demeaning to the proud tradition of the sand people.

CHEWBACCA: awwwrrrwararararrararawwwwwwwara

DIRK: Well i am not a big fan of this so called "intranet". I don't even own a computer. So no i havent read any of debates of the merit of the new album. Is there a lot of websites devoted to indie music?

CHEWBACCA: wrararawwararara. arararwwwwwwwraararrw.

DIRK: Wow. I never knew.

CHEWBACCA: wwwwwwwwwwwwwwraaaaaaaaaarararawwwwwwwwra.

DIRK: I couldn't have said it more eloquently myself.

CHEWBACCA: rawwarararararararwwww?

DIRK: Me? well i am looking forward to hearing the Islands record. How About you?

CHEWBACCA: Rraaaararrrrrrrrrrrwwwwwwwwwwwwwwarrr.

DIRK: Really? Boba Fett did a crunk album?

CHEWBACCA: rwararaawwwwwa.

DIRK: I aggree. That should kick ass.


Dirk Benedict lives in Los Angeles. Chewbacca currently resides on the planet Mygeeto.