We're All Just Monkeys Trying to Get By: A One-On-One with Wild Bill

by Edward Kiaune
Austin Citysphere Contributor

Sitting down with Wild Bill is kind of like meeting a virile cross between Jackie Gleason and a surly, pre-Scientology Beck for coffee and realizing you might have been better off with a beer or two instead.

But I was looking forward to it as I’ve been a big fan of his off-beat brand of music for sometime.  Lately he’s been playing regular Friday shows at Flipnotics from 6-7:30, and he’s managed to gather a very eclectic following.  His antics of offering deviled eggs at his shows (sometimes even having contest to see who can eat the most), or inviting random people up to join him on stage, has earned him the reputation of a versatile and slightly unusual performer.

“So are ya gonna ask me a question or stand there like a man without a moustache?”  I had hoped to fire the first question, but he’d beat me to it - and damn if I didn’t feel a bit foolish without any facial hair.  No chops, burns, soul patch, or topiary figures sculpted on me.  So, yes, I suppose that’s exactly how I was standing, or sitting, there. 

I had been going through some of my questions and was trying to arrange them when he walked in catching me unaware.  I’ve known Bill Ogden going on several years now and I was glad he was giving me the opportunity to sit down and put some questions to him.  But knowing his quirky and quick banter, I wasn’t so sure now I was up to the challenge of reigning in the guy who is seemingly always on.

And I don’t drink coffee.  But I do drink beer.  So I ordered up a couple of beers and tried to pin the man down some.

 EK: Bill, let’s start with your latest project or, rather, clear up for me what’s happening.  Are you still with the Lost Knobs or are you embarking on a new solo thing here?

WB: Right now I am focusing on making my name as a songwriter, so I brought back my original moniker, Wild Bill.  I am currently booked under Wild Bill and the Lost Knobs.  Believe it or not, the Lost Knobs is the sixth band I had formed here in Austin.  When Lost Knobs came to an end, I realized I should “go solo” rather than start a new band with a new name because of the branding issue.  I’ve been busting my tail playing all over town for years, but I’ve never had a consistent name to book under and let people get to know who I was.  Lost Knobs was a pretty special group and the name had a lot of meaning to me, so I kept that name for all my friends who share the stage with me.  I mostly play with my homeboy, Griffus P. Spliffus, and the A-Train, Amandalin.

EK: I like the dynamic between you and Griffus a lot.  He’s a great counter to your ADD style of jumping from one random topic to another. And the guy can really play. Where did you pick Griffus up?

WB: Right out of the dumpster, and let me tell you, he didn’t smell like roses!  As you know, I prefer my ragged company, and Austin is full of it - which is why I love this city so much.  I was hanging out with a mix of bikers, hippies, and rednecks when Griff walked in the door and busted out a lap steel.  Me and Amanda were doing ‘Put the Coffee On’ and Griff just started doing his thing.  He played like he’d known the song for years, it was a natural fit.  Griff was in the original Lost Knobs for a little while too, but really prefers the more intimate acoustic shows.  Once I got the Flipnotics slot, I called him up and it’s been on ever since.  He’s the most versatile player I’ve been privileged to work with.  We have fun playing together and that’s what makes us tick on stage.

EK: If I had to say that your shows at Flipnotics lately have been like witnessing the Holy Trinity, would you agree that Amanda plays the role of the Holy Ghost?

WB: First of all, for your sake, I hope you never have to say that.  I’d say we’re more like the Three Stooges instead; but now that I think about it, I like your description better.  Secondly, yes I would agree with you - in a very non-blaspheme way of course.  Amanda is a pretty amazing singer.  I actually write duets with her in vocals in mind, no one else sings quite like her.  She adds a whole new genre into the set list.  I’m lucky she hasn’t gone solo on me yet.

EK: I know you’ve played with quite a few people from around town and I was curious if there was an individual or group in particular who has helped you when it comes to preparing for shows, or had a positive impact on your own music.

WB: Austin is full of great people and great musicians, and I feel that I have really learned a lot from everyone I have played with.   To me, it’s great to have a community to lean on, to pat you on the back and tell you not to give up.  I hear people complaining that the music scene is in decline, but I feel the exact opposite.  I can’t imagine a better place to be playing music.  For me personally, I have been able to try new things and take advantages of opportunities that don’t exist elsewhere.  I’ve played in a Ramones tribute, set the town on fire with a horror punk band, and on the other side I’ve been able to play acoustic shows in coffee shops where people actually listen to you.

But I will say, it’s the ones who stick around that really impact the music.  I’m lucky to have friends who have stood by me through thick and thin and really kept me and the music going forward.

EK: Do you find that because there are so many artists gathered in a relatively small space that it makes for a more competitive playing field?  Or does it instead help to foster an air of mutual respect and support where people go out of their way to help when they can?

WB: I’d say both.  It’s absolutely a competitive playing field - which is good - but everyone plays nice for the most part and that’s great.  We’re kind of like a bunch of different species of monkeys living on the same tree, like one of those fancy high-rise condos.  We’re all living at different levels of the tree. A monkey living on the same level might share an orange with you; a monkey above you might drop a banana down your way.  You know?  The longer you live in the tree, the more respect and support is given.  So basically, yeah, we’re all just monkeys trying to get by.  We’re not all competitive necessarily, but we do help each other out….mostly.

EK: Monkeys? Well, I have had a difficult time trying to “label” Wild Bill's style.  For the sake of this interview making any sense, could you try to describe your music and what, if any, genre you think it falls into?

WB: Lately, I’ve really been letting myself have more fun and experimenting a lot.  Kind of like a country-fied David Bowie.  I’m writing songs using traditional styles of American music and then going back and putting a slight modern urban/redneck twist on them.   My country songs sound more like George Jones rather than a modern country artist like Keith Urban.  I stick to the roots, but I’ll give the song modern themes and language which gives them an unusual contrast.  I love to mix folk and hip hop too.

My favorite description of my music from another person, besides being labled a schizophrenic, was Bob Dylan meets Beck with a twist of Johnny Cash.  I wouldn’t compare myself to any of those guys, but I do agree that it is a pretty accurate description of the kind of music you’ll hear at my show.  I write story songs, you get your ballads, but the dance floor is always open and my songs will allow you to two step and do the smurf in the same hour.  We even had some break dancers during SXSW, a little something for everyone.  We fall somewhere in between Band of Heathens and the Flatcar Rattlers one end of the spectrum, and the Riverboat Gamblers and Ghostland Observatory on the other end.  Griff wears the wizard costume for us.

EK: And I really, really hate to ask you this, but I’d like to hear in your own words how you would field this: how would you describe why you choose to perform?  Is it out of necessity, or does it come from some passion that compels you to play?

WB: If you don’t know, Griff and I originally got together to form a Seal tribute band.  At our first rehearsal it became clear that neither of us knew how to play any Seal songs….devastating.  We play out of a passionate necessity to show others what Seal would sound like playing country music, occasionally accompanied by Gloria Estefan.  Hope that helps!

EK: Yeah, thanks, I’m sure I deserved that.  Obviously Austin has as wide of a variety of shows to choose from as a person could hope to find.  Your particular style of blending comedy with your music is rather unique, though.  And I’m not just talking about some one-liners between a song here and there.  You’ve really developed a full-blown comedy set that you incorporate into the performance.  How did that evolve?

WB: Nervous energy turned into an addiction to awkwardness?  I love people, but to be honest, they scare the shit out of me.  I’ve always used comedy as a way to deal with nerves.  When I decided to go more or less solo acoustic, I was pretty worried about how it would go over.  Griff and I were practicing regularly, but really had no plan as to what we would actually do on stage.  I’ve always felt an obligation to address and even directly interact with my audience, you know, let them know I’m there.  I want them to make me feel the same about them as well.  So I’m not shy onstage, but for good or worse, I rarely have a clue what I’m going to say once I’m up there.  I basically just started telling jokes and making up stories about me and Griffus P. Spliffus out of nervous energy during moments of silence.  Eventually we kind of turned into our characters from the stories and jokes.  Our audience has really accepted us doing this, and now our shows feel like we’re playing in our living room at home rather than a venue. 

EK: Can I have a deviled egg?

WB: Sure, all you can handle.

EK: Can I have another one?

WB: I didn’t expect you to eat the first one.  One more, then go brush your teeth.  Can I get a ride home?

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“Wild Bill” Ogden can be found by following this link to Facebook.  Also check out the Lost Knobs on Reverbnation.