Ron Arnold

www.dirtydoglive.com

Hi Ron!

You and I have been partciptating on an online blog for some time. I went to Otter's Pub one night just to meet you in person, with no real intention of staying and listening to the band. This was before the concept and development of Dirty Dog Live. When we got there. you were in the middle of a set, so we stayed and waited for a band break to talk to you.

Hearing Navin for the first time was a very pleasant surprise.You had a unique sound, new original music that was excellent, lots of people up dancing, and in fact we stayed the rest of the night and had an unexpected primo evening.

You are definitely a local star. Can you give me a little background on yourself?

Ron: Sure - but "star"? Nah.

Lisa: Who are you, where were you born/raised and how old were you when you first began playing music/singing?

Ron: Well - my name is Ron Arnold and I was born and reared in a coal mining town in eastern Pennsylvania called Shamokin. Pretty insulated place in a valley surrounded by green mountains and black culm banks. I've been singing for as long as I can remember. My Mom tells me I used to make up songs all the time around the house. My mother is a classically trained vocalist and my Grandmother was a pianist / organist in our Church and in local music clubs around town.

Lisa: Who were your greatest musical influences at that time?

Ron: I would say my grandmother was my greatest musical influence as she used to play me pieces of classical music and have me guess the composer and name of the piece. When I was very young, my influences were my family and my family's friends as they traveled in musical circles. As I got older I listened to more popular music and I was especially impressed with how Jimmy Page from Led Zeppelin established atmosphere with his composing and recording style. Heavy acoustic music has always impressed me. Anyone can crank up an amplifier for power - but it takes strong composition to do it without the benefit of electricity. I aspire to that.

Lisa: What is your musical background? Have you had professional training?

Ron: I don't have any formal musical training and I don't really consider myself an accomplished musician at all. I just have a great love and desire to play and perform and I try to convey that. Music is a language just like any other when you think about it. It's a very pure form of emotional expression. Some folks have learned the language formally and are very fluent in many modes and instruments and understand and read its written form. I can't read music. It's like I'd learned the language by being immersed in it. I can't tell you the specifics of the grammar - but I can communicate fairly well. For the most part I sing and play guitar - although I love playing the drums (I'm rusty these days since I don't have a kit anymore) because they're physical.

Lisa: Tell me a story about a day in your life.

Ron: Right now I'm a day job kinda guy and work in the mental health field. On the day of a gig I usually eat much less, drink some honey lemon tea during the day (good for the vocal chords.) and practice any guitar parts I'm shaky on. Just generally try and relax. Right before a show I get a little amped up but don't talk much. I'm trying to save it for the next few hours of performing. It's exhilarating to play for folks and have them enjoy what you're doing. The more a crowd is into it - the more you as a performer are too. It's an awesome give and take kind of thing.

Lisa: Is there anything else you would like people to know about you -personally?

Ron: Nah. I'm not all that interesting.

Lisa: Who do you currently play with?

Ron: I've been playing and writing music with my good friend Brett Devore for about 14 years. He and I started the band Navin (although it started as another, far more stupidly named thing) in his basement. We've had some personnel changes over the years, but right now it's myself on vocals (and occasional guitar), Brett Devore on rhythm guitar and vocals, Tom Challingsworth on lead guitar and vocals, Erin Hipple on vocals, Jim Kipp on bass and vocals, and Mike Walker on the drums. We also play with a horn section which is comprised of Irene and Andy Kipp and Scott Cressley.

Lisa: How would you describe your music to people?

Ron: We work to be entertaining and danceable for the most part. But we have to get loud and heavy every once in a while.

Lisa: I know when I went to see your band you had several original songs, which were very good. Did you write many of them, and have you ever been published?

Ron: Our original songs are pretty varied in style. Brett tends to write songs that are melodic and accessible. Very listener friendly. I tend to be a little heavier in what I write - but there are times I can come off with some very pretty stuff. Overall I'd say our music is mostly up-tempo get you on the dance floor rock and roll.

Lisa: What are your songs about?

Ron: It varies - I guess it just depends on what comes out at the time. One of my songs that folks like to dance to is about personal apathy . . . go figure. Anything from friendship to love to spite to . . . well, you get the picture. What I find to be most important is the song itself and where IT wants to go. I just try and stay out of the way as the music comes through.

Lisa: Do you have a favorite song, and why?

Ron: No - there's just so many. I think my favorite composition I've written is one we don't even play as Navin. It's one of those "not in any category songs" called “Something More Than Ordinary”. It's about what lies just beyond our everyday lives.

Lisa: How would you describe your fans?

Ron: The smartest, coolest, and most beautiful people in the world. No question.

Lisa: How would you describe yourself as a performer?

Ron: Well - I don't do much solo stuff anymore - but when I do, it's basically all in the music and the vocals. I'll introduce and explain a song - but I try and convey it as best I can through the actual music. In the band (especially when I'm just singing) I like to dance and move. I project as much energy as I can through my voice. Hopefully it gets infectious. The band is very much the same - it's all about projection - all about the energy. When everything fires on all cylinders - there's goose-bumps.

Lisa: How do you define “success”?

Ron: I suppose that's a very subjective thing isn't it? For me it's finding satisfaction in what I'm doing. I'm not a big materialist - so it's more in satisfaction. When we do a show - I'm most satisfied when I look out and see a lot of folks dancing and laughing and paying attention to the band. That's success.

Lisa: What have been your greatest musical accomplishments thus far?

Ron: Honestly just having someone say: "You wrote that? I really liked that. I have a lot of my personal musical catalog copy-written and maybe someday I can sell a song or two. (I'm getting a little old for 'pop' music.)

Lisa: Have you recorded your music and is it for sale?

Ron: Yes and yes.

Lisa:Where can one purchase a CD?

Ron: Well - if you search Amazon.com for Navin - I think there's a couple of our second CD left in stock. (From a previous band line-up.) We sell them at our shows as well. I don't have any of my solo works (I've done 3 Cd's) on hard copy outside of my computer right now - but every once in a while I'll sell one - or give one away.

Lisa: Do you have any new projects in the works?

Ron: Not personally - but Navin is wrapping up a CD we recorded at Diecaster Studios in Erie.

Lisa: Can you tell me about the CD?

Ron: It's a collection of songs written by Brett and myself that's not yet titled. Our former lead guitarist (Sean McConner) plays on it as well. It's a collection of straight ahead rock songs written over the past few years.

Lisa: Other than on Dirty Dog Live, where can people find your calendar of events and news/information about you and your band?

Ron: We have a myspace page right now - but no other website than that right now. It's http://www.myspace.com/navinnews We have songs on there from our upcoming CD and a list of our upcoming gigs as well as other band information. I suppose if anyone wants to know more about me - I'm friend #1 on the myspace page. (I tend to rant sometimes so - - - well, just so you know.)

Lisa: What is your outlook on the music industry today?

Ron: I'm a big fan of music but not the music industry. I don't like the idea of someone filtering for me what they think is good and what will sell. You get the simplest common denominator most often when that happens. I think people are a little more sophisticated than what passes for "pop music" these days and want to hear something a little more challenging musically and lyrically than what's on the pop charts.

That's why I think the internet and fan driven sites (like myspace) are so cool. You have a diversity based on what people get into - not what some suit sells to you. Granted a lot of stuff out there is still less than perfectly produced and you have to wade through some mediocre stuff sometimes - but there are some real gems by indie artists you'll never ever hear on top 20 radio.

So - my hope is for the future of music - not the future of the music industry. My 3 year old daughter makes up songs all the time and can carry a tune. I'm anxious to see how she grows in the language.

Lisa: Thanks Ron! We'll be out again to see you and get more photos, and in the meantime be sure to send your event schedule so we can keep it posted on our calendar pages!

Navin
Ron Arnold
Runs With The Dog
by Lisa B. ~for DDL
2007

All photos and graphics by Lisa Bower