Welcome to The Dailey Weekly, the newest feature at www.willdailey.com. Each week Will will talk with pop culture writer Al Norton about what ever crosses his mind, from pigs wearing lipstick to Lost to favorite restaurants to eat at on the road to how he chooses what song to open a show with.

Al: I am not sure if you know but Darius Rucker – AKA Hootie -released a country CD last week, with it’s first single (Don’t Think I Don’t Think About It) rising the charts. What struck me as I was listening to it is how much it sounded like a contemporary country album and not like a guy trying to sound country. When you write songs, do you have certain styles in your head or does the song steer itself? Do you have a set way the creative process works? Lyrics before music?
Will: I did not know that but, I’ve heard this question before. I know because while contemplating the answer I’ve ended up thinking to much and breaking a sweat. I worried about what was about to come out of my mouth because I really didn’t know the answer. But I’ve always known the question. I suppose it is the question that has kept me writing. I usually say something like, “all of the above”, when asked and the style or purpose of a song is provided in the end.
It makes me think of Eddie Vedder and Gertrude Stein. They both said something about questions vs. answers. Which then prompted me look up quotes (hours of fun) and I find these from Stein and she wraps it up nicely:
“One of the pleasant things those of us who write or paint do is to have the daily miracle. It does come.”-GS
But this is the best answer to this question I believe:
“I have always noticed that in portraits of really great writers the mouth is always firmly closed.”-GS
Enough said.;)

Al: Do you write on a schedule, with set time every day? I am assuming you don’t operate like Greg Brady, locking yourself in a room until you come up with “Time To Change”.
Will: No, but I heard that J.K. Rowling did that to get the first Harry Potter written. She would wake up every morning before her kids and write for and hour before she had to get them ready for school. That is the legend anyway. I suppose that would be a plan. But I am more scatter brained. I should try it though. I let you know. Maybe I work on one song every day at 7:35 for 20 minutes no matter what state I’m in. I’ll let you know if I do that. For now I will follow Ms. Stein’s advice…
“To write is to write is to write is to write is to write is to write is to write is to write.”-GS

You can read Al Norton’s Two Tivos To Paradise every Friday at 411mania.com

Will’s Link of the week: “While eating a hamburger I found this and got really confused.”

Welcome to The Dailey Weekly, the newest feature at www.willdailey.com. Each week Will will talk with pop culture writer Al Norton about what ever crosses his mind, from pigs wearing lipstick to Lost to favorite restaurants to eat at on the road to how he chooses what song to open a show with.

Al: Coming off of a day where you played before the largest audience of your career, on the same stage as some of the biggest names in music in the last 50 years, is it possible to select a single highlight of last Saturday’s Farm Aid? Maybe a top 3 Farm Aid moments?

Will: I somehow managed to stay zen like up until Saturday so that I wouldn’t over think the whole thing and, in doing so, miss out on the enjoyment. But I was completely derailed in the morning at the press conference when they put all us opening acts in the second row of chairs on stage and then on walked Willie, Dave, John and Neil to sit in the front row. When I saw Neil Young I got goose bumps all over and kinda choked up. No exaggeration. His music has meant so much to me throughout my life. It was a moment I wasn’t prepared for because I never thought it would happen. And that was just the first hour of a 14 hour day!
The 2nd moment was certainly playing on that stage and representing an organization that has true philanthropic roots. Like many people, I know there has been a void of honest and productive leadership in our country for the past eight years. Carolyn Mugar, Willie, Neil, John, Dave and the whole Farm Aid board and organization have created an enduring and paramount legacy to the American people. I really saw that on Saturday. And, I felt that the energy I put into Farm Aid would have direct results. Even just talking about it now. Willie said it best that morning; our whole society starts with agriculture. When that goes, so goes everything else. And it’s simple to be effective. Just start with the food that you buy! Find out where your local farmers market is and go to it. You vote with your dollar. You can actually make change by eating well. It doesn’t get easier than that for someone help out.
The 3rd moment was getting a genuine hug of congratulations from Dave Matthews and a sincere thank you from Willie Nelson for being there. And he also mentioning that he dug my set.

Al: It must have been as much fun for you as a fan of music as it was as a performer. Who stood out to you? Were there any artists who you weren’t that familiar with going in that made an impression?

Will: I first have to mention that Neil Young’s set was stunning and he played “Everybody Knows This Is Nowhere”! If you seen our show in the past year and a half you’d know how excited I was. He also closed with a stellar version of “A Day In The Life”. I got to sing on stage at the end of the night with Willie Nelson during “On the road again” and “I’ll fly Away”. Our good friends Grace Potter and the Nocturnals killed it as usual. Nation Beat was really great. I have to say John Mellencamp really took control of the stage and the moment. His passion for Farm Aid and the cause is contagious and it shows in not only his comments on stage but in his performance as well.

You can read Al Norton’s Two Tivos To Paradise every Friday at 411mania.com

SEE WILL’S FARM AID PICS ON MYSPACE