Let’s go out to the movies and get ourselves a snack… Because coming this summer, summer, summer is one man… a laptop… and a glass of water…. AND one hope to right the wrongs of a past hydrated processor… Coming this summer… (Someone stop that cup!)

The Spanish-

Jeff Ruemeli: Hola Senor Blanco. Como ésta?

Andrew Blanco: Yo quiero Taco Bell.

JR: I hear ya there, who’s ever not in the mood for some tacos. Tell me a little something about yourself…

AB: I was born on the 13th anniversary of the Apollo moon landing, during a solar eclipse, in the middle of a thunderstorm, at Clara Maas Hospital in Belleville, NJ.

I am a crisis counselor at a high school in New Jersey.  I look forward to having a private practice within the decade.

I have a lot of energy and I tend to get myself involved in many different hobbies.  Some of my favorite things to do are hiking, biking, being in the ocean, reading, and of course babeling.

But my favorite thing to do is play music.  I started out on trumpet, but when I discovered guitar, everything changed.  All of the sudden the realm of songwriting was opened for me.  I’ve been in a relationship with the guitar for about nine years and I don’t regret a single day. In fact, I’m thinking of popping the question sometime later this year…I’m nervous, but at the same time, it’s been nine years, so, it’s like we’re married already, anyway.

JR: How is the house in Spain?

AB: The house in Spain is intact and awaiting my future retirement.

A very large percentage of my family still lives in Spain.  As far as I’ve been told we’ve been in the same province of Spain for generations.  That province is Galicia.  In Galicia we play bagpipes and eat a lot of seafood.  Galicia is very isolated from the rest of Spain due to its being surrounded by mountain ranges.  We speak our own unique dialect, a hybrid of Spanish and Portugues.  Going back to Galicia is always an awesome experience, and I feel a very strong connection to the land.

JR: I understand you play guitar. How is your music project going?

AB: It’s hard to tell.  I have a single, “Everyone”, under the pseudonym Sebastian Davis that can be purchased on iTunes, and that’s awesome.  But last year I put together a band and we recorded an album that was deleted during the backup process.  This was immensely discouraging.  Events since have convinced me that a band is not the route I need to take musically.

I am currently setting up a “studio” in my apartment.  The studio consists of a vocal mic, an instrument mic, and a digital mixer fed into my computer. With today’s technology, this kind of basic setup will allow me to record quality demos without having to pay per hour at a studio.  It also allows me to work at my own pace, which is awesome.

My current plans are to record a full-length album, and then try and get myself on one of the many folk/singer-songwriter festivals that happen across the tri-state area in the summer.  This seems like a good way to get the attention of lots of people at one time, and maybe even sell some CD’s and other merch.

JR: What is the best band/group/songwriter ever?

AB:

  • Best All-Around Band: The Beatles
  • Best Classic Rock Band: Led Zeppelin
  • Best Alternative Rock Band: Pink Floyd
  • Best Guitarist: Jimi Hendrix
  • Best Album: Dark Side of the Moon
  • My Favorite: Phish

JR: Fender or Gibson?

AB: Fender for my blues. Gibson for my rock.

JR: Who would win in a fight, Jimmy Page or Eric Clapton?

AB: Page would be so absorbed in playing some sick guitar riff that he would fail to see Clapton approaching with the crowbar. BAM! Down goes Page. But wait, from around the corner, in comes Plant ready to lay the smack down.

JR: But music isn’t your only passion, I hear you are into yoga also. What led you to that?

AB: I was in college looking up the big bang when I came across a page that was talking about the Hindu’s belief that the universe is one immense dream.  I thought this was really interesting so I began to read some books on the topic.  Along the way I learned about meditation and yoga.  It wasn’t too long before I started practicing both.

JR: What is your favorite pose?

AB: Headstand.  It took me a couple months to finally pull this one off. Now I’m trying to learn how to do a handstand.  I want to get to the point where I can do a push up while in a handstand.

JR: Is it true that you sometimes moonlight as Wolf Blitzer?

AB: Only on leap years.

JR: What is my horoscope?

AB: You will die at the age of 22, only to be born again the next morning in a parallel universe where everyone and everything looks exactly like it does here.  You won’t realize, or remember that this happened until you are 35.

JR: Well now that’s unsetteling. Anyway… How did it feel when you surfed your first wave?

AB: I let out a sigh of relief.  I was getting so frustrated with myself but then all of a sudden I just got it, and it felt kind of natural.  It’s not like riding a bike yet, but with enough practice it’ll get there.

JR: What will you be doing on Dec 21, 2012?

AB: Well it’s going to be a Friday, so I’ll spend the day working.  When I get home I’ll probably order some food, have a beer, chill on the couch and watch some TV.  If anyone’s doing anything I might go out.  We’ll see what happens, I’m open for anything.

JR: Toledo?

AB: Olé.