Daily Mississippian

I had a chance to catch up with Dent May (via phone interview), Oxford's token musician and Renaissance guy, to ask him about his residency this month at Proud Larry's where he's taken over Wednesday nights with his group Airships as well as his new concept band Cowboy Maloney's Electric City.

Meg: The purpose of this article is to inform Ole Miss and Oxford about what you're doing this spring with Proud Larry's - and to prelude the last show coming up next Wednesday. But first let's talk a little about your background in music - how did you get interested in it? Where all have you performed?

Dent: I mean yeah, I've been interested in playing and performing music my whole life. It's kind of what's come most naturally - my family's a music family. I started performing in elementary school, and I've been playing ukulele guitar and piano since I was a kid. The residency at Proud Larry's has been really great - we've had a great turnout for all the shows, and it's been a lot of fun. It was a good opportunity this week to debut Cowboy Maloney's Electric City.

Meg: Is that your new band?

Dent: Yeah. It's sort of like a country-western band. We're going to play again May 1 at Thacker Mountain's finale at Off-Square Books. I'm really excited about it. We're also about to go on tour in Mid-March. We're opening for a band called Frog Eyes - it's kind of an East-coast tour with the last two shows in Brooklyn.

I definitely want to go out West and eventually Europe, but right now just want to get through this tour.

Meg: So is music your primary interest?

Dent: I guess so, yeah. I mean, it comes most naturally to me, you know? I've tried my end at about everything. I was at film school and have played in a couple different bands. I'd love to do some mixed media or write a rock opera or musical or something like that. I mean, I love literature too. I graduated in December with a degree in English and Southern Studies. Everybody has those post-college existential crises, but it's been something I just try to deal with and have fun with at the same time. Since then I've started working at Off-Square Books full time - I love it.

Meg: And how about DJ-ing with Airships (named after Barry Hannah's book of short stories)? What's that been like?

Dent: Ha, yeah that's been really great. More of a thing we've been doing for fun around town. We put on a lot of parties and late-nights in Oxford. It's cool because we love to dance and it's a scene that's a bit non-existent in Oxford, and even in the South - the whole rave scene. I'm glad that people have had fun coming to those shows.

Meg: I know you had a piece in this past Oxford Film Festival, too. Can you talk a little bit about that and maybe about your inspiration for film? It sort of has a Brad Bunch look to it.

Dent: I don't know - yeah, I guess I see the Brady Bunch influence in the split screens. I recoded it all myself in my bedroom at home.

I play a different character in each scene and each character plays a different instrument. My good friend John Rory Fraser helped me out a lot with that - we went out to Sardis to film some of it too.

It was a little playful and theatrical. The song is "Oh, Paris" and I've never been to Paris. I guess there's a bit of irony there, sitting in your flannel pajamas in your bedroom singing about Paris with the American flag in the background.

Meg: Yeah, the ending confused me a little bit. What was the significance of the heart cookie? What's going on - any symbolism in that?

Dent: Not really - I mean, it's all up to interpretation. I was at Bottletree Bakery. I saw the cookie and I was hungry and said "Film this." Ha, I guess that's just something we threw in there at the end that we thought was funny - it's just kind of indicative of my personality.

Meg: Talk a little bit about your band Dent May and his Magnificent Ukulele and how it got started.

Dent: Well, we have a six-song EP available for free on the Internet right now. It's called "A Brush with Velvet." Pretty much recorded it all in my bedroom. "Oh, Paris" isn't on there, but I have a 7-inch single coming out soon that I'm really excited about. "Meet Me in the Garden" is on the A-side and "Oh, Paris" is on the B-side.

It's an awesome UK-based label called "Make Mine," which also has two really great bands, Camouflage Nights and The Books, on their label - I would say The Books are one of my favorite bands, definitely.

Meg: What about Fat Possum Records here in Oxford - have you ever worked with them?

Dent: Nah, I haven't worked with Fat Possum. I dig what they've done, though. It's reassuring that a lot of old school stuff has come from that label too. Colour Revolt is on that label, and I really think what those guys are doing is awesome and unique.

Meg: Do you plan on performing some more in Oxford after the series?

Dent: Yeah, I plan on staying in Mississippi indefinitely. I mean, I want to travel as much as possible with the tour, but I think Mississippi is a good home base for me. If I make a record, who knows? I want to make a full-length record soon.

Meg: Can you talk a little bit about the song, "I'm An Alcoholic"? What are your sentiments on the rather depressing lyrics coupled with the lighthearted music?

Dent: I mean, you just said it. That's pretty much it. It's supposed to be funny. Sad and funny. Like life. Anything is possible. Graduating in college and staying in a college town can be lonely and sad but also a ton of fun. It's both.

Meg: Anything you want to say to Oxford and Ole Miss?

Dent: I definitely want to say that I'm touring the country - and thank you for all the support we've had so far!

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