Baybeats: Chris Collingwood on Gay Potatoes

Chris Collingwood is one of the founding members of indie pioneers Fountains of Wayne and also has a rather dubious side project called Gay Potatoes (who also operate under the name Potatoes when touring regions that do not look kindly upon homosexual veg). Chris Collingwood will play at the Arena (Outdoor Theatre) and later at the Chillout Stage (Concourse) on day two of the Baybeats '09, on 29 August 2009.

What have you been up to lately?
Fountains of Wayne have been busy both with touring and making our new record. Our recent shows have been a bit of a departure for us, as they’ve been stripped down: two acoustic guitars, a bass, a piano and a cocktail kit for Brian. We've been trying out some new songs like that, in theatres where people sit down and actually pay attention. It's a nice change. Other than that, I've been playing with my three-month-old kitten and planting tomatoes.

When are Gay Potatoes going to release a full album? And how are potatoes gay?
Never. And potatoes aren’t gay. That project was a really trivial thing I did with some local guys in Northampton. They're all amazing musicians and songwriters, but we only played once or twice and the name was a drunken afterthought.

How is the working dynamic in Fountains of Wayne and the Gay Potatoes different?
The Gay Potatoes never “worked”. We got together and drank beer. As far as Fountains Of Wayne, it started out that way too, but then we decided we'd try to write some songs we liked, which is a better idea.

What’s next for Chris Collingwood?
I'm really hoping that we finish our new record sometime early this fall. So far, I like it a lot more than the last one. Finishing, of course, will mean a long period of promotion and touring in support of it, hopefully long enough that I can prolong getting a real job for another year or two.

WORDS JASON PHOTOS THE ESPLANADE CO LTD/CHRIS COLLINGWOOD
www.baybeats.com.sg

*Taken from Junk's July 2009 issue. Click HERE for more details on Baybeats '09, and on these links: Baybeats '09 t-shirt comp, the Festival Village, as well as interviews with Ally Kerr, Opposition Party, RNRM and In Each Hand A Cutlass!