Interview: Foreseeing Fools
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What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?
CC got into music because she saw Jimbob playing a few shows and she wanted to be able to play as well. (she doesn't like to be left out of adventures) It was hard for her to sit through a show because she is a workaholic and was going crazy just sitting there. So, she picked up one of his guitars that were floating around and started slowing learning. She fell in love with it and got good enough that Jimbob started playing with her. That is how Foreseeing Fools came about.
If she wasn’t playing music, she would have probably been divorced and an alcoholic living in a not so nice place just drinking her way of life. In a way music saved her life.
Jimbob has friends that play instruments and he asked one of his friends if he could teach him how to play bass. His friend taught him a few notes and Jimbob was off to the races, as they say. His First open jam was what got him really into music. They got a chance to play one night at the open jam and everyone was just kind of sitting around. Once Jimbob’s band got up and started playing their punk rock set, everyone got up and started dancing and had a grand ol’ time. The best part of the night was when a lovely lady threw her bra at Jimbob, and after that he knew this was for him.
Mr Jimbob would probably move to a resort town and work as a chef. On the weekend and days off, he would then go fly fishing. Until he knew the area well enough to become a fly fisherman guide.
What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?
They love to travel, that is another main reason they got into music. They try to take off somewhere every weekend. There are a lot of amazing roads to adventure on. Also, little towns are hidden treasures, never know what you will see. Most of the creativity for their music comes from nights drinking at the wildest bar in town “Mike’s Mineshaft bar”. That bar is a trip. Even if there are only a few people in the bar drinking, never a boring night. CC bartended there for years and gave her lots of inspiration. But Jimbob and CC have taken a break from drinking, so a lot of the new music coming out will be about the struggles and frustrations of being sober humans.
How long has music been your career?
Jimbob has been playing for 20 something years. He has played in Punk bands, Folk bands, Blues duo, Rock Bands, and now plays in “Foreseeing Fools.”
CC has been playing music since 2017 so about 4 years. She tried the Folk music, but rock was her jam.
Where are you based out of and how did that influence your music?
Foreseeing Fools are based in Winnemucca, a small rural desert town known as Nevada’s, “Buckaroo country.” Living in a small town like that, you must keep yourself busy. If you don’t, as the saying goes, Idol hands do the devil’s work. Most of their music has been from letting the sin lead the way. Starting at night and staying out till broad daylight. Also being in a small town not a lot of people understand their humor or style. Their music talks about feeling like an outcast/outsider and having to hide their true colors, so they don’t get prosecuted. It can be frustrating, that is why most of the songs have an angsty feel to it.
Tell me about the best and worst shows you have played.
They don’t think they have had a show that was bad per-say. There were shows however that were learning opportunities. That pushed them to become better. Their first show on their own was definitely the one with the most learning curves. CC had only been playing for a year and tried to bust out a lead she was not ready for. Well let’s just say there was no standing applause that day. Same show Jimbob did a “Mouth Guitar Lead” … your eyes do not deceive you, that is correct a mouth lead. Did a full guitar shred with his lovely vocal cords and no one ever knew. Someone even said, “hey nice lead there”.
Not sure about the best show but the coolest show ever in their book was last year in 2020. The bar was locked down, so “Foreseeing Fools” had to play on the quiet side. That way the cops wouldn’t be called. Since there was not supposed to be live music yet. It felt like a real Speakeasy during prohibition. The owner was stressed out (who wouldn’t be). Honestly, to be able to relive history in a way is a once in a lifetime chance. An amazing thing to be a part of.
Tell me about your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?
The Red Dog in Virginia City, Nevada. That place has the best atmosphere, they can’t wait to play there again.
They would love to be able to play the Neurolux in Boise, ID. That is a goal they are working towards.
If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket?
Well for CC’s it would have to be Gin Wigmore, Florence + the Machine, The black keys, The Muse. She absolutely loves them, which would make for a strange collection of people.
Jimbob's line up would be Queen of the Stone Age and Modest Mouse.
What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into music?
If you can count you can play music! It gets hard but it is so worth it. Don’t give up keep pushing yourself. The blood sweat and tears are worth it at the end. Honestly, they think everyone should play music in some form or another. The biggest advice they have is LEARN YOUR SCALES.
If you could go back in time and give yourself advice, what would it be?
Jimbob’s advice to himself is do not get Married to his first wife and do not go to culinary arts. Also invest in bitcoin and Amazon stock.
CC’s advice to herself is to get help for her mental state earlier in life. But other than that, everything that has happened has been a learning experience. The “shoulda woulda coulda” game is not a game she likes to play. Can go down the rabbit whole fast.
Of your songs which one means the most to you and why?
As of the songs they have out it would have to be “27.” “27” is written when CC had pretty bad depression and tried some not very nice things to herself. But she finally got the help she needed. Life isn’t so scary now.
Which songs are your favorite to play and which get requested the most?
Think “Whisky and Riots” is their favorite original currently. For covers their favorite is a tie between “Girl with one eye” by “The Ludes” best known by Florence and the Machine covering that song. Also “Die Die my Darling” by the “Misfits but they play it in a funky reggae style.
The most requested song is Zombie by “The Cranberries” and for original it would have to be “Bootleg Cigarette.”
What is the creative process for you, and what inspires you to write your music?
They have a pretty good system that works for them. CC really likes writing lyrics and Jimbob is great at writing melodies and chord progressions. He can hear music in his head and then come out onto his bass. CC just writes all the time, good or bad. She has notebooks filled with noteworthy songs, but it’s still a good idea to write every day. The only way to get better is to do it almost every day.
What kinds of messages do you like to get across in your music?
Well, honestly, it’s up to interpretation, sometimes if you tell what the song means it will ruin it for the listener.
Do you ever have disagreements when collaborating and how do you get past them?
Jimbob and CC are pretty good at dealing with collaborative issues. If there is a big problem, they will take a few days and think it over. Then in the most respectful way tell the person how they feel. Then figure out how to fix it all together.
If talking about how the two of them fix a disagreement with each other, then that is a different story. Since they are married, they can get away with bickering and using not so friendly choice of words, to get their point across. Even though it can get pretty loud and frustrating, they still work it out and get what needs to get done.
What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?
The Foreseeing Fools will have a new EP, coming out in spring 2022. They are very excited. On a side note, CC is doing some solo shows in 2021. Because Jimbob must work underground at a gold mine for just one year. Then back on the road in 2022.
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