THE MAESTRO: Charlie Vela
Age: 24
Hometown: Weslaco, currently living in Edinburg
Roll in local rock scene: Drummer for December Drive and The Apple In the Tree, also an experienced producer.
Upcoming shows: 8 p.m., June 25, The Apple In the Tree with The Ready Aim Fire, at the McAllen Creative Incubator.
Listen to: "The West" online at www.myspace.com/theappleinthetree. It's the most played song on the band's Myspace, with good reason.
Charlie Vela doesn't listen to most local music for about a year after it drops. Because chances are he helped produce it, and if he listens to it too soon, he'll pick apart every imperfection. Vela has produced music for local bands Dignan, Ambellina and most recently The Final Stretch. He also plays drums for The December Drive and The Apple In the Tree.
You're stuck on a desert island, which three albums do you bring with you?
Wilco "Yankee Hotel Foxtrot." "Wildflowers" Tom Petty. This is another discussion I just had. I'm trying to think, there's another one. "Discovery" Daft Punk. And if there's a fourth one "Bachelor No. 2" by Aimee Mann. The Daft Punk's in there because it can't be all pensive country music all the time. Because otherwise you can't go that long on a dessert island without killing yourself.
What are the best or worst songs to jam out to?
I think anything from the 1970s is pretty good to jam out to, with very few exceptions. They go from really good soul music to really badly good like Alba. Anything smooth like the Doobie Brothers or Michael McDonald especially. Those are awesomely bad to jam out to.
Describe your style...
I've never really been one for ornate decorations. I did briefly foray into girl jeans when it was an emerging trend. But that was a short-lived, bad idea. It's mostly dark jeans and T-shirts with the occasional country western shirt. I try to stay clean cut. The grizzled musician thing never agreed with me. I can't grow a beard, it looks disgusting.
Would you ever date an older woman?
Did Kim Snyder tell you to ask that? [Laughs] Just kidding.
No comment. Just kidding, we sort of just compiled these questions from us.
OK, well how much older?
Let's say 10 years.
My girlfriend is going to kill me, but sure, why not? For the same reason I'd date anybody else I guess. I would hope you wouldn't go around just having age be the only prerequisite.
What's the craziest thing you've ever seen at a show?
I've seen really drunk people dancing terribly. That's pretty good and embarrassing. Because if you try to make eye contact with them you want to start laughing just because it's an uncomfortable situation. Craziest other thing, one time a long time ago, in a closed space we unloaded an entire fire extinguisher into a room. We thought it'd be a great effect for the end of the show, and it turned out to be the biggest mess and asthma hazard ever. People had to run out and they made us stay afterward to clean it up. It was the most unglamorous thing ever.
You guys never did that again?
Never again, never again. That was our brief foray into pyrotechnics.
What's your favorite body part?
The space between my ears.
Best part about being a musician?
It's way better than a normal job. I mean, it's amazing to be able to get together with people who you like, and do something that's fun, and for other people to really enjoy it. It's also incredibly rewarding.
Why is music important to you?
Music is, it pretty much consumes every day. When I'm not playing in a band, I'm working with other bands' music, recording and producing albums. It's pretty integral to my daily existence. I know how important it is to me and I see how important it is to the people who I work with. I can't imagine any other way to be. I couldn't imagine getting up every day, putting on my hat, going to work and not having music be a part of that.
Would you rather date a hot chick or one with a sense of humor?
[laughs] Oh my God. Can it be both?
Celebrity crush?
I try not to keep those. I think that's kind of silly.
Have you ever lied to a girl to get what you want?
What? [Pause] Can that just be my answer?
What three qualities make a girl sexy?
You're trying to entrap me, aren't you? Because my girlfriend will read this. Hold on. I have to think of that one really carefully because that's the one that will hang me if it's bad. Let's see, [pause] Dude, for real?
If you could have any talent outside of music what would it be?
I'd like to be one of those people who could like build a house by themselves. That would be pretty awesome. General survivalism. You could take three sticks and catch a cougar with it. I'd also like to know how to fix my own car. I have incredible respect for anybody who can wield a wrench. You get so into being really specialized at something, when it comes to every other thing at life you're not really as good at it. I can do this song and stuff, but changing the oil in my own car baffles me.
