LAist Interview: Loudon Wainwright III

The songs on "Strange Weirdos" were written from and inspired by Judd Apatow's film "Knocked Up". You were also in "The 40 Year Old Virgin" and "Undeclared". How you and Judd originally meet?

In a similar way, in that Judd was a fan if mine as a teenager actually. Growing up on Long Island, he had seen me singing. There used to be a show in the afternoon called the Mike Douglas Show. Judd had seen some of those. This would have been in the late 70's. He became a fan of my music. About six or seven years ago he got in touch with me about an acting role on "Undeclared", the role of the dysfunctional father Hal. So that's how that one happened. He's given me a couple of acting jobs and the go ahead to do the music for "Knocked Up".

How did the song "Daughter" become part of the soundtrack?

Judd had liked that song. He had heard me sing it in concert and heard the recording and seemed to think it would be great to include it in the movie. In the movie, when they come out of the hospital and drive off, "Daughter" comes up. Originally there was another song in that slot which was "Passion Play", but Judd went back to "Daughter" thinking that's what he wanted there.

You play an obstetrician in "Knocked Up". Your also have a song "The Doctor" on "History" that describes a challenging doctor's visit. Would you ever trade your music career for medicine? What kind of doctor would you be?

Well I have been a doctor a couple of times. I was a doctor on an episode of "Grounded for Life" which was just rerun last weekend. I was a urologist in that episode. I was a gynecologist in "knocked Up". What kind of a doctor would I be, oh I don't know, gynecology is fun.

Did you enjoy writing songs for a film? Are you planning to work on more film music?

I did enjoy the process. I write songs as a matter of course because I am a songwriter, but I do seem to respond to direction and deadline both which you have to do if you are working on a movie. I like the kick in the butt of that. I'd love to do more of that and hopefully will.

When you write songs, what usually comes first lyrics or melody?

In my case it is usually the words. Although it can be the other way around or even simultaneously.

On "Strange Weirdos", the song "You Can't Fail Me Now" is beautiful, romantic, even a little bit haunting. How did you know that it would set the right tone for a scene in a comedy?

That's mostly Joe's song. I made a bit of a contribution. After the initial meeting, Joe said, I've got a song which might be great. I went over to his house, in his studio in South Pasadena and we recorded the voice and guitar version of it. We gave it immediately to Judd Apatow and the music supervisor Jonathan Karp. They both were knocked out. I think the excitement of getting the job inspired Joe. He came up with a great song, suitable for any and all occasions including a film.

Joe Henry says all musicians have at least one good Bob Dylan story. You wrote a birthday song about Bob "Talking New Bob Dylan" Do you have a favorite Bob Dylan memory?

I remember seeing Bob Dylan perform at the Newport Folk Festival. It must have been in 1962. In fact I think I sing that in that song. It was a powerful experience to see this skinny nineteen year old kid. He's five years older that I am, so I was a skinny fourteen year old kid. Just seeing that guy up there with an acoustic guitar performing so magnificently. It was kind of an earth shaking, ground moving moment or three minutes.

I think that people who listen to your music start to feel like they know you. I often wonder how much of each song really happened. In the song "When I'm at your house" on History, you and Syd Straw sing "When I'm at your house God only knows why I go though your drawers and try on your clothes". Did you try on her clothes? What did you try on?

I never tried on any of Syd's clothes.

Was the song actually about Syd?

No. The song is based on an experience, but I can't really go into it.

After a childhood in the east coast- you headed west. You have written several songs about Los Angeles. "Grey in LA" on "Strange Weirdos". "Choppers" about an imagined attack on the Miracle Mile. What inspires you about living in Southern California?

I've lived in a lot of different cities and written songs about them. I've lived in London and written songs about London. Pittsburgh. New York. Boston. I think when you are in a place, you are struck by various aspects of it. Certainly there is enough going on in LA to spark some kind of a creative response.

You went to elementary school at Warner Avenue Elementary. Your song "Liza" is about your famous classmate from 3rd grade (Liza Minnelli). Can you tell me about her?

Well I just remember kind of an adorable freckle faced with big eyes. We were both kids. I was also quite aware of who she was having seen her mom in "The Wizard of Oz". She was Judy Garland, Dorothy's daughter. We had fun being classmates and had what are called now 'playdates'. Riding around in her electric kiddie car, the Thunderbird Junior. That was something that was in existence in the 1950's. These little cars that rich kids had. She had two of them actually. That's in the song itself.

So many of your family members are musicians. Are any of your relatives in other lines of work?

Well I have a fifteen year old daughter that's a ninth grader. I suppose that's a line of work. She's begun to take piano lessons. So god knows what will happen.

On November 9, you and Joe Henry will play at the El Rey. With the title "Strange Civilians", I can guess that you will play songs from "Strange Weirdos" and Joe's CD "Civilians". What else can we expect that night?

We are going to do some other material. Joe and I have been working on another album. We're going to sing some songs from that. Again god knows what will happen. It's going to be a fun night because we are going to have this wonderful group of musicians that we both use on the records that you mentioned, "Civilians" and "Strange Weirdos". A great group of players, Greg Leisz, David Piltch, Jay Bellerose, and Patrick Warren. Who knows maybe we'll get some guest appearances from others. It's a night that I am looking forward to certainly.

What's coming up next for you?

That show is the next thing that I am doing. Then the next day I get on a plane and fly to the east coast to do some more shows over there. I am working basically until Christmas. Then I am planning to go to Australia at the end of February and do a tour. My daughter Lucy Roche is going to be my opening act. That should be fun. I like to go to Australia.

Is it fun touring with your daughter?

Yeah. We've done a lot of it actually. She been on lot of the shows that I have recently done and will be on some of the ones on December. And then Australia. We have a lot of fun on the road.

Where is your favorite place to visit in LA?

Well it's not actually in Los Angeles, it's in Ventura. I have a sail boat up in Ventura. It's about 45 minutes from where I live out on the outskirts of LA county. That's my favorite haunt. I was there yesterday in my boat in the Pacific Ocean.

How often do you get a chance to go sailing?

I've been working a lot recently, so I haven't been around. I take any chance I can get. Yesterday was a great day.

This Friday, November 9th, you can see Loudon and Joe Henry at the El Rey Theatre.
Doors open at 7:30 PM.
photo by Michael Wilson