mike passaro

My friend Will has begun interviewing local musicians in the Raleigh area and has done a great job with his first edition.  Go check it out for a great interview of James Childs.  It was such a great idea that I decided to interview my good friend Patrick Downing.  Below is our interview:

mp: Make a good first impression.  What is the first thing you’d like to say?

jpd: Well, Michael. Buenos dias to you sir.  Muchas gracias for conducting this interview.  You’re so wise to do something like this. I should have done somethings like this muchos tiempo ago.

mp: You’re very welcome.  I hope this interview highlights the music and art that you make, and lets people know about you.  I know we’re just getting started, but I’ve already noticed your broken English.  It seems that you transition so fluidly between the Spanish and el English. How do you do that?

jpd: Ah, yes…You see, Michael. Many of my relative are from the Spanish speaking countries. Tambien, I have spent many a days in the Peru, Puerto Rico, Honduras, etceterrrra.  But I mostly hang out at local Mexican restuarants where I order water, a chicken burrito (no vegetables), and eat free chips and salsa until I cannot eat them anymore.

mp: Tell me a little about your music background. I know that you play with every band in Raleigh (Silver, Shelly Moore Band, Daniel Renstrom, Chad Lister, Mirrors, Dakota Darling…), but how did you get started? Who influenced you?

jpd: Great question. You really are good at these interviews!  Well, when I was growing up, I would spend my summers in the Peru visiting relatives. The mariachi bands were always in need of one more player. I practiced until late in the evening on my Esteban guitarra, wearing my fingers to the bone in hopes that one day they would choose me. They never did. I vowed to make them regret their decision, so I switched from the black beauty acoustic guitar (pictured below) to the electric guitar.

Then, I began listening to the great rock bands that we all know and love.  The rest is history…even though it’s still happening…so it’s present history. right now, history in the making.

mp: Thanks so much Patrick for your time.

jpd: No, Michael, thank you.  Buenos.

I hope you’ve enjoyed reading my first interview! I’ll be conducting more interviews soon.  Hopefully Shelly, Daniel, and James will be kind enough to stop by and share a few words.