Chris McNeece, Contributing writer
Sunday, February 04, 2001 07:26 AMJust back from a tour of his homeland, New Zealand, the Newsboys' bass man survives the circus life quite well. Thank you very much.
"Prettiest man I ever saw," is the comment a friend of mine recently made concerning Phil Joel. Surely the hair is a large contributor to such a statement (it is quite impressive). But who is the man behind the hair? Is he simply a pretty face with a sly grin? Just another singer-songwriter who happened upon a lucky break? Joel's new solo album, Watching Over You, answers these questions and more, as his vocal and song writing talent are put on display for all to seeer, hear.
One thing that even a moderate fan can tell you about Phil Joel is that he is a busy man. After touring extensively much of the last seven years as bass player of the Newsboys, Joel is once again on tour, this time as a solo act. He recently returned stateside from the international portion of the "Strangely Normal" tour, and caught his breath long enough to answer a few questions for Acaza.com from his tour bus. For Phil Joel, the non-stop circus of tour life continues.
(Phil Joel relaxes in the back state room of his tour bus, holding his baby girl, Phynley.)
acaza.com: You just got back from New Zealand. Tell me about playing your homeland.
Joel: The festival there is called Parachute Festival, and it's one of the largest Christian music festivals in the world. It's kind of strange because it's in a country that is quite small and isn't really a "Christian" nation. Newsboys headlined Saturday night, and I headlined one of the other nights, and it was just kind of cool.
acaza.com: You used to be a hairdresser. Since LaRue is playing some dates on your tour, what kind of tips would you give Philip LaRue on managing that curly mane of his?
Joel: Well, the easiest way to manage hair like that is Oh, man! Phynley just threw up on me!
(After pausing briefly to take care of a personal matter, Joel returns to the conversation)
Joel: It's all good, it's been contained! So, my advice to Philip is: cut it off. Him first, then me.
acaza.com: So, we're going to see a crew cut on you pretty soon?
Joel: Oh, why not?
acaza.com: You're not convincing me.
acaza.com: While you're on tour, how do you manage time with your family, especially with your new baby?
Joel: (I) just bring them with me. Phynley's already done ten plane flights. She's more well-traveled than a lot of people I know.
acaza.com: Do you have any thoughts on the Lord of the Rings trilogy being filmed in New Zealand?
Joel: I'm reading The Hobbitt right now, and my wife loves all of that Tolkien stuff. Funny enough, when we were down there this time she said, "Wow, this looks like something out of Lord of the Rings!" and I said "Guess what? They're filming Lord of the Rings right here!"
acaza.com: Do you know what kind of writing and singing contributions you'll be making on the next Newsboys album?
Joel: I don't know. It depends on the songs. Who knows, maybe Jeff Frankenstein will step up and do some rappin'!
acaza.com: Tell me about the song "El Salvador."
Joel: It's a song about a trip to El Salvador taken with my wife to go and see what the World Vision child sponsorship programs are like. The whole experience reinstated our responsibility to take care of the poor. It made us reevaluate all kinds of things in our lives and especially money, and what we do with it.
acaza.com: In the liner notes of your album, you say thank you to the rest of the "Kiwi Whanau." What?!
Joel: The wh is pronounced like a ph (faa'-now) in the indigenous language of New Zealand. That basically means "family, extended family, and friends."
acaza.com: What can you tell me about "DrinkWater," your former band?
Joel: We played support for the Newsboys in New Zealand, and that's how I met the guys. The band split up not long after that, and the Newsboys gave me a call a couple of months later. We just went back and did a DrinkWater reunion show in New Zealand.
acaza.com: You're on the road a lot, Phil. When stopping for early morning or late-night grub, what's your preference IHOP or Waffle House?
Joel: Waffle House! The staff is so interesting and entertaining. If you can get them talking, the stories are so great. I love it when you step into a Waffle House, and it seems like there's always a woman behind the counter who'll ask you if you want a cup of coffee before you've taken a step inside the building. She sort of gives you that motherly love that you need on the road. The motherly love is where it's all at!