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RJ, introduce yourself to our readers please.
My name is Rj Scouton, I am a singer songwriter from a small town very close to Tunkhannock. I am the Lead singer/rhythm guitar player for Stealing Neil which has been around for about 6 yrs now, with interchanging musicians such as the bass player and drummer.
How long have you been a musician for and what made you start playing?
I have been a musician from early childhood, raised on ol’ CCR and country music while driving ol’ country roads in North East PA. Id say my singing career started when I was about 6, even though my only audience were my father and my brother. Id have to attribute my musical stardom to my dad. We’d listen to everything, from the Beatles to Boston, Hank to Hendrix..
What type of music does Stealing Neil play?
Stealing Neil now concentrates a little more on playing hits from the 60′s until now, unlike 5-6 yrs ago where we would split originals up with cover tunes, just about half and half. Keeping a slightly harder edge to our rock music has always made us kinda stick out I think, but in all truth, I think we play just about all types of music when the moment calls for it.
R.J. Scouton
Where does the name “Stealing Neil” come from?
The band name Stealing Neil is complicated yet simple. We usually don’t say but for a town as beautiful as Tunkannock, I guess well cut you a break. Back in the early 90′s, there was this little thing called the “grunge” scene. Well, we felt as a band that all the bands that were coming out in modern day were all copying the sounds of the early 90′s. Whether it be the voice, drummer, guitar tone or riff, these so called rock bands all borrowed a little from that early 90′s era. For those of you who love Neil Young, you know that he has been titled the “god father” of grunge. Therefore, in essence, the bands of today are not stealing from Pearl Jam, Soundgarded, Chains or Nirvana, but yes, the one and only Mr. Neil Young. Hence came the name, Stealing Neil.
What are your thoughts on the NEPA music scene?
To me the NEPA scene is good but is lacking. I tend to see a lot of ham ‘n eggers out there who don’t deserve their pay half of the time, but also there are a lot of very talented musicians in this area.
When writing original music, what artists are your biggest inspiration?
My biggest inspirations when it comes to writing originals, well, to be down right honest it could anything from a dream to a normal everyday conversation that i don’t even realize I’m having. I am truly inspired by all aspects of life and this world.
If you had to communicate what music is to an alien in three sentences or less, what would you say?
My explanation to an alien in three sentences or less; A souls freedom of speech must come through the beauty of music, the art of the ear, the essence of existence.
I understand it you’re a big Neil Young fan, what is it about his music that attracts you to it?
To be straight up honest with you, I am personally a big Neil Young fan, but hes not my or our favorite. Our musical influences are of a vast and very wide variety. Just ask the guitarist from Tunkhannock’s own “Traverse”, Mike Cahill, he’ll tell ya, we do it all. Mostly its good… very good, but sometimes we get off the wall requests and we’re suckers so we do em, sorry lady gaga.
If you could play a show in a local bar with one person (aside from Neil Young, we’re not gonna make it that easy on you!), who would it be?
To play with one person in a local bar for one night ………..hmmmm. One of two great singer songwriters come to mind. Pearl Jams Eddie Vedder, or probably Daniel Jons of Silver Chair.
What’s the most ridiculous thing that’s happened while playing with Stealing Neil?
I’ve seen so much crazy nonsense over the years between fist fights, belligerent drunkenness, out in the open drug use, indecent exposure, public displays of affection. I don’t know, you see a lot of crazy stuff out these bars, I think were better off keeping it to ourselves.
What’s your favorite thing about playing in Tunkhannock?
My favorite thing about playing in Tunkannock is the scenic ride and the crazy back woods people I grew up with foot stompin’ and hee-hawin’ when we’re getting down. Tunkannock brings a lot of good memories for me, it’s place I frequent often.
What artist or style of music is your ‘guilty pleasure’?
C’mon man, everybody knows I’m a Pearl Jam nut. Need I say any more about guilty music pleasures. I think its quite understood.
If you were written about in the newspaper, on the front page, what would the headline say?
It would say, “Wow, this guys out there, if our eyes were closed we’d think we were listening to the voice of a half horse half man creature, yes Cole, that’s a centaur”.
Anything else you’d like to tell us?
As a solo artist and a front man for a high energy rock band in NEPA, all I can say is how appreciative I am to have the opportunities I’ve had and how lucky I am to know the the folks I’ve known and met, especially those of the Tunkannock area.
A big thanks to R.J. Scouton for sitting down with us for this interview! Be sure to check out his band Stealing Neil on Facebook. R.J. will be hosting open mic night tonight (02/16/2011) at the Lake Carey Inn starting at 9:00 pm.