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My Morning Jacket

Penny Broadhurst transcends the distance between here and Louisville, to talk bollocks with Jim James of My Morning Jacket via email in 2001.

If your life was a sound, what would it be?

Oohs and aahs from choirs

What is the soundtrack to the film in your head?
These Eyes by The Guess Who

If you made a scrapbook, what would be in it?
Blood and sweat from everyone I love and one super-sized KFC value meal.

What would be your ideal meal?
One super-sized KFC value meal with 15 piece family-sized bucket and couscous with broccoli. Also I would have Magic Shell (Ed. - the kind of icecream sauce that dries hard) on peanut butter cup ice-cream for dessert.

What inspired I Will Be There When You Die?
My brain told me to do it. I think it wanted to be with someone forever. It was about feeling that way for someone once and telling them where I was from.

What's your favourite of your own tracks?
They are all equal in God's eyes.

What does the name My Morning Jacket mean?
Me and some friends were walking through a burnt-down theatre and when we got to the basement we found the dressing rooms still a bit intact. I found a blue robe with the letters "MMJ" sewn on the breast pocket. I took them to mean "My Morning Jacket", but they really meant "Mathilda Melanie Jackson"!

Favourite place in the world and why?
Other than in your arms...nowhere.

Favourite hour of the day?
When I get off work.

Were you bullied as a kid?
Yes

Do you have any heroes?
My number one hero is Jim Henson...but I also admire Wayne Coyne, Björk, Steve McQueen and anyone else who currently brings beauty to the music of our shit-encrusted world

Top Ten songs of all time?
That is impossible, but some would be: Down By The Seaside, The Rainbow Connection, Joey, You're A Big Girl No, Knockin' On Heaven's Door, I'll See You In My Dreams, Next Lifetime, It Makes No Difference, Up On Cripple Creek, The Race For The Prize.

Best piece of advice you've ever been given?
If ifs and buts were candy and nuts we'd all have a merry Christmas.

Favourite tree?
Porcupine

Favourite piece of clothing?
Codpiece.

Favourite painting?
Loss.

Favourite photograph?
Jesus Christ by Patrick Hallahan

Favourite memory?
Watching my mom grind meat when I was a baby and seeing a giant bunny rabbit hovering above my crib.

How does the impact of your music change live?
It is much louder and fuller. We like to bring out the fun side when we play live. We want people to see that rock can be fun, yet mysterious and strangely sad and pathetic - all at once. We like to let 'em swing.

Do you enjoy touring?
Sometimes.

Where do you see yourself in ten years?
At the Hollywood Bowl.

Is there a God?
Absolutely.