I'M WITH THE BAND interview with Kevin James, featured in the August 2008 issue of Tin Horse Times

What is your name? Kevin Skomsvold – aka Kevin James

What is your role with Tin Horse? Guitarist, comedic relief, sometimes intentional, mostly unintentional.

What is your clean up duty on the bus? That’s a good question. Toiliets. I’ve been in the band the longest and I do toilets. See anything wrong with that picture?

Do you like it? (Laugh) I put my heart into it.

Ok…no seriously…what is your favorite thing about being “with the band”? Comraderie – the family away from family.

Best outfit you’ve ever worn while with the band: either on stage or off? God. I don’t remember…um… you mean the one I like best or the one…(laugh)…I like the Reba McEntire shirt that you guys made fun of. I really like the way it looks. That black and white country shirt that I had hanging back there with my black hat. But I have since gotten too fat to wear it (Laugh).

Do you have a lucky charm, lucky pair of socks, coffee cup, etc. that you always bring with you? Nope. Nope. I am not superstitious in any way shape or form. But I do have to have my Lucky Strikes.

What’s your sign? Leo (editor's note: Kevin's birthday is on August 19).

What’s your favorite color and why? Purple. I have always liked Purple b/c I am a Minnesota Vikings fan. I was born a Viking fan.

What is your favorite memory of being on tour with Tin Horse? First show playing country USA, opening for Gretchen Wilson is one of them. Playing Joe’s Bar (Chicago) – very exciting times. It is still very exciting, but that was the first time we broke through from playing smaller venues to actually playing with the big guns.

If you were shipped to a desert island and could bring three CDs with you, what would they be? Yes…this island has a CD player (solar powered of course).
Gate Mouth Brown – Pressure Cooker
Frank Zappa – Sheik Your Booty
King’s X – Gretchen Goes to Nebraska

Favorite movie of all time and why? Taxi Driver – first time I ever saw a violence accurately portrayed. It was more shocking than anything. Deniro’s despiction of the Travis…are you getting all of this? (Laugh)

Last thing you ate before you answered this survey? Two cheesburgers from McDonald’s

Last person you’ve written a letter to, not email or text, but an actual letter? My friend Paul from Denver – was last year. He doesn’t have email.

When did you start liking country music? I grew up, my mother loved country and always played country music. This was in the mid-70s.

First country song/record you remember from your childhood? Conway Twitty – Play Guitar Play or Charley Rich – Behind Closed Doors
Those two left indelible marks on my brain.

First childhood celebrity crush? Farrah Fawcett

Dogs or cats? None…ok I would say dogs, but I just hate my cats so much that my hatred spills over to all animals. (Laugh)

Paper or plastic? Paper

Sequins or rhinestones? Rhinestones.

Leprochan or Gnome? Gnomes.

What band are you with??????? Tin Horse..of course!