Eric Gallippo, guitarist and singer

Man At Arms:

www.facebook.com/manatarmsmusic

www.manatarmsmusic.bandcamp.com

Fields of Industry

www.fieldsofindustry.com

Congress

www.facebook.com/congressband

Save Me From The Gallup Poll

www.savemefromthegalluppoll.bandcamp.com

The next set of photos is from Ed Golembiewski 's basement, where Fields of Industry and Congress practice.

How do you stay on top of all of your different projects?
Although I have three projects going (or more, depending on how you count), only one has been writing and rehearsing with any regularity. But staying on top of that in the same way I would have even, say, five years ago is a lot of work with a full time job and a full time family - my wife and have a ten-month-old daughter. Since we're still a pretty new band, we did a lot of writing early, but now we're gigging some and focusing on last minute rehearsals to prepare for shows, which means I've got a dozen or so music ideas backlogged for potential songs.

Which music from your childhood has made the most impact on your own writing?

Probably the music I learned taking piano lessons, which I did on and off between, I think, third and fifth grade, which means a lot of simplified standards and that Brian Adams song from "Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves." Oh, and Scorpions' "Wind of Change."

What is your dream setup in terms of gear?

I thought I was over thinking of this kind of stuff, but this year I've gotten really dorky about music equipment again, looking up guitars and amps and pedals online. I'm pretty happy with what I'm using now - an Epiphone Les Paul '56 reissue with P90 pickups and a Bigsby tremolo arm with a Bassman 50 silverface head through a Vox 212 cab with a handful of pedals. For a while I was accidentally running the Bassman on only one tube and it made the best natural distortion I've ever heard, but I'm told that's not good for the amp. So I'd like to find something that sounds like that but is stable, or maybe something that sounds like my Fender Mini Twin but is loud enough to play out with. Given the chance, I'd probably get another Telecaster or something sharper sounding, too. Maybe an aluminum neck guitar.

Your different bands practice in different spaces. What are the most important elements to have in a practice space?

With Man at Arms it's hard to be choosy, because we're almost always borrowing someone's space. We've had lots of help over the years sustaining this very unsustainable band.
In general, a PA or something to sing through is nice, if not essential. Good, softer lighting is a plus. Maybe a little privacy, or at least sympathetic ears nearby. Being able to avoid loading and unloading gear by keeping it in a space or borrowing someone's is best.

What are 3-5 things one should do when visiting Michigan?

It's a big state, but if you're just checking it out once, you should probably:
1) Visit a beach on Lake Michigan
2) Witness downtown Detroit
3) Eat at a Coney Island
4) Stare into a campfire drinking cheap beer and listening to Top 40 radio somewhere "Up North" (I'm told the Upper Peninsula is cool, but I've never been)
5) Shop at Encore Recordings in Ann Arbor

Have you seen "Under These Great Northern Lights" - it is the documentary of The White Stripes traveling around to every Provence in Canada and performing in these off the wall places like on a barge or in a bowling alley or in an Inuit retirement home -- if you could perform anywhere off the cuff or special, where would it be? (question asked by the Halamays)

I haven't seen the whole thing, but I think I saw a clip or two from it. When Man at Arms first started, there was this very small, abandoned business hut building in Kalamazoo, Mich., where our then bassist lived, and we used to practice that we used to obsess over being way too loud in someday. I can't remember what it was called or what we called it, but it would be cool to finally make good on that. I guess a boat would be cool, too.
 
What should I ask the next person to be on By Measure?

How much of your average day do you estimate is spent thinking or talking about some aspect of your and/or your friends' musical project(s)?  If you were to quit playing music today, how would you use your practice space?

Eric's favorite songs:

(stream on Spotify)

1. Sonic Youth - Hey Joni
2. The Microphones - The Moon
3. Black Eyes – Speaking In Tongues
4. Bombino - Ahoulaguine Akaline (I Greet My Country)
5. R.E.M. - Sitting Still
6. Albert Ayler - Our Prayer
7. Sam Cooke - Bring It On Home To Me
8. Joy Division - Disorder