Hello, Kids! You just stumbled upon a beautiful thing. It’s the epic, no-holds-barred debut of John The Dog on EmergingThoughts .com!

Who the hell is John The Dog, you ask? Well, he is me. And I am a stuffed beagle who is also a rock journalist. My little segment here is called “John The Dog Digs,” and it involves me using my superior sense of smell to sniff out great indie bands you’ve never heard of—probably because you’re dumb. I then travel to distant lands to chat with these artists digitally from my home, and I pass the entertainment value on to you!

Why is it called “John The Dog Digs?” Because it’s a crazy triple entendre, baby! Not only am I digging through the indie underground for talent, but I also dig the music, and I share it with you here at my new digs at Emerging Thoughts! Wow!

Now, no more questions from the peanut gallery. It’s my turn to get my ask on. So please give a warm welcome to today’s guest, direct from Boise, Idaho, it’s Jeremy Jensen, frontman for the fine pop outfit The Very Most. I am soooo going to interview this guy! Right now!

JTD: Hello, Jeremy Jensen of The Very Most!

JJ: Hello there.

JTD: You have the distinct privilege of being John The Dog’s first ever guest on his new show at Emergingthoughts.com. What sort of emerging thoughts have you been having lately?

JJ: Well, saying that someone or something is "all up in" something else is really fun. Especially when you're talking to your accountant.

JTD: John The Dog has been all up in a storage locker for a year or two. I am a stuffed animal. Anyway, Jeremy. Like most indie pop bands, you’re from Idaho. How were you able to find and play musical instruments with all the heaping piles of potatoes everywhere, obstructing your view?

JJ: Like all musicians from Idaho, indie pop or otherwise, I fashion my instruments, and most of my furniture for that matter, from potatoes, so it's not really a problem.

JTD: That sounds like good DIY art. Very appropriate for this venue. Anyway, I’ve been listening to this new record of yours called Congratulations Forever. It makes my tail wag, despite the fact that I am inanimate and made of cotton. Why do you prefer making good, catchy songs, when boring, shitty songs are just as popular?

JJ: Every time a good, catchy song, uh, rings, an angel gets its wings?

JTD: Right. (Pauses to scratch ear with foot) Of course, this is not your first record, Jeremy. For the mouth-breathing morons that aren’t familiar with your career, please give a brief synopsis of the history of The Very Most— with an emphasis on any good groupie stories.

JJ: We started in 2002, I think. Then I made a record in 2004 called Making the Case For Me with lots of help from friends, and played with my sister Rachael for a couple years as a duo. Then I played with someone named Aly for a few months, then I got the current band together. Then I made another record, again with lots of help. All of this time we occasionally went out on quick little tours. And thus concludes the most uninteresting band history ever. Oh, then there's the part where we perfected human cloning but were forced by the government to keep it under wraps. But that's not so much a groupie story as it is an unholy abomination against nature.

JTD: Those are fun. So, um, The Very Most . . . what, exactly? I’m waiting for a noun.

JJ: Locks of Axl Rose's precious, precious hair.

JTD: I had a feeling you might say that. Jeremy, let’s get down to brass tax. I heard tell you’re looking to recruit a female singer/keyboardist to fill out your touring line-up? What sort of lady are you looking for, and how’s the hunting been?

JJ: We're looking for someone that can play keyboards well and sing like a girl well. It would also help if she wouldn't quit the band three days after I spend three months teaching her all our songs. So far, no girls have applied, except for someone that told us she would play if we couldn't find anyone else.

JTD: Would you consider recruiting your hip, stylish chick rocker from the readership of Emerging Thoughts? Cuz, I’ve been told this is a chick’s kind of site.

JJ: Certainly, but we have practices and shows mostly in Idaho. They'd either need to be from Boise or have a chopper, preferably one that's at least as fast as Airwolf. Don't pretend you don't remember that show.

JTD: Airwolf is my cousin. Once you’ve chosen this girl, by the way, I call dibs on dating her and causing inner-band turmoil.

JJ: Oh well, what are you going to do? Oh, yeah, since you're a stuffed animal, I'm pretty sure I can just throw you in a closet.

JTD: Valid point. So, with or without a babe on board, how would you describe your live shows these days?

JJ: I think we kind of sound like a cross between early Built to Spill and the Housemartins live. Sort of. Since we're only a three piece right now, it's hard to get a sound like the CD.

JTD: I’d like to see your Housemartiny, Built To Spilly band in person and shake my ample doggie booty. Do I have to go to Idaho to do that?

JJ: Not necessarily, but other than Idaho, we've only played in Oregon, Washington, and Utah. That's a pretty pathetic list, really. I can't believe a stuffed dog is making me feel inadequate.

JTD: Do you like Pop-Tarts?

JJ: Indubitably.

JTD: Well, I’m gonna make myself a couple pop tarts while you talk about your hopes and dreams for the future of The Very Most. Go ahead, I’ll be right over here. I’m totally listening.

JJ: Well, it'd be nice to get some non-stuffed dog journalistic attention, but stuffed dog journalism is a good start. Also, I think my CDs are just as good, if not a million jillion times better, than the Killers output. At the very least I'd like to sell one thousandth the records they're selling. Also, playing east of Logan, Utah might be a good idea someday.

JTD: Have you played basketball with Doug Martsch yet?

JJ: Only virtually. I hear he's a lot more competitive than you'd ever think. I have had a pesto pizza with him though, and recorded an album with him with my old band. Also, there's the residual ugliness surrounding the chain of gladiator-themed salons we owned together, but I think we're slowly moving beyond that.

JTD: Yes, that explains the beards. Well, anyway, that’s all the time we have on this edition of John The Dog Digs. Thanks so much for chatting with me, Jeremy Jensen of The Very Most. I just made you buzzworthy like a new Silverchair video!

JJ: Thanks! You're the best non-human interviewer I've ever had the pleasure of speaking with. No foolin'.

JTD: And for my legions of new fans, come back and see who I’m digging next week. Until then, check out The Very Most (www.theverymost.com) and buy their CD! And buy stuff from this site, too! I am a nudist, but I hear clothes are awesome.


Jeremy Jensen solo performance video:



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