Jaron and the Long Road to Love is a newcomer to the Nashville scene, but not to the music industry. Jaron Lowenstein made up one half of the 2000s band Evan and Jaron, which paired him with identical twin brother, Evan. The duo is best known for their hits “Crazy for this Girl” and “The Distance.” Jaron has now gone solo, having not reinvented himself, but matured.

“I never set out to create music for one genre,” Lowenstein said. “I just tried to make the music that came out of me. It was up to someone else to label it. Whether it’s pop or country, whatever the genre is, to have success, especially in show business, is tough. People either like you or they don’t; it’s not about being good or bad.”

Lowenstein credits his pop background for helping him land on the country charts, where his album debuted No. 2 on Billboard’s Top Country Albums list. The 36-year-old believes artists such as Taylor Swift, Lady Antebellum and Keith Urban, whose crossover albums are well received in multiple musical genres, helped pave the way for him.

There are also those, who like Lowenstein, started off in the pop world before venturing over to country. These artists include Darius Rucker (formerly of Hootie and the Blowfish), Uncle Kracker and Jessica Simpson.

“I don’t think guys like Darius set out to go country,” he said. “It wasn’t about trying to make a buck, but to find an audience. Our songs may be more appreciated in the country genre.”

“Pray for You,” the first single off the new album, is also a success. The song is a mainstay on country radio after rising to No. 13 on the U.S. charts. Lowenstein, who wrote or co-wrote all 10 songs on Getting Dressed in the Dark, said fans fell for the single after hearing it in person and online.

“It was their reaction why we went with that as the first single,” Lowenstein said. “It was received really well when playing it live, and then I put it online and it just blew up. We knew whatever we thought, it didn’t matter because the audience wanted it.”

Lowenstein revealed his next two singles will be “Beat Back Love” and “That’s Beautiful to Me.” The order of their release, however, will once again be decided upon by fans on the Web. “Beat Back Love” is an up-beat, country-sounding tune, while “That’s Beautiful to Me” is opposite in the respect that it’s a slow love song.

This summer, Jaron and the Long Road to Love is touring the country alongside superstar Toby Keith. It will be great exposure for the country freshman, as Keith’s shows routinely sellout. This lifestyle is something Jaron could get used to — again.

“The fact that I had a run years back and am lucky to have one now is thrilling,” he said. “The ride is great, and I’m having a lot of fun.”

Jaron and the Long Road to Love: Amazon | Facebook | MySpace

I have your exclusive first look at how the Newark Bears’ roster is shaping up.

Tony Batista, 3B - Batista spent 11 seasons in the majors with seven clubs — Oakland, Arizona, Toronto, Baltimore, Montreal, Minnesota and Washington.  During that time, he was a .251 hitter with 221 home runs, 718 RBI and 625 runs scored.  The 35-year-old spent part of last season in Triple-A with the Nationals.

Ramon Castro, SS - The infielder received 15 at-bats with the Oakland Athletics in 2004.  He hasn’t been back to the majors since.  Castro spent the last two seasons in Newark and has been one of their most consistent offensive weapons.  Last year was the best statistical season of his career, as Castro batted .352 with 23 home runs, 102 runs scored and 84 RBI.

Julio Cordido, INF - Cordido spent 10 years in the San Francisco Giants organization before he was released after last season.  In 2008, he split time between Double and Triple-A.

Carl Everett, DH - This 14-year MLB veteran is already well known among Atlantic League fans.  Everett, who spent time in the bigs with Florida, New York (NL), Houston, Boston, Texas, Chicago, Montreal and Seattle, played the last two seasons for the Long Island Ducks.  During that time, he averaged hitting .320 with 99 RBI, 78 runs scored and 27 home runs.

Jose Garcia, P - Talk about a fast rise to the majors.  It took Garcia only two years to get a call from the Florida Marlins.  In fact, in 2006, he went from Single-A all the way to the majors, with stops at each level along the way.  During that five game stint, Garcia went 0-0 with eight strikeouts and a 4.91 ERA.  He missed all of 2007 after undergoing Tommy John surgery and made only three appearances for the Oakland Athletics’ Rookie League team in 2008.  Garcia’s minor league stats are impressive: 15-10, 2.72 ERA in 38 games with 53 strikeouts and just 14 walks.

Jose Herrera, OF - Herrera is perhaps best known for being traded for Rickey Henderson, another Bears alumni.  He’s played 14 seasons of professional baseball, two at the Major League level with the Athletics in 1995 and 1996.  During that stint, Herrera batted .264 with six home runs and 32 RBI.  He also has experience with the Orioles and Blue Jays organizations.  Herrera spent the last three seasons with Newark and hit over .300 in each of those campaigns.  Last year, he batted .331 with 93 RBI, 80 runs scored and seven home runs.

Bobby Hill, 2B - (Verbal Commitment) Hill started his career with the Bears and returned last season after stints in the Cubs, Pirates and Padres organizations.  Between 2002-2005, Hill spent time in the majors, where he hit .262 with 58 RBI and 67 runs scored.  The former second-round pick batted only .238 last season for the Bears.

Charlton Jimerson, OF - They should make a movie about Jimerson’s life.  I’ll spare you all the details, just check out his Wikipedia page.  This former walk-on at the University of Miami has big league experience with the Astros and Mariners.  Jimerson was called up over four different seasons, but only stepped into the batter’s box nine times.  During that time, he hit .444 with two home runs, including one in his first MLB at bat against Cole Hamels.

Shane Komine, P - Komine became the majors third American-born player of full Japanese ancestry when he was called up by the Athletics in 2006.  In four games, two of them starts, over the course of two years, he went 0-0 with a 4.86 ERA and two strikeouts (Lyle Overbay, Matt Stairs).  The first batter he faced was Toronto’s Reed Johnson, who homered off him.  In the minors, Komine has a career record of 29-30 with a 3.91 ERA and 418 strikeouts.

Ruben Mateo, OF - Mateo returns to the Bears for a third straight season.  He has major league time with the Rangers, Reds, Pirates and Royals, where he hit a combined .250 with 21 home runs and 89 RBI.  He joined the Bears in 2007 and was picked up by the Brewers after hitting .288 with five home runs and 15 RBI in just 24 games.  He re-signed with Newark last season and hit .298 with 16 home runs, 44 RBI and 35 runs scored.

Pete Rose Jr., DH - (Verbal Commitment) The son of the great Pete Rose is back for another season in the Atlantic League.  This time it’s not with the Long Island Ducks, but the Bears.  Rose joined the A.L. in 2005 after over a decade playing for the Orioles, White Sox, Indians, Reds and Pirates organizations.  He made an 11-game appearance in the majors with the Reds in 1997, but only hit .143.  Since 2004, Rose has played for the Ducks, with a stop in Bridgeport in 2006, and has always been consistently valuable.  Last year, he batted .289 with 15 home runs, 95 RBI and 65 runs scored.

Randall Simon, 1B - Simon rejoins the Bears after playing for the Netherlands in the World Baseball Classic.  He has major league experience with the Braves, Tigers, Pirates, Cubs, Devil Rays and Phillies.  Simon is a career .283 hitter.  Last season for Newark, the first baseman batted .321 with 11 home runs and 62 RBI.

Dustin Smith - Smith is the son of Hall of Fame shortstop Ozzie Smith and brother of Nikko, a finalist on last season’s American Idol.  He has limited minor league experience.

Rickey Henderson is the newest name to add to my Hall of Fame interview list. Not because I sat down with him on Sunday, but because he was only elected in January.

I’ve interviewed Rickey at least six times since 2003. He’s always been a gentleman and has never shown any signs of big-timing it. Not to mention, he gives you good stuff to write about and use in your article.

As I mentioned: I sat down with Rickey for one of his first one-on-one interviews since he was elected to the Hall. We talked about how his speech was coming along, whether he’d ever want to play again and, of course, the steroid era.

Before I give you the link to the story, which I wrote for Yahoo! Sports, my debut there of sorts, let me preface something: When Rickey and I spoke about steroids, I asked him whether he’d be upset if Alex Rodriguez broke his all-time runs record. The stat is one of his most cherished accomplishments and now that Rodriguez had admitted steroid use, I was curious. Rickey, twice, didn’t directly answer the question. That leaves me to believe that yes it does bother him.

So here it is…

Rickey Henderson Preparing His HOF Speech

Eric’s single “Anything For You” reached number 19 on the New Music Weekly-Independent Charts.

Scott: Growing up, what were some of your favorite country artists to listen and sing along to?

Eric: John Michael Montgomery, Garth Brooks, Reba, all those good 90′s Country Singers.

Scott: It’s a pretty amazing story about how you began perusing a country music career. Do you ever look back and wonder where you’d be if you didn’t take that cruise when you did?

Eric: Yes, I always wonder what if just one thing in this whole journey was off. It has been an entire string of events that led to where I am now. If any one of them didn’t happen or I was late to something it would have never happened.

Scott: When you first got to Nashville to start recording an album, did you feel like you fit?

Eric: No way, I felt like there was no way I belonged there with all those talented people.

Scott: You’ve shared a stage with many of my favorite acts, including Diamond Rio and Little Texas. Are those the moments when you’ve realized, “I’ve made it”?

Eric: I don’t think that anyone in this business would feel like they ever made it. It is a really tough business. You can make a living but for how long. You have to constantly work to grow. It is almost 24 hours a day non stop.

Scott: You’re going to be performing soon with Ryan Shupe and the Rubber Band, another interviewee of ScottStanchak.com. They have a truly unique style, but what do you consider your style that sets you apart?

Eric: I always say if the audience can’t relate to the stories I tell in my music and they can’t have a great time and escape from the everyday stressful lives that they live, than I am not doing my job as an entertainer. I feel like our shows are very different in the fact that we want them to be involved in our musical stories.

Scott: Who are some artists not in the country genre you’d love to perform with?

Eric: Josh Groban, Lionel Richie, Kelly Clarkson etc… I like anyone who has a true talented singing voice.

Scott: Your new album, “Why Not Today,” drops on August 1 of this year. What can people expect from it?

Eric: A very real glimpse into my life. What made me who I am. It is such a powerful CD. The entire process was a very emotional process and I can’t wait for people to hear it.

Scott: When you’re not recording, you have the life of anyone who dreams of living in the country would love (horses, truck, etc.). What is it about that life you enjoy so much?

Eric: The quite peaceful simplicity of it all. I love nothing more than to be in the mountains at the ranch where there is no power, no running water, and best of all, no cell phone service or internet, ha ha. I love to be out fishing or just kicking it away from the city life. The Country life is slowly dying out and I am struggleing with that.

Scott: Let’s play a game of word association:

Scott: Rap Music – Eric: Will Smith

Scott: Cowboy Hat – Eric: Love them

Scott: The Internet – Eric: Useful

Scott: Your Song “Since I Let You Go” – Eric: Sad but True

Truly one of my favorite acts, Ryan took some time out of his busy schedule to answer a few questions about his career, new record and pet monkey.

Scott: Growing up in Utah, you played the fiddle from the age of five… when was it you realized that you’d like to make a career out of making music?

Ryan: Well, I started Ryan Shupe & the RubberBand when I was in college, because it’s always good to have a band in college. When I saw that it started to take off and have legs, I thought that I needed to keep at it and pursue music for a while. I feel like I am getting away with something every day I continue to do music as a career.

Scott: What’s a typical day like for Ryan Shupe?

Ryan: On show days, we are traveling, loading in gear, sound checking, meeting with people… Radio stations, interviews, making set lists. On days that aren’t show days, I practice, write songs, practice with the band, brainstorm with our booking agent and manager about ways to further our musical endeavors, answer emails, coordinate with the road manager and other band members… And try to get in as much snowboarding and wakeboarding as I can.

Scott: Your band is called the “RubberBand.” That’s a pretty interesting play on words, how did you come up with it?

Ryan: I had been booked for a show and needed a name for the band to go on the poster. At the time, the band was just forming and I didn’t know who was exactly going to be in the band. I also, wanted a band that would be flexible and would never break up. My sister said that I should name it the Ryan Shupe & The RubberBand and then name stuck.

Scott: When you started out, you and your bandmates would travel around in a van from gig to gig, what was probably the best and worst experience from that time?

Ryan: The best was just hanging out with the band guys and having that experience of being on the road early in our musical career. The worst was coasting (after the engine had stopped) into a gas station in the middle of nowhere in sub freezing weather while we are all huddled under blankets to keep us warm… Now that’s living the dream!

Scott: After you’ve written a song and recorded it, do you ever look back and think about all the lines you took out and wonder one of them would have worked better? Or, do you ever think, man, glad I made that switch?

Ryan: I don’t usually think that. I will keep tweaking a song until I think it is done and then I try not to look back. It’s like a child at that point. You just love him for what he is.

Scott: Your first mainstream hit was “Dream Big.” Talk about that song from the beginning process to when you started hearing it get a lot of airplay.

Ryan: I wrote the song before the band was formed and it was one of our earliest songs. Over the years it has become a staple song for us… One that we always get good response from. So when we were going to release an album with capitol nationally we thought that it should for sure be on the new CD.

Scott: What kind of reaction have you gotten to that song? I’ve listened to it a lot because it just seems to have a great message of going for whatever your goal in life may be and not let anything get you down.

Ryan: Well, I believe what the song says. We get lots of email and letters from people telling us that it has helped them through hard times. That’s what makes playing music worth it… When a song really touches someone on a deeper level.

Scott: I read that some of your influences include The Police, AC/DC and Willie Nelson. That’s a pretty wide array of musical talents. Talk about what these guys mean to you.

Ryan: We got together as a band and listed as many influences as we could think of and these were the most common denominators. I think there is a lot of good music and good music has no musical boundaries.

Scott: I really enjoy the songs “Would You Love Me” and “Even Superman.” They both have awesome beats and are lyrically unbelievable. Have those ever been or will they be released as singles?

Ryan: We are working on a new CD, so I’m not sure if they will be released as singles anytime soon. However, I have always felt that they have a lot of potential and I haven’t ruled out the possibility of them achieving more broad exposure.

Scott: I read that you have a pet monkey, which just had a baby monkey of it’s own. How cool is it to own a pet that rarely anyone has? I always wanted a penguin.

Rusty: They are mischievous but well worth the effort, they also help around the house on occasion. You should get a penguin.

Scott: What’s next for the band?

Ryan: We are excited about that. We are also touring around the country and building up fans wherever we go, it’s a lot of fun.

Emily took some time out to chat with me about her career, hanging with Napoleon and living in Utah.

Scott: Growing up in Utah – it’s not exactly New York City – how was it getting into the acting business?

Emily: Being in Utah has had its pros and cons as far as acting goes. There is much less pressure, fewer people to compete with, the majority of auditions are for morally wholesome projects/products (at least as far as I’ve come across), and I’m surrounded by a very strong support group (most of my family and best friends live here). On the other hand, there are much fewer opportunities, LA/NY agents are reluctant to represent someone who does not live there, and LA/NY casting directors are reluctant to audition/book talent who does not live there. Nevertheless, I’m gonna’ keep at it!! I am hopeful that opportunities will continue to come and that even though I don’t live in NY or LA, I will be able to travel there for auditions and work. Oh! Having my web-site, www.emilytyndall.com, has been crucial for my acting career. I have connected with people all over the world because of it. In that sense, as long as I am willing to travel for jobs, where I am based matters much less!

Scott: You studied ballroom dancing from an early age and it was one of the reasons you met your husband, how much of you now is because of those early dancing years?

Emily: Practically 100 %! I absolutely love those memories! I can’t count how many times I wrote (and still write) in my journal, “I LOVE dancing!!!” To top it off, my husband Spencer feels the same way! Dancing inspires us! I wouldn’t be married to Spencer if it weren’t for those years and years of dancing together. Even my current work with Disney would be non-existent if I hadn’t trained in dance. My experiences with dance have created a chain of events that have enriched my life beyond what I could have ever imagined!

Scott: Talk about how you landed the role of Trish in Napoleon Dynamite?

Emily: My agent told me about the audition. I first read for Deb, the scene where she shows up at Napoleon’s door selling glamour shots and caboodles full of boondoggle. “Would you like to look like this? Because right now for a limited time, glamour shots by Deb are 75% off…” Of course I had no idea what the whole movie was about but I could assume from the boondoggle and caboodles that it should have an 80’s feel. So I wore a hot pink sweater and used a pink claw to push my hair into a big wave on the top of my head, but I took the scene very seriously. I got called back and got to read for the director, Jared Hess. He liked my performance, but thought I fit the look of Summer and Trisha better. So I read for both of them. For Summer, I read the speech she gives to the school encouraging the students to vote for her for president—about chimney-changas and it being “summer all year long!” For Trisha, I read the scene where Uncle Rico gives her the Bust Plus flyer. My only lines were, “Yeah” and “Ok.” I guess I was pretty convincing with those two words because I got the part of Trisha! Haha–ok I’m not sure what exactly tipped the scale in my favor, but I’m just glad they cast me! I have never read a script as genuinely funny as Napoleon Dynamite! I feel extremely blessed to have had a part in such an original and hilarious film.

Scott: What was filming like on that shoot – take me through one of the best days on set?

Emily: Filming was a blast! It’s hard to choose a day so I’ll just share the first one. When I arrived in Preston, I couldn’t find anybody from the crew…Preston seemed like a deserted little ghost town. The production office was a scrappy old building filled with cobwebs and clutter. Finally Tina Majorino’s mom, Sarah came along and helped me find the crew. I was promptly shown to my room at the one and only motel in Preston. I sat on my bed for a moment and tried to believe that I was actually in Preston to film a movie. How exciting! I was then taken to the set which was outside in a simple subdivision. I went into the makeup/hair trailer and met Daniel, the hairdresser and Steve, the makeup artist. The first thing Daniel did was cut thick bangs in my hair! Haha! I hadn’t had bangs like that since I was 3 years old!! Then Steve put on my makeup. Jerusha (Jared Hess’s wife) helped me find an outfit (half of which, by the way, came directly from my collection of hand-me-downs that I donated for the shoot!) and then I walked down the sidewalk to where the cast and crew were filming.

That day I met Haylie Duff (Summer Wheatley) and Jon Gries (Uncle Rico). Also on set was Jon Heder (Napoleon) whom I had already met at college. After some waiting around (typical for a day on a film set), they were ready to shoot my scenes. Haylie and I were going to film the scene where Uncle Rico gives us the Bust Plus flyers. “Action!” We started walking down the sidewalk chatting about important girly things like bedazzlers, jewelry, and hair products. Uncle Rico pulled up in his van and delivered his lines and of course, the flyer! Uncle Rico was hilarious—just his serious expression killed me! After a bunch of shots we took a break.

As I sat on the lawn, Jon Heder came up to me and said, “Hey Emily, what do you think?” He handed me the drawing of my face that would be used later in the shoot. “Oh. My. Gosh.” I laughed. “It’s hilarious! It’s hideous! It’s perfect!” Yes, this was the drawing that took him “three hours to shade the upper lip”. Jon had been sitting on the lawn drawing that picture the whole time we were shooting. It’s ironic that his character, Napoleon, is such a terrible artist because Jon is actually an extremely talented artist who majored in visual art at BYU.

During the break, Jared told us stories from his childhood in Preston. Everything Jared said made me laugh because he could imitate the painfully awkward moments of life so well. Truth is stranger than fiction which is one reason ND was so funny and successful—Jared mirrored so much of it from real life and real people. Jared re-enacted the situations way better than any of us actors!! It was hilarious!

Well, after a nice break in the shade, we started filming again. It was a very hot day—actually, so hot that somebody fainted—but don’t worry, they were ok. After filming was done for the day Haylie and I drove a block away and ordered pizza at a little green restaurant. Everyone who walked in validated the characters in the script. In fact, everyone in that town validated the truthfulness of the script. Preston seems to exist in a little bubble isolated from the rest of the world and content to be that way.

After dinner, Haylie and I returned to our motel rooms which were next door to each other. We talked and laughed a lot every day! I loved working with Haylie, she reminded me of my best friend Rachel. We were very comfortable around each other and that made the whole shoot so fun. I loved getting to know experienced actors from LA. Jon Gries (Uncle Rico) and I jammed out on our guitars—he taught me how to play Blackbird! Tina, Haylie, Jon Heder and I practiced our dances and Happy Hands routines at the local gym. Haylie and I went to Bear Lake one day, watched her sister Hilary Duff on TV as “Lizzie McGuire” another day, bought snacks at Preston’s only grocery store, went to the local park for fireworks and even had sleepovers…hehe…being alone in a motel is only fun at first—I realized I’d rather be with friends!

Scott: Tell us the truth, was Jon Heder enjoying the perm?

Emily: Haha. I’m gonna’ go with a yes on that one. He, along with everyone, took their roles so seriously—even though the characters seemed slightly ridiculous. That made the characters so great—and likable. Everybody had fun doing whatever it took to make their character more believable: Kip’s braces and mustache, my thick bangs, Uncle Rico’s toupee, Deb’s side pony tail and puffed sleeves, Efren’s wig, everyone’s outdated clothes, and of course Jon’s pants, moon boots, “Endurance” style t-shirts and last but not least, the perm—which he had to get more than once because it started to grow out during the filming. So you’ll notice that at some parts of the movie, his perm is tighter. Oh yeah, he was loving the perm!

Scott: You were obviously thrilled when it took off, but what’s it been like to see some of the actors turn into big names in Hollywood, specifically Jon Heder (Napoleon)?

Emily: I just can’t believe that I was able to be a part of the same thing that brought Jon Heder and the other filmmakers such success. How cool is that?! It has been so fun to see Jon’s name in movie after movie. I’ve talked with him and he has told me what it is like to be recognized everywhere he goes. I experience a little bit of that, but not nearly as much as he does. He told me that people always ask him to do the Napoleon dance. I imagine that could get old after a while. I am not sure whether acting is something Jon always wanted to do—but nonetheless, it has become a successful career for him. So I am very happy for him! Based on some conversations with him, I don’t think he loves getting too much attention from strangers on the street—but I’m sure he’s accustomed to it by now.

It is crazy how much he has done in the past three years! He’s worked with Will Ferrill, David Spade, Rob Schneider, Jon Lovitz, Billy Bob Thornton, Sarah Silverman, Ben Stiller, Reese Witherspoon, Mark Ruffalo, Steve Buscemi, Catherine O’Hara, Kathleen Turner, Kevin James, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Amy Poehler, Jenna Fischer, Mila Kunis, Jeff Bridges, Zooey Deschanel, Shia LeBeouf, Jeff Daniels, Diane Keaton…don’t worry–I didn’t know all of those off the top of my head—I cheated and used imdb.com. Anyway, I’m proud to know him–go Jon!!

Scott: I read you were an artist for Disney, doing animations for movies such as “Meet The Robinsons” and “Chicken Little.” Must be a pretty cool gig?

Emily: Oh yes!!! It IS WAY cool—I work with some of the most talented, funny, passionate, and creative people. Amazingly, they are all extremely humble as well. I couldn’t be happier. I started out as an intern artist six years ago–learning to do concept art, textures, and build 3D objects. Since then, I have had the opportunity of taking on many additional roles: lead texture artist, lead game designer, renderer, choreographer, dancer, voice-over actress, casting director, motion capture actress, background painter, cinematic artist, etc. Working for Disney Interactive Studios is awesome because we are encouraged to really show off! Everyone celebrates work well done and so we all are striving to improve ourselves every day. Here’s some samples from my co-workers: www.avalanchesoftware.blogspot.com.

I also love having an inside scoop on what’s happening at Disney. We get to see feature animations before they come out—and seeing them is considered work because you know, we have to see the films in order to make games about them. Speaking of work—Disney pays me to draw, color, dance, pretend, play video games, look through fashion magazines, dance, watch YouTube videos, check out celebrity fan-sites, browse online clothing stores…and oh, did I mention dance?? I LOVE dancing! Hehe. Just had to throw that in there again. I wish I could tell you what game we are making right now, but I can’t. Sorry! …Boy do I feel cool having such “confidential” information!

Scott: Your latest movie is “Forever Strong” with Sean Astin and Gary Cole. What was being apart of that film like?

Emily: It was really awesome! Sadly, I never actually got to meet Sean Astin or Gary Cole. However, I still had a great time. This film did not have a huge budget, but it was a significantly greater budget than the previous films I have worked on. That makes a big difference behind the scenes. Everything runs smoothly, crew members are happier and everyone is more comfortable. I had my own room in the honey wagon! That was a first–loved that!! Plus I immediately felt welcomed into the group. Ryan Little, the director, was like a fun older brother. I was excited to work with him because I had heard great things about his film Saints and Soldiers. While on set, I made friends with Jeremy Earl, who was one of the few Utah-based actors with a large role in the film. I also chatted a bit with Sean Faris and he seemed very cool–very dedicated.

Scott: Who are some actors you’d love to work with?

Emily: Meryl Streep!! She amazes me! Nicole Kidman, Renee Zelweger, Julia Roberts, Anthony Hopkins, Téa Leoni, Jack Black, Toni Colette, Bill Murray, Steve Carrell, Keira Knightley, Kevin James, Leah Remini, Rachel McAdams, Michelle Pfeifer, Amanda Bynes, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Kate Winslet, AnnaSophia Robb, Kristin Chenowith, Christianne Noll, Holly Hunter, Marisa Tomei…etc. etc.

Scott: What’s next for Emily Tyndall?

Emily: I’ll be finishing up this video game for Disney [title confidential] around September which will be a guaranteed hit! This has been the best project I have ever worked on! I want to create a “making of” DVD because the whole process has been so hilarious! I feel like I have been laughing for the past 6 months straight because I work with such funny people! Meanwhile, I also plan to send out my CD, Journey, to music producers as well as fans who have requested it. Then I want to start working on some of my own songs—possibly collaborate with some friends. And of course, I will continue to audition for shows and projects in Utah, LA, NY and wherever else any intriguing projects may be! I post all my latest news here: www.emilytyndall.com and people can sign up on my mailing list for updates as well.

Scott: Is Utah a place you think you’ll always be or do you think you’ll ever venture to L.A. or New York?

Emily: It’s hard to know, but even if I always live here, I will definitely venture to LA, NY or elsewhere for work. Even though Utah is my home, it doesn’t mean I need to be home all the time, right? Watch out world, here I come!!!

One part of the duo, Evan, talks about music, being a twin and future ventures.

Scott: Being an identical twin myself, I’m allowed to ask you the same annoying questions you always receive. What was the best and worst part of having someone in this world that looks exactly like you?

Evan: Best is always having someone around. Worst is always having someone around.

Scott: In 1996, while your career was still building, you performed at the 1996 Olympic Games. What was that experience like?

Evan: It was such a cool time.  At the time, we were one of the biggest regional bands and with Atlanta being our home, it put us in a good position to get a lot of gigs—we ended up playing 17 total (often 2 in a day). With so many people visiting from all over the world, it proved to be an amazing opportunity for us to plant our music in the hands of people to take back to their respective cities.

Scott: Jimmy Buffett took notice to your music and signed you to his Island Record label. That had to be a huge honor considering what a classic star Buffett is.

Evan: Jimmy Buffett has been like a father and a brother to us. When he yells at us and tells us what to do, we know it’s out of “fatherly love”. When he kicks back and hangs out with us he’s our brother. He actually brought us to Island Records and was invested in the deal, but Island Records is not his record label.

We can’t say enough about what Jimmy did and continues to do for us. We can certainly never repay him, but we have made many attempts in our career to “pay it forward” and help out younger artists—too bad for them, we’re NO Jimmy Buffetts!

Scott: In 2000, you released the album “Evan and Jaron,” which was very successful. Many songs off the LP, including “Crazy For This Girl” and “The Distance” were plastered all over mainstream radio, what were going through your heads when things began to look so good?

Evan: I wish I could say we jumped on our hotel room beds and had a pillow fight, but the truth is we were too busy “working it” to give it the attention it really deserved.

Furthermore, having worked so hard and long for our success, we’d had our share of “sure things” fall through in the past, as well as friends who hadn’t made it, so we tried to approach our success (and still do) with a sense of humility.

Scott: While songs sometimes fade out over time on stations that play Top 40, they live on satellite radio. What has XM and Sirius been like, especially now that your songs are heard on many of the 90’s and Now stations.

Evan: I’m a fan of any service that truly caters to the customer, and it appears XM and Sirius have done a great job of offering the “customer” a wide variety of options. And I’m of course thankful that we continue to get airplay on both terrestrial radio as well as satellite.

Scott: The two of you appear each week on the USA Networks, “Character Road Trip.” For those who don’t tune in, what can they expect each week?

Evan: As I’ve mentioned several times via blogs on our myspace page (myspace.com/evanandjaron), this is a show that we said NO to when it was initially offered to us by USA Network. I remember that we were in Atlanta at the time visiting our folks. Saying no to a TV show was par for the course for us, as we had NEVER done anything other than music at the point in an effort to maintain credibility (whatever that means). Anyhow, after saying “thanks, but no thanks” I said to Jaron “you know, we always so no, how about for once we say yes?” He said “bro, it will kill our career”. I said “what career?” Five minutes later we were signed on to host the show and it has been the most fun we’ve had since high school. Oh, and that career? We’re very fortunate to be enjoying the best year we’ve ever had! (so much for humility!)

Anyhow, to answer your question about what people can expect, it’s a show with no rules. We basically meet random people throughout the country who typically have random talents that we can engage in with them (for example a guy who paints while running on a treadmill). It’s quite silly and entertaining. You can see past episodes at www.characterroadtrip.com

Scott: I gotta ask. What was appearing on “American Inventors” like? Did you figure you’d get some recognition because of who you were already?

Evan: You can file us going on this show under the same title as us agreeing to do Character Road Trip—“Can Everyone Just Ruhlax?” (or “what career?”). The story goes like this: Jaron and I had Executive Produced a TV show for FOX alongside a woman who would become the EP for “American Inventor”. During the time we had spent together she had heard us talk about our many inventions. When she eventually got the “AI” gig, she called me and begged me to come on the show. The taping was on a Sunday and I decided to take a couple of my buddies (Jaron, Elon Gold, Scott Weinger, and Jeremy Garelick—all googleable) to come down and help me sell my product. While we did it solely in the name of good fun, we do happen to have several inventions in the works. One of which is a new modification of a cowboy hat that we recently licensed to Stetson. But that aside, it was clear that we did not fit on the show when we realized that every other inventor had put more than just a “Sunday morning” into his or her invention. Not surprisingly, ABC came to the same conclusion and asked me not to come back despite having already been sent to the next round.

Scott: I heard your recording a new album this winter in Nashville. Are you going for the country route on this one?

Evan: I feel like our music has always been on the country line. I’ve been writing songs in Nashville (and spending a lot of time there) since 1995. Our first studio album had fiddle, mandolin, steel guitar, etc… So are we “goin’ country”? Yes and No. We definitely would like to make ourselves more known to the country music fans, but no, we will not be changing our music.

Scott: What new projects are you working on for the future?

Evan: In the past few years, Jaron and I have found our groove in producing TV shows. The combination of having a bunch of ideas, knowing people, and knowing how to execute has really helped us a lot.

We are currently in production on our first TV show with MTV (we’re behind the camera) and hope to have a few others on the way shortly.

Scott: Final question, what are the top three web sites you visit on a daily basis?

1. myspace.com/evanandjaron – got to add those friends and reply to those messages!

2. my.yahoo.com – I check news, sports, entertainment news, tech news, nytimes editorials, etc, and most importantly, odd news—I get more ideas for TV shows and movies from odd news than just about anything else.

3. Google.com – I’m constantly searching for stuff.

Scott: Josh, thanks for taking some time to give the viewers of ScottStanchak.com some insight into your career.  Growing up, when did you realize that you were a funny kid?

Josh: Funny or funny looking? Uhhh… Let me think… Had to be… November 5th, 1982.

Scott: A lot of your act revolves around you having cerebral palsy. When did you start to turn your disability into something positive?

Josh: How old am I now? 28? Yeah, probably age 27 or so. No, well you know, junior high can be pretty rough on a kid, so imagine what it’s like for kids who walk like they’re hammered and are accompanied by paid scribes. School can make anyone a comedian.

Scott: When you were standing on line to audition for “Last Comic Standing,” what was going through your mind?

Josh: Someone open the doors, I gotta peeeeee…

Scott: When you were coming up with your jokes during the show, what led you to believe that those were the jokes that could help you win?

Josh: Sheer panic.

Scott: At the end you emerged as the winner of the show. Obviously that meant millions of people loved your act, but what did that
mean to you?

Josh: Man, the response from people was and continues to be amazing. Everyone’s been so supportive, I’m really grateful.

Scott: People might not know, but you’re a pretty good soccer player. Talk about how playing sports plays a role in your life.

Josh: People might not know? Shoot, tell the world! Josh Blue kicks ass at soccer! Uhh, okay, “how soccer has played a role in my life” by Josh Blue… I’ve loved it forever, and when I was living in Senegal I played it all the time with my friends. In terms of sports in general, someone with a disability has to play twice as good as anyone else who plays just to be considered worthy of being on the field.
Otherwise no one’s ever going to throw you the ball.

Scott: Who were some of your role models growing up?

Josh: The Cookie Monster. I still want cookies to this day because of that guy. If he’s out there reading this somewhere, I just want to
say thanks, ‘Cookie, thanks for everything.’

Scott: If you say one thing to anybody, who would it be and what would you say?

Josh: I’d tell Penelope Cruz that if she wants to have a love child, I’m available. And Bob Dylan, too.

Scott: Let’s play word association:

Scott: Paris Hilton – Josh: Num nums

Scott: Pele – Josh: RESPECT

Scott: Roast Beef – Josh: Breakfast

Scott: Carrot Top – Josh: Thousand Island Dressing

Scott: New Jersey – Josh: What is this interview for again?

Scott: Thanks again man. I know you’re coming up to Caroline’s in December so I’ll be there as well as hopefully a lot of my viewers.

Josh: Awesome. Thanks man.

Drake has opened for such acts as Kenny Chesney, Garth Brooks and Brooks & Dunn.  He’s also written several songs for other country artists, including the 1996 Joe Diffie hit “C-O-U-N-T-R-Y,” which went to number 23 on the charts.

Dusty took some time to chat with ”The Cheap Seats” about his career.

Scott: Growing up in Pennsylvania, how did country music play apart in your life to make you want to grow up writing and signing it?

Dusty: I grew up north of Pittsburgh. My dad was a steelworker, and the whole area there was blue collar. People didn’t just listen to country music….they lived it.

Scott: Many people usually have odd jobs before becoming what they are today and yours was as an air traffic controller. When you look back at that experience and what you’ve done since, what comes to mind?

Dusty: Sometimes I wonder what it would’ve been like to have a regular start and finish time. It seems like in this business, there’s no time reference. We work whenever we can, sometimes all hours of the night, with no scheduled hours, except for on stage. But it is similar in that every day is different, like running airplanes.

Scott: When you moved to Nashville, what were some of the things you began doing to get noticed that you probably never have said before?

Dusty: I pretty much sang somewhere every night to small crowds at songwriter venues….for free, of course. I also hooked up with a couple local bands trying to get a foot in the door. Most of those doors slammed shut on my big toe…

Scott: In 1996, you wrote Joe Diffie’s C-O-U-N-T-R-Y. How’d you get that into his hands and how much of a boost did that give you to keep working harder?

Dusty: One of my co-writers pitched it to his producer. It’s interesting how Nashville throws you a bone now and then to keep you here. I think you need that kind of bump now and then. It helps reaffirm why your here. There’s nothing quite like the feeling of knowing you wrote a part of a song that makes it to a record. Cuts are hard to come by…I ain’t had a scratch in a while….

Scott: Was there ever a point when you wrote songs for other artists (Ricochet, Mark Chestnutt, etc) that you would have loved to record for yourself instead?

Dusty: Yea, all of ‘em. I was writing with me in mind when I wrote my first few outside cuts. Having said that, I would never pass up an opportunity to have someone record one of my songs. I think it’s the best compliment you can get as a writer. Not to mention I’m a fan, so knowing that Mark, or Joe, or whoever liked it enough to put their spin on it, is vindicating….and cool!

Scott: You’ve opened for some pretty impressive people, let’s get your take on those experiences:

Dusty: Garth Brooks: This show is where I got my name.(Dusty) My real name is Dean. The guy who introduced me said Dusty, and the now thousands of Garth fans figured that was my name…  As for Garth, he was, as everyone says: as personable as can be, and the most dynamic performer I have ever shared the stage with…

Dusty: Kenny Chesney: Unbelievably electric. Great stage show, and welcomed me and the band into the backstage hang. And he sounds great live too, his band rocks.

Dusty: Brooks & Dunn: I could go on for days about these guys… They are the real deal and treated me and the band like headliners.

Scott: Since 1992, you’ve had five hits on the Country Top 100 charts, how cool has that been know you’ve made a living at what so many others would kill to do?

Dusty: A living might be a stretch…my wife, God bless her, is still nursing at a local hospital to support my music habit. But knowing I’ve been a part of the country family is why I came in the first place. Nashville can be like Vegas, in that you can make a killin’, but you can’t make a living…I’ve made neither yet. (Laughs)

Scott: Your latest album, “At a Honkey Tonk Near You,” is great, man. What can people expect from it?

Dusty: Actually it’s morphing as I answer these. But I think the songs we’ve found in town, combining with what I’m writing, it will be a mix of a little more substance slanted with a smile. How’s that for vague? It’s hard to say, but I’m trying to capture a little of what we do live, in the studio. I think the end result will be a little more uptempo, supported by a couple meaningful ballads.

Scott: When you’re backstage before a show, what “celebrity” type requests do you have?

Dusty: I’m afraid I’m not very glamorous when it comes to the pre-show…I don’t really have any rituals before a gig. But I do like a little time on the bus to listen to something heavier while we’re getting ready. I just hate rushing…and I really hate to be late!

Scott: Do you ever download your own songs off iTunes?

Dusty: I have downloaded a couple things I didn’t get copies of when we recorded them. I could live without my email a couple days, but if iTunes went down, I’d have problems. My iPod is my favorite piece of gear I own. I even listen to it on my John Deere.

Over the years, “The Cheap Seats” has featured celebrities, as well as athletes on the show.  It mixes up the guests and allows for us to reach others who might not be only sports fans.  While most of the content you see will be professional-sports related, you can expect occasional interviews with actors, musicians and politicians.

Here’s my interview with actor Jon Gries, who has starred in such films as “Napoleon Dynamite” and ”The Astronaut Farmer.”  He’s also appeared in the television shows “Lost,” “The Pretender,” “Seinfeld,” and more.

Scott: Over the years you’ve appeared in close to 100 movies and television shows. When you first started getting roles on a consistent basis, what kind of thoughts were you having that you could actually make a living doing this?

Jon: That’s a really great question. It was more of a thought in retrospect, like, ‘I’m making money’ instead of ‘Wow, I can make money doing this.’ Looking back I realized I hadn’t worked any other jobs over the past few years and that was around the time I was filming “Real Genious.”

Scott: Most people work very hard to get where they are today. What was your path to stardom?

Jon: It’s been a long one with respect to the roles I’ve played. I mean, there’s been good opportunities that one way or another didn’t work out, but I ended up doing something else. Then “The Pretender” came around and I was hired for one show and ended up never leaving.

Scott: What were some of the opportunities that didn’t work out?

Jon: I read for Robert Redford when he was making “Ordinary People.” I read for the role Timothy Hutton ended up getting. (Redford) told me that I was his guy, but as a matter of diligence, he said he was going to keep looking and leave no stone unturned. Agents kept calling me, casting directors, everyone, calling to say how amazing this was. Then I heard nothing for about a week and a half. I was on the Warner Brothers lot for another reason one day and I stopped into the office for “Ordinary People,” At first the lady at the desk smiled and then covered her mouth and gasped because she remembered she didn’t tell me I didn’t get the part.

Scott: “The Pretender” was a big show for you. After all, you appeared in 85 episodes. What was that experience like to know your full-time job was as a character on a successful TV show?

Jon: It was intense, but fun. At first I was hired by the day and after about 10 episodes I went in and was like ‘If I’m going to keep reappearing, you’re gonna have to pay me more.’ They said they had a different idea for the network to sign me to the show with different options, but the deal had to be negotiated if I was going to be a regular. Before I signed, one of the stipulations was that I get the opportunity to direct an episode. I was told the network wouldn’t have it, but was given a promise I could – and that promise came true.

Scott: Let’s talk about your role as Uncle Rico in “Napoleon Dynamite.” You had some funky outfits and a weak throwing arm in the movie – I’ve heard from other actors in the movie it was a great time filming the movie – was it a great experience for you?

Jon: I think you hit the nail on the head. Truly, doing that film, it was the closest experience to going back to summer camp from when I was a little kid. It honestly didn’t even feel like work. I like that Jared (Hess, Director) let me be inventive with the character. It was a great script and he’s a young guy with a strong vision and was never questionable. Some directors you question their judgment, but not Jared. His eye is amazing – very good.

Scott: Let’s be honest: Is your throwing arm as bad as it is in the movie?

Jon: (Laughs) I’d say it’s a little better. If you remember the scene where Napoleon is hit in the face with the steak, well, I threw that steak. And it really hurt when it hit him. Not to mention, I was off-camera a good distance away so it was a pretty good throw. My most admiral moment of the film was to hit him exactly where I was supposed to – square in the face.

Scott: Uncle Rico was a self-proclaimed football great. Are you a big sports fan?

Jon: I’m not a huge, rabid fan. I played baseball and still do love the game. I’m not an avid fan though. I think too much emphasis is put on the money players are making instead of having hometown players. Players are now going to the highest bidder instead of staying with one team throughout their career. So in that regard I’m not a huge fan, but I still love the competition in sports.

Scott: One of my favorite shows on television is “Lost.” Last season you appeared on an episode, playing Ben Linus’ father. Were you a fan of the show before going on it?

Jon: When the show was first offered to me I had to have my girlfriend read the script to let me know what was going on. I’d never seen the show before and she knew the show and was a big fan. When she finished it she was like ‘Oh my god, I can’t believe it’ and because she had a preview of what was going to happen.

Scott: Since the show is one that you really need to start watching from the beginning because you’ll get – no pun intended — lost in the storyline, was that hard to play the role or because it was a flashback you were appearing in it didn’t really matter?

Jon: The most important thing was to emphasize the relationship between Ben and myself. It really didn’t matter how the development of his story fit in. We just had to have a great connection and did.

Scott: What was your on-set experience like?

Jon: It was serious, but interesting and really great. I would say, with the exception of Luke Perry, I did “90210″ a few years ago and it was the biggest show on TV at the time. “Lost” and “90210″ are very similar – popular culture, always in the tabloids, biggest show running. “90210″ was very aware of itself though. Not on “Lost.” The show is so popular, but the cast and crew were so laid back. Perhaps because it was filmed in Hawaii, but lots of the crew surfed and enjoying being there. It was a very good experience.

Scott: How secretive is everything kept on the “Lost” set?

Jon: Very.  I had my script and we were filming in the jungle, but on this day it was pouring rain and mud all over the place. My script fell in the mud and was goopy and looking horrible. I told the crew what happened and asked for a new script and they all just laughed at me – they didn’t want extra scripts floating around. I had to squeeze all the mud out of it and keep using the same script. Plus, my name was in huge, block print so they’d know it was mine. The same thing at the hotel. When there were re-writes, they’d instruct my driver to bring it to me. I ask for him to just leave it with the front desk, but he said no, you have to take it yourself. I also had to sign a confidentiality contract.

Scott: Let’s talk about some of the shows you appeared on and tell me what your on-set experience was like:

“Seinfeld” as a bum who refuses to give Kramer his Tupperware back: Jon: I did two episodes of “Seinfeld,” one in 1995 and the other at its end some years later – both as the same character. It was a show I hadn’t seen before my first time appearing because I really don’t watch too much TV. I just got prepared to shoot and things went fine. Everyone was so nice, including Jerry (Seinfeld). I will say though that Kramer (Michael Richards) wasn’t too nice though. Most of my scenes were with him on the set and he didn’t even speak to me much. I gave him the benefit of the doubt though because I’m sure he had a host of other issues or something may have been going on in his personal life. I just assumed that.

“24″ as a terrorist: Jon: Truly a great experience. The director was the son (James Whitmore Jr.) of James Whitmore, who directed many “Pretender” episodes, and offered me the role. It was a pleasure to be on set, and to tell the truth, about seventy percent of the crew was the same as “The Pretender.” Everyone on that show were so very close – attending birthday parties, weddings and other events. It was nice to see them all again.

“E.R.” as a defense attorney: Jon: This was another show I really hadn’t seen before. I did the movie “Jackpot” in 2001 with Anthony Edwards and he was directing an episode and needed someone to play Sally Fields’ lawyer. So that’s how that happened and of course, how great was it to act with Sally Fields.

Scott: You’ve been on so many TV shows, do you have a favorite to sit down and watch?

Jon: Nowaday there’s lots of good shows. I’ll tell you one that I always thought was very good and that’s “Frasier.” I hear “Heroes” is very good. I watched a bunch of “Soprano” episodes early on. My girlfriend got me into one reality show and that’s “Project Runway.” I mean, they are making clothes out of nothing – it’s fascinating.

Scott: You’ve acted alongside so many great actors and actresses, who is it you’d love to film a scene with?

Jon: Jack Nicholson. I’d be doing backflips if I could film with him. Also, the Cohen brothers. And Jared Hess again. He’s so gifted and lovely.