Well, for right now it’s a solo project, so I’m the only member playing guitar and sometimes harmonica, singing and I try to follow the beat with my feet. On my feet, I use a piece of wood taped to my one of my feet and a tambourine around the other one. It sounds like those little toy walking and clapping the cymbals in their hands.

But, it’s in my plans to try some of those songs with a band. I’m sure it would work. It might be more fun to watch live too. That is one thing I think about a lot, I wouldn’t want to play solo shows only. I might always do some, but I want to play in a band too, it’s fun to hear different persons playing together, the interaction.

2- When did you decide to start your one man band ?

I wanted to do it since I started playing guitar, pretty much, but it takes some times before you can actually say “Alright, now I’m showing it to people”. I guess I was sorta shy, lack of confidence. But, it’s not only a question of being shy, it’s also because you feel it might be pretentious to think that people are gonna be interested in your music. You know. Why should we
care about you and your stories?

Also, I wanted to try a more stripped down sound, less loud rock all the time. So, that was a way to try it. I listen to a lot of country blues, american folk music where there’s only one guy playing. But, I didn’t want to only play guitar and to sing, coming from a rock’n’roll background I wanted some rhythym behind me, so I decided to use my feet. I wanted to have the kind of rhythm sound that Jessie May Hemphill has, warm sounding, down to earth, more like people clapping to the music. Also, I got tired of writing songs that never get anywhere, I wanted to share them with people. I was writing songs, but I didn’t have a band to play them with, so it started to stagnate pretty quickly. To record songs it forces me to actually finish them, and to write new ones. It helps you to be more structured in the way you work. That’s another reason why I do it. Also, with a band, sometimes it’s hard for your ego. You bring a song that you have a feeling it’s gonna be good, but the others might not get it at first or ever. So, you get shy of bringing songs to the practice ‘cos you’re afraid they’re not gonna like it. So, you end up with a lot of songs on your hands. Working alone has it’s good sides, but I like playing in a band too.

3- I know you’re pretty recent as a band, but I heard you still got some cool shit coming out soon, is that true ??

Yes, because when I started I wasn’t thinking much of playing solo shows. I was more preoccupied with recording and getting a little set of songs to play. So, after I finished one year of pretty intense school, I had free times on my hands to concentrate on music. Also, I was impatient to go back to music more seriously. So, I locked (figure of speech) myself in the bathroom and started to play to get something done. I did some recordings that, after a couple of months, I had
the guts to send to some record labels.

So, I have a split single coming on Solid Sex Lovie Doll Records and two 7” coming out on Yakisakana Records. Maybe something on Kryptonite Records too. I would like to make a full record of one man band songs and some songs with a band. I would like to try different things.

4 - Is the One Man Band more like a side project or you’d like it to get bigger and tour all around ?

It’s not really a side project, I’ll release songs of myself playing alone as long as I think it’s good enough. What I like about this project is the liberty it gives me. You play the songs you want. Sometimes in a band you don’t understand why a member doesn’t like one particular song, for example, so because of that, the band doesn’t play the song. It can get rather frustrating. It’s not the end of the world either, but…

As far as tour goes, well, if I had the opportunity I would do it right away. Alone or with a band. I’ll see how it goes, but I wouldn’t want to stop playing in a band. I like to play with others, be it, Scat Rag Boosters, The Wrong Doers, Stack O’Lees or another one.

5 - I guess you have to be really critical of yourself to be confident enough to bring your songs up to the public, did you ever ask others to hear your stuff as to know what they think about it ??

Actually I was less shy to send my recordings to people I didn’t really know. So, that’s what I did, I sent it by the mail before giving it to anybody I knew. But, I asked those people what they thought about it and they liked it, in general. And, after I broke the ice, I didn’t really care anymore. It’s something I had to do, it feels natural and good. I still have trouble sitting with someone while I play one of my tapes though. It feels weird.

6 - How went your first show ever, were you a little stressfull ? How did the audience react?

My first show was opening for The Deadly Snakes, I guess I was a little nervous, but after one or two songs, it just felt natural. I like playing music, I forget where I am most of the time. The reaction was pretty good I would say, my guitar was way louder then my feet, so it was weird. But, people told me they liked it, I want to believe they were honest. But for my second show I remember being more nervous because it was in a bigger place, but it also went well, the sound was better this time. I might be stressed but I’m happy to go out and play. I wouldn’t play with any kind of band though, too many times those nights are boring and makes you feel weird.

7 - What happened if you’d do a show and you totally screw up, who gets the blame ??

I believe it would be me, or maybe my feet, but only if I’m in complete denial.

8 - Who would be your favorite one man band to play with ?

Hasil Adkins for sure. Doctor Ross, but he’s deceased, so that makes it hard. I’d like to play with King Louie. Apart from them, I don’t know. Any good ones, just to check’em out, it would be worth it. I already played with Bob Log III, so he’s automatically out. I would like to play with him again though. John Lee Hooker tapping his feet would have been amazing too.

9 - What do you think of BBQ, I know he’s from Montreal too, do you guys know each others?

We’ve known each others for years, he was the singer in the Spaceshits, plus he’s the drummer and singer in Les Sexarennos. I really like what he does, we play a show together and I was taken aback. His singing is amazing, it’s sounds really good. We were both the opening acts for Bob Log III, it was fun. BBQ’s in Europe right now playing and relaxing, he just have a 7” out on Goodbye Boozy Records. Good for him.

10 - Do you normally drink before your shows ?

Usually yes, at least a couple of beers, it’s a good way to relax. I also bring a couple of beers on stage to keep relaxing until I fall asleep on stage, it’s very visual, believe me.

11 - How is the future looking for Skip Jensen and His Shakin’ Feet, is there a lot planned already ??

Well, there’s those three 7” coming out for sure, after that I need to record again before I can send new stuff out to labels for releases.

My plan is to record an album full of good songs and find a label to release it. And I want to buy a car, so I can go on tour by myself or with a band. I just want to keep making music. Right now, what’s been happening is one or two 7” comes out every year. Often it’s music we’ve made two or three years ago. I would like to put more stuff out and faster. Not three years after you recorded it. At least it comes out, I know, but we didn’t have it easy for our releases yet. We never been on a big label, always small labels who try their hardest to find the money to release records. Thanks to them.