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For Genre-Mixing Everlast, All's Fair In Love, War

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The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 9, 2008

Updated:

TAMPA - It has been four years since the world last heard from the acoustic emcee Everlast.

Tonight, the former House of Pain member performs live in St. Petersburg promoting his latest album, "Love, War and the Ghost of Whitey Ford," which hit stores Sept. 23.

The new album, his first since "White Trash Beautiful" dropped in 2004, is, stylistically, a follow-up to "Whitey Ford Sings the Blues," released in 1998.

"Love, War and the Ghost of Whitey Ford" (Whitey Ford is the singer's alter ego) revolves around Everlast's take on current events and an insider's view of his personal relationships.

"It's what's the deal with women or what's up with me," he says from New York during a phone interview. "I'd say the songs about women and relationships are about 85 to 90 percent true. The songs about women are directly about me; the other stuff, I try to put myself in someone else's shoes."

The Grammy-winning artist is known for his distinct raspy voice and picking on the guitar. He has worked with Santana, Madonna and Mobb Deep. Although he possesses a no-nonsense bravado, he's surprisingly sensitive and brutally honest.

"It's important for me to do, because it's something that my being calls out for me to do," he says about creating music. "For other people it can take you away from your problems for a little bit; the objective is to hit the common denominator among us."

Don't get it twisted - Everlast ain't no punk. He's direct and calls it like he sees it. When asked why he released an album now, he says it was time.

"Why? Because I made one. I didn't make music for a couple of years, and this was sitting around for a couple years," he says. "I can't force myself to go in the studio. So finally I finished up the album."

The album is a mix of rock, blues, country, pop and hip hop. It includes a cover of Johnny Cash's "Folsom Prison Blues" and the social-political commentary track "Kill the Emperor."

"I'm at the point where I'm 39 years old and I make music because I want to make music. I hope people like the album, but sometimes people hating what I do can be just as good as them liking it."

Sarah Hoye

Everlast; 8 tonight; $17-$20; Jannus Landing, 16 Second St. N., St. Petersburg; (727) 896-1244.

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