By Jae-Ha Kim
Tribune Media Services
July 14, 2009
Based out of Appleton, Wis., Cory Chisel believes he has the best of both worlds. He gets to live in peace in the Midwest, while traveling the world with his band the Wandering Sons.
“Music is a byproduct of experience and if I have an experience, it’s usually musical,” says Chisel, 27. “To me, traveling goes hand in hand with music. Travel is just an intriguing aspect of music itself, and I’m not just talking about the touring part. It’s hard to explain. I’ve been to so many places, but I think that if I wasn’t a musician, I might never have left my hometown.”
Chisel, who recorded a good chunk of his EP “Cabin Ghosts” at his family’s cabin in Wisconsin, is currently on tour. Check out his updated list of concerts at www.myspace.com/thewanderingsons.
Q. What is your favorite vacation destination?
If I’m traveling inside the United States, I love northern Minnesota, which is kind of where I’m from originally. Outside of the U.S., probably France. I just got back from there and it was my first time in Paris and it was amazing. I love painting and art and I went to the Louvre. It was gorgeous. I’ve only wept two times experiencing art outside of music, and the Louvre was definitely worth it. You just take in so much beauty that you can’t fathom how much you’re surrounded by it. If I could go anywhere again right now, I’d say Paris, although Italy was beautiful as well.
Q. Where are your favorite weekend getaways?
Favorite place to get away for the weekend is a beautiful little place called Elcho, Wis. I have a cabin on the lake and a part of me wishes I could stay there always.
Q. What are your favorite hotels and restaurants?
The Jupiter Hotel in Portland, Oregon (www.jupiterhotel.com). And my favorite restaurant would be Dusty’s Bistro (www.dustysbistro.com) in Los Angeles.B
Q. What is your best vacation memory?
One of my favorite vacations would be visiting the Ozark Mountains. It was very easy to feel like time stood still. The trip was in the deep part of summer. It felt like the sort of haunted trips I only had when I was younger.
Q. What kind of research do you do before you go away on a trip?
I don’t know if it’s research, but I like to be able to say a few things in their language. I learned a little French — enough to get me into trouble! I’m not fluent by any means, but I spent 12 days in France and only one person spoke English to me. I think they appreciated that I was trying.
Q. How do you try to fit in when you’re a tourist?
I just feel completely at home in so many places. If I could, I’d have a little place in Barcelona and then spend time in the woods of Minnesota. This life suits me. I spend a lot of time in New York and Los Angeles and the Midwest, and then I get to travel to Europe. I’ve got the best of everything thanks to my career.
Q. What is one thing you don’t travel with that might surprise some people?
My guitar is not something I tug and tow with me very often. Everyone seems to think that I’d have it with me all the time since I’m a musician. I actually write the best when I have as little anchoring me as possible.
© 2008 JAE-HA KIM
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