Age: 37
Alembics: I bought a 76 Series 1 when I was 19 (the bass was already 12 by the time I got it), and that bass is still my main axe. I think I paid $1200 for it. A year or two later, I bought a new Spoiler, which I only kept a few years.
Regarding the Grateful Dead: I do not like this music. Never did, although I tried for a while. I am a huge fan of Jazz Is Dead, though, with Jimmy Herring, Alphonso Johnson, Billy Cobham, and T Lavitz.
Bikes: My pride and joy is a 6-month old Kona Dawg Deluxe, a pedal-pusher mountain bike (I do, after all, live in Jackson Hole). I also admit to a 1990 Suzuki DR350, for those times when I get the itch to motor on the trails.
Guns: More than a casual interest, but not competitive. I load my own ammo, carry concealed (I think a lot of Wyomingites pack heat). I never wear a Hawaiian shirt, though. A middle-aged guy with a Hawaiian shirt is a dead giveaway for a cop (sorry, Eric. I couldn't resist!)
Music: It changes as I get older, but common themes include Jaco, soul jazz ala Lee Morgan, Cannonball Adderley, Grant Green, etc. I also currently spin a lot of Mike Stern, Soulive, Medeski, Martin, and Wood, Scofield, Eldar, Richard Bona, Flecktones, Aquarium Rescue Unit, James McMurtry.
Ink: none. I'd consider it, except for the fact that almost everyone has it now. It's no longer a sign of anything but conformism.
Beer: Not much, anymore, as it takes a toll on my waistline. Lots of wine and scotch, though, which probably isn't much better, but I love those spirits.
Musical status: Working-stiff professional without another job. Nothing particularly glamorous these days, but I love what I do: weddings, parties, happy hour jazz gigs, casuals, etc.
I am lucky for a number of reasons: I play a lot of bass, I get to live in Jackson Hole, and I play an Alembic, which is cool regardless of where you live, what you do for a living, whether or not you have tattoos, ride motorcycles, shoot guns, listen to the Dead, whatever.
Andy Calder
www.andycalderbass.com