What's your sign, and do you believe in any of that astrology crap?

MATT BURKE: Sagittarius … and no, I don't subscribe to the pseudo-science of astrology. I do, however, occasionally read my horoscope, strictly for the entertainment value.

NATTY MOSS-BOND: I was born on the cusp of Libra and Virgo, which astrologically makes me wonderful, so of course I believe it.

ED LOWERY: Libra … I believe in the stuff, for I share the same b-day as Ray Charles, Bruce Springsteen, John Coltrane, Annie DiFranco, Natty Moss-Bond, Bobby Neely and Kim Kelly.

How long have you been a part of "the scene"?

CHRIS BARROWS: What scene?

ROB DOUGLAS: Since 1979. What's that, 23 years? (Snider's note: Actually, it's 25.)

BILLY WELLS: Aw, shit, I don't wanna disclose that information. A long time.

BRIAN MERRILL: I'm still trying to get in!

What's your day gig?

KREG STERNS: A fitter at Mr. Ray's Wigworld.

JACK SPATAFORA: Advertising Coordinator at the Weekly Planet.

JERRY OUTLAW: Typically, I'm a union stagehand. And I do music for a percentage of my day gig — session work, commercials.

CHRIS BARROWS: Horse whisperer.

Have you ever lost a day gig because of your "other life"?

ED LOWERY: Hell yes, especially at times of touring. Those slack jobs couldn't compete. In retrospect, though, I do owe a big thanks to Skipper's [Smokehouse], Ybor Pizza 'N' Subs, and Richard Boom for keeping me and some of my band mates alive.

BILLY WELLS: Multiple times — from not being able to get up after a night gig. What gig did I lose? Site crew manager.

WENDY RICH: This is my life.

DAVE HUNDLEY: What is that — "other life"?

Do you have a favorite music-scene moment, anecdote or memory that springs immediately to mind?

NATTY MOSS-BOND: Like the time Kacy Ross [of Deloris Telescope] ran over Steve Osborne [of Edison Shine] with his car? Or the time my skirt fell off on stage? Or the time that Pete DeLong got a black eye?

ED LOWERY: The night these two Mafia dudes walked into a
Dogs on Ice performance at the Cafe Creole. The band broke into "My Eyes Adored You" and you should have seen these guys wig out! Please ask me about the details of this one later, people.

ROB DOUGLAS: I remember this band, what was their name. A New Personality. I had just started working at Club Detroit/Jannus Landing, and I was only peripherally familiar with them. As I walked up to [Club Detroit], there were two or three of the guys [in the band] just kicking the shit out of each other. And I thought, "This should be an interesting show."

RICKY WILCOX: The first thing that comes to mind is a guy named Eric Snider pouring beer on [Deloris Telescope's] footwear on stage at the ACL. I think he was specifically aiming at Stevie [Grandmaison's] cowboy boots. He was into his beer-pouring thing.

Who have been three of your favorite local bands over the years, and why?

BILLY WELLS: Deloris Telescope is number one, for just owning the stage. Violet Voodoo, which relocated to Austin to become Skatenigs. They were an awesome local skate band. Will Quinlan and Pagan Saints, version 2.0. Will's a great songwriter, and had a great vibe with the band he had at that point.

WENDY RICH: DeeForce, Sarasota Slim and Rocky Ruckman & The Beat Heathens because I dig their music and respect their talents and professionalism.

BRIAN MERRILL: Real Cameras. Great tunes, great singer and one of my favorite guitar players, Eddie Kurziel on guitar. Men From Earth. How many talented people can ya fit into one band? I am a sucker for good harmonies. And any band that John McNicholas is in or was in. Great songwriting, his guitar playing and parts always fit the song.

KREG STERNS: The Chase Theory, because they're intelligent, loyal, nice as hell, brilliant and don't wear shirts with flames on them. The Semis, 'cause they're fucking insane, and do wear shirts with flames on them. The Silent Treatment, 'cause, they make and sell shirts with flames on them.

ED LOWERY: Monday Mornings. [Mike] O'Neill, Karen Collins, Fred Stoltz — come on, what a band. Clang — as smarty, and arty, as the Clang were, I still love their CDs to date. The Immediates. I know I shouldn't mention former bands, but Farmer and Jacks wrote some great shit!

ROB DOUGLAS: Deloris Telescope, because of their great writing and a show that was total abandon. The Headlights, for their great writing and musicianship. I can't think of another one right at the moment.

NATTY MOSS BOND: THREE? Impossible …

Where is or was your favorite Tampa Bay venue, and why?

RICKY WILCOX: I would have to say Jannus Landing; it's just a brilliant place. It's a great place to see a show, a great place to play. There's magic there … Club Detroit and The ACL Club come immediately to mind as places having live original music that were always crowded. A novel concept.

DAVE HUNDLEY: Now this is gonna sound weird, but if they only had more shows at — drumroll, please — Mahaffey Theater. Great sight lines, not too cavernous and it's close by, too. Too bad the city doesn't have any idea where to go when it comes to bookings. The city has left the Bayfront Center hangin', in my opinion.

JERRY OUTLAW: You've got a classy place like Tampa Theater, which is gorgeous, and then you've got this beat-up place, Jannus Landing, which is very special to my heart.

If a tree falls in the woods, and there's no one there to hear it, does it really matter whether it makes a sound or not?

JACK SPATAFORA: Not sure. Get back to me on this.

RICKY WILCOX: Yeah it matters, 'cause if it didn't make a sound, everything we knew would be wrong.

MATT BURKE: This is a deeply philosophical question that should be seriously contemplated. You should be ashamed of yourselves for making light of the subject.

Have you ever injured yourself or some-one else while playing or watching a show?

NATTY MOSS-BOND: I got knocked out once at the Swamp Club when [drummer] Bryce Johnson's cymbals fell off of the drum riser and hit me in the back of the head. Out like a light.

RICKY WILCOX: We were playing at Kasey's Cove, and they had a big light show. When I came off stage, the lights must've been in my eyes. I tripped, fell, put my left arm down and broke my wrist. I actually tried to play the next set, and I kept screaming for Kacy [Ross] to play a ballad. I ended up going to the emergency room. That's where I got my nickname "Bonecrusher." People think it's just a good drummer's nickname.

KREG STERNS: I hurt someone with my words. It's a very sophisticated type of injury.

What's the perfect pre-show ritual?

WENDY RICH: Sushi two hours before, and get there right at show time and avoid stress.

JACK SPATAFORA: Showers are refreshing.

MATT BURKE: Grand Theft Auto: Vice City Marathon!

What's your recipe (food, booze, drugs, prayer, etc.) for achieving the perfect state in which to play or watch a show?

RICKY WILCOX: I would have to say at this point, I always like a good Tanqueray and 7-Up. Just a buzz to achieve a nice place. I don't think I've ever prayed, except maybe for certain gigs to be over.

ROB DOUGLAS: Several highballs. That's as far as I'm gonna go with that.

BILLY WELLS: It's definitely not prayer and it's definitely not food. Let's put it that way.

BRIAN MERRILL: Two Bass Ales and a shot of Jager.

Who is really responsible for the death of John F. Kennedy?

KREG STERNS: Phil Collins.

NATTY MOSS-BOND: Marilyn Monroe.

WENDY RICH: God.

CHRIS BARROWS: Jesus.

JERRY OUTLAW: His peers.

MATT BURKE: The Man.

Hometown shows vs. road shows: Which do you prefer, and why?

ED LOWERY: The road show. You can't beat the mystery and excitement of playing somewhere new and different, and if the band goes over well, it's the best feeling in the world.

NATTY MOSS-BOND: I would rather be in St. Petersburg than anywhere else on Earth.

Have you ever screwed over another band, club or promoter?

RICKY WILCOX: I'm sure at some point [Deloris Telescope] tried to pull rank and probably screwed some bands over. I don't remember it ever being intentional, but it would be ludicrous to say we never did. I don't remember screwing over a club or promoter.

ROB DOUGLAS: I'm sure there are many that thought I had.

BILLY WELLS: As often as possible.

Have you ever been screwed over by another band, club or promoter?

KREG STERNS: It was consensual.

JACK SPATAFORA: I know I have but I'm not gonna take it there.

JERRY OUTLAW: Yes, certainly. Back in the Blackkout days, the whole band was screwed over by someone who fancied himself a manager. I'll name names. Tom Marzullo, an absolute asshole with no business being in the business. He ruined the band.

BILLY WELLS: As often as possible. I once beat Rick Bonzi [of the ACL Club] to unconsciousness with a redfish I had in my cooler. He shorted us 20 bucks. We beat him senseless with a dead redfish.

If you could jam with/write with/party with any musician, living or dead, who would it be and why?

MATT BURKE: Rudy Budy, because he was my great-grandfather and a badass jazz musician.

BILLY WELLS: Tom Waits, by far. I'd love to smash some Scotch with that guy and write some tunes. It would be amazing.

BRIAN MERRILL: James Brown, in hopes that even just one molecule of soul would rub off on this white boy.

WENDY RICH: Delbert McClinton, because it would fit.

In your opinion, does reflective light-box experimentation validate multiverse theory?

BILLY WELLS: It depends on what the compression ratios are.

MATT BURKE: The multiverse theory is not science. It is unprovable and unfalsifiable speculation. Furthermore, this is not the proper forum to discuss physics.

JERRY OUTLAW: Could be.

What does the Tampa Bay original-music community need more than anything else?

CHRIS BARROWS: Good bands.

ROB DOUGLAS: One thing is better support from radio. That might be the most important thing. Radio is where it's really lacking.

BRIAN MERRILL: Bring back Club Detroit!

KREG STERNS: "Original" music, maybe? I'm just guessing here.

Who would win a cage match between Joe Popp and Will Quinlan, and why?

DAVE HUNDLEY: Joe Popp would kick Will's ass. I can prove that, too. I think I kicked Will's ass once.

JACK SPATAFORA: Man, come on — everybody knows that Nasty Ronnie would kick both of their asses at the same time.

BILLY WELLS: Quinlan would fuckin' knock [Joe's] blockhead into fuckin' tomorrow, 'cause you can't do anything to Will Quinlan that he hasn't already done to himself.

Have you got a special hangover remedy?

MATT BURKE: Three to six beers, depending on how much you had the night before.

WENDY RICH: Water, Motrin, sleep and Sonne's Number Seven.

BRIAN MERRILL: Cold gazpacho. Guaranteed, or your money back.

JACK SPATAFORA: I wish.

Contact Senior Writer Eric Snider at 813-248-8888, ext. 114, or snider@weekly planet.com; Music Critic Scott Harrell at 813-248-8888, ext. 109, or scott.harrell@ weeklyplanet.com; and Music Writer Mark Sanders at 941-906-7476, or mark.sanders@weeklyplanet.com.

The Mouthpieces, in alphabetical order:

Chris Barrows (singer, Pink Lincolns)

Matt Burke (singer/guitarist, The Chase Theory)

Rob Douglas (promoter, Jannus Landing)

Dave Hundley (co-owner, State Theatre; publisher, Focus Magazine)

Ed Lowery (drummer, Unrequited Loves)

Brian Merrill (producer; singer/guitarist, Barely Pink)

Natty Moss-Bond (singer, Sparky's Nightmare)

Jerry Outlaw (guitarist, Bogus Pomp/D'yea)

Wendy Rich (singer, Wendy & The Soul Shakers)

Jack Spatafora (promoter, Aestheticized Presents)

Kreg Sterns (singer/guitarist, The Nuevos)