The big stage or the big screen? Right now for Rochester's Teddy Geiger, it's still the bandstand and album No. 2. And this time he's bringing his fans in on the process, asking them to help choose which cuts make the cut on his sophomore record, due out this September.
Overall, the feeling of the record's 33 potential tracks is the type of gentle, melancholy pop we've come to expect from him, and his voice is as smoky and seasoned as ever. However, Geiger has picked up a little studio savvy since his debut disc "Underage Thinking," and I suspect he may be listening to Brian Wilson.
After a couple short-lived TV projects, Geiger is also making his big screen acting debut later this month with "The Rocker," starring Rainn Wilson from "The Office" and Christina Applegate. It's not much of a stretch for the 19-year-old; he plays the lead singer in a band.
But for now he's in the bus and on the road for his TG334U Tour, where the 33 songs in contention for the next album will be further put to the test. Despite it all, Geiger seems fairly nonplused and cool, perhaps even a little bored.
We talked on the phone this week, where he waxed vague. Thank God the kid's a songwriter.
CITY: What prompted the idea of getting fans to vote on the next album's songs?
Teddy Geiger: Well, since the last record I've been, you know, exploring different sounds and writing different songs, trying some new stuff out. And I guess for my second album I wanted the option of having some of that stuff on there. But also I didn't want to stray too far from "Underage Thinking," and I thought it'd be a cool thing to bring the fans in on to the record and kinda give them a broader selection of stuff and see what they liked and have it be their album.
So it's a collaboration of sorts?
Yeah. A big part of the album is the songs that are on there. I've written the songs, and now it's up to them to decide.
Does this take the pressure off of you?
Well, in a way, yeah. It's been nice to hear from some of the fans. They write on my MySpace, where there are 11 favorite songs with comments on each of them. So that sorta thing is cool. It's some really intense feedback.
Any surprise feedback?
Not really. "Sweeter Than Truth" and "I'm Sorry" are pretty single-like, and they've floated around the top. It's kinda tough to be surprised, and in a way it's tough not to be surprised. It's kinda like, "Oh, they like those.'
Are there any radical song departures?
I think in terms of these 33 songs, there's a song "The Half" and another song "You Do" - I'd say they're the biggest departures.
How?
The sound, I guess. The songwriting.
What'll be the fate of those songs that don't make the cut?
I dunno. They're out there. Maybe a B-sides album.
Is the part you play "The Rocker" an extension of yourself, or a developed character?
It was my first role, so I didn't have to try too hard to make it not seem like myself.
Could your acting overshadow your music?
I dunno. If it does, it does.
You don't have a problem with that?
I guess not. Music is most important to me. It'll always be what I have a passion for, and I want to keep doing it regardless of what happens with acting. I think if that goes well, it can only help.
You initially had the "young singer-songwriter sensation" precede you. Is there added pressure to prove yourself as you grow older?
Maybe; I dunno. I mean, I don't feel any pressure.
Perhaps people's perception of you is changing?
I hope. It would be nice to have people's perspective change because first time around it was, you know, "16-year-old singer songwriter." And 19-year-old singer-songwriter doesn't have the same... it's not as big a thing. I feel I can only do the best I can and see how it works out.
Was it hard starting this record, respecting what you'd previously done and yet still trying to surpass it?
I've been writing a lot and growing a lot and figuring out how to incorporate it all; incorporate the stuff I was doing with the purely creative, non-commercial stuff and stuff that was like "Underage Thinking." Kinda find some middle ground there. That's the challenge I took on with this record.
Well you took 16 years to make the first album and just two to make the second.
Yeah, but the couple of years I spent after my first record, I feel like I've learned just so much, not only life experience-wise, but in what goes into making a record.
Teddy Geiger
w/Hilary McRae, The Scott Harris Project, Standard of Living
Water Street Music Hall, 204 N Water St
Saturday, July 12
6:30 p.m.| $15 | 325-5600
teddygeiger.com