Music

Q&A with folk musician Stripmall Ballads

By Kelli Johnson
Special to The Star

05-01-2008

Phillips Saylor Wisor is not the musician you'd expect. With his boyish good looks and devilish grin he could easily bury himself in the endless ranks of pretty-boy pop music do-gooders. You would expect to hear him rattle on about how the world needs to change, but instead he paints a picture of the everyday turmoils we all know but are too painful to speak about — the homeless man who begs you for change everyday or the tired old waitress pulling a double shift, both of whom could have been your neighbor or even your boss, had fate dealt them a different hand.

He has three last names, he swears he's not a day over 17, and he humbly says he's at a loss for words when it comes to describing himself. But his few words speak volumes.

He is an old soul who wants to bring back a time of musical integrity and purity. A time when it was important to get to know your audience, not just sing to them.

Performing solo as Stripmall Ballads for about the last year, he has flowed through the music scene, soaking up his surroundings and weaving his experiences into a tapestry of old-time storytelling set to the skillful clang of a banjo.

He prides himself on pouring his heart into each and every performance, as though it were a desperate last chance to tell a story that must be heard.

His tour has taken him all over the country, and he rolls into Anniston Friday night for a show at the Peerless Saloon.

Where were you born?

I was born in the Maryland panhandle, but I've traveled all over. I spent a lot of time in Alabama singing Sacred Harp and shape note music, as well as visiting the Civil Rights and Civil War memorials, so I feel very much at home in the South.

You've been compared to Woody Guthrie. Is he a hero of yours, and who are some of your strongest musical influences?

Of course there's Woody, and several well-known folk singers, but I like to give credit to the unsung heroes of the folk scene. The Lonesome Brothers and Malcolm Holcombe are some of my favorites. There's also a hobo in the Seattle area called Baby Gramps who I love to hear.

Where do you come up with the ideas for your songs?

A lot of it comes from being on the road and the lifestyle that I've led. I just try to soak up as much as I can from the people I meet. That's what I think folk music is about. Getting to know the people you're singing to, their interests, and leave feeling like you're saying goodbye to a dear friend.

I live in a part of D.C. where there's a lot of crime, drugs, you name it. And I kinda stick out, but it gives me a chance to meet people, talk to them, and get on their level.

If there were one thing you say about yourself, to let people know who you are and what you're about, what would it be?

Wow, that's a hard one! I have this kind-of morbid scene that plays through my mind as I'm driving home from a gig. I think this drunk driver is gonna come out of nowhere and slam into me, and I'm going to die. So I think as I do each and every show, "This is my last chance to get my message across, to be heard. So I make sure I make it count." I want the audience to leave saying, "Wow! I didn't know there were still people like him around!"

What are you working on now?

Well, I've been touring solo for about a month and I've just been meeting bands, learning and enjoying life. I've also been working on a "Folk Opera" in New York. I just got off a tour with the Shiftless Rounders and I'm currently working on a Stripmall Ballads CD to be released in the fall.

Kelli Johnson is a freelance writer and plays in the band Distant Cousins. She currently resides in Gadsden.