Ned, we were delighted to have you perform Java City this past month and I see you have a show coming up September 24 at Tidballs. I got a lot of positive feedback from folks at WKU about your performance.  Some folks asked me: How is it I have not heard of this guy before?  It was then I realized that most folks around here may not have heard of you so, can you tell us a bit about your personal and musical history?

I see on Facebook that you went to Caverna High School in Horse Cave.  Are you from this area?

I grew up in Horse Cave, KY and went to Caverna High School and graduated from WKU in 1983. Picked up my first guitar at the age of 26 and played my first band show at the age of 30. The band was called The Blue Cha-Chas and we played in and around Bowling Green from 1990-1994. Had a short stint in a band called Life o’ Riley in 1996. Moved to Nashville in late 1997 and along with some other BG transplants started a power-pop, punk group called The Cowards. That band dissolved in 2000 and I formed Ned Van Go in May, 2001 and have been at it ever since.

Who has influenced you as a musician?

I guess the usual suspects -The Beatles, The Replacements, Steve Earle, The Ramones, Billy Joe Shaver, and many others. Also, I guess I have to say my brother’s old band Government Cheese (Billy Mack Hill was the bass player) had an influence because watching them play and listening to their songs made me realize that you could write about things in your own world and it could connect to others…even a small world like mine.

What is your favorite sort of gig and favorite place to play?

Anywhere where people are diggin’ it!

I recently read you have been doing a bit of touring.  Lots of folks wonder just what is that like?

It can be fun, it can be boring, it can be frustrating, it can be exciting. But seeing new places and meeting new people is for the most part pretty cool. Plus it makes you a better musician.

Listening to your music, it seems to be roots oriented yet introspective.  How do you define your sound?

“Garage Roots Rock.” It can be messy but hopefully emotional. It’s a blend of rock, folk, and country with a sometimes aggressive attitude.

Are you working on a recording project?  

 I hope to start recording my 5th record sometime this winter. Still trying to write new material for it which can be a painstaking process

Where do you want go with your music?

To the middle, to the very middle!  Seriously, as far as I can take it. One really doesn’t know how far that is.

Thanks for taking time to talk to us Ned Is there anything else you’d like to add?

Yeah, come see us at Tidball’s-September 24th!”