Audio interview with Alicja Trout

Music writer Bob Mehr asks notable Memphians about their musical firsts and favorites.

This week: The very talented and busy Alicja Trout, member of the River City Tanlines, Mouserocket, Ultracats, Black Sunday and the owner of Contaminated Records.

What’s in your CD player, turntable or I-pod at the moment?

On my turntable is The Buddy Holly Story, a Syd Barrett Record which is just called Barrett, actually. And in the car I’m listening to this Feelies album, Crazy Rhythms.

What was the first record you bought and where?

I was a big Monkees fan when I was little. That was my first favorite band. I was probably five or six years old, I think my mom bought it for me at the mall.

What was your first concert and where?

R.E.M. at the Mud Island Amphitheatre. I guess they had that album with “Superman” on it [1986’s Life’s Rich Pageant] out.

If push comes to shove, what would you say is your favorite record of all time?

The records I find myself going back to are Forever Changes by Love, or I probably know Wire’s Pink Flag and Sonic Youth’s Daydream Nation backwards and forwards.

What, if anything, do you sing in the shower?

Last time I remember singing [was] that “Sloop John B.” song that the Beach Boys covered. I heard it on the oldies station and remember thinking, “Those are really weird lyrics.”

If you could be any musician, living or dead, other than yourself, who would it be?

My first thought was Mozart, because he got to do whatever he wanted — but I don’t know if he lived too good of a life. I always think Mick Jagger’s had a good long career and dealt with his band mates and their addictions and problems real well. So I think he must be a pretty smart dude.

What’s your party jam? And your chill out record?

I’ve got this Iron Maiden live album that always works for me, for getting loud and stuff. I probably relax to American Analog Set, From Our Living Room To Yours.