Zach: I actually just finished writing my first novel the morning before Seersucker Live—The Earth Tones Episode. It took 2 and a half years, so I guess that makes me a “writer.” For me, part of being a writer is being a reader, so I’m always in the middle of a book. As soon as I finish one I start the next. Chris: I’ve only had three works published, so far. I had one short story published in Armstrong Atlantic State University’s literary journal, Calliope, for which I received the Lillian Spencer Award for fiction. I’ve been coasting on that ever since. page 37
Why did you choose the is integrated into the show. name “Seersucker”? Brian: It all begins from a Zach: Chris and I spent more premise that we are a show, not time on the name than any- just a normal book reading. As thing else. I think it took us the one-man “Seersucker Live about five months to finally Orchestra,” I always play 30 settle on Seersucker Live. We minutes prior to showtime, tryliked the Southern connota- ing give us that “piano player tion, the playful sound of the in the corner” cocktail party word, and the hint of mischief feel. I wrote a Tonight Show-esin “sucker.” When we went que theme to open our show— to incorporate the nonprofit, standard up-tempo jazz, with “Seersucker” was already tak- a B section that is a take-off en, so we added the “Live,” of bended thirds (major/minor) in a Southern Jazz Shuffle and a name was born. style, keeping with our SouthAn important aspect of the ern roots. I bring that same performance is Brian’s theme back at the end of the musical accompaniment. show, but played in a slower Tell us a little about how it form, akin to the closing muIssue 2 / July, 2013