There is a little piece of southwest America on our shores right now. Using his trademark drawl, musician Howe Gelb told Nightline about his philosophies on music, politics and how the world should spin.
The Arizona-based musician's ethos on life is not exactly straightforward, but his willingness to be inventive has fans calling him "the godfather of alternative country music", a title the 52-year-old is not thrilled with.
"I'd rather be known as the ambassador of erosion rock and its reconstitution," says Gelb. That could be quite long to get on a business card, Nightline points out.
"Yeah, well my name's short," he replies.
But his career, spanning over two-and-a-half decades, is far from short. His latest offering is described as an exploration of love and loss in the socio-political climate of the modern world, and politics is something the Obama supporter is happy to talk about.
"I think it's important to remember the Republicans aren't all bad, and McCain's a good guy - he's just not good enough in these times.
"There's a counter balance at work, so when there's a grand lack of inspiration from leadership you kind of come up with your own. It's that universal reversal."
And in a real universal reversal - of science – Gelb is hoping to find a quicker way to travel.
"If they could figure out a way to just go straight up and let the earth spin underneath you..."
After this long in the business, it's about the destination and not the journey.
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