What's on your rider?Water, nuts, fruit. I usually tour alone so the backstage scene is a bit monastic.
What would be on your fantasy rider?I don't usually find backstage areas conducive to consumptive fantasies. Haggis maybe?
What's your pre-gig ritual/ routine?Finding reasons to get nervous.
What's the best gig you've been to?Bob Dylan and Santana at the local baseball stadium, because I was 14 and possibly high.
What are your favourite and least favourite venues?I like venues where it's evident that the owners are very decent to their staff. I hate really loud venues.
Most embarrassing on-stage moment?Battle of the Bands 1989: Boston's More Than a Feeling.
What's the most you've ever paid for a gig ticket?Precious hours of mortal life watching bands I didn't like because someone else said they were important.
Groupies. Would you?Only if the groupies and I were married.
How many roadies does it take to change your lightbulbs (ie, how big is your entourage)?I am songwriter, performer, merchant, driver, travel agent, security.
Have you a special stage wardrobe?Jeans and a plaid shirt – I'm a nonconformist.
Any useful stage tips?Slow down.
What's the worst thing ever thrown at you?The whole reality thing.
If you could be in any other band, which one?Megafaun.
What's your best tour story?I got caught in Hurricane Irene a few weeks ago. The roads were flooded, blocked by falling trees and the driving was terrifying. I missed my show and was stranded in New Hampshire. But New Hampshire is a pretty decent place to get stranded in.
In conversation with TONY CLAYTON-LEA. Doug Paisley plays Cork on Sunday, Kilkenny on Monday and Dublin on Wednesday
