He's been called a scholar and a gentleman; he's been described as a wiseass, service-industry bard; and some person I know all too well had the temerity to suggest that he's some sort of unapproachable celebrity icon. This half-ass attempt at ingratiation, in case you're curious, was fended off thusly -

"Well, I'm no monarch, just a moderately busy guy."

One thing I do know about Franklin Bruno is that he writes some of the more lyrically astute songs (either as the front man of Nothing Painted Blue, or in his solo work) that I've heard in the brief time I have listened to music. He's also a pretty good writer when it comes to discussing music (examples of such work available in periodicals like CMJ Music Monthly and Puncture), and a kind and generous soul. At least, kind enough to answer the boatload of questions I sent his way around Turkey Day of last year. Paragraphs upon paragraphs pertaining to indie rock, Broadway musicals, direction sense, smoke bombs, education, music criticism, love, and art await you. Oh, and one more very important note, from Mr. Bruno:

"Even though I'm doing this interview, Kyle (Brodie) and Peter (Hughes) are extremely integral to Nothing Painted Blue - I'm the songwriter, but they make it sound like something. If one of them decided they wanted out, there would no longer be a band."