howboutno asked: Who have you run into or met in the past that you have been completly star struck to have met? And, let’s say tomorrow, if you were to run into the one person who you have yet to meet and would have you stumbling over your words in their presence, who would it be?

VE: I can’t remember most of them, honestly.  I just had lunch in L.A. this past Wednesday and J.K. Simmons was eating right next to me.  That sort of thing seems to happen pretty regularly.  I love J.K., so that was fun to listen to his distinct voice in my ear.  I’ve walked past or eaten near or drank next to some pretty choice names.  The highlights?  Jerry Seinfeld at a book release party.  Michael Stipe in Chelsea.  Bill Clinton at a screening.  But I didn’t meet these people.  I wouldn’t want to either.  There’s no point.  And I can’t think of another person I’d really want to meet, even though there are plenty whose presence would make me stumble over words.  Larry David said it beautifully in an episode of Curb Your Enthusiasm when his neighbor requested that Larry set up a meeting for him with Julia Louis Dreyfuss.  Larry says to his wife, Cheryl: “What could he possibly hope to gain from such a meeting?  Does he actually think they’re going to become friends?”  It’s all about Larry’s performance.  I agree with him, it’s pointless and silly    .

am13er asked: Me & my friends were playing the “would you rather…” game & thought i’d ask you one. Would you rather be stuck in quick sand with hundreds of huge ass spiders surrounding you or in the middle of the ocean with sharks?

VE: I could handle the spiders more than the sharks.  But, in the quicksand, I’d certainly die.  Whereas, in the ocean, I may survive.  I could remain still, play dead, until help arrived?  I have to assume I got there somehow.  A ship nearby?  Wreckage that I can hang onto?  Either scenario is scary to think about.  If you like these sorts of questions, check out Chuck Klosterman’s amazing Hypertheticals.  Great little game with friends.

Anonymous asked: Besides playing new songs to promote a new album; how do you choose what other older songs to play at a show? Flip a coin? Rock, paper, scissors? Or maybe its just a song you feel like playing that day?

VE: It’s a mix of factors.  If I’m playing a city that I don’t frequent, I’ll be sure to play a few of my most popular older tunes.  If I’m opening for another act’s fans, I try to choose songs that complement that band’s sound.  I only play songs I want to play.  The newer the song, usually the more fun it is to play.  One limitation is my band’s repertoire, whether or not they know a certain song.  Often, we only have time to rehearse a select number of tunes for a specific occasion.  I’d like it better if we were able to pull out any song from my catalog at any given moment. 

Anonymous asked: You are such a beautiful person. I hope you get everything you want and need (well, almost everything, you know too much of getting what you want can’t be a good thing) and that you’re mostly happy. I know you were born with your cute face and personality, essentially - and you can’t help / take credit for those, but your sweetness, and amazingness, was chosen.

VE: This is very nice of you to say.  Thank you.  My average forecast: mostly happy with periods of dread and sorrow.

am13er asked: With who is nominated this year, who are your choices for Best Picture, Leading/Supporting Actor & Actress for the Academy Awards?

VE: I’ve only seen 5 of the 9 Best Picture nominees.  Based on my tastes and what I know of Malick’s other films, I suspect Tree Of Life will be my favorite when I finally get to see it (no pressure).  But, of the ones I’ve seen, I would probably go with The Artist.  Actor, Clooney.  Actress, Williams.  Supporting Actor, Plummer; I think
Beginners was my favorite film of the year.  Supporting Actrees, Bejo.

Anonymous asked: January 11 thru February 13 (or the date on which you get to part 2 of your best of 2012 list) anything fun, exciting, or new happen?

VE: I wasn’t planning on continuing that, so I’ve already forgotten what I did a month ago.  Been reading, writing (not songs), watching films/TV, cooking, auditioning. Typing words to you.