Q&A with Gnarls Barkley's Cee-Lo

Versatile Atlanta singer thinks outside the box
Solo project, world tour, Goodie Mob reunion keeps him busy

By JON WATERHOUSE

For accessAtlanta


Published on: 08/07/2008

VOCALIST CEE-LO remains one of Atlanta's more successful recent musical sons. As half of alternative R&B duo Gnarls Barkley (producer and multi-instrumentalist Danger Mouse is the other), his career hit stratospheric heights in 2006 with the band's platinum-selling debut and its No. 1 single "Crazy."

The band's sophomore release, "The Odd Couple," has yet to strike the same chord. But that's fine with Cee-Lo, who says the act's rectitude stays on track. In the meantime, he's too busy to care with a world tour, an impending solo album and an upcoming reunion with rap outfit Goodie Mob on the horizon.


Matthew Donaldson / Special
(ENLARGE)
'It doesn't matter if the success is moderate or if it's at its highest magnitude,' Cee-Lo (right) says of the ever-evolving alternative R&B duo Gnarls Barkley (with Danger Mouse).

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Gnarls Barkley was recently on "The Tonight Show." Is that something you enjoy, or is it more of an obligation?

I enjoy being asked and acknowledged, of course. But I don't necessarily enjoy performing there at all. I was just saying to someone a few minutes ago how sterile and controlled the environment was. And, of course, I'm a little anti-establishment. But I can dig it, though. It's a necessary evil.


What do you miss most about Atlanta when you're on the road?

My family. There's such a community and family vibe in Atlanta, as far as I'm concerned. ... The first thing I'll probably do when I get off the road is go to one of my favorite restaurants, Chantrell's in the West End. I love the curry chicken over yellow rice.


How would you gauge Atlanta's current musical state?

I don't really know how to gauge Atlanta. Looks can be deceiving. And the music I do is not necessarily associated so quickly with Atlanta. So it's kind of hard to answer that. But I'm optimistic at what Atlanta has to offer, because I'm an Atlantan, and I'm having a third wind now. I have an awful lot of music left in me. And I guess I can only judge it on how I feel about myself and my own aspirations.


How do you see Gnarls Barkley evolving?

We're building it from the ground up. We have two very successful albums, in my opinion. ... It doesn't matter if the success is moderate or if it's at its highest magnitude. Quality, integrity and sincerity matter to me the most. And all of those things are intact already. So I'm sure good things will happen.


You're not wearing the wacky pop culture costumes in concert right now.

It kind of goes along with everything that is Gnarls Barkley — the costumes, the sights, the sounds, the sentiment. Instead of costumes this time, we decided to do outfits. It's definitely more toned down, but certainly just as distinguishable. I guess in one regard we're out to prove that [the costumes] don't even matter. It's the music.


You'll be playing the tiny 40 Watt Club in Athens on Aug. 12. How does it feel playing a small club vs. something like the Hollywood Bowl?

We've done more intimate things this time around. It's gratifying to be able to entertain such a large audience of people. There were 16,000 people at the Hollywood Bowl. But there's something so cool about doing smaller venues, whether it be the acoustics or the closeness to the people. I enjoy that.


THE 411: Gnarls Barkley. $25. 8:30 p.m. Aug. 11. Variety Playhouse, 1099 Euclid Ave., Atlanta. 404-249-6400, www.ticketmaster.com.

love that man!!!

The Odd Couple is nothing short of brilliant
I'm always discovering new things

Had a Jager bomb with Cee-Lo at a bar after their show in Auckland, NZ last year!
Humble fulla....or maybe I was just drunk and rowdy and freaking him out

_

Check this out. Too bad the camera wasn't closer. Terry Fator has to be the best ventriloquist in the world:

love Cee-Lo. gr8 lyricist (thought provoking, introspective) and easily one of the most emotive voices in music