Nine Questions

Vikas Pawa is the man behind locals Nowhere Man, who recently snagged a handful of awards in this year's TAMMIES. Pawa won Best Songwriter and was runner-up for Best Male Vocalist, and their first record, Considered to Tears, won the critics' choice for Best New Release. Although the band recently lost their guitar player, Merritt Jacob, to Connecticut, the band has readjusted as a four-piece and sounds better than ever. Nowhere Man is currently awaiting the arrival of their next record, Love Asphyxia, which will officially be released Saturday, Aug. 28, at Plush.

What was the first concert you ever saw?

Tina Turner--Private Dancer tour.

What CDs are in your changer right now?

Tom Ze, St Augustin; David Byrne, Rei Momo; The Beatles, Please Please Me; SplashDown, assorted tracks; The Killers, Hot Fuss; my friend Alex's latest batch of song demos.

How many total albums do you own (CDs, vinyl, cassettes, 8-tracks)?

Six hundred to 700.

Do you download music, and if so, legally?

Can I take the Fifth?

What was the first album you owned?

I got two at the same time: ABBA, Arrival, and Muhammad Ali, Fly Like a Butterfly, Sting Like a Bee (spoken word, kinda).

What song would you like played at your funeral?

"Across the Universe," John Lennon.

Musically speaking, what do you love that your friends don't know about? What are your guilty pleasures?

My friends all know, but I learned to play guitar to Joe Satriani and Steve Vai.

What band or artist changed your life, and how?

Bob Marley, (for) too many reasons to list here.

Figurative gun to your head, what is your favorite album of all time?

The Beatles, Sgt Pepper's, or Prince, Sign o' the Times.