In its seventh year, the B3nson Family Funsgiving was in a new space, but held true to the sounds and energy that have made it a familiar tradition in the Albany music scene. A year ago Funsgiving was held where it had always been, at the now defunct, and sorely missed Valentine’s, packing the rooms on both floors. This year, instead of walking a flight of stairs between stages, it was between the doors of Pauly’s Hotel and The Low Beat on Central Ave. Two rooms, seven bands, all for ten dollars, and it would prove to be a pretty excellent deal.
Brooklyn four piece Leaks/Mirrors made the trek to Albany to kick off the night at Pauly’s. It was apparent people had paid attention to the warning that music would be starting early, the crowd was pretty sizable by the time the music bounced over next door for the first set of the night at the Low Beat from Secret Release. Guitarist Mike Campana and keyboardist Dan LaFave trade off vocal duties with a sound that is easy to listen to, easy to like and easy to move to. Don’t take “easy” as a negative, it simply means they’ve crafted their songs so nicely that it’s tough to hear them and not want to move closer and see what this band, relatively new in its current form, has to offer.
After a nice set from Neighboorhood of Make Believe over on the Pauly’s stage, Bear Grass’ set inside The Low Beat felt like some sort of mid-winter barn show. The wooden interior, the crowd bundled up in hats, scarfs and sweaters on what was the coldest day of the season so far, huddled around the stage with drinks in hand. Standing in the back of the room, the band’s often soft demeanor led them to being sometimes easily overlooked. However, stepping closer into the crowd, their warm sound was absolutely captivating. Bear Grass’ sound felt bigger than usual, with layers of vocals and guitars, and Katie Hammon’s lead vocals seeming to gain even more power and confidence over the past year.
Back over at Pauly’s people were filling in the room for Hammer Hawk, the trio that creates rock in all the right ways. Hammer Hawk makes music that feels good to yell along with. It’s rock with alternative roots that feel almost comforting, and familiar. Familiar in its most kind interpretation can sum up Funsgiving. If you’ve been to one before, the faces are familiar. While some of the bands were seasoned Funsgiving veterans, the ones that weren’t, had mostly been there before, just in different forms. B3nson is a music collective of musicians and friends with bands that are constantly evolving, where one project ends, someone is inspired to take a sound in a new direction and a new one begins.
The crowd was at its peak during The Parlor’s set, who was celebrating the release of their new EP, Ghost House. Where Bear Grass’ set felt in need of a fireplace, the only thing missing from The Parlor’s set could’ve been a disco ball. Covering the Eurythmics “Sweet Dreams”, with the dual vocals of Jen O’Conner and Donna Baird, along with the contagious, wild energy of frontman Eric Krans, The Parlor ensured there was a smile on the face of everyone in the room. Funsgiving favorites, they knew exactly how to get the crowd all warmed up and moving throughout their set, playing old crowd favorites and great new tracks.
Closing out the night was the band that has quickly become a party-time favorite in Albany – Rival Galaxies. For people in it for the long haul, there was no better band to close out a great night of music. They’re the type of band that even if you had no clue who they were, and you walked into one of their shows, they’d have your attention, and have you moving in an instant. Think LCD Soundsystem with a hint of punk energy. Drummer Todd Richards is so precise he at times seems more machine than man, and bassist Nick Wallas finds a groove that fits perfectly and lays it down solid, making for an ideal rhythm section for a live dance band. The energy from Matt Ferguson on synths never ends, and neither does the unique range of sounds he creates. Even if guitarist/vocalist Mike Fuccilli didn’t nail all the words to their cover of Semisonic’s “Closing Time” to end the show, it didn’t matter. When you put out a sound and energy like they do for a full set, and a room is filled with that many good friends, perfection can be thrown out the window in exchange for an honest, good, yet slightly cheesy in all the right ways, drunken singalong. Let’s be honest, sometimes, nothing feels better.
B3nson has created a musical collective that from the outside, seems completely organic. Over the years they’ve provided truly quality sounds, and great texture to the musical landscape of Albany. It’s friends and musicians that would be throwing this annual party each year whether anyone else showed up or not. But, we’ll keep showing up, because their constant output of music is something Albany would sound far less vibrant without.
Aside from Funsgiving, The B3nson Recording Company is responsible for the annual Restoration Festival, along with countless great shows and releases throughout the year. To keep up to date on what they have going on, find them on Facebook.
On a Fall October night in Albany at The Low Beat, two local bands took to the stage to show that the music scene in the area is alive and well. The Sea The Sea, with openers Great Mutations played their first and third live shows of the area, respectively, and made new fans to those who were in attendance. Three piece act Great Mutations, from Troy, started the evening off with some easy-going rock tunes that would sound perfect on the California coast. Their songs were well written, both musically and lyrically. The beginning of their set saw some trepidation from the band, but by the end of the set their confidence oozed through the music. Lead singer and guitarist Matt Thouin said after the set that the band likes to mainly record and haven’t looked into playing live shows, but hopefully this will change as the band showed off a lot of potential in their 40 minute set.
After a short break The Sea The Sea played their first Albany show. Duo Mira Stanley and Chuck E. Costa played a great set of folk-rock that had signs of deep space and jamming thrown in for good measure. The Sea The Sea’s name, which means ‘a cry of joy’, came from a Greek tale of soldiers arriving to see the ocean and exclaiming the words and Mira and Chuck sing their songs with such joy that the name fits perfectly. Their harmonies at times soared over the music with their dreamy lyrics and made everyone in the venue focus on what was being sung instead of the music that was being produced.
With only one album to their credit, The Sea The Sea decided to surprise the crowd and play a set mostly composed of brand new music that no one has heard yet and hopefully will make the second album the band plans on recording will living in the Albany area once again. The one song they played from their first album was the title track “Love We Are We Love” and it gave the group a moment to not worry about the new material and let them go zone in on the music. The rest of the music throughout the night was wonderful as well. The best new track was “Drunken King” near the end of the evening. The haunting track has Pink Floyd vocal wailing from Mira, while Chuck sings straight forward and plays the keys. The minimal music in the song lets the lyrics really be the forefront of what the listener is hearing throughout the song.
With two guitars, a harmonica, a drum set, a keyboard, and two voices, The Sea The Sea put on an hour-long set that seemed to go by too quickly. Though the music is not what one would consider busy, it melds perfectly with their voices to create a beautiful sound-scape that gets caught in your head and doesn’t want to leave. The band is now once again living in the Capital District and should be playing regularly around town. The small crowd at The Low Beat for the show were won over by show’s end. Hopefully as more shows pop up for The Sea The Sea, the crowds for this great duo continue to rise like the tide.
Their single, “Love We Are We Love,” from their title track released in February has been spun at radio stations across the country and their album has been met with accolades from NPR and No Depression. The duo, The Sea The Sea, bring their brand of interconnectedness to the 518 for a show at The Low Beat Thursday, October 2nd. Be sure to check them out as they have relocated to the Albany area and they intend to become very active with the music community.
Their tale is a mystical story of fate and a series of mishaps that ultimately brought them together. It was by coincidence Mira Stanley held a sign with Chuck’s (E. Costa) name on it during a songwriter’s showcase years prior. Figuratively, it was sign. They didn’t reconnect again until almost five years later after each had been through their own trials. Borrowing their name from Xenophon’s Anabasis, a Greek tale of soldiers returning home, the name The Sea The Sea became their own battle cry of joy! Weaving storyline lyrics and an unmatched harmony, the folk power duo dig deep leaving the listener with an enlightened sense of Universal themes of love and faith. Great Mutations will open tonight’s show. Tickets available at the door.
For a thursday night in Albany, New York, there sure was a good amount of rock and roll to be had. On Central Avenue in particular, where four small bands from New York state converged to bring a huge night of music. The End Men, from Brooklyn, kicked off their tour at their second home in Albany, before hitting the road for two solid weeks up and down the east coast.
The Low Beat has been bringing quality shows since it opened in February of this year. In the wake of Valentines closing, a staple venue in the Albany music scene, The Low Beat has filled that void, with the same ‘No Pepper’ adorning the stage and great beers and grub from the bar. (Check out our article on the iconic club closing it’s doors.)
Henry’s Rifle kicked off the night, with his one man talent barrage. John Pipino normally goes at it alone, with his trusty banjo and tambourine/stompbox suitcase combo bringing down and dirty roots rock to the stage. He was in good form, telling the crowd he was digging into some songs he normally doesn’t like to play, but was enjoying them anyway. A master at creating a singular atmosphere when he plays, it’s no wonder his new album (which will be released on Halloween of this year) is called “Barroom Weather”. With his huge, crooning voice sailing over the crowd, and his fast paced banjo strumming and later guitar picking, the show was given a proper send up from an act that needs to be experienced to be believed. Look for news on his CD release soon.
Next up was Charmboy, also from Albany. Both Henry’s Rifle and Charmboy are part of the ever growing Built4BBQ musician collective in Albany, which also includes The End Men as well. The traditional three piece of guitar, bass and drums is anything but, delivering high energy old school rock and roll in large helpings. They started their set with a massive psychedelic build up, which was kind of surprising considering the immediate rock set that followed. Easy parallels can be made to Elvis Costello and Television, but these guys bring some new vigor to that tried and true sound. Great sound from the board helped the crowd pick out the nuances like precision shuffle beat drums over screaming guitars, and a three part vocal attack. No nonsense rock and roll, as showcased by their originals and a great cover of “Heaven and Hell” by The Who.
The End Men played the third spot on the bill, and the bar was almost packed full at this point. When these guys come to town, the crowds continually get bigger and bigger, and soon we might not be seeing this band in the smaller clubs in the area. The awesome power of the sound this band produces is even more incredible when you realize they are, inherently, a two piece band. Matt Hendershot holds down a gritty blues rock guitar with searing, gravel dream vocals, while Livia Ranalli plays the meanest drums and percussion you have ever seen. Filling out the lineup for this tour is Matt Elia on tenor saxaphone, which brings an added warmth to the gritty rock and roll coming from the stage. At first listen, visions of Tom Waits, Jack White or Mark Lanegan might fill your mind, but The End Men deliver all that and more with their incredible vaudevillian, psycho circus rock and roll. Matt is engaging as frontman to this rag tag outfit, and definitely seems at home in front of a microphone. The vocal melodies between Matt and Liv resonate to your very depths, and draw you closer to the stage to sop up every last bit of musical juice they provide. This is what bands on the cusp of breaking into the big time look and feel like, so next time they come to this area, or an area near you, do not miss the chance to witness their raucous good time. They ended their set with a song called “The Wolves”, having epic trade offs between guitar and sax with the percussion keeping everything nailed to the floor.
Last of the night was Sun Voyager from NYC, and they put the perfect capstone on an already incredible rock show. Psychedelic with a hint of crazy riff rock, it was a little like watching the british invasion all over again. If you happened to walk into The Low Beat not knowing what you were in for, Sun Voyager would have convinced you that you were witnessing something prolific. Hints of The Black Angels and The 13th Floor Elevators permeate their sound, and their big sound washes over you with reckless abandon, showing the versatile sound that this club can handle. Another three piece band that blows you away with their talent and musicianship.
A final note: Touring is a tough business, and that statement hit harder than most for The End Men that night. Their tour vehicle lost it’s transmission two blocks from The Low Beat, right before the show. But because of Albany’s incredible music scene that boasts a true sense of comradery, this little band from Brooklyn was in good hands. The bartender got a mechanic on the phone immediately, friends and bandmates helped push their vehicle to the club. Our own Jim Gilbert offered up his van so that they could continue on their tour. Music isn’t just about the sounds that you create, it’s about the friendships and connections you make as well. No better place to experience that first hand then supporting your local music scene, and becoming part of that awesome collective yourself.
Thursday, September 11th, the rock will invade Albany at The Low Beat. From the ashes of Valentines, this new venue over on Central Avenue has risen, and has already brought some great live acts to the area. This night aims to be no different, as some locals and some out of town bands will help send off The End Men on their two week tour of america.
Photo by The End Men
Henry’s Rifle, straight out of Albany, will bring his one man, dirty rocking banjo music to the stage. Fresh of of the Muddy Roots festival in Tennessee, and poised to drop his brand new album, “Barroom Weather” very soon, his rackus, infectious sounds will surely brighten your day and get you ready for the night.
Sun Voyager, out of Orange County New York, will be slinging psychedelic garage rock licks at the audience in full helpings. Usually hitting the Brooklyn scene, it will be a treat to see them in Albany, alongside such luminaries of local rock and roll. They are part of King Pizza Records, and definitely check out their Bandcamp if you haven’t already.
Charmboy, another Albany based band, are a product of the no nonsense rock and roll of the 70’s and they are proud to produce guitar laden rock without gimmick or pretense. Tight riffs and tasty jams will feed the hole in your soul where rock and roll lives. They will be sure to do what they do best; melt faces and hearts alike with their pure inspiring music.
The End Men Fall Tour
The End Men, from Brooklyn New York, definitely call Albany their home away from home at this point. Joining up with the fine collective of musical folks at Built4BBQ, they have made the pilgrimage upstate a number of times to great crowd response. The two piece, though rumoured to be rounded out by a mysterious saxaphone player for this tour, bring an incredibly huge sound with them wherever they set up shop. They have been tearing up stages in America as well as Europe for over four years now, and they show no signs of taking a break. Each time they come to this area they try out new material, engage the crowd on and off the stage, and make for an immersive experience full of their own brand of psycho dirty blues laden rock and roll.
Show starts at 8PM at The Low Beat, for only 5 dollars. Check out the Facebook event.
Tonight in Albany, The Low Beat on Central Ave will host a night dedicated to the familiar sound of the 90s, Weezer. Members of the neighborhood B3nson Recording Company will come together to form B3nson does Blue: a tribute to Weezer. The cover fee is $5 with the show set to start at 9pm with The Pistol Whips. This year marks the 20th anniversary of Weezer’s Blue Album released on May 10th, 1994. This album helped launch their career with such songs as “Buddy Holly” and “Say It Ain’t So.” The age of music videos was also still alive then, and with help from director Spike Jones, Weezer became a mainstream success. So get ready to get jiggy with it, crimp your hair, throw on a slap bracelet, and grab your homies for a night of the nineties.Dan Maddalone, singer and guitarist for Barons in the Attic, was and still is a proud Weezer fanatic. He had time to chat about tonight’s show and all things Weezer related.
Susan Rice: How has Weezer’s music influenced your music? They are classified as “unashamed nerd rockers.” Can you relate to this? Dan Maddalone: I listened to Weezer a ton during High School. Their album Pinkerton made me feel feelings I didn’t know existed and I always loved their songs and videos. I am a nerd and I feel no shame ever so I guess I can relate to that. Also, everyone covering them this Friday are nerds too, so I’m sure they relate as well. They’ve personally influenced my music by helping me love pop melodies and heavy guitars.
SR: The name of the band you are playing with is named after The Benson Recording Company/Family. Which members belong to which band? DM: The B3nson Recording Collective is an entity that has existed since 2009. It’s a group of friends that help each other out, make records (60+ so far!), and put on shows. We also do RestFest, which is a big concert that happens every August. This band is comprised of members from bands within the collective. Matt Ferguson from Rival Galaxies, Steve Stanley from Careers and Bear Grass, Adam Zurbregg as curator and former Sgt. Dunbar bassist, Eric Krans from The Parlor, and Tim Koch from Dunbar and the Parlor.
SR: Have you seen Weezer live before? DM: I saw Weezer live in 2010. It was in Massachusetts somewhere outside of Boston. They crushed it. I know they’ve gotten “lame” as time has gone on, but I suppose that happens to most bands. They’ve lost their “cred” according to everyone and yet it’s funny, as you talk to people and the older they get, the earlier they got shitty. Brian Bell (guitarist for Weezer) once said “you can’t truly be a Weezer fan unless you are disappointed in what the band’s currently doing”. But if you go see them, you will not be disappointed.
SR: There are multiple ways that artists pay tribute to other musicians. Do you plan on playing the album note for note or improving a bit? Are you more celebrating the album itself turning 20 or you are just that big of a Weezer fan? DM: Anything from listening, to singing karaoke, to playing, or recording a band’s music can pay tribute. We’re attempting note for note, but these songs are quite tough. The dudes shred and we’re just using this as an excuse to crank our guitars real loud and party. 20 years is just a good reason to book a show and hangout at The Low Beat.
For years, Deadheads throughout the Capital District make the trip every Wednesday night to hear some good old Grateful Dead covers at Valentine’s on New Scotland Avenue in Albany, New York (and as of last week, at The Low Beat on Central Avenue). Any one who has attended a Deadbeats show can probably attest to the dedication and talent each member in the band brings to the table to keep the Grateful Dead alive in Albany. You may also likely know Denise Parent, drummer of The Deadbeats as well as many side projects throughout the Upstate music scene. had the opportunity to ask Denise some questions regarding her past within the music scene and her rise as one of the most well-known female drummers in Albany.
Jenni Rose Wilson: Tell us a little about yourself and how you got started in the music scene.
Denise Parent: I guess I think about how I got started playing music. My mother has been singing since I was in the womb, so I think it really rubbed off on me. She used to be involved in local musical troupes and I used to go watch her shows and regular rehearsals. My mother is a fantastic singer; therefore I had a great musical mentor. I started singing as a young girl and performed at my first talent show at 9 years old. I went on singing in talent shows and the choirs for years.
One day in high school I was sitting in class tapping on the desk with my pencil erasers, and my teacher yelled out, “Join a band!” (Thanks Ms. Molloy). It was like a light bulb went off! I went home and told my parents I wanted to play the drums. That Christmas my brother got me a snare drum and cymbal and I smacked that for about a year before asking my parents for a drum set. For my 17th birthday I got a little Pearl kit. I taught myself how to play by watching MTV, back when they actually played music videos. I joined my first band after playing in my room a couple of months. By 19 I had joined my third band and we played some gigs in the bars in and around Levittown, Long Island. I did take a few drum lessons over those years and learned how to read drum music and play a few necessary rudiments.
I had also been playing around with the guitar as a kid since my older sister played in the folk choir. I had fiddled around with it for years and before you know it I was playing some solo and duo guitar gigs at my brother’s café in Sayville. I kept all the gigs going until I moved up to New Paltz to finish college in 1993. It was there I met the Deadbeats. I started to play with them full-time in 1993 and we were going on the road and playing up and down the East Coast for a few years. We played in all size venues, from great little dive bars to colleges, festivals and music halls. Since then I have been playing gigs regularly. In late 1997, I left the Deadbeats and soon after joined Big Sister, an all female band from Woodstock, NY. Six months after I joined we got signed to Capricorn Records and then recorded a rockin’ CD called So Hi How Are You. We had a few years of playing great gigs like the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and we were even in Rolling Stone Magazine! That was a really great experience for me and I did have a lot of fun! Unfortunately, Capricorn went bankrupt and we lost our good gigs and our monetary support.
I was a lead singer in most of the bands I was in prior to this, and being a backup singer in Big Sister always left me wanting to sing leads again. It was around this time that the Deadbeats called me and asked me if I wanted to come back and play in the band. When I had been given the opportunity to sing lead again it felt really wonderful. I came back to the Deadbeats on NYE 2000-2001 and have been in the band ever since.
JRW: You have your hand in a number of different musical projects, can you tell us a little bit about each project?
DP: Currently I play in three bands, The Deadbeats, Hemingway’s Cat and Wild Piper. The Deadbeats is a staple in the Albany area, playing a ton of Grateful Dead and classic rock. Since I sing lead, we do Janis Joplin, Aretha Franklin, and other assorted female-singer songs. I love to sing Bob Dylan and Bob Marley, so we do a handful of their songs. Of course I also love singing anything by Jerry Garcia, since I have a true soft spot for singing soulful Gospel and traditional songs. The Deadbeats also have a good amount of original music, of which I sing some of the songs I have written. We have never played the same set twice, and we don’t use a setlist. Mike, Alex, Brian and I have developed a band that has an awesome following, and we do have a special relationship with the crowd every time we play.
Hemingway’s Cat is an all-original band from Woodstock. The music is very eclectic, with songs that sound like jazz, blues, reggae and an almost Middle Eastern feel. I joined that band about three years ago. I was mostly drawn to them because the music has a lot of great rhythms with high energy. When I first met the band they already had recorded a CD, and then we recorded a five song CD called Next to You. When we play we really raise the roof! I also really enjoy playing all of our own music for people who dance and smile while we do it! Wild Piper is an exciting new band, made up of some of the current and former Deadbeats, in addition to members of Raisinhead and Ominous Seapods. It’s a great mix of strong lead vocals, screaming lead guitar, the warm Hammond organ, the funky rhythm guitar all on top of a bass and drums powerhouse duo! Even though this band is in its early stages, the talent and song choices have already wowed audiences. It’s has that “new relationship energy” and we all have an appreciation for each other’s talent. I look forward to where we will go together.
JRW: What is it like being a female in a male dominated craft such as musical production?
DP: I admit over the years I have had a few funny experiences while playing in a band. I have met a bunch of men who have been open minded and wonderful. Of course there are those who tell me I’m pretty good for a girl. I know those guys are trying to be nice, so I see the compliment they are striving for. One night in the mid-90s, I was setting up for a Deadbeats gig in Monticello alongside Mike Johnson, the guitarist. Some guy came over and started talking to Mike, asking him what time the band would be starting and what type of music we played. They talked a little bit while Mike set up his amp and pedals. Then the guy turned to me as I was setting up the drums and asked when the drummer would be getting there. I thought it was a bit funny because I was actually setting up the drum kit when he asked me. I admit it wasn’t the first time I had been asked a question like that. This time I decided to have a little fun with it. Mike and I told him that the drummer was my boyfriend and would be getting there soon. I continued setting up my kit and did a little bit of a soundcheck. He came back over to the stage and said that I sounded pretty good. I laughed a bit with Mike and told the guy I was going to have to start with the band because my boyfriend would be late. I also told him that he taught me a lot, so I could probably be OK for a few songs. After playing a bit I felt guilty for pulling his leg and I came clean. He was very surprised at first, but then he was my biggest fan. Of course there are those other times that aren’t as funny, but I like to focus on the positive.
JRW: What instruments do you play and at what age were you introduced to them?
DP: I sing lead vocals and play drums at the same time. People always tell me they think it’s hard, but I guess I have been doing it for so long I really don’t even notice. Lucky me, I do feel blessed for being given such a great gift. I started playing drums when I was 16. I always tapped on everything as a kid. I used to take all the pots and pans in the house and put them all over my bed and then I would play them like a drum set with my chopsticks or pens, whatever I had handy. I had a lot of fun doing this until one time I was jamming out hard and broke the ball point off the pen. The ink went flying all over the pot and pans and my bed and the carpet and my mom was pissed! I can still remember her face! Fortunately we laugh about that now! Soon after it was clear that I had rhythm I got my first drum set. My parents would let me play anytime 10am-10pm. I would crank up my stereo and the fun would begin. My mom used to clean the house and dance around while I played. My dad would always compliment my improvements. I remember my mom being surprised that I liked reggae and gospel music. My parents were (and still are) very proud of me and were very supportive to my playing drums. When I was 17 I had a party at my sister’s house and asked my friends from school to play. I remember them playing the Beastie Boys and I just got so incredibly charged I knew I had to join a band!
I have been playing the guitar since I was a young girl. My sister gave me her classical acoustic guitar and I would play over all the songs on the radio. I didn’t really know many chords in the beginning, so I would play leads and sing a bit while I plucked around. I started to learn more chords and rhythms when I was around 15. I wrote my first song, on the guitar, “I Hate Goodbyes”, at 17. There is something so nice about being able to pick up my acoustic guitar and sing a song. Even to this day I love to do it. No setup required. No amplification necessary. I have played a few acoustic guitar gigs over my years Upstate, but these days I play the drums at my gigs.
JRW: What are your biggest musical and non-musical influences?
DP: My mother taught me how to sing. My father taught me how to work hard and be responsible for myself. My high school teacher told me to join a band. My religious upbringing has taught me to love people. Both my parents have taught me to thank God and to love and respect others. I tend to wear my heart on my sleeve, probably because I like to connect to other hearts around me. When I think about all my influences they are widespread. My first concert was Rush at Nassau Coliseum, and that blew my mind. Neil Peart was one of the most intricate drummers I had ever seen. I always loved watching Mick Fleetwood play, and felt like I could really understand his playing. I did notice that we both made some pretty funny faces when we got into it. I love both of the drummers in the Grateful Dead. Mickey Hart has taught me to lead with the toms and to stray from the form and see where it takes me. Billy Kreutzmann showed me how I can add beautiful color to the most basic beats, while holding a whole band together. I have always loved to sing Indigo Girls, Bonnie Raitt and Joni Mitchell songs. Over the years I have followed them and their music and really appreciate the effort they take in crafting a song, and how they sing it. I often get goosebumps when I listen to any one of their songs.
My last few years living on Long Island, my friend Dino Perrucci took me to see this great band called The Volunteers (who later became the Zen Tricksters). They really taught me the music of the Grateful Dead. I did used to go see a lot of Dead shows, but I got an intense 101 from seeing the Tricksters four nights a week for a few years. To this day I credit Jeff Mattson (who now plays with Dark Star Orchestra) and Dino for much of my musical influences. Jeff even gave me guitar lessons back in the day. Just last weekend I went to see him and Rob Barraco play in the DSO and remember how much I learned from both of them. I give them and the Zen Tricksters a lot of credit for helping me learn so much of what I still do today.
JRW: How do you handle mistakes during performances?
DP: If you had asked me that question 15 years ago I would have answered very differently. I remember a time when I would get very upset with myself and have a hard time remaining present to ease and grace after I had made a mistake. I would spend so much time focusing on the mistake that I would be kicking myself during the next few sections of the song. I would not be present to the beauty of anything, and really missed out on so much good. I got hung up on mistakes others would make too. I think I lost sight of all the good and got stuck in insignificance. After doing some helpful introspection and years of different sorts of self-help work, I’ve come to get a huge lesson that has impacted me in every aspect of my life. Nothing is wrong. Its all how I deal with it that really matters. Of course I am not perfect at anything, so accepting that I make mistakes has become easier and easier. And having compassion for me or anyone else that may make a mistake around me comes with that as well. Falling off the beaten path has led me to some incredible moments on and offstage. Of course I love it when I hit the notes well and play the drums spot on, but I welcome whatever I am presented with now, while looking to see what I can learn from it. It really is all good.
JRW: What are the biggest obstacles for a band and what is the hardest part about working in the music industry?
DP: I would love to be able to support myself by writing, recording and playing music. I think most artists I know struggle with being able to play music and travel to reach wider audiences, because it costs money. Therefore they need to have a side job to help them pay rent and eat, and whatever’s left may go towards a little tour. In most cases artists need to find a way to promote their music, and even though the Internet is very helpful for that, we still have to travel to different places to play for them.
JRW: How do you balance music with your life’s other obligations?
DP: Well fortunately my day job at Family Services does accommodate me playing music on a regular basis. I do appreciate having that job, because I recognize all the good that FS does. It also helps that I have a great crew of people that I work with. I also really love just being at home with Anne and all the animals! It does my soul a world of good.
JRW: What advice would you give to other artists who have less experience than you?
DP: I’m not sure I know all the right advice to give. I will say that keeping the joy alive is great for the soul in any regard. Remember the joy that making music brings you, and do it for that reason. I think it is incredible to connect with my band mates and make something special happen. It’s even more wonderful when others can appreciate it as well. Oh yeah, and learn how to harmonize. It works in life as well as in music!
Jenni Rose Wilson: Tell us a little about yourself and how you got started in the music scene.
JRW: You have your hand in a number of different musical projects, can you tell us a little bit about each project?
JRW: What instruments do you play and at what age were you introduced to them?