Steve Drizos may not be a household name but once he gets behind the drums for Jerry Joseph and the Jackmormons, he’s easily identifiable. You may also remember him as the drummer for 1700 gigs in ten years with Charlie Orlando as Dexter Grove, where their stripped down sound and Drizo’s conga carried them across the United States back forth more times than they probably care to remember. Times have certainly changed for Drizos.Jerry Joseph and the Jackmormons, featuring Drizos (drums) & JR Ruppel (bass) have confirmed their first non Alaska shows of 2010 as they will be touring behind their brand new release, Badlandia. And Drizos, whose wife Jenny Conlee is the keyboardist for The Decemberists and who himself, has contributed to The Decemberists’ The Crane Wife, is quick to contribute his talents to an array of projects, always thankful he’s still drumming after all these years.
What do you feel your hometown of Scotia ,NY gave you that you will stick with you through-out life?
Probably my love of classic rock, cause it seems that’s all we used to listen to. And I go home to visit now and they’re still spinning the same tunes. That and my love of drinking beer in the woods. While listening to classic rock.
If you had to describe "music" to someone who has never heard it before how would you describe it?
Maybe play some Beatles but they are probably already trying to market their new video game to the aliens too.
What album could you listen to over and over again and never get sick of it?
Depends on the day. Right now I would say Blood On The Tracks (Bob Dylan). I haven’t listened to it in a while and I can’t find my fucking copy of it and its bugging the shit out of me.
If you were not a musician for your job, what would you be?
No idea. After doing this for 15 years, I don’t know. I would like to say I would be doing something profound and worthwhile, but probably not. Working a labor job or waiting tables or something, but probably going to see a lot more shows.
I have heard you play the drums so many times and even the guitar a little, are there any other instruments you like to play, even if just fo your own amusement?
I play a little piano once in a while, but really poorly. I have picked up the bass a bit. I spend most of my time working on music programs on my laptop, loops and such.
After being on the road with Dexter Grove for so long, what was one of the hardest adjustments you faced with moving to Portland Oregon?
First off, it was not being with the people I had spent so much time with for all those years. Then trying to get into a new community of musicians that I didn’t know very well and didn’t know me. But I moved here because I was always intrigued and inspired by what I had seen in the music community. A lot commradery and support of each other, very little competition. I am happy to say I made the right decision.
You have worked with many different musicians what do you like about working with Jerry Joseph?
There’s a lot of things I love about working with Jerry, but its his honesty and emotion in his music that I really love. Its ironic that the same things that attract so many of his fans are the same things that scare others away and keep him from hitting the mainstream. Some people find it too honest. What have been some of your proudest musical accomplishments?
Being able to do this job for longer than I ever thought I would.
If you could ask any musician(live or dead) one question, who would you ask and what would the question be?
I’ve already got to meet and have a talk with Dean Ween, and I’m not telling what we talked about.
Spiritual Rez is a Reggae Horn Funk Dance Party that has been tirelessly touring the country while commanding an extremely positive and high energy sound. Since 2003, the band has shared the stage with internationally touring acts such as Culture, Gregory Isaacs, Jimmy Buffett, Israel Vibration, Buju Banton and Jamaican Legends The Skatalites. They have also been lucky enough to play shows featuring Bernie Worrell (founding Parliamant Funkadelic member and keys for the Talking Heads) on keyboards. Their EP, RISING IN THE EAST was released independently in 2006 and the band is finishing touches on their latest studio record, coming out late 2009. Glide’s Melissa Broduer recently caught up with the band’s drummer and manager Ian "Meat" Miller. What first made you want to be a musician?
I was "forced" to play piano by my parents at a young age, and my older brother played the drums. My father had a music studio and I would just go down and get on the drums- that was the fun music! That is what first made me want to be a musician
What do you like most about being in Spiritual Rez?
The fun, Just constant FUN!!! Being able to go everywhere and have fun. To be able to say that after six years with relatively the same people its still fun and all well worth it. We are lucky!!!
What is your favorite Spiritual Rez song to play?
I really like to play the ones we never play. There is this song called “She’s The One” that we never play, I don’t even think there is a recording of it. It’s a punk/reggae song and its A LOT OF FUN!
What is one album you can never get enough of?
Oh-Man!! Kidnapkin, all of their albums are awesome, they just flow with high energy, you would not believe they are just a trio! I can listen to them anytime, anywhere!
What is one of your favorite bands to see live?
Tool was my favorite concert experience of all time. It was in Honolulu and I was 18. Set aside from the fact that it is all minor music, all low and crazy, the show was very stimulating in all fashions. Beautiful setting, beautiful scenario, beautiful band- AWESOME TIME!!!! What are some of your musical goals?
Honestly, just to take Spiritual Rez as far as it will go. We want to help as many people with music as we can. I feel so strong that our music has the capability to take you to trance levels (is takes me to trance levels) its such a rush and I want to bring that to as many people as possible.
If you were an animal what would you be and why?
I know Van would be a kinkajou, I would be a manatee and just cruise around and hug!
What are some things you like to do to relax while not on the road?
Spend time away from each other (and I mean that in the most loving way) Just being off the road and going to beautiful places with friends is relaxing.
Do you have an superstitions?
Not really. No white lighters( says Van from the background). We did all hold our breath going through a tunnel, not everybody made it through the whole thing and its nothing we do regularly Music has changed my life by..
Rob Marscher is best known as the former keyboard player for Addison Groove Project, a Boston based outfit that was one of the east coasts most prominent acts in the then burgeoning jazz/funk/jam scene of the late 90’s and early part of the current decade. Although they held comfortable success in the northeast, things dwindled down when the band tragically lost bass player John Hall to cancer in late 2004 – AGP soon parted ways.
As one of the dominant players in the band, Marscher has collaborated his keyboard talents with a variety of the scene’s brightest names: Trey Anastasio, Umphrey’s McGee, Marco Benevento, DJ Logic, Charlie Hunter, Tea Leaf Green, Disco Biscuits and Soulive.These days Marscher is a proud member of Hasidic reggae star Matisyahu’s touring band. Although laying down dub reggae grooves is a bit of a departure from Marscher’s improvisational/jazz routines, he’s keeping active and relevant to a new beat. Glide’s Melissa Brodeur had a chance to talk to Marscher about his musical upbringing, joining Matisyahu’s band and keeping healthy on the road.
You went to the Longy School Of Music for seven years and won an award for excellence in piano performance. What doors has this education opened for you?
Longy is modeled after the French conservatory system. Plus my teacher was from the St. Petersberg Conservatory. So my style was heavily influenced by late Romantic through Modern periods of Russian and French music. This is still my favorite music of all time. I also studied composition and was exposed to many different types of contemporary 20th-century music at a young age. After studying computer science at Boston University and working in that field, at what point (if any) did you realize - Hey I can make music for living?"
I actually have maintained a double path of computer programming and music throughout the last ten years. It’s allowed me to not always have to rely on using music to make a living which I think is a good thing. I never had to perform music I wasn’t passionate about just to scrape together money to pay the bills. Plus, my band never had to get someone else to make our website. I worked at IBM out of college since the rest of AGP were still working on their degrees. I quit my job when John Hall graduated and we could finally start touring. Then we found out he had a tumor the day before we were going to leave for the tour. After he died, I went back to programming full-time. Right now I’m totally music full-time.
In May of 1997 you joined Addison Groove Project, how did that come about?
I had a high school band and Addison Groove Project was in the same high school battle of the bands hosted by seminal Boston radio station WBCN (which recently announced it’s going off air!). They won. My band came in second. My band was breaking up since members were going off to college. AGP didn’t have a keyboard player and I was impressed when I found that singer Brendan McGinn was also into Debussy, Prokofiev, etc, and sax player Ben Groppe was writing 12-tone funk horn lines. They had only formed basically for that battle of the bands, so I’m essentially an original member. In fact, we would later wonder if we should have changed the band name, which is admittedly a bit odd/cliché. The other guys had quickly picked it during a brainstorm the night before they had to submit the sign-up sheet for the battle of the bands. On the other hand, "groove"/funk/jazz music was pretty happening in the late 90’s… I’m guessing this may have been brought about by Phish’s emphasis on funk during those years and they also brought Medeski, Martin, and Wood out as an opening band, turning a lot of their fans onto the downtown NYC jazz scene.
Ironically, for me, I had been a pretty big fan of Phish in ‘95, saw 4 shows, but sort of stopped listening to them around then and got really deep into the J.B.’s, Bootsy, and learning how to play sparsely, consistently and lock into different parts that formed a collective rhythm. Some friends played us tapes of a Phish show in ‘98 and I remember actually being somewhat annoyed to hear their extended "cow funk" jams because I felt like that’s what we were trying to do to differentiate ourselves from sounding like them and other Northeast bands that extended from the leftover Grateful Dead scene. Anyway, that was back when I was still searching for my original musical style.
What is your favorite memory of being with Addison Groove Project?
Honestly, I got hung up on this question for a while. These guys are like my brothers and there were a million amazing times that we had together. Pretty much every time we played Boston or Burlington was an event. We played the Berkshire Mountain Music Festival (Berkfest) five times and those were all great and I met my future wife there. I can’t say the time Trey and Fishman sat in with us wasn’t awesome because it was totally spontaneous, unplanned, and energetic. However, all of my memories from after the time that John Hall got sick are pretty bittersweet.
When meeting Matisyahu at a party and you were discussing being in his band, did you say yes right away or was it something you had to think about?
I met Matisyahu because my college friend was his manager. There was some talk of him sitting in with us back in 2004. He ended up opening a couple shows in Boston and Baltimore and we did some co-bills in New York. AGP stopped touring at the end of 2004 and our sound engineer and lighting director ended up working for Matisyahu so I stayed in touch with him and Aaron Dugan (Matis’ longtime guitar player).
Dub Trio - who are currently on tour opening and as the other half of our band - are old friends of mine. Their old band, Actual Proof, did several shows back in the day with AGP and we used to play parties and side gigs in Boston pretty frequently in 1998-2000. I moved to Brooklyn in the fall of 2004 and Joe and Stu and myself played a gig as "The Future Impressionists" at the Blue Note. Our set focused on arrangements I made of 20th-century classical music with bass, drums, piano, and synths.
I went to the Dub Trio CD release party at the beginning of 2008 and ran into Matisyahu there. We had also played together on Purim in 2007 with Aaron Dugan’s Booby Trap band, basically a giant two hours improv set with over a dozen musicians.
So Matis gave me the call about being in the band a few weeks later. I wasn’t actually expecting to be part of the touring band. I was more expecting to work on some writing or studio stuff. So I did have to think about it for a while because I was married with a 10-month-old daughter and wasn’t sure how this would work out with me touring. But we decided it was worth the try to help get me more immersed in music. Plus I felt I had a lot to contribute to Matisyahu’s music.
What are some of your favorite bands that you have shared a stage with?
Hmm… I’m probably going to forget some good ones… Phish. The Flaming Lips. Umphrey’s McGee. Maceo Parker. Those come to mind off the top of my head. I read that you are trying to be healthy on the road, in what ways is this most challenging for you?
Getting enough good sleep is difficult because we roll overnight on the bus a lot of the time. As the tour wears on, the lack of really good REM sleep builds up. Additionally, we have 12 people sleeping in the bunk area of the bus so there’s obviously potential for sickness to spread pretty quick. Some people like to turn the air conditioning way up to keep it cold in the bunk area thinking that would help from people getting sick… but air conditioned air has it’s own problems. The other main challenges are getting exercise and eating well. I’m not really one for using hotel fitness rooms… I was always a team sport person growing up playing ice hockey and lacrosse. I did get into a pushup/situp routine on this tour… I wasn’t terribly dedicated with it but I’ll keep working on that. What are you doing to be healthy that is most effective?
Definitely making an effort to eat right is the most effective thing for staying healthy. On this tour, the band and crew were, for the most part, pretty into getting healthy foods. I never had any fast food (well… did get some fries at In-N-Out one morning) and there was always a good supply of healthy snacks - fruit, granola, tofurky, etc. Matisyahu is into being healthy. He drinks a ginger tea concoction every day for his voice (grated organic ginger brewed in a french press, squeeze of organic lemon, and some organic, preferably local honey). He also has a juicer and we get avocados, apples, bananas, celery, carrots, etc pretty much every day on our rider which has been great.
I managed to not get sick throughout the whole tour despite other band members fighting off bronchitis and strep throat. I partially got lucky, but every little effort I made to stay healthy probably added up and helped.
What are some of your favorite places on the road that help support your healthy lifestyle?
Definitely the whole West Coast is pretty hip to eating well and being healthy. I like the nice music festivals that have quality catering and massage therapists (Rothbury was one example of this that we hit up this summer). Dub Trio came directly off a Europe tour right before they joined us for our tour. They looked and felt quite healthy, so I’m looking forward to touring over there. Apparently most of the music promoters also have a big love for quality food.
In three words or less what is the best part of being in a band?
Music With Friends — meaning it’s the interaction with the other musicians and people that makes it great to me. Otherwise, I could just be making music in my basement.
I describe myself as……..
a musician, father, husband, programmer, and ice hockey goalie. Basically a Renaissance man
No, but I always wanted to be an artist. I was not sure what that meant, but I always wanted to do something creative, the thing I really wanted to be was a cartoonist, until I discovered music at the age of 11 or 12 from my neighbor/best friend.
Now do you just want to be a musician?
I still make t-shirts to get some creative juices flowing but yes now I just want to be musician.
You recently moved from Plattsburg NY to Burlington VT, how do you feel living in Burlington will change/effect your music?
It already has, just everyday I have seen or have been involved with musicians. Being completely immersed in the music community after just 2 months I feel I am a better musician already. My feet are taking root, its a nurturing environment and lots of creative juices are flowing. Its been along time over do!
What are some of your music career goals?
I would love to be on the festival circuit, esp. Bonnaroo and play for enduring fans. To play music and feel good about it every night.
What are some of your non-musical goals?
Enlightenment, all knowing! I have always wanted to fly-levitate. I would like to be a better cook and eat healthier.
What was your first concert?
LL COOL J at Plattsburg State. It was a hell of a show, he was awesome!
When was the last time you remember getting really nervous?
I am sure there have been other times, but when I ran track at Ithaca College, it was the 4×4 relay, the last race of the night, and I was the first runner. Getting ready in the starting block always made me nervous! I never get nervous for music, but always for track. We qualified for nationals, it was the fastest time and we broke records, but we got disqualified. It was my last race! A bittersweet experience!
If you could have lived in any other time period when you would have liked to live?
I would have loved to live in the late 60′ because of the music. Hendrix, Janis, all of it! Their minds were out there, I wish I could have been in the scene as a musician or a spectator.
If you could have one slow dance with one woman, who would it be and what song would you want to dance to?
I have a thing for Fiona Apple, I would dance to one of her songs! She has some great slow ballads.
What has been one of the highlights of musical career so far?
Well, before until I got to play with Micheal Franti on stage at Mountain Jam a few months ago it would have to be recording the album in Brooklyn, for Elephant Bear with Tim(my best friends/musical mentor/old neighbor) and all the musicians we worked with. The guys in the studio, I learned so much putting the whole thing together. The whole process of taking the songs I have been playing for awhile and making them into a polished product was nice to have! All the art work, and finished product that looked and sounded so professional. AND also playing with Russ Lawton thanks to the guys from The Grift.
COFFEE OR TEA?
coffee DAY OR NIGHT?
night SWEET OR SALTY?
sweet CASH OR CHECK?
cash PAPER OR PLASTIC?
paper NOISY OR LOUD?
noisy CLEAN OR DIRTY?
dirty EAST OR WEST?
west OPTIMISTIC OR PESSIMISTIC?
opp
You might remember George Stanford as the former member and lead vocalist for Townhall. With influences that range from Paul Simon, Bob Marley, Tom Petty, The Band, Hank Williams and everything in between, Stanford might sound more like your itunes playlist. Although he describes his sound as American, pop and soul, Stanford has paved his way forward as the first artist on the revived classic Smash/Mercury Records label. His first full-length record, Big Drop showcases his pure and soulful voice and a collection that listeners risk truly missing out, if they don’t take the chance to listen. Glide’s Melissa Brodeur recently had a chance to toss some questions Stanford’s way.
How is being from Philadelphia made you who you are today?
Philadelphia made me who I am in many ways…
The culture, music, and my family in Philly very much shaped my outlook. It’s a very real, sometimes tough place, and that left an impression on everything I do. Was the decision to move to from Philadelphia to LA for your musical career?
My decision to move to LA from Philadelphia was very much based on looking for more career opportunities. LA is a town based on entertainment industries, so it seemed like a natural move for me. Beyond that, those cold Philadelphia winters were beginning to really drag me down. I do love the cold weather, but I definitely think that all the sunshine out here is good for me!
What do you feel Philadelphia had to offer you that LA does not, and what do you feel LA has to offer you that Philly does not?
Philadelphia has its own flavor of music and life that is different from LA. The pace of life in the northeast in general is much different than California…I used to hear people talk about that before I came to California, but it’s true…There seems to be much more of a laid back vibe out here. LA is a tough big city, but especially as you get closer to the beach, things mellow out.
You can get a good piece of pizza in almost any pizza shop in Philly….that’s hard to find in LA…i’m not really sure whats up with that…you’d think they could find the same dough, cheese and sauce, but i guess not.
I read in one of your blogs "The smells of the inner city brought me right back to Philly (I guess exhaust and bum urine are the same where ever you go)" Do you consider yourself a city-person or do you think of spending time in the country?
I’m definitely more of a city person…it’s just what I’ve grown up to be used to. I love the country too, but at this point in my life, I feel like i still need to be where the action is. There’s obviously a lot of culture to live in and around and absorb living in a big city like LA that you just can’t get if you’re way out in the country. I could moving to a more isolated, peaceful spot one day though.
I noticed you like to skateboard, what other creative outlets do you have other than skating and music?
I do love to skateboard…it’s a great way to blow off steam and makes me feel like I’m 16 again! Other outlets for me are surfing, writing, reading and hiking. I love being outdoors, and California, like Vermont, has a lot to offer in the way of natural beauty to explore.
I read that you have early memories of listening to your mom and dad sing country songs in harmony, do you have alot of family members that are into music?
Yes, I come from a musical family, and music was always a central part of my upbringing…someone was always playing or singing something in my house. My mom and dad would sing together which I always loved. My older brother grew up playing guitar and introduced me to much of the music that shaped who I am…my younger brother is a great songwriter and sax player….we all still have family jam sessions with our young nephews too when I’m in Philly. The next generation!
After being in your band Townhall from Philly, what are some challenges you face as a solo artist that you would not have expected?
Well, a wise man once told me that the same things that make being in a band so difficult are also what makes a band great…..it’s very true. Sometimes its tough to deal with others’ opinions, but the flip side of that is thatthe combination of everyone working together can really yield great results. Being a solo artist is different because it all comes from you. In a band, you can delegate not only musical parts and decisions to different band members, but also the administrative and organizational work that goes into playing shows, making records, etc. As a solo artists, it’s definitely more work!
Do you have any advice for someone thinking about being a solo artist?
My advice to any solo artist would be to believe in yourself and know that you’re doing important work. Only you can write songs and play them like you do. You truly are one of a kind. Let the world know!
What is one odd fact about you?
I just got my first dog. HIs name is Roscoe and he’s awesome. If I do one thing before I die it better be……………………………..
If I do one thing before I die, it would be to continue sharing love with other people. That’s what it’s all about!
This year Liberate will be in a new location, tell us about this location and why its special?
Liberate is held at 845 Poor Farm Road. in Sheldon VT. This is the land where one of the festival coordinators grew up. Liberate will sit on 65 acres, including 25 acres of open meadow. This is majestic Vermont land and we are grateful and happy to share it with everyone. If we treat it with respect we can host festivals here for years to come. In this sense its like a homecoming. We’re sure that when you see this beautiful land you’ll feel the same way.
There are going to be so many creative things happening that are not music related, can you tell us about some of them?
The first are the creative arts and the healing arts. We have a thriving art market including artist, crafts and local goods, for our crowd. We have over 15 healing arts workshops through out the day, including blissfull collidiscope kundalini yoga, nourishment menus with the Healthy Hippie, shady spot yoga talks with Prem Prakash. There will be herbs walks and lots of events for kids. The price of the ticket alone is worth it for the healing arts!!! This is basically 2 days and nights of concerts back to back with a farmers market style vending area, and healing arts conference at the same time.
I understand its important for you to have a "green" festival, in what ways are you making sure we are all taking care of the planet, while having fun?
Everything is going to get recycled or composted. We will have tips, signage and information about how to be green. The whole thing is about breaking through old patterns and habits and welcoming change. Our volunteers AND guests are key in helping to make that happen. Ahh… Liberate!!!
What are some of your goals for future music festivals?
Jane says:The goal of the Liberate music festivals are to spread the times less ideals of love, peace and music as well as celebrating freedom and the arts in a sustainable and realistic way that benefits everyone involved….oh yeah and Micheal Franti and Barak Obama!! Jane thinks Ben would say "World Domination"Ben says: to be the most liberating, mindblowing, kick ass time, while simultaneously being productive, healthy, and encouraging sharing of all kinds! I hope that every year this festival helps people to ‘liberate’ themselves from things that they don’t need in their lives to make more room for the things that are great!
Planning a festival must be so time consuming, what are some things you do to relax?
Lucky for us a large part of the Liberate mission is relaxation! We do love to eat healthy food ,practice yoga in many ways. We like to be in nature. We love to hang out with our doggie Luna and our kitty, Chloe. Another important part of life for us is to have friends over and celebrate food. We like to hit the road and explore when we get the chance. the ocean…..the sun….. basically knowing when its time to just shut down for a bit and knowing when you’ve hit your brain’s limit. Its mental fatigue… not physical for sure!
What is your favorite part of putting on a music festival?
The smiles on peoples face, the collective energy we harness, the talent, the shakti(vitality)! Yeah, the smiles when you see appreciation and people basically having a really positive and healthy experience while rockin’ out hard.
What are some of the bands playing you are most excited about?
The New Deal, Orchard Lounge, Rubblebucket, Ryan Montbleau Band, The Brew, and The Dead Sessions, Twiddle, so many,… Each and everyone means something special to us!
There are couples out there that are good business partners and some that are not, do you have any advice for other couples trying out a business endeavor?
Visualize the end goal and a positive result, remember you are working on the same goal, its neccessary to take breaks and enjoy things, as easy as it is to be hard on each other remember to compliment each other, be eachother best friends! Be honest with each other about what you like and don’t! It’s both of your babies.
What are some musical events happening this summer that you get to see and enjoy with no work involved?
Rothbury-we are pumped, The Shelburn Concerts on the green, and Discover jazz festival…We recently saw a concert with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and some special guests from Mexico… unbelievable!
Do you have a favorite quote or saying you would like to share?OM MANI PADME HUNG
For more information on Liberate, head on over to the festival’s myspace page.
Hailing from Vermont’s rural northeast kingdom, Jennifer Hartswick has lived to tell a musical voyage that most only dream about in her small town roots. The polished trumpeter and prolific vocalist has been thrilling audiences with her enticing stage performances as a member of the Trey Anastasio Band and her ongoing collaborations/solo work. Having shared the stage with Dave Matthews, Phish, Carlos Santana and Herbie Hancock, Hartswick’s musical resume is equally enticing.
Hartswick is featured on Putamayo’s latest release, Women of Jazz, alongside artists Melody Gardot and Madeleine Peyroux and her latest album, True, released in 2007 on Rubber Jungle Records, is a collection of jazz standards captured through Hartswick’s smooth up-tempo swing. Most recently Hartswick has been playing as a member of Van Ghost, the brainchild of Chicago indie promoter Mike Berg. Self-described as “classic or folk rock,” the heart of Van Ghost’s songs lie in the interaction between Berg and Hartswick, as her powerful vocals and elastic trumpet phrasing leave the audience intrigued and captivated.
MB: I can’t really imagine the Burlington Jazz Festival without you, what feelings surface when you know you are coming back to VT to play?
I have been a part of the jazz festival since 1996, except I missed it one year. It’s always so wonderful to come back to Vermont no matter what. People here are all so welcoming and loving. Any excuse to get back to Vermont is always good! I love it here!!!
mb:I read that you started playing music at the age of four, who was the biggest inspiration for your interest in music at such a young age?
Definitely my mother, she is the most talented and beautiful musician. She is also one of five kids, all of her siblings are incredible musicians. Her parents as well are musicians. I would take lessons(as much of a lesson as you can have in your home) my grandmother would come over after school and teach me music, it was just a huge part of my childhood and life for as long as I can remember!
What did you discover first your voice or your trumpet?
The trumpet. My uncle handed me a trumpet when I was 10, at this point I already knew how to play the flute and saxophone. I think the tuba actually came first, this was in the 3rd grade, and I was playing the sax, everyone said I had way too much hot air to play the sax, and thought I should play the tuba. I never played another woodwind instrument again. I always sang in a chorus and stuff like that, I love being a small part of something huge. It was not until I was 20 or 22 that I really started singing solo and people could hear me as a soloist. I had been playing the trumpet that whole time and so that was my instrument.
After traveling with Trey Anastasio for seven years, I am sure you saw and learned a lot, what was one of the biggest things you gained from that experience?
Trey taught me how to listen to music in a different way. We sat and listened to so much music! His enthusiasm for showing me music I have never heard was great! He would say " You have to hear this…" or "you have never heard this..?" He would bring us to the biggest record store we could find and buy us like 12 CD’s, and say "I can’t believe you have not heard this." I pretty much grew up listening to classical music, so he was kind of astounded, intrigued, and appalled by what I had and had not heard. He would say "I can’t believe you don’t have this record" and we would get arms fulls of cds. He would never listen to the song as a whole. When he would demand I listen to something, it was always "this is the best note I have ever heard" He would just point out all the parts of the song. I realized that was a really fun and intelligent way to listen to music. I do that naturally now.
I read that you are "one of the best kept secret in jazz", yet you have worked so hard and have played with so many influential musicians, even Dave Mathews said " She is a star." Do you like this description or would you like a part of the fame. A "secret" just seems like the wrong word to me.
I am not one to care at all about fame as long as I am able to do what I love with the people that love it too, that is what makes me happy. My favorite kind of gig is in the most intimate setting. So if I am playing a jazz club for 40 people and the place is slammed, packed in a little dark room, that is what I love to do. If I am able to change someone’s day, if they are having a terrible day and they come to see me play and they like what they see or feel better because of it. If they can understand that all we are trying to do is bring joy, that’s what I care about, that’s all I ever want to do. I want to make people as happy as I am. That’s why I play with the musicians I do because we all share that common thread.
How has living in Chicago affected your music and/or you as a musician?
When I first moved to Chicago it was hard, I won’t lie about that. I moved from the east coast where people knew me, they would come see me, or want to play music with me to a new city thousands of miles away where I kind of had to start all over. There has been a struggle to find those human beings that really share the same love as I do for making music. You know it took me 15 years to find these guys, I know it’s not going to happen over-night and that has been a real challenge for me. I have learned to just sit back and say "its fine" and I still get to go play music with great people. You learn a lot about yourself, it’s been a very humbling experience.
Congratulations on your latest album TRUE, can you tell us a little about what it’s like for you in the studio?
I have spent a lot of time in studios, the first time it was very overwhelming. It’s a skill like anything else to be in a studio and make it sound great. What order do you put it all in, do you record all together, do you do it separately? Probably one percent of all records are made live, and I don’t want to make a record any other way. I just don’t see the point! When you are trying to capture something you can’t do it with just one person at a time. To me music is the energy you create when you are all together and so being in the studio can be a beautiful experience you never know what can happen, it’s like a show. True happened in two days and we never did more than two takes on anything. There are no over-dubs it is what it is, it’s like a live record. The hard part is getting everybody together. We just have a great time laughing and playing music and having fun! I think it came out pretty well. I like to listen to the album, I really do.
What are some of your favorite venues to play?
Red Rocks and Alpine Valley- hands down. I could play the Blue Note every night of the week for the rest of my life and be happy.
What are some of your favorite bands to see live?
Good question people usually don’t care about that!!! I really do like Umphreys McGee. I really like to see stuff I have never seen or heard before. That’s why I really like the jazz festivals because you can go to those tents where nobody cares about who is playing and see some of the most amazing music. Those crowds are the best too! I try to see as much music as I can. There are a lot of great musicians I am excited to see, I just try to vary my music, I don’t ever just have one thing in my CD player.
What is one interesting fact about you your fans should know?
I love dogs, I am a huge animal lover. I am a Reiki practioner, hopefully a master soon! I love -love and positivity. That is the way I live my life.
What is the best advice you have ever received?
That is an easy one, it was from Herbie Hancock. He did an album called Possibilities, and he had a track with all different musicians who played on it, and Trey was one of them, he came to the barn and I got to be on it, which was huge for me!
I was getting ready to play, getting all situated, I am in the booth with my head phones on, and he comes in to my booth, he picks up one of my head phones and puts his mouth right to my ear and says "just remember man, the only mistake you can make is not being yourself" and put my head phone back, and walked out. I will never ever forget that! That was serious for me!
mb:You have been in the music business for quite some time, what are some of the most positive, significant changes you have experienced?
co:All of it really. Being a musician is an honor. Lately the 2 other members of Charley Orlando Band, Kiel Feher and Max McKee, have been my most positive experience in my career. We have such a great bond and deep spiritual connection with each other and it shows in the music and in our lives. Being able to connect with other musicians like that really raises the level of the experience. My whole outlook on life and music has really been over the top positive lately and it has to be when you write lyrics about changing the world for the better, you have to live it and really believe and we do!
mb:How has living in upstate NY affected your life after being on the road for so many years?
co:At first it was tough. I went from going 500 miles an hour to 20 in a day it seemed like. I sorta kinda freaked out. I had to address some serious issue with my lifestyle and nasty habits that I had acquired on the road. I really needed a break. It’s not just the big stars that get sucked in … it’s all of us. Being on the road is a surreal experience. You live in your own bubble and the outside world doesn’t really exist. I had to relearn how to socialize with "normal" people. Most folks don’t get the inside jokes and thought process of being a touring musician. But my wife and kids really helped me adjust and now after 5 years I’m ready to go back out and hit it again.
mb:You have worked with so many different musicians and have been involved with all types of bands, how do you feel your fans react to these changes?
co:During the Dexter Grove years it seemed like folks welcomed the changes and talents we pulled into the fold. You know when you do 250 shows a year it’s always good to mix it up. When I went from Dexter Grove to being a solo artists I don’t think they liked it that much. It was WAY different. It was me and my songs: very intimate, quiet, and personal stuff. Most came around to it but it was really a transition period for me. I was searching for something different and it took me five years but with the Charley Orlando Band I have found a sound, a home and two insanely talented musicians to help get it done. I do believe anyone who has been following my travels will just flip over this lineup. Plus my songwriting has never been better than it is now.
mb:If you could share a stage with any other band or musician still alive who would it be?
co:Bob Dylan or U2! Either one would be a life changing experience.
mb:In your travels, what has been the weirdest most random thing you have found?
co:Two come to mind … One is right here in Syracuse,NY where I was booking a show at a local venue and the owners name was Charley Orlando. Truly bizarre. The other was a friend of mine Charley, who I have known since 1988, was at a show in Albuquerque,NM that was on my birthday and it was his as well. Never knew that. Any other stories I am keepin’ to myself? Most people just wouldn’t believe me. Some really random stuff happens on the road.
mb:What has been your favorite city to play in?
co:Tough call! There are some many for so many different reasons. But I’d have to say Bolinas,CA. For no other reason than that is the way life should be! Good luck finding it
mb:I know you don’t remember this, but I remember when we planted a tree at the studio in Rochester, what other things have you done to "be green" either in your personal life or while with a band?
co:You’re right … I don’t remember, but that was real nice of us to do. I always try to leave a minimal foot print in general, but being human is a contradiction. I use recycled shopping bags, buy local, ride my bike whenever possible(which is a lot … i love my bike) and my new album "Free World Citizen" is replicated on 100% recycled cardboard and soda and water bottles. I really wish the world would get on board more with and all digital format. It would waste a ton less.
mb:Do you want to say anything to your fans?
co:Thanks for sticking with me for 20+ years. It’s only getting better!
kal:My Ace of Base tape. Then my first CD was Highlights From The Phantom of the Opera. I was kind of behind some of my other elementary school buddies who had CD players and Madonna CDs. My first cool album that I’m actually proud of was probably The Miseducation of Lauren Hill (but I think it was actually my sister’s).
mb:What is one of your favorite bands to see live now?
kal:I love Giant Panda Guerilla dub Squad. I could listen to them all day and night. I love big wild bands like Nomo and Antibalas. I also love to see/hear a Boston-based band called Cuddle Magic. mb:What is the most frustrating thing about being in a band?
kal:Nothing really… I love it. Being in a band is like having your family around you all the time. For some people that might not be a good thing but for me it generally is.
mb:What is your favorite city to play?
kal:It depends on the season… winter touring in the northern half of this country can be brutal, even in amazing cities like Madison, WI, Boulder, CO and of course Burlington, VT! The past few times that I have visited Fort Collins, CO I have felt so at home, and so appreciated by the audience. However, NYC might get the pick just for the pure thrill.
mb:Are you guys concerned with your health while on the road, if yes what are you doing to stay healthy?
kal:It is so difficult to keep my body feeling good on the road… a constant struggle. I try to always eat good food, and we make a lot of simple healthy band meals. Recently, partway through a 34-hour drive from Denver to Boston, via Chicago I made a commitment to run laps around every single rest area we stopped at. I followed through. It felt soooo right. I’m going to do that more often from now on.
mb:What are some other creative outlets you have other than music?
kal:I like to make art and graphics. I do lots of the Rubblebucket posters, and I did the album artwork for Rose’s dream. I make so many beaded bracelets, I just can’t stop. I give them to people I love.
mb:What are some of your favorite publications?
kal:I like the BBC, National Geographic,Utne Reader, Cabinet! I just discovered Make Magazine which seems amazing. A longtime friend of my family’s, Sam Bartlett, makes an awesome zine called Stuntology and Tuneology. Also, I think that the fact Rubblebucket has a couple of Nylon enthusiasts speaks well of the band.
mb:What do you think is special and unique about your band?
kal:Nine geeky minds having fun and being rock stars.
mb:In ten years I want…….
kal:have made a thousand bajillion beaded bracelets.
mb:2 a.m. means A. time to party or B. time to sleep?
MB:What was it like playing on the Craig Ferguson show?
SOU:Well, it was one of the biggest highlights so far in Urchin history. I mean, it was one of those things where you know that it’s gonna be stapled in time, and if you nail the performance, it will represent you to the world. We were so pumped that morning, and the whole experience could not have gone better. The coolest thing was when we were loading into CBS studios, the first thing we saw was Bob Barker’s big white Cadillac parked right at the loading dock! Now, we are huge "Price is Right" fans, so we were blown away by the whole thing… and then after we recorded the show, the producer asked us if we wanted to go backstage to the Price is Right set, so we did, fresh off of playing on the show, and spun the big wheel and saw all the games and prizes - it was nuts; especially because the song we played (There Are People In The Clouds) has the line "I’m gonna spin the big wheel" in it. Sometimes life just works like that, nuts. But the coolest thing about playing the show was when they said go and we rocked the song out in front of the studio audience, and we saw a bunch of fans and friends from LA stand up and go crazy, it was like a gig, but on TV, on this set that I’ve seen on TV before. It was really cool.
MB:Who has been your biggest musical influences?
SOU:I mean, I have so many influences, but off the top of my head… Phil Lynott from Thin Lizzy is a huge influence, and he is SO underrated, with so many amazing songs that span the spectrum… Bob Pollard of Guided By Voices, another one who is just amazing… Stephen Malkmus of Pavement… and then there’s like Springsteen, Slayer, Marley (I’m a huge classic reggae fan), Flaming Lips, John Bonham and Zeppelin, old Aerosmith, The Clash, Motley Crue, 70’s oldies… man, so many influences… anthem-rock
MB:What are a few things you must have in your dressing room?
SOU:Peace and quiet before the show (which never happens!), a bottle of Jack and diet coke (gotta watch the empty calories), a place to plug my i-phone in to listen to 70’s oldies music (last time we played Nectar’s we listened to nothing but Carole King!), a big couch to lay down and veg before the show, i like to have either Subway or sushi before a show, heat, plenty of waters and towels (!), the accommodations to party and bring back people to party after the show (I’m old school like that).
MB:It’s four hours before your show where would you be and what would you be doing?
SOU:Laying on the big couch (see above), listening to 70’s oldies music, getting ready to eat some Subway or sushi (I have to digest before the show so I don’t eat close to showtime), and waiting out the excruciating hours before we get to turn it up and rock out!
MB:If you could pick any meal to have before a show what would it be-beverage included?
SOU:I have had the best shows after a good light sushi meal, your basic tuna roll, eel avocado roll, maybe some brown rice and gyoza appetizer or something… and some hot sake, but not too much… I gotta go light before a show, otherwise it just weighs me down and I have a sluggish experience on stage. I also can’t drink too much before a show, I need to go into it with all the energy and a clear head. Once I’m on stage I can nurse some Jack between songs and enjoy the show, but I still can’t get too messed up. It doesn’t do well for me being the singer and the drummer, ha ha.
MB:What is your favorite album to listen to while you are trying to relax?
SOU:Probably Survival by Bob Marley. Or any old classic reggae… the Lee Scratch Perry Arkology box set, yeah, that too. MB:If you could hang with anyone still alive, not a musician, who would it be?
SOU:Wow, good question… hmmm… you are stumping me on this one… Anthony Bourdain! Because I think the guy is brilliant, would be a good hang, and I know I could learn something from him… he seems honest and insightful, and down to earth, and not preachy or full of himself, and not self-righteous. There is nothing worse than people who are self-righteous.
MB:If you weren’t the drummer/singer for Sound of Urchin what would you be doing?
SOU:I would do something real easy, like mow lawns at a resort in southern Florida or something. Something outside in the sun, in Florida, or Mexico. Mexico is my favorite place in the universe, fyi.
MB:Birds or Bees?
SOU:That’s easy, bees! "God make bees, bees make honey, God make man, man make money", a quote from Yellowman.
Steve Drizos may not be a household name but once he gets behind the drums for Jerry Joseph and the Jackmormons, he’s easily identifiable. You may also remember him as the drummer for 1700 gigs in ten years with Charlie Orlando as Dexter Grove, where their stripped down sound and Drizo’s conga carried them across the United States back forth more times than they probably care to remember. Times have certainly changed for Drizos.Jerry Joseph and the Jackmormons, featuring Drizos (drums) & JR Ruppel (bass) have confirmed their first non Alaska shows of 2010 as they will be touring behind their brand new release, Badlandia. And Drizos, whose wife Jenny Conlee is the keyboardist for The Decemberists and who himself, has contributed to The Decemberists’ The Crane Wife, is quick to contribute his talents to an array of projects, always thankful he’s still drumming after all these years.
mb:How has living in upstate NY affected your life after being on the road for so many years?
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