David Kilmer, Mike Fields, Mark Kelly, Kat Beckham, Jason Ruha
Kat Beckham
Vocals, Tambourine
Let's just say it, put it right out there: People love Kat. Put her in a group of folks and, whether she knew any or all of them when she got there, within about a minute-and-a-half, each and every one of them is loving on her like a long-lost sister. Sure as the sun rising in the east and setting in the west, a public spectacle of pure, unbridled human love.
Here's the deal: That woman is not Kat. Not really, anyway. Not if you're in her band. But let's just leave it at that, because she's coming this way.....
Next song up on Kat's playlist right this minute:
"Build a Fire" by Drivin' and Cryin'
"I just dig their sound, folk rock mixed with Southern rock. Throw some memories of my youth in there... Great mix!"
Mike Fields
Bass, renegade guitar
In Reno years ago for a deposition — he declines to say whether he was conducting the deposition or being deposed — Mike found himself in a situation where he fleetingly considered shooting a man just to watch him die. Instead, he bought three pounds of shrimp and two of crab, and he iced down a little rolling cooler of beer and hired a car to drive him to the man's place down on Tahoe. They ate boiled shrimp and crab meat with some buttered potatoes and corn on the cob and spent the weekend drinking beer and watching football games, interspersed with reruns of ‘Bonanza' and 'Kojak.'
As generally happens with Mike, everything turned out fine with the Reno guy. Nobody knows for sure, but word is that the two of them and some other guys are the visionary founders of what can only be described as a quasi-spiritual retreat, secluded along the Alabama Gulf Coast and open by invitation only to musicians within a particular age range who love some boiled shrimp and crab meat and fixings.
Next song up on Mike's playlist right this minute:
"Goodbye Marie" by Gear Daddies
"Gear Daddies are one of those thousands of bands (like us) in cities everywhere who haven't made it big, but did record a fine album — 'Billy's Live Bait,' if you're taking notes — that somehow found its way to me."
Mark Kelly
Vocals, Guitar, occasional other stringéd sounds, periodic Harmonica
Mark is living proof of something, but neither he nor anyone else has ever figured out what that is. Whether it's worth the effort also remains open to question.
Next song up on Mark's playlist right this minute:
"How Dark My Shadow's Grown" by Bad Livers
"'Jesus, I'm wasted, my heart is sinking low...' There may be not be a more plaintive opening line in any song ever written. If those eight words don't get your attention, you might have reached a point beyond redemption, or at least be lacking in anything beyond a superficial appreciation of American music. Which is basically the same thing.
When Bad Livers played the Nick in Birmingham in about 1992, I was in the midst of the packed, sweaty, midnight-drunken throng that hooted and hollered and twirled and swayed and pressed the small stage throughout the set; it was and is and always will be two of the best hours of my life — and I've had a pretty good life."
David Kilmer
Lead guitar, a perpetually fluid range of other guitars, Vocals (backing and lead)
"If you try to grasp the water, you will drown," David recently texted in reply to a good friend. Impeccably sound admonition, but the friend had only texted David to see when they might get together to talk about alternate guitar tunings. Still, the friend says his entire outlook on life has changed as a result — plus, he's a better guitar player.
Next song up on David's playlist right this minute:
"Need You Tonight" by Bonnie Raitt
"Great cover of INXS, love Bonnie's take on it. I have a good friend who should also be able to sing the shit out of it. This is the sort of thing we do to amuse ourselves."
Jason Ruha
Drums, Percussion
Levon Helm. Dave Grohl. Roger Taylor. Peter Criss. Like each of these men, Jason is an outstandingly talented drummer. Unlike them, he cannot sing a lick. It doesn't stop him from trying, though (just come to a gig and watch him); we just don't put a vocal mic anywhere near him.
Next song up on Jason's playlist right this minute:
"Hard Times" by Ryan Bingham
"It just makes me feel good. And pretend I can sing. That is all."