Jeff Wamble- Steel

PB - How did you get into the Music Business? What was your big break?

I got called to audition for a new country act

PB -Is this something you've always wanted to do, or did it take you by surprise?

Yes, I always wanted to experience it.

PB -Are you a goal oriented person? Are you a control freak?

Goal, yes! I'm real passive, not a control freak

PB -What music/artists do you like to listen to?

Hinsons, alot of gospel

PB -What's your favorite website?

eBay

PB -Talk about your current album/projects... OR if there's not a current project... What are your album/career plans?

No answer

PB -Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?

Plot #12 (Dogwood Cemetery)

PB -Where do you see yourself tomorrow?

Plot #12 (Dogwood Cemetary)

PB -Are you a pet person? Do you have any pets? Any pet stories?

Yes, 1 cat and 1 dog

PB -Do you care to share your religious beliefs? What's your life philosophy?

No Answer

PB -What's your favorite food?

Mexican

PB - Please add any other interesting comment, tidbit, sound-bite or mantra here...

No answer

Chris Andrews- Keys

PB - How did you get into the Music Business? What was your big break?

Mom forced me! Broke my wrist.

PB -Is this something you've always wanted to do, or did it take you by surprise?

Always wanted to

PB -Are you a goal oriented person? Are you a control freak?

Yes I am. Not a control freak

PB -What music/artists do you like to listen to?

Everything. Miles Davis, Wayne Shorter, John Meyer, Me'Shell, Paul Brandt, Herbie Hancock

PB -What's your favorite website?

Don't have one

PB -Talk about your current album/projects... OR if there's not a current project... What are your album/career plans?

Just recorded a trio CD with the Hutchenson/Andrew Trio

PB -Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?

Living near the ocean

PB -Where do you see yourself tomorrow?

in rehearsal

PB -Are you a pet person? Do you have any pets? Any pet stories?

Yes I am. I have a cat named Spooky

PB -Do you care to share your religious beliefs? What's your life philosophy?

Life philosophy is stay positive and try not to get hurt

PB -What's your favorite food?

cookies

Jeremy Worden- Bass

PB - How did you get into the music business? What was your big break?

JW - I grew up in Southern California playing in churches and clubs and everywhere I could.  I moved to Kansas City in 1998 to pursue a touring career with a Christian rock band.  Did that for about three years and had a blast!  I also played alot in the Midwest with regional artist and did a handful of studio work.  I met my beautiful wife in 1999 got married and joined the rest of the normal working world doing the 9 to 5 thing!  In 2006 we decided to move to Nashville to persue music. The time I spent in Kansas City landed me some great contacts down in Nashville.  I used those contacts to land some gigs around town and after three months I got my first “Big” artist gig.

PB - Is this something you’ve always wanted to do, or did it take you by surprise?

JW - I was 12 years old sitting in church one day and the pastor asked the congregation if anyone wanted to play bass or learn to play bass for the worship team.  I looked around and nobody raised their hands so I said, “Why Not”! They gave me this old falling apart Fender Pbass (which today is worth a lot of money but at the time I didn’t know any better) and I took it home.  I was so excited to have this bass even though I had no clue what it was or what it did.  Over the summer I learned the entire neck (all the notes).  I loved it!   It was that fall that I realized playing the bass was what I wanted to do for a living.

PB - Are you a goal oriented person? Are you a control freak?

JW – Goal oriented, yes.  Control freak, sometimes!  I think you need to be asking my wife on this one!  I have some substantial goals regarding all aspects of mine and my family’s life.  Musically I have some pretty large goals that I hope to achieve hear in the near future.  As far as the control freak thing I can turn it off and on when need be!

PB - What music/artist do you like to listen to?

JW – Paul Brandt.  That’s it, just Paul Brandt……. No, I like all kinds of music just as long as it’s good!  Of course being a bass player I have to throw in all the bass icons like Jaco Pastorius, Marcus Miller, Victor Wooten, Stanley Clark, anything 70’s funk (great bass lines), Swedish-Irish-Mexican-polka (this is my favorite J), and of course, Paul Brandt - Oh wait, I already said that!

PB - What’s your favorite website?

JW - Myspace.  I’m a myspace junky.  Actually, I’ve gotten a few gigs and made a lot of contacts off of Myspace.

PB – Talk about your current album/projects… OR if there’s not a current project… What are your album/career plans?

JW – Currently I’m trying to get into the studio world and anyone who knows Nashville knows it’s tough. The studio thing, I would say, is a future goal of mine.

PB – Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?

JW – Doing what I love to do and making a great living doing it! 

PB – Where do you see yourself tomorrow?

JW – Standing in line at the lost baggage counter at Air Canada.

PB – Are you a pet person? Do you have any pets? Any pet stories?

JW – I love pets and no we don’t currently have any.  Taking care of our 2year old is plenty for us right now!
I have a funny pet story!  I grew up with a cocker spaniel named Daisy.  One day we were out in the yard and a HUGE bumble bee flew into her mouth and stung her.  About an hour later her lip and check swelled up to the size of a golf ball!  Poor thing!  She just carried on the rest of her day like normal but with a HUGE golf ball sticking out of her mouth!

PB – Do you care to share your religious beliefs?  What’s your life philosophy?

JW – I believe in the power of Christ.  I can’t imagine my life without him and I’m extremely grateful everyday for what he does for me and my family. 

PB – What’s your favorite food?

JW – Anything with goat cheese.

PB – Any other interesting comment, tidbit, sound-bite or mantra here…….

JW – Bare-Bur-Dare

Brett Clark - Drums

PB - How did you get into the music business? What was your big break?

BC -You mean you can get in?  No I went to college and studied music performance at the University of Northern Iowa.  After school I moved to Nashville and began to take any local $25-$50 gig I could get my hands on.  i found a great group of musicians a spent 5 years trying to make it.  Eventually I had finally met enough people and David Graff Musical Director for Carmen gave me a call while I was out with friends at dinner and asked if I could fill in on a few spot dates.  That was my open door into the business, after that I have been fortunate enough that the phone has kept ringing.

PB -Is this something you've always wanted to do, or did it take you by surprise?

I knew from the time I was 13 years old this is what I wanted to do with my life.  It came from trying to talk my Dad into buying my first Drumset.  He asked the question, "Is this something you are going to stick with"?  I I told him that this is what I want to do.  Once he woke back up to a very loud drumset in the basement he seemed to be OK with the answer because he bought the kit for me.  Quite honestly everyday takes me by surprise.

PB -Are you a goal oriented person? Are you a control freak?

BC - First off I'll ask the questions here.  No I'm not really a control freak.  As far as goals I learned very early in life to set out a plan for what you want to do and you will achieve it.  so yes I am very goal oriented, and maybe just a little bit of a control freak.

PB -What music/artists do you like to listen to?

BC - Well I would be wrong if I didn't say Paul Brandt.  Actually Paul is a great songwriter and those are the artist I love.  James Taylor, America, Bill Withers, The Beatles, I grew up on John Denver, and Neil Daimand, and just about anything from the 60's and 70's.  The first band I fell in love with was The Beach Boys and it just grew from that point.  Current music I have been listening to would be, Ben Folds, Coldplay, Five for Fighting, Jason Mraz, Nichole Nordeman and so many more.  Lately I have really been into KT Tunstull, I could go on and on I really love listening and taking in a song that tells a story.  I even like to listen to Dan Fogelberg, "Leader of the band" still makes me cry.  That is actually why I feel I have had success in Nashville because I have always tried to serve the song as a drummer.  That is also why I feel fortunate to be able to spend this part of my career with Paul.  All of his songs have a story and something to say, it's very easy to get behind something that has some meaning to it.  Well other than Convoy...

PB -What's your favorite website?

BC - I am a google maps freak, and I have no idea why.  I could spend hours figuring out new routs to go the same place.  It makes no sense but i love it, I guess it's because I spend so much time traveling.  I also spend a lot of time at http://www.financialsense.com I love seeing what is going to be the next big business.  Actually when I stop and look at it I'm a big geek.  I think Paul has a site as well.

PB -Talk about your current album/projects... OR if there's not a current project... What are your album/career plans?

BC -Well I am just now finishing up my new studio build-out in Nashville.  I've spent the last few years really getting into mixing and working on sound for TV and movies.  It's a lot of fun for me so we'll just see what happens with that.

PB -Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?

BC -I hope still working and doing new things in the business.  I do hope I get some more free time though.

PB -Where do you see yourself tomorrow?

BC -Lost somewhere in Canada doing a show with Paul.

PB -Are you a pet person? Do you have any pets? Any pet stories?

BC -When my wife and I first moved o Nashville we rescued a puppy and she lived with us for about 10 years.  We had several other dogs through the house but Jazzman was always there.  Once we had children she really lost a lot of the attention she was getting from us.  Earlier this year we found a nice farm for her so she is having a good time now.

PB -Do you care to share your religious beliefs? What's your life philosophy?

BC -My faith in Christ is the most important thing to me in my life.  Watching my children growing up with the chance to know him is an amazing concept to me.  My oldest Daughter Aiden is really starting to see what it all means and that is something I can't even describe.  I also feel that treating others with respect and having a true heart for people is a great way to live.  It helps to get away from yourself and focus on what someone else needs.

PB -What's your favorite food?

BC -Pan seared Ahi Tuna.  Yummy.

PB - Please aBC any other interesting comment, tidbit, sound-bite or mantra here...

BC -Uhmm........ Uhmm.....  Uhmm.....

Jeff Senn- Guitar

PB - How did you get into the Music Business? What was your big break?
 
JS - I started very young as a guitar repairman/builder doing work for bands such as Saga, U2 and Psychedelic Furs. I had already been playing guitar for 8 or so years and started playing professionally at 15 so these two worlds kind of collided and catapulted me into the business. My first "big" break came in the form of a short stint with Trisha Yearwood.

PB -Is this something you've always wanted to do, or did it take you by surprise?

JS - I have never thought of doing anything else. Of course being a really good hairdresser could be cool.....hmmmmmm?


PB -Are you a goal oriented person? Are you a control freak?

JS - Can we put this question off for a bit? Or maybe you could answer it for me


PB -What music/artists do you like to listen to?

JS - I listen to a bit of everything genre wise. Music is expression and art. If it was performed with intent and passion I'll give it a go.
Examples would be Johnny Cash, Glenn Gould, Duke Ellington, The Clash. I really appreciate good writers. I have a lot of respect for the craft and those who are talented at it such as yourself, Paul.  


PB -What's your favorite website?

JS - Definitely Ebay. We're also really proud of the jeffsennguitars.com website since we constructed it ourselves  


PB -Talk about your current album/projects... OR if there's not a current project... What are your album/career plans?

JS - No current recording projects. It's been years since I recorded any of my own material but hopefully I'll have my home studio up and running soon and can get something together over the next year. Brett Clark and I have wanted to record some original music together for some time now and I'd like to see that come to fruition. Career wise I'd like to just be able to keep a balance between performing and guitar building.   

PB -Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?

JS - I'd love to have the business aspect of my guitar building refined so that I could not only keep doing what I love but have time to contribute to my community and the world in general. I've had a great life so far, very lucky, very privileged and I'm at a point in my life where I would like to be more involved in the future of our environment and the well being of others less fortunate.  


PB -Where do you see yourself tomorrow?

JS - Attempting to be better organized and thinking of far funnier answers to your questions, after the fact of course.


PB -Are you a pet person? Do you have any pets? Any pet stories?

JS - My wife and I have a Greyhound named Otis and a Bluetick/Lab mix named Ace who pretty much run the house so we better like pets.  




PB -Do you care to share your religious beliefs? What's your life philosophy?

JS - I've always been very private about my spiritual life partially in regard for those who have other ideologies but I do believe we are here to serve good to each other, our planet and all that we are given. I've encountered people who had chosen to have no belief system and I can't imagine a life like that. The world that man has created can be brutal and thoughtless and I think it's important to combat that which is evil and unjust. It takes so little to treat each other well and be caring and helpful. Peace in the heart creates peace in the world.

PB -What's your favorite food?

JS - All food! That is of course if it's accompanied with the right wine.



PB - Please add any other interesting comment, tidbit, sound-bite or mantra here...

JS - Do what is right because it is right. All you need is Love.............a little music sure helps though.

Tony Obrohta - Guitar, Mandolin, Banjo

PB - How did you get into the Music Business? What was your big break?

My mom slapping my hand away from the turntable when I was 4

PB -Is this something you've always wanted to do, or did it take you by surprise?

Born this way...afflicted by birth

PB -Are you a goal oriented person? Are you a control freak?

"Gooooooooooallllllll." "Stop that. I wanted to say that!"

PB -What music/artists do you like to listen to?

Anywhere from Radiohead to Muddy Waters

PB -What's your favorite website?

pokerstars.com

PB -Talk about your current album/projects... OR if there's not a current project... What are your album/career plans?

Just finished a tour with The Wreckers. Live Wreckers DVD coming out soon

PB -Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?

Fishing

PB -Where do you see yourself tomorrow?

Fishing

PB -Are you a pet person? Do you have any pets? Any pet stories?

Yes. 1 dog, 2 cats, 2 birds, 5 fish, 1 hermit crab

PB -Do you care to share your religious beliefs? What's your life philosophy?

"Must be present to win"

PB -What's your favorite food?

Chili

PB - Please add any other interesting comment, tidbit, sound-bite or mantra here...

Read more history so we don't repeat the same mistake

Bob Spittle- Sound/Stage Manager

PB - How did you get into the Music Business? What was your big break?

I've always loved the drums and I started playing after I got married and supported my family for 15yrs. doing it...never had a "Big Break" but loved every minute of it.


PB -Is this something you've always wanted to do, or did it take you by surprise?

I love working in and around live music, so I guess I found it


PB -Are you a goal oriented person? yes Are you a control freak?

YES!!

PB -What music/artists do you like to listen to?

Saliva, Kings X, Van Halen, Led Zeppelin, Extreme, Bad Company. Alan Jackson, Paul Brandt, Trace Adkins, Eagles, Garth Brooks. Tower of Power, David Sanborn, Joe Sample.

PB -What's your favorite website?

nhra.com

PB -Talk about your current album/projects... OR if there's not a current project... What are your album/career plans?

none

PB -Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?

sitting on a porch with a shawl over my legs...HA!


PB -Where do you see yourself tomorrow?

still working on this tour


PB -Are you a pet person? Do you have any pets? Any pet stories?

I've had dogs, hamsters, and a parrot.....I'm over them all now.

PB -Do you care to share your religious beliefs? What's your life philosophy?

Jesus Christ is the Lord of my life, that's all I've got!


PB -What's your favorite food?

natural peanut butter and diet coke oh yeah, and a good cup of coffee.

PB - Please add any other interesting comment, tidbit, sound-bite or mantra here...

I can't wait to get to Trochu and have Brett show me the Gopher Museum!! HA!

Chirstine Markferding - Tour Manager

PB - How did you get into the Music Business? What was your big break?

I think I made someone angry and they were getting back at me...
I was always a music fan and started working at my college radio station during my first semester at school, from there I worked at a local store, and after college got a job at a major record label.

PB -Is this something you've always wanted to do, or did it take you by surprise?

I don't think there's any formula. If I tried to end up where I am now I don't think I ever would've. Each job just led to the next.

PB -Are you a goal oriented person? Are you a control freak?

Goal oriented, yes, once I finally make up my indecisive mind.
Trying to let go of some of the control freak nature, but it kind of goes with the job. Someone has to keep track of the wayward musicians!

PB -What music/artists do you like to listen to?

All types of music. I'll always listen to anything that comes out by any combination of the Finn Brothers (Neil and Tim), Black Crowes, Steve Earle, Tom Petty.
Two of my favorite musical "heroes" are Johhny Cash and Joe Strummer.
Our household is a big believer is Sunday jazz brunches at the house.
Any music that can make our dogs dance is considered good music.

PB -What's your favorite website?

I'm a bargain hunter and coupon queen. I have a few secret websites that help me find bargains.

PB -Talk about your current album/projects... OR if there's not a current project... What are your album/career plans?

After Paul's tour I'm going to start working for my husband's business part time and hunt around for some other part time work. I worked in Event Planning for two years when I stopped touring and I'd like to still do some more work involved in that.

PB -Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?

Hopefully my husband and I will both be working full time for his business. Not sure where we plan to live. Nashville isn't the be all, end all for us.
Definitely taking regular vacations to Europe!

PB -Where do you see yourself tomorrow?

Sitting in front of my computer booking hotels for the November tour and working my way through a pile of receipts.

PB -Are you a pet person? Do you have any pets? Any pet stories?

Yes! Two crazy hound dogs names Ace and Otis. They're the "kids" of the house and always make me smile.

PB -Do you care to share your religious beliefs? What's your life philosophy?

Do unto others really covers a lot of it and karma. Everything that goes around does eventually come back around.

PB -What's your favorite food?

Chocolate. Chocolate is a food, right?

PB - Please add any other interesting comment, tidbit, sound-bite or mantra here...

Be on time or we roll without you. Can I have a receipt for that? Lack of planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on my part.

Dave Gilmet - Guitar and Band tech

PB - How did you get into the Music Business? What was your big break?

I earned a degree is music business and have working in music retail, repair and sound engineering for about fifteen years. My first pro job was doing some work for the Goo Goo Dolls, but my biggest career move was taking my own business full time this year.

PB -Is this something you've always wanted to do, or did it take you by surprise?

Music has been such an important part of my life it's hard to imagine doing anything else.

PB -Are you a goal oriented person? Are you a control freak?

Since I think I found my path in life I've become more goal oriented. I can be a bit of a perfectionist with my own projects. I'm sure my band would say I'm a control freak.

PB -What music/artists do you like to listen to?

A lot of 60's stuff. The Kinks, The Who, of course The Beatles. Old Jazz, Johnny Cash, Garage Rock. My favorite new artists are The Shins and Andrew Bird.

PB -What's your favorite website?

You Tube and Ebay. You can find anything there.

PB -Talk about your current album/projects... OR if there's not a current project... What are your album/career plans?

Currently I'm working on my bands third self-recorded and produce cd. The band is called Global Village Idiots, which I've played in with my wife for about ten years.

PB -Where do you see yourself 10 years from now?

Doing what I'm doing now, only maybe somewhere warmer than Buffalo.

PB -Where do you see yourself tomorrow?

Pushing a tour bus out of a snow drift some where in Canada.

PB -Are you a pet person? Do you have any pets? Any pet stories?

We have three cats and our dog, Mingus. All were either strays or from a shelter. It is hard to put into words how much joy these animals bring to our lives and how good it feels to give them much needed homes. We even bring our dog on vacation with us. We'll stay at a dog friendly hotel of B+B.

PB -Do you care to share your religious beliefs? What's your life philosophy?

Growing up my family was not very religious, so I had little exposure until I took a class on the old testament in college. Though I remain objective, since then I have met people with a fascinating variety of beliefs and customs. I do believe that there is a force in the universe that we don't yet understand but have not attached it to a particular ideology.

PB -What's your favorite food?

Thai and Indian.

PB - Please add any other interesting comment, tidbit, sound-bite or mantra here...

Enjoy life, always.