Canadian Frontman Series--Old School Blues

By Mark Grove


Bluesberry Jam Frontman Pete Denomme, and Sideman Mike Nelson's duo project(Old School) take them in a whole new direction from band mode, and seem to have found new challenges in Old School that the band doesn't have. Mike and Pete talk to (Canadian Guitar Player ) writer Mark Grove at Suz's blues house in London Before a Wednesday evening Blues jam session.

First of all, Pete plays a Taylor acoustic which contrasts with Mike's electric Guitar. But these two blues gentlemen seem to meld together well and complement their playing styles quite proficiently. We will go into more detail on their equipment at the end of the article.

MG: Is the duo a good way to bring your guitar playing up a notch?

Pete: Well, Mike plays an electric guitar in the duo, and I play the acoustic. As well, there isn't a rythm section so you have to do a little more, there by challenging each other to play at a higher level and fill up the phrase spaces left by drums and bass. Mark are you going to bring up Mike's jail time?(everybody laughs)


MG: Do either of you listen to albums at all?

Mike: I'm almost embarrassed to say but the last two years I haven't listened to anything at all. I'd rather go out and listen to live bands anymore. I don't conciously sit at home and listen to music unless it has something to do with rehearsal and learning new tracks.

Pete: About the only time I listen to music is to learn how to play a new tune for the repertoire.

MG: Do you feel when your'e in band context your'e some how getting away from what music is all about. The naturalness and intimacy of acoustic playing?


Pete: One of the reasons I love the duo and started it, was it's easier to implement things and Mike does a lot of singing now, and Mike was always a guitar player. But with the duo we need more elements to keep it fresh. You gel easier with just two. I'd hate to say it, the more you play as a duo or single the more cumbersome a regular band becomes.


Mike: I think just to add that after playing the duo it's easier to come up with new ideas when you come back to the Band ("woodshedding" as Mike puts it). People approch us a lot more easily which is an important distinction in itself.


MG: When your'e in the duo situation do you find you don't worry so much about fan adulation and crowd reactions to your material?


Pete: Definitely Mark, and we tend to become more in tune to the crowd and what they want as well. We become more at one with our crowd and that's what's important.


MG: Do you find you write songs easier for duo sessions than the band?


Mike: This guy comes up with songs all the time (Pete that is). This guy is a walking, talking songwriting machine. He does it all the time.


Pete: It's easier to bring songs into the duo with just two of you and you can flesh out a song on the acoustic and I'll learn a song. Then Mike comes along on electric to play harmonies, guitar fills and that makes it easier to bring to our live sessions.


MG: Do you find you're searching for two completlely different objectives when comparing Bluesberry Jam your regular band, and Old School?


Mike: I think that in and of themselves there will be some melding of both the Blues Berry Jam and old school goals. They are different because the band has a driving rhythm section which takes our band in a different direction in regards to how much attention is paid to bass and drum lines, and how that effects the overall Rythm which Old School is more harmony and guitar based stuctures.


Pete: I look forward to playing with BBJ but at the same time always looking ahead to where I really want to be, and Old school provides that little something the band doesn't always have. There's always something enticing about both electric and the acoustic gigs.

Mike: Maybe subconciosly we're searching for a balance between the two and giving something back to both and taking our playing abilities that much further.


MG: (I just spilled beer on my tape recorder.) Remember what Rick said, no pouring beer into audio equipment intentionally. (laughs)


Pete: Mark I've got a question for you. Why do you and I have the same receding hairline? (laughs)

MG: I have more hairloss and I'm proud of it. (laughs again) Do you think that playing music on stage or where ever it is isn't about how many fans you have but just feeling comfortable about where you want to take it, yet still trying to challenge youself technically and texturally on your instrument?


Pete: If you feel confident and good about it I think you can play in front of anybody.


MG: (Jeff Ament) from Pearl Jam got more out of his roots based project (Tribe By Tribe) with Robbie Robb and felt he could contribute that much more when he went back to the band context. As well, some of the best material Duane Allman ever came up with was on (ex-Atlantic head Gerry Wexler's) porch just strummin' on a Dojo.



Pete: Chris Robinson (Black Crowes) played a solo gig at The Phoenix in Toronto, as well as Neil Young and McCartney have done acoustic projects. There's something that comes from these, an allure and quality the other doesn't have and when you've been in a band for a number of years, and you may feel stale and your artistic objectives have stagnated. As a result you may feel a change to a solo gig may be just what a musician needs to bring something back to the band and yourself as well in a spiritual context.


Mike: It's a challenge and a test to say, can I do it on my own? Bands, successful ones as well as others many times splinter off into factions not because of money but mainly artistic wants and needs.


MG: There is no greater spiritual or artistic endeavour than that of being a musician or a creative artist. Even bands Like and yes I'd hate to say it but the Barenaked Ladies have had members split into acoustic groups that have done quite well.


Pete: You think that's something, you should see Mike bare naked. (laughs)


Mike: Okay Interviews over! Hopefully this interview tape's all right after the spilled beer incident. Ah, what's a blues interview without beer.


Mark Grove-Canadian Guitar Player October 2002


www.canadianguitarplayer.com

www.lmc.com Pete Denomme's London Music Club