Dio.com Project – Amateur Hour, Pullman Rock Edition

Dio.com Project – Amateur Hour, Pullman Rock Edition

1st Listen went and found three students from Washington State University who have an interest in music, and playing the guitar. They are far from professional musicians, but use music as an outlet in their daily lives. 

Train of Thought

Andrew Braddock

For this week’s look into Pullman’s live music scene, 1st Listen covers the local Blue Grass band, Train of Thought.

The Subterranean Blues Band at Rico’s Pub

Amidst stone gargoyles, walls of bookshelves, and tall wooden pillars, music from Pullman’s own Subterranean Blues Band filled the low-lit basement in Rico’s Pub Thursday night.

Despite warm temperatures, and a fair amount of Rico’s House Brew, I started to feel goose bumps on my arm during the middle of the night’s first guitar solo, the mark of any good live performance. Chords wailed through the amplifier, erratic, yet steady, as the rest of the band followed along, setting the rhythm with their respective instruments.

The Subterranean Blues Band did not mess with success. That is to say, they covered the classics. Through the evening show, the small basement crowd heard renditions of Eric Clapton, ZZ top, The Almond Brothers, The Doors, and many other classic rock staples.

The seven member band consisted of five middle aged men, and two Washington State University Students. All the usual instruments were present. Lead and rhythm guitar, bass guitar, drums, and vocals. The blues band also put their own creative spin on old classics, implementing a flute, and saxophone. They even introduced an instrument that I had never seen before, a vibraphone, which is an electric version of the xylophone.

As the show continued, I noted that the band had chemistry. Familiar songs ended with five minute jam sessions, where each member of the band would step forward, and show of their instrument, and their individual music prowess.

“If you’re driving home, don’t forget your car” the lead man shouted, just before the band landed on their final note, ending their final song.

I caught up with a few of the band members after the show. Brian Dyer played rhythm guitar during the performance, and I got a chance to ask him a few questions about how the group came together.

“Almost everyone has played with a different local band at one point or another, but Rodger Johnson was the one who really brought us together. He said that we should form a blues band” said Dyer.

When I talked to Roger Johnson, I asked how the band stayed together throughout all the guitar, and bass, and even vibraphone solos. He explained that members learned as they went, slowly gaining chemistry the more they played together, until it became second nature.

Before I left Rico’s pub I had one more question. I asked Rodger why he chose to play the blues. What made the genre so important?

“Blues keeps being rediscovered” he said with a smile. “Kids come to the shows and ask ‘what is this?’”

“That’s the Blues.”