ON_THE_ROCKS

The Worcester Phoenix
March 1 - 8, 2001

[On The Rocks]

Daredevils of drink

Drunk Stuntmen cheat death at Ralph's

by Mal Thursday
When the Northampton-based Drunk Stuntmen -- Guitarists Steve Sanderson, Al Johnson, Terry Flood, bassist Scott "Bau-Bau" Brandon, keyboard player Scott Hall, and drummer Dave (no relation to Fred) Durst -- play Ralph's this Saturday night, it will be the band's first area appearance in over five years. "Last time we played Worcester was at Ralph's, with a band called Chillum,
as in the marijuana-smoking device," recalls Sanderson. "We ate cheeseburgers with `em in the back room. They were good hippies: good band, and they ate burgers." Sanderson struggles to remember the band's other Worcester appearance. "We used to play the metal circuit back when we were a hippie band. We played this place with a bunch of pictures on the wall, what was it called?"
"Sir Morgan's Cove!," Johnson interjects.
"Yeah, we played to two people: the soundman and his girlfriend. But she wanted us."
Originally from Taunton, the band migrated to Western Mass under the name Soup, playing an open-ended blend of styles which found them lumped together with bands of the "groove rock" school. A change of musical direction (and the existence of several other bands named Soup) led the group to rename themselves Drunk Stuntmen in early '97. Later that year, they released their first CD Taking My Pee Pants Off (Chunk), a lo-fi effort recorded in the band's basement rehearsal space. After three years "and a lot of money," the band released the follow-up disc, More Bad News, late last year.
Sanderson explains, "It's our first real record. We did it at [Amherst recording studio] Slaughterhouse with Mark Alan Miller. It's a journey, it doesn't hang on any one style for too long. If you don't like the track you're listening to, the next one will be different."
Sanderson gets metaphorical as he tries to describe the eclectic collection of tunes. "It's a frolic through a garden of empty whiskey bottles, or more like dragging a rotting, dead horse through your neighbor's tulip bed, then sleeping with his wife."
In addition to recording and touring, the band has undertaken some impressive theatrical projects, most notably composing and performing an original rock score for the 1924 silent film version of Peter Pan. "It's the best thing we've ever done," says Sanderson.
In addition to Pan, the band has also contributed instrumentals for the Off-Broadway production of Seascape with Sharks and Dancer, as well as performing in the Northampton Arts Council's annual "TransPerformance" series, theme shows in which local musicians recreate the music of various legendary artists. Over the past several years, the Stuntmen have portrayed Hank Williams, David Bowie, Pink Floyd (playing side one of The Wall), and The Clash. Next year, they're slated to interpret the Pet Sounds-era Beach Boys.
When asked the dreaded "Influences" question, Sanderson responds, "I like to think we're somewhere between Willy Nelson and Thin Lizzy."
Hall: "Somewhere between Pink Floyd and Floyd Cramer."
Flood: "You could probably tell us what our influences are better than we could. We just try to write the best songs we can."
When asked about contemporary influences, Sanderson replies, "What does contemporary mean?"
"Anybody who hasn't broken up yet," deadpans Johnson.
"Let's see," muses Sanderson, "The Cartoon Network, because I like to touch myself while watching The Power Puff Girls. Tom Petty. The Black Crowes."
The band's other contemporary influences can be found closer to home. "The Lonesome Brothers are the best. They're on another level," raves Flood.
"Ralph's makes me feel at home," says Sanderson. "I haven't spent a whole lot of time in Worcester, but then again, I'm not home that much, either."
In addition to recording and performing with the Stuntmen, Sanderson has been on the road for the better part of the last year, serving as tour manager for major-label retro-rockers The Unband. "It's the best baby-sitting job I've ever had. Thanks to them, I got to meet my idol, Don Dokken." While on the road with The Unband, Sanderson also had the opportunity to meet such diverse characters as Iggy Pop, Ian Hunter (of Mott the Hoople fame), and porn star Ron Jeremy.
So what should the audience at Ralph's expect on Saturday night? "We put on a great show," claims Sanderson. "And if anyone in the crowd wants to buy us a round of Jack Daniel's, we'll give `em the best version of `Whiskey River' they've ever heard."
"If the bar doesn't have Jack Daniel's," continues Hall, "We'll take Old Grand Dad or Maker's Mark. But none of that Jim Beam shit."
The Stuntmen's current tour takes them from Springfield's Tic Toc Lounge on Friday to Ralph's on Saturday, then on to Chapel Hill, Atlanta, Nashville, and New Orleans, with a couple of stops in between. One stop the won't be making is in Austin, Texas, for the massive South-by-Southwest festival. "We just got our fourth straight rejection letter," Flood says proudly. "We're too good for `em."
More Bad News was released on Natural Disaster Records, a label whose founder, Matt Hebert, fronts Ware River Club, co-headliners at Ralph's this Saturday. "We're going to have a steel cage match with 'em between sets," quips Sanderson, in an attempt to appeal to Worcester County wrestling fans. "They're the only band who could go three rounds with the Stuntmen."
"Ware River Club are great," enthuses Johnson. "I love their new record [Don't Take it Easy, also on Natural Disaster]. I haven't been able to take it out of my CD player for weeks."
"That's because he got peanut butter on it," Flood explains.
After being together for nearly a decade, what keeps a band like Drunk Stuntmen going? Flood answers bluntly: "We've got nothing better to do."
Band Guide deadline nears
It's hard to believe there's only 175 bands and musicians interested in getting gigs. The first-ever Worcester Phoenix Band Guide is intended to be a one-stop shopping guide for club owners and booking agents looking for entertainment for their venues and bands and solo performers to hook-up with other acts from the area and out-of-town regulars. Get your contact information to us pronto, as the deadline for submissions is March 9. For full details, see page 13 of this week's Phoenix.

Brian Goslow can be reached at bgoslow[a]phx.com.