| |
RedLefty
While their name might seem to refer to a certain segment of the political spectrum, it turns out this group’s members aren’t necessarily communists. The simple truth is that two of the band’s members are red-headed and left-handed, the odds of which have yet to be calculated.
What isn’t simple is trying to peg the band’s sound. Influenced mostly by older blues, swing and New Orleans jazz, they’ve also been known to throw in some western swing, ragtime and even a bit o’ klezmer. Their set list ranges from dirty blues-harp boogies to swingin’ horn pieces to western swing guitar solos, all done with RedLefty’s unique twist.
Going to see RedLefty will take the listener back to a bygone era, one in which band members actually dress up to take the stage and songs are not so much a rigid construction of written notes as they are a loose arrangement of parts vamped until everyone on stage has fully expressed themselves. RedLefty will give you the full experience of old-school swing and blues in a way that is simply hard to find these days.
See photos and archived band posters at Myspace
Listen to our Lawrence.com podcast
Dan Rempel
Lead Vocals/Guitar/Hummus Maker
Dan is the man. Laid-back and easy going, he is the intestinal fortitude of this thingamajig. As lead singer he brings the buttery smooth, creamy voice--what kind of cream you ask? Well friend, cream of corn of course. As guitarist he strums out steadfast rhythms. And when he wants--if the mood strikes him--he can dole out some nifty leads. Any originals we play--Dan wrote them. He always has a song idea in his head. No, he isn’t constipated, that’s his song
writing face.
Dan has been playing guitar since he was 13, which means for the last fifteen years. He teaches guitar at the Americana Music Academy so call him up if you feel you need to finally learn that guitar you bought 5 years ago that the kids draw smiley faces in the collecting dust. He also paints houses. Say, who decided to paint your house fuchsia anyway? Let Dan paint it. Dan makes good Hummus too.
Dan also came up with our name. So, singer, guitarist, song writer, hummus maker…band namer. Some of Dan's tops are T-Bone Walker, Jimmy Reed, Houndog Taylor, and Willie Nelson
"Red" Chris Millspaugh
Harp/Trumpet/Cornet/poster Maker
One day, Chris decided he was going to play harmonica. He wanted an instrument to play and decided the harp would be cheap to buy and easy to learn. Well, a lot of bucks spent and a bazillion hours of practice later, he realized it was neither. But man does he love blowin’ them harps. He most always has one on him. ”Say man, is that a harp in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?” “No, it is a harp.”
With the formation of RedLefty, he has also picked up the trumpet again. Not since Maize Jr. High band (3rd chair by the way) have his lips hurt this much. However, under the bawdy tutelage of Nate, his chops are getting better and an actual horn section is slowly evolving in the band. Chris may have the least amount of musical experience, but he is a graphic designer, makes the gig posters and knows web design stuff, so he’s in the band.
Some of his influences are Little and Big Walters, Rice Miller, George Smith, William Clark, Lee McBee, and old Chess recordings.
Nate Craft
Trombone/Vocals/Music Man
You want the bone? You’ve come to the right band. Nate’s trombone playing is groovalicious. His blues trombone will lift you out of your seat and ebb you back and forth to the flow of his slide as he goes from note to note. Close your eyes, let your head roll back and take it in. OK, now stop, your weirding us out.
Nate taught band in India for 3 years, he gives horn lessons at Americana Music Academy and he recently just quit his day job to take more schooling at the music school at KU--that boy is one educated musician. Thats why he does a lot of the arranging of the songs.
Nate likes Kid Ory, Jack Teargarden and New Orleans jazz.
"Sneaky Bert" Sean McCue
Doghouse Bass/PBR Lover/Star Crossed Lover
Along with Chris, Sean (AKA Sneaky Bert) is the bands namesake. Whoa, two red headed, left handed people in the same band…FREAKS.
Sean keeps us all together and holds down the low end with super-duper, delicious bass playing. Watch out when he starts slappin’ that tub, you might fall in love. We sure have, uh, in a, uh, non-homo erotic sort of way…ehem, ”How ‘bout them Chiefs?”
Sean used to whore himself out to another band, Black Ale Sinners. They were good honky tonk. They drank a lot.
Sean does NOT teach at Americana Music Academy.
Jeff Williams
Lead Guitar/Zappa love child
Yet again we take in another Black Ale Sinners orphan. Jeff writes pretty sweet Klezmer songs...for a midwestern gentile. He has a shiney guitar. It's pretty. He does a real bang up job on it. He also provides the practice space. We call Jeff Mr. Cool.
Smokin’ Bobby Reeves
Pots and Pans/Cool nickname guy
Bobby joins the band because he already had a cool nickname, he lives next door to Jeff--where we practice so he never needs a ride, and oh he plays drums. He is, as the kids say, sick yo. Bobby ads dynamics with all those things to beat on. When not moonlighting as a "swingin' blues" drummer he rocks out in his other band, Novalus. Oh, he and Jeff are childhood friends from Salina. Terry Bradshaw was spotted there once. There is video to prove it.
Former member and original RedLefty
Tennyson LeMaster
Top |
