The O-town Scene - Oneonta, NY
Issue link: https://www.ifoldsflip.com/i/29255
Music People: Chester Chester is a jam rock/progressive funk band from Oneonta founded by SUNY Oneonta students Taylor Fred- erick (Traffic Jam) and Jon Patrizio What’s a Chester? Taylor Frederick: Basically, I was watching “The Goo- nies” one night and came across the scene with Chester Copperpot. Thought it would be a good name. Kevin Foran: And on the same night, I was watching “Airheads,” and found out that Chaz’s real name was Chester Ogilvie. Jon Patrizio: And I’ve al- ways been a Chester Cheeto fan. You recently won a battle of the bands up in Massena, and with that came 10 hours of free recording time. When are you going to get in the studio to use it? TF: Probably early this sum- mer. We’ll try to get up there once the semester’s over. I’m thinking that you’ve got to be the fastest group of guys to ever win a battle of the bands after just forming a band (in February). TF: Haha, yeah, it’s gotta be a Guinness record. It really does. So did you guys all just meet this year? JP: Yeah, and the two of us met Kevin about a month and a half ago. KF: I was in Mills (a SUNY Oneonta dining hall) and I saw a flyer that said there was a guitar and bass player looking for a drummer, and it had their phone numbers on it. I actually thought about it for a long time before I talked to them. I had the text written out in my phone for a while, but I finally ended up sending it. TF: He sent it to me, and it turned out that he lived right above me. Never would’ve known. Has it been dif- ficult to balance your life as college students with the (Hill City Groove Project) in early 2011. They teamed up with drummer Kevin Foran to complete the lineup soon after. The group recently won a battle of the bands contest at SUNY Oneonta, with the prize of being the opening act for Pitbull at OH-Fest on April 30. classic rock, es- pecially Rush. Living right by Canada meant that I was raised on Rush (laugh- ing). And a lot of fusion. Greg Howe. Steve Vai’s latest stuff. JP: And Primus is a band that we all agree we can enjoy at any time. Contributed steps you’re trying to take to expand yourselves as individual artists and as a band? JP: Well I don’t really take Chester is seen at a battle of the bands the group recently won in Massena. that, after we jammed one time, we realized that we just wanted to stick with what we’ve got. much in the way of “real” classes. I’m mostly doing mu- sic stuff on campus, in terms of performance and group ensembles. TF: It can be hard to bal- ance it sometimes for me, but it’s really just about schedul- ing it all properly. KF: Yeah, I try to stay pretty laid back when it comes to academics, so it doesn’t tend to get in the way of playing. It’s good for the band. When you formed the group, were you thinking about being a “power trio” from the start? TF: No, not at all. We actually wanted to get some keys in there, and maybe a horn section. But it turned out Yeah, it seems like an interesting choice in today’s music environment. You don’t have too many new guys just singing and then taking a solo anymore. KF: Yeah, Taylor does that (laughing). So, after you record, what are your plans going to be for the summer, once you’re all back at home? TF: I think we’re all gonna go into hibernation and just work on our own personal instrumental goals. I know what I have to work on as musician, and I think these other two would agree with me on that idea. JP: Yeah, it’s about gaining a more in-depth knowledge of the instrument, and finding more interesting tonal stuff to throw in there. TF: I think that, after this summer, you’re gonna start hearing some more progres- sive stuff from us, something a little more intricate. Well what are you all lis- tening to right now? What’s in your head when you’re writing? JP: A lot of post-rock lately, and a lot of acoustic stuff ac- tually, especially Yo La Tengo and Neutral Milk Hotel. TF: I listen to a lot of Phish; I listen to Trey. I idolize that guy. He’s the man. But in terms of my own unique- ness, I’m a little raunchier, a little heavier, so I’m trying to develop my own particular style that people can start to identify me with. I also love I think that there are a lot of people on campus who are into what you guys do, but so many college kids these days just don’t dig good rock music. Does it ever get frustrating? JP: I’ve heard from some people that there’s a lot of buzz about this band going around the music depart- ment, but I also wouldn’t be surprised if there are some people are just saying “eh.” KF: It feels like we’ve only been a band for a few weeks, and that we haven’t really done that much, so it’s funny to hear a lot of people talking about it. JP: It’s just one of those things … taste is objective. To quote “Wayne’s World”: “Led Zeppelin didn’t write tunes that everyone liked, they left that up to the Bee Gees.” Who’s your favorite “bad” musician? TF: Rebecca Black’s been tickling my fancy lately. JP: The Cranberries … total guilty pleasure. Even though I don’t know if they’re really bad musicians. You can never really tell with pop acts. KF: Steve Winwood! JP: If I actually liked Green Day, I’d say Green Day. And maybe Kiss, just because they didn’t write any of their own stuff. Speaking of Kiss, where’s your image headed right now? When are you buying some spandex for your live shows? KF: We should start thinking about that (laughing). JP: I don’t really like to think about the whole marketing thing, I like to just focus on the music. I’m not worried about us being “sellable.” I just want people to like our music. But you’ve only been together for a couple of months. Do you think you’ll have to start worrying about it soon? JP: Well yeah, I mean, we’re throwing around ideas for the future. TF: Don’t get me wrong, I love having a kind fun “im- age,” but in the end there’s nothing wrong with a pair of cargo shorts and flannel. KF: Yeah, there’s nothing wrong with flannel. JP: Absolutely nothing wrong with flannel. KF: And some chicks actu- ally like it (laughing). _ Sam Spokony April 14, 2011 O-Town Scene 9