Toolbelt Jedis – Interview – Thanks for Asking

Toolbelt Jedis – Interview – Thanks for Asking – by Liam Sweeny.

RRX: Every comic book hero has an origin story. What is the origin story for the band? (points if you tell it like a comic book origin.)

SL: Think Phil Lesh meets Rambo. I have been in many many bands in the 50 years I have been playing bass. Right now I am part of four bands, the main one being the Toolbelt Jedis Rhythm Section. The band is Michael Correia (vocals and keyboard), Sticky Poindexter (drums and vocals) and myself. We have been playing together for over twenty years. What we like to do is to bring in feature players such as guitarists, horns, vocalists, mandolin, banjo, other keyboard players, accordion, harmonica and even other drummers and bassists. We collaborate and let it fly. We rarely gig out. We have weekly jams at Robin’s Rocking Barn in Grafton, if I’m not gigging with someone else. Some of the feature players have been Mark Richardson, Niki Kaos, Tommy Love,  Bob Donald, Rudd Young, Sarah Babushkin, Wayne Chills, Rob Carson, Zeke Chevelle, Erin Powers, Deena Chappell,  Harry Pyle, Matt Warner, Lou Amendolara, John Wensley, Derek Slate, Nick Antoinette, John Cehowski…..you get the picture? All are top level players. I want to play with everyone.

Right now I am sitting in with Gloria, Moe Greene, and The Secret Agents. I have also played with Deb Cavanaugh, Kelly McGuire, Northern Borne, Vinyl Vault, Blank Slate, Chris Olsen and numerous other bands on a sit-in basis.

RRX: Every band’s first song is a milestone. But so is the latest song. Describe the first song/album you recorded, and also the latest song/album you recorded; what are the differences?

SL: We haven’t recorded any albums, though we have about 1000 cd’s and digital files of our jams. I like to record just to relisten. I personally was on two actual record albums in the early 1980’s with the Golden Eagle String Band out of Brockport, NY. One of those albums is still on Spotify, but really, I have no interest in recording albums of my own. I just want to play live.

RRX: Like songs, every band has a unique feeling about their first show. What was your first show like? Was it your best show? If not, what was your best show like?

SL: I’ve been playing out since 1975 or so. I can’t even recall my first gig. My best gig is always my last one.

RRX: Music genres are difficult for some bands. Some strictly adhere; others not so much. What is your perspective on the genre you play, or the genres you hover around?

SL: I like playing any type of music, especially if I can rip some blazing jams into them. Right now I am working on Shakedown Street into Uptown Funk into Nantucket Sleighride a lot. That’s a twenty minute free-for-all with the guys and gals who I play it with. Otherwise I like rock, bluegrass, country, funk, pop, grunge, punk. I don’t care, I play it all. Just don’t ask me to play note for note like a record. I can do that if I want to, but I’d rather put my own spins on a song.

RRX: It’s a lot of fun living in the present, but we all collect memories and give birth to dreams. We’re talking dreams here. Where do you see yourself next year? In the next five years?

SL: Next year I see myself continuing with the Toolbelt Jedis and sitting in with bands, maybe new ones, and hopefully the ones I’m with now. Right now I am also working on promotions for my musical/military memoir book titled “The Footless Girls Of Camp C.” That is out on Amazon right now in paperback and Kindle. I’m hoping to have it out as an audiobook this year.  In five years I hope to become adequate on the bass if I keep at it enough.

RRX: We all get a little support from those around us. And we also can be impressed by our fellow bands. Who do you admire in your community, and why?

SL: Whew, I like everyone. I go out a lot and not only listen but I take notes and photos and write a music review blog on my facebook page – Toolbelt Jedis. I really like open mics as well. I meet so many new musicians and music fans. And I’ll say this – players at open mics usually aren’t seasoned pros and I respect their efforts so much because they are often nervous but they get through it because they have a mission.

My most visited venues are Rustic Barn, Unihog and 344 2nd Street in downtown Troy. But I go to five or more open mics monthly and a few concerts each month as well. I’m definitely a Dead Head so I snoop around that scene a lot. Neon Avenue is sounding pretty good these days and recently I’ve seen Ginger Geezus and Tame The Rooster. They’ve all got a fine vibe. I haven’t seen Brian Kane and the Beginning or River Junction in a while but they do it for me as well.

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