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Craig has been playing drums since the age of 7... going from chopsticks on Tupperware and pots and pans to sticks on a snare drum and finally the good ol' drumkit. His earliest musical influence was the sound of his father's acoustic pickings and singing wafting up through the air ducts in his home in Staten Island, New York. He currently resides in Lancaster, PA.
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Besides listening to his mother playing piano, Kyle's earliest musical memory is an unsuccessful attempt at trying out for the French horn in middle school. He was told that he was tone deaf and should try drumming, if anything at all. After ten years of beating on desks, garbage can lids, and anything else that made a cool sound, he was turned onto the mysterious and wonderful world of Afro-Caribbean drumming. "Everyone in the dorm went out drinking but instead, I checked out an African drum ensemble, the name of which I can't remember, though it changed me on a molecular level." Shortly afterwards he was able to trade $5 drinking money for a pair of bongos that were being used as a pencil holder. This solidified his interest in drumming. He would play until his hands were black and blue, and due to his apparent commitment, was accepted into the rhythmic universe by such greats as Barry Irving, Dave Henderson, Chino Roberts and Basha Alade. "I was tutored to be able to play along with some folks that are just off the hook!" Kyle has been a part in several musical ventures, most notably The Blues Bones, an original blues/jazz/funk/soul outfit from Queens, Grupo Iwa Dada (group of good characters) an afro-Caribbean drum and dance group, and now Moroccan Sheepherders which encompasses too many genres to categorize. His most prominent musical influences are Carlos Santana, Allman Bros, Poncho Sanchez, Mongo Santamaria, Armando Peraza, Frank Zappa and believe it or not, Rush.
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Scott's earliest musical memory is banging a tamborine at age 4 to his parents tragically un-hip music while barricaded inside a record-sleeve constructed wall of his own design. First cathartic musical experience was listening to "Walk Away" by the James Gang. First purchased album was "James Gang Rides Again", followed by The Beatles "White Album", and "Who's Next". Scott played in his first band (on drums) at age of 12, where he was the only one in the band under the drinking age. Although obsessed with all things percussive, he picked up guitar and learned how to improvise single note leads on an old nylon string classical to songs like the Abros "High Falls". The world changed upon hearing The Mothers "We're Only In It for the Money." While "Freak Out" was an important listen, it was the third Mothers album that had the most impact. The interesting juxtaposition of free-form improv, underlying structure, studio as an instrument, album as song, and humor had a profound impact. Around this time he played with a nucleus of similar-minded musicians, and a constantly rotating group of guest musicians, who would converge in the "opium den" (Scott and floutist roomate's pad/makeshift studio) on Saturday nights, usually starting at midnight. These sessions were total free-form, merry prankster-type affairs, where first-thought/best-thought ruled and all was recorded to tape. The extended version of "Way Too Long" was an often repeated and constantly evolving favorite. During these sessions, Scott initially manned the guitar but it was here where he first started playing bass, which to him turned out to be the perfect blend of melody, percussion and low-end balls. He never did learn to play the bass the way you are supposed to and he never tried either. The many years of single-note soloing, power-chording on guitar combined with a percussive bent came to define his approach.
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Steve's first real musical experience was sitting with his great-grandmother at her piano during family visits to her home in Vermont. A few years later, after playing 1st Baritone horn in his school band, he still wanted more. He longed for the rock and roll life. He was first introduced to rock music at the age of ten when he heard Queen's "News of the World" album. This was music that not only he could enjoy, but also could his mother. When he heard Led Zeppelin for the first time, there as no going back. His first guitar, a 12-string, was purchased for one purpose, to play "Tangerine" by the mighty Zep. In his freshman year of high school his brother brought home "Permanent Waves" by Rush, and his musical existence was changed forever. His guitar tutelage was brief (30 minutes), as Steve wanted to learn "Stairway" but the old fart wanted to teach scales. "I feel as though my lack of knowledge of musical theory lends itself to more original-sounding music." Throughout his high school and college he played in mainly cover bands until he first jammed with Craig in 1990, forming Sound and Body. His musical influences include Led Zeppelin, Rush, The Police, U2, Pink Floyd, The Allman Brothers, and of course, John Denver.
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Rob
Robert Pucciariello brings his well-rounded musical experiences to the Herders as the band's keyboardist. Beckoned by both computer science and Steppenwolf as a teenager, Robert reconciled the two by developing a sound that is both technically proficient and beckons the occasional tossing of undergarments onstage. A classics and music double-major at Williams College in Williamstown, MA, Robert ruled the prestigious though admittedly small and serene campus with his band The Rhythm Method, whose members once included current Fountains of Wayne frontman Adam Schlesinger. Throughout the next two decades in Boston, Miami and mostly New York City, Robert joined forces with the power pop outfit Smart Boy as well as the mesmerizing Pink Floyd tribute band Pink Flawd before teaming up with the Moroccan Sheepherders. He counts among his many musical influences...Steely Dan, David Sylvian, Brian Eno, Jobim, Pat Metheny, St. Germain, Thievery Corporation, The Brand New Heavies, Depeche Mode, Weather Report, Bill Bruford, Yes, Tool, Suba, Steve Lawler, John Digweed, Satoshi Tomiie, Gabriel & Dresden, Underworld, Herbie Hancock & Jeff Beck.
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Mikes rock influences are: his parents not being able to afford guitar lessons; laughing with my sisters to "mmm I get high with a little help from my friends" but not really understanding why; his first album "Venus and Mars"; trying to make Wendy laugh in class; falling asleep to "Hey Jude" on top of the Grundig cassette player in the back of the Vega; waking up and not being able to look at Wendy the same way again; being taunted with "Yeah yeah Musky" when my voice was changing; jumping around in my underwear to "Jukebox Hero"; my sister forcing me to learn the harmonies to "The Rose"; searching for "Safety Dance" on the radio all summer at the beach; telling Annette about it because of "Tell Her About It"; "Ghost in the Machine" at Boston Garden; "We be B-Z and we're going to blow your face out!" at the Pierre Hotel; "Uncertain Smile" on the rug; Ed shouting "D, E, F-shahp" during "Rudy Can't Fail"; the guy who played all Beatles acoustic at Au Bon Pain in Harvard Square; Sarah shaking her head at my absurdity at Stewart; losing it then playing "Cocaine" at Brews; bouncing on the stage made of a garage door and some tires; Doc teaching me the two chords to "Horse with No Name" at camp; that aerobics chick coming up on stage at DU during "Surrender"; surfing on the back of Gerry's truck; "Owner of a Lonely Fart" at Hepburn; bottle rocket fight at the Grand Canyon; Happy saying "Moy says you're too loud"; listening to "Watershed" while looking for a job; Jack Daniels and the Bee Gees at "High"pkins Avenue; Andy lighting his mouth on fire to "Whole Lotta Love"; The Nuyorican Cafe; "Achin to Be" at Pratt; swinging on the cage at the Zoo Bar to "Self Esteem"; "Celebration" on top of the speaker with a mask on at Polly Esther's; Laila doing Richard Clayderman; Nina's furry red and white dress after the Christmas Concert; Automatic Slims; Doug pretending to play the one repetitive piano chord in "Rehumanize Yourself"; "Sir Duke" on kazoos; "Boys are Back in Town" with the Irish dudes who lived upstairs; Aydan breaking the coffee table to "Whole Lotta Love"; "Bittersweet Symphony" New Years 1998; WXOU; Kathleen dancing to "Closer"; any Music Underground players at 34th Street station; Scarlett singing "A Message to You Rudy" on the swing; Scarlett pointing out the plastic "Ring of Fire" at the Playmobil store; The Moroccan Sheepherders and Steve's boundless enthusiasm; to name a few. |