Bill LaVoie - vocals/guitars Joel Dupree - drums Scott Howard - bass Aaron Anderson - things with strings
Influences
If forced to pin it down - something like rock/Americana, but more diverse. Frequently with a country/rockabilly slant sometimes loud and hard - love to rock - and other times heavy on the pretty. I guess the songs more or less reflect appreciation for diverse songwriting and simply liking to write and play anything that is fun and good. As such, influences include folks such as Robyn Hitchcock, Nick Drake, Dylan, Kurt Cobain, Nick Saloman (Bevis Frond), Cash, Waylon, Edward Kaspel, Robert Fripp, Lennon, John Wilterding, Neil Young and many many many many more.
Sounds Like
...Corn Mash. Influences shape what one thinks sounds good and I'm more interested in diversity of styles - from punk to polka and anywhere in-between or beyond. That is, a good ho down is just as fun as the big train from funkland. Best to dish out music and let the audience sort itself out.
Corn Mash was formed in Seattle in 2003, but is now based in the wild Paris of the Rockies Missoula, Montana where the music scene is hot and people with guns the norm. A CD was released while in Seattle, but moving meant finding new band people. We've had some nice success here even though the band members have been many. No less than 7 drummers, 3 bassists, 3 electric guitarists, and 1 glamour girl hot shit fiddler have come and gone in 3 years, but the current lineup is the best ever - can't even beleive it, and a bit heavier at times than in the past. All music is fun to play, but there's nothing quite like rock with rippin' ho downs in the mix.
The current lineup is a 4-piece with me (Bill LaVoie; guitars, vocals), Joel Dupree (drums), Aaron Anderson (Tele/mando/fiddle), and the newest guy Scott Howard on bass. What do they do? Joel breaks all sticks and some heads, Aaron is a pickin' god with a bartab, and Scott puts his big instrument in it's place. Also sometimes sitting in is the one and only Dorkbox Joe Evavold of Moscow, ID kickin' a bit of ass himself on accordion and Hammond.
The CD Another Sure Thing released in February 2005 is a small sample of originals that goes popcountry-groovy-Irish-slowdirtyblues-rock-tradcountry-bluesrock-cathedralese-biggroove-lullaby-gothicwestern-and stripped right down to the part of you that hurts the most in quiet resignation...in that order. Truthfully, it doesn't sound much like the current band, but the disc features many talented guest musicians on banjo, harmonica, bass, drums, backup vocals, and saw. But Joe's accordion and organ work is really a distinctive force. His accordion ain't grandpa's polka machine, that's for sure.
Live shows are high-energy rockin' things, more so than Another Sure Thing would suggest and they sometimes turn into Corn Mash and friends - mystery guest musicians - which is the way we like it - tight and loose and fun all at the same time. We like to be loud, but shows are really a mix of mostly original rock, big melodic songs, swing, blues, country, punk, funk, bluegrass, etc. As for subject matter, it may be personal or pure fiction, cynical, idealistic, angry, beautiful, sarcastic, bitter, glorious, sweet, dirty, often absurd, but always striving for something that is something and not nothing like most everything. Basically something for the brain and something for the booty - ah the booty. Life is kind and life is cruel so we shoot for both to let you work it out on the dancefloor, or not. Hope to see you at a show, we'll be the sweaty ones up front------Bill
FRIDAY MAY 30 SALOON STAGE 12-1250 WILLOW 1-150 JESSE DRISCOLL 2-250 HUGH HEALOW 3-415 KATIE GRAY 420-445 BROKEN LILLY JAY 515-630 BILL L. AND AARON A. OF CORNMASH 7-815 AM STRING BAND 845-10 CHICKEN WIRE 1030-12 LP AND THE FEDERALES 1230-2 VOODOOO HORSESHOES MAIN STAGE 130-3 SLOPPY LOUIS 330-445 PHANTASMAGORIA 515-7 LUAU CINDER 730-845 VOLTRONIC 915-1045 MILLER CREEK BAND 1115-1215 BROUHAHA 1245-2 ARROWS
SATURDAY MAY 31 SALOON 9-950 JOEY RAINBOW 10-1050 JESSE DRISCOLL 11-1150 KATIE GRAY 12-1250 LORN BIROS 1-215 LARRY HIRSHBERG 230-315 XXX 330-430 JESSICA KILROY 445-6 PRIAPRISM 630-745 CRUSH LEAGUE 7 815-930 INHUMANS 10-1130 OPERATOR STOP 12-2 HERMANS VALLEY STAGE 11-3 MISSOULA MUISC CO-OP FEATURING JAY STRAW, MIKE AVERY, LOUIE BOND, ANDREA HARSELL, RICK PARNELL, teri Llavette, MIKE BRANDON AND SPECIAL GUESTS 11-12 LOUIE BOND BAND 1215-130 MIKE AVERYS COALITION 145-3 ANDREA HARSELL 310-4 BROKEN LILLY J 420-535 RICH AND RARE 6-715 ELEPHANT REVIVAL CONCEPT 740-915 TAARKA 945-1130 REVEREND SLANKY 1145-1 MILLER CREEK BAND 120-215 I.E. 240-4 YAMN
SUNDAY SALOON 9-950 XXX 10-1050 JOEY RAINBOW 11-1150 WILLOW 12-115 NICK JAMES 130-230 HUGH HEALOW
Thanks for the friendship Cornmashers! I've seen your posters every time we play in Missoula, but looks like we'll finally get to here you all in Lolo.
(experimenting)www. myspace. com/i. e. --The Hermans(rock)www. thehermans. net--Andrea Harsell(blues)www. myspace. com/andreaharsell--Louie Bond Band (americana)--Phantasmagorical(blues rock)--CornMash(rockabilly)--Operator Stop(rock)www. myspace. com/operatorstop--The InHumans(hip-rock)www. myspace. com/inhumans1--Disguise the Knife(rock)www. myspace. com/disguisetheknife--Arrows to the Sun(rock)www. arrowstothesun. com--Sloppy Louis(funk)www. myspace. com/sloppylouis--LP and The Fedarales(funk reggae)www. myspace. com/lpandthefederales
Yes, 'no wrong rock'! Especially when you play the saw Sad thing is, I have never heard you guys play live- Yet, through a weird turn of events, I somehow ended up with your CD.
I picked your cd up at random from cdbaby and I'd just like to say that I find it amazing. I hope you make it really big so that I can see you live at some point.
bill-- i am back in town...be very excited. i dont know where your number went. gimme all yo' songs! see you soon!!!! (p.s. i turn 21 on the 18th so i can get even more jiggy next show...if thats possible)
Just a quick reminder. a few camper van beethoven dates nearish to you.
Camper Van Beethoven/ Built to Spill Sat, Sep 22, 2007 Spokane, WA Big Easy
Camper Van Beethoven/ Built to Spill Sun, Sep 23, 2007 bozeman, mt gallatin county fairgrounds
Camper Van Beethoven ONLY Mon, Sep 24, 2007 park city, ut suede
Camper Van Beethoven ONLY Tue, Sep 25, 2007 Boise, ID Neurolux
Hey Billy Boy! Thanks for the invite ... hope the great state of Montana is treating you fine. As for us, we're just loving the midwest and small town life. And having our own radio shows is just a blast!
I didn't know i was supposed to call you but you don't call me either. so ha! Hope you're doing good you should come visit sometime this summer.Talk to you later. love you cuz
indeed. i'm glad that someone remembers drunken pinky promises. that would be wonderful....i can give you my address or i am planning on coming back up there the 22nd & 23rd....i would love to get em though. let me know. thanks kind sir!
