DEUCE IS:
JIM OAKUM - DRUMS / GUITARS / VOCALS ////
BILL ADAMS - BASS / KEYS / VOCALS ////
JIMMY PITCHER - GUITARS / DRUMS ////
DAVE KOKOLES - KEYS / GUITARS / DRUMS / VOCALS
Influences
Life, Love & the pursuit of Happiness.
Sounds Like
Everything your Mother warned you not to listen to! Just kidding of 'course. Our originals sound like Deuce, and the covers we play sound like the band were covering. Sometimes we make the cover song our own, which we've been told many times that our version is actually better, which is fine by us:)
Deuce originated in August of 1999, which started as a duo. Jim played guitar/ vocals, Bill played Keys, keyboard drums/ vocals/ bass. "We played our first show as a duo at a campground in front of a small audience, just to test to see if it would even go anywhere", said Jim. Deuce duo didn't just play acoustic music. Bill had the ability to play drums on his keyboard. " When we would do soundcheck, I couldn't believe how full it sounded and how much it sounded like a 5-piece band"! Others agreed. Soon enough, the talents of the Deuce duo started getting a loyal following and playing up to 4 nights per week! Something unheard of for a "local act." We worked our tail off to keep playing four nights a week. Not to mention setting up a PA system with lights! But it was our full time job. A dream for any musician is to play and make a living doing it." Eventually, it caught up to them. As Bill would be pounding out the jams doing his keyboard drums 4 nights a week, his wrists were starting to give him severe pain to the point where he couldn't play anymore. "I thought we were pretty much done, we had some big shows booked but Bill couldn't keep going like that." But they weren't out of it yet. "We made tracks for ourselves, so Bill could just play bass & sing and it worked for a few shows." By this time, Jimmy Pitcher was coming with the band, helping to set up,etc. " An idea came up to see if Jimmy would want to try and play drums. He was getting pretty good on guitar and I figured, if he could get good on drums, eventually we could switch instruments when we play live. I taught him some beats and to make a long story short, he got really good on the drums! You have to remember, before all this came about he never touched a set of drums in his life! So, it's a really great achievement on his part."
So the new phase of Deuce begins....as a three piece. "All of a sudden were now a three-piece rock band! It was like starting over. Many people asked Bill & myself why we left the name Deuce. It's because we got so established with that name that changing it would have made our mountain to climb, even steeper. We would have had to re-advertise everything etc.. We figured we'll keep the name and carry it over into the full band." And it worked. Deuce stayed busy every month playing and eventually recorded their first CD, "Humans inspired to make Noise." "We sold alot of that CD and all the reviews on it were good. "The song "It ain't easy", really took off with our following. I think alot of people can relate to it. It's a good radio song." The band kept on playing staying busy and gaining a bigger following. The guys started talking about getting another member. " I never really cared for three-piece bands. It didn't look complete to me."
Dave Kokoles was friends with Jimmy & eventually became good friends with the band. "One of Dave's strengths, is how outgoing he is. We thought, hmm...front man? To be a good front man, you've got to be a people person & outgoing. That is Dave. We learned some new songs & tried him on vocals and he nailed the new stuff." Since the band has such an age diverse audience, they put Dave on the new radio stuff, and put Bill & Jim on the other music. "Dave's great on Rage against the Machine etc., and Bill is great on the dance stuff and songs with harmony, and I can handle STP and a little heavier stuff so it really worked out. If you come to one of our shows, you could see ages ranging from 21 to 60. So we have to play a little of everything."
And the band has done so. Like it says on the front page of this site. From ABBA to Rage Against The Machine, and everything in between. Deuce continues to perform at least 14-18 shows per month. August of 2009 marks the 10 year anniversary of Deuce. They are currently working on a new studio album, playing shows, and learning new covers whenever time permits. You can hear Deuce originals on Chilitech FM online radio, and 89.7 FM out of Williamsport. In the 10 years the band has been playing, they have been asked back at every club. Duo or Band. They have a great following that comes and has an awesome time at their shows. "We feed off their energy, keep it coming folks."
Deuce: Bulls on parade (Rage cover).
sooo when i leave the crappy state of Alaska to come back to Pa in late february and the weee one is born in March, im definitely gonna go to one of your shows before i move to arizona once the husband gets situated with the army...
woot! yay!
i figured i'd let you know.... :-D
....and i even wear the band shirt i baught a zillion years ago up here in AK and the every one asks.....lol
Hey how are you doing? I just wanted to stop by to say whats up and Let you know that I will be playing two shows this weekend if you can make it out.
Friday Sept 11 @ Music Plus 29 N. Market Street, Selinsgrove Pa 7pm...$FREE$ With-----My Boy Greggy, Apparitions of Myself
Saturday Sept 12 @ Donald Heiter Community Center Lewisburg, Pa 7pm...$4$ With...The Knockoffs, Adam Taylor, Can You Canoe
Both shows are going to be a great time and it would be great to be able to hang out. I am also releasing TWO CD's this weekend at the shows so if you have a few extra bucks and want some jams you can check them out.
Just wanted to thank you guys for the awesome show you did for us at Fantasy Island Campground on the 4th of July! Everybody in the campground had a hell of a time that they can't wait until you guys play for us again. They all have said "You need to have them back." ...So now they're all excited for next year! Thanx again!
Wow, none of us ever thanked you for the great venue at the Cobblestone here on myspace for everyone to see and know that we're awesome. Hmmmm, well, consider yourselves thanked...
I had a good time last night at JJ's.....Bill thanks for doing my requests. Jim let me know about Aug 16th. I'll see you all when you play at the Cobblestone soon.
