Ron Weiss: Songwriter/Vocals/Acoustic Guitar/Piano...Mike Leipe: Bass...Jim Mattson: Electric Guitar...Gleb Sturov: Drum Kit...Maya Ethier: Vocals
Influences
Aretha Franklin, Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Todd Rundgren, James Taylor, Bruce Cockburn, Eric Anderson, Leo Kottke, Don Ross, Andy McKee, Dan Fogelberg, Chris Squire, John Entwistle, Gary Thain, Nick Simper, and James Jamerson, AC/DC, The Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir, and The Brandos through Dylan, Steve Earle, John Hiatt, and The Hold Steady to Chris Smither, Watermelon Slim, Weather Report, Yes, Frank Zappa, Chet Atkins, Les Paul (a truly local hero in Wisconsin) and the Ventures, Eric Clapton, Jimi Hendrix.
Sounds Like
Acoustic, funky, folky, latin and rhythmic. The docweissband incorporates influences from Motown Funk Brothers to James Taylor and Bruce Cockburn. Melodic and memorable...all original.
Ron (doc) Weiss (Singer/Songwriter/Acoustic Guitar/Piano) hails from Montreal (passing through Vancouver and Toronto on the way to Ottawa) and remembers pressing a cigarette pack-sized transistor radio to his ear at age six, grooving to Aretha Franklin, The 4 Tops, Smokey Robinson, Marvin Gaye and Stevie Wonder. At age 12 he happened upon a garage band playing at the local ‘Y’ that just blew him away. “I thought everyone felt the music in their gut that way!”, he relates. Summer camp that year resulted in a chance encounter with a twelve-string guitar that sounded “like an orchestra!” and he was hooked. By 19 he was practicing six hours a day and playing at night for enjoyment. That year he scored a short film for a National Film Board competition that won in its category. After a long hiatus, Ron returned to songwriting and put together the docweissband to showcase his original songs and instrumentals. On February 14, 2009 Ron's Brighten Up My Day received an "Honorable Mention" for "notable songwriting achievement" from Mike Pinder (of Moody Blues fame) in the Bandwars competition.
Since first taking up the bass as a teenager in the late 70's, Mike Leipe (Bass) has played with Odyssey in his home town of Smithers, BC, The Maple Street Shed Band in Penticton, The Swollen Members and All Over the Rug in Kingston, and The Tyrell Underground, ice9, and New Tricks here in Ottawa. His favourite bassists include Chris Squire, John Entwistle, Gary Thain, Nick Simper, and James Jamerson, and his current listening habits are all over the map, from AC/DC, The Agnostic Mountain Gospel Choir, and The Brandos through Dylan, Steve Earle, John Hiatt, and The Hold Steady to Chris Smither, Watermelon Slim, Weather Report, Yes, and Frank Zappa.
Jim Mattson (Electric Guitar) learned to play the guitar in his early teens primarily for his own amusement since it seemed like a pleasant alternative to homework. His early influences were Chet Atkins, Les Paul (a truly local hero in Wisconsin) and the Ventures. Then a few real virtuosos of Rock appeared ( That would be Eric and Jeff and that other Jimi ). After about a year of trying to learn guitar properly, he quit taking lessons from his jazz guitarist teacher ( Thanks Sal ). The remaining years have been filled with interesting events:
( immigration, employment, education, employment, more education, immigration again, more employment, marriage, kids, dogs and cats )
during which Jim never actually quit playing guitar. Although there were some dry spells. He dabbled in folk, jazz, blues styles. After a guitar hiatus of a number of years ( The 80's ),
a co-worker at a now-defunct high tech company encouraged Jim to jam with him (Thanks Mike!).
And he has been playing ever since.
Most of Jim's performing experience has been since 2002 with an improvisational instrumental group
and an Elvis-based 60s-70s cover band. Prior to 2000, Jim played in basements around town. He would like to get out more. Jim joined docweissband when Mike invited him to sit in with these guys. Liking the quality of the songs and impressed with the capability of the players (as well as the fact that they are a bunch of nice guys) how could he not join?
Gleb Sturov (Drums) played various instruments in various bands in his younger years. Then, after a short 18 year break he decided that a drum set would be the best gift for his 40th years birthday. He is now in the process of re-learning the dark art of making as much noise as possible with a pair of drumsticks.
