CHAD voice and guitar ZACH electric guitar MATT pedal steel guitar SHANE drums DARIO upright and electric basses
Influences
The Innocence Mission, Bob Dylan, Denison Witmer, The Band, Jackson Browne, Neil Young, Bread, Great Lake Swimmers, Fleetwood Mac, Family, Everyday life
The Via Maris began in the Spring of 2005 with me and Kenny Kohlmeier, my longest-running musical collaborator, and Julian Goldenthal, a drummer Kenny and I had a band with in college. I heard Matt Wiser playing pedal steel with Rum Tenor at the New Times Music Festival in Tempe that April at Rula Bula and talked to him afterwards. Jen Goma was a 17 year-old college freshman who came in to record on a friend’s CD at my studio, and I recruited her too. Then I found an acoustic guitar player named Jason on craigslist because I was playing bass, but the songs were all written on ac. gtr. So the first shows we played that summer were as a 6-piece band. I think we played 3 shows like that and the drummer decided he didn’t want to play anymore.
So it was 4 months before we played another show, this time with a new drummer and no additional acoustic guitarist. It was with this band that I started recording the first record in the Spring of 2006. In the early Summer of ’06, I began to play some solo and duo and trio shows with Kenny and/or Jen at Carly’s at the invitation of Lisa Marmur, who had a regular gig there. That was when I made the switch to playing the acoustic guitar all the time. Those shows were such a good experience. I discovered what I liked about some of the songs again when they were stripped of the band.
From the summer of 2006 through the release of our first album in March of 2007, I rarely played a show with the same lineup twice. I played solo, as a duo with me and Kenny or me and Jen, I played as a trio with me and Kenny and Jen or Lisa Marmur (who knew all the songs from the Carly’s shows together), and I played with any combination of these and a woodwinds section consisting of bassoon and clarinet.
For the show marking the release of our first CD, I had compiled a 9-piece band to play that one show. That band added a new drummer, bassist, pedal steel player, and keyboardist/backing vocalist (Merrily from Fatigo and Runaway Diamonds) to the “regulars” of Jen, Kenny, the woodwinds, and me.
In May of 2007, the current lineup of The Via Maris took shape with Shane Kennedy joining on Drums, Dario Miranda on upright bass, Matt Wiser back in the pedal steel seat, Zachary Dodds on electric guitar, and Jen Goma.
The best way I can think to describe this band is as a vehicle that is designed to be versatile, yet distinctive. Just like you wouldn’t try to haul a load with a ferrari or race with a conversion van, this band has a lot of personality that has completely altered the shape of some songs and caused me to set others aside. It’s been creatively fulfilling to write most of this new record with this band. There’s an energy that comes from playing with the same people for months at a time, and I think that’s the key difference between this new record and the last one.
-Chad's response to a question in an interview about how the band came together
Ammended: Jen Goma is moving to New York to pursue a career in musical theater. We will miss her terribly and wish her the best.
I can't believe how much good music is happening Saturday night. Boy I wish I could be there. :(
In other news, I saw Denison Witmer in a space smaller than Modified with about 7 other people. Yeah, I went there. Sorry to rub it in, but I knew you'd appreciate it.
thanks a lot Chad. you were also great. that was one of my favorite shows that we've done. thanks for setting it up. Let us know if you come through town again.
Thanx for Your Friendship ,and we promise to cut up those plastic rings that fasten together six packs so no creatures will cease to be happy,,,,,,You RocK!!!
Chad, The Bicentennial is WONDERFUL. Had a great time seeing you and playing with you on Thursday; and I am loving the CD; The Bicentennial is my fav. I already have some friends in mind that have to hear it.
Thanks for the add. When are you heading out on the road? I finally listened to some of the new songs. They sound great. Maybe even better than the other album. Have fun touring.
I'm pleasantly surprised that you recognized me on here! I thoroughly enjoyed myself at your show - the entire night was beautiful. You'll be seeing my face again I'm sure.
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