Thursday, November 6, 2008

Band: The Tripps

Featured Local Rockstars of The Week:


The Tripps formed in 2005 and infused a New Orlean's inspired Blues sound into the Hampton Road's music scene. A versatile blend of dixieland music and rhythms derived from Caribbean music, it's an upbeat evolution of traditional Blues. The Tripps recently entered the studio to record their first full length album, tentatively titled "A Sidereal Day," to be released in the near future. The current line-up includes David Cuffee III, Greg Meekins, Sam Barrett, and Cameron King.

Interview:

What is your music background? Did you play instruments growing up?

Greg: We all began playing back in grade school, and our parents were always supportive of our musical pursuits, as well as big music fans themselves: funk, blues, gospel, bluegrass, rock 'n' roll, etc. We all were given a good foundation to build upon creatively, and are very grateful for that.



Where did the name of the band come from? How did the band get together?

Greg: I would like to say the band formed by accident, but we've all known each other for years, and just happened to get together a few times to jam, and we started to mold those improv sessions into more structured compositions that we were pleased with, so we pursued it. This started in January of 2005. The name "The Tripps" comes from Tripp McNeeley from the film "Can't Hardly Wait", the gentlemen with only wisdom to pass along to his fellow man.

What other activities / things do you enjoy doing when not playing music?

Cameron: pilliaging villages, knitting, video games, wax sculpting.



Who are your favorite musicians?

Cameron: I really just respect talent. It doesn't matter all too much what type of music it is.

How did the band start? Who had the idea and why?

Cameron & Greg: We honestly came from the future to protect John Connor, and to get sun tans on our days off. We failed at both.



How would you describe your music to people?

Greg: One of those Moonwalk carnival inflatable jammies.



Please finish the following statements...

"You know you've made it when..." You have others to carry your equipment.

"It'll be time to pack up the gear for good when..." Catering forgets to de-shell the M&M's before our performance

"I'll never forget the first time I..." Had to wear headgear.

Let's have some fun with word association. Give me your immediate feelings on the following (if you've got no discernable feelings, make something up that won't embarrass you in the morning)

Military Ships: AMERICA! FREEDOM! George Bush! MISSILES!

Constant Road Construction: The view from my apartment.

Virginia Beach Oceanfront: crack heads and taxes, and my home

Blogs: day-time waster

The Norva: wooden

The Boathouse: ahh man!

Ghent: rich, white people

Festivals: What kind of festivals?

The Block: money and hookers

Granby Street: No Parking, fun weekends

What's the most played song on your iPod (or an equivalent music playing device) in the past week?

"Blue Hotel" Ryan Adams and the Cardinals


Who would be in your ultimate music supergroup, your all-star Olympic team of rock?

Cameron: Hendrix, Flea, John Theodore.




What was the first/last album you bought on the day it was released? (What did you think of it?)

Greg: Ryan Adams and the Cardinals : "Follow The Lights E.P." and it's sonically and lyrically perfect.


And finally...What came first, the music or the misery?(explain)

Cameron: Watch High Fidelity and John Cusack will divulge the answer.


Are you happy with the direction the band is going right now? What is the current goal of the band?

Greg: I couldn't be happier. The current "goal" if you will, would be to play music that makes us sincerely happy, thus making the audience happy, and having the opportunity to perform at a variety of different places around the world; to meet people from different walks of life, religions, and planets.


How do you balance your music with your other parts of life (job, family)?

Cameron: I'm a loner Dottie: a rebel. - Pee Wee Herman.
(sidenote: ha! I love Pee Wee's Big Adventure.-k@t)



What causes artistic blocks? What do you do to solve them?

Greg: Everyday life causes mental blocks, but that same life is also the solution to the block. That is why life will always be a vicious circle that, if you live it right, you will be able to provide immediate solutions to those occasional mental blocks, if there are any significant ones at all.


Where do you see the band in the next few years?

Cameron: NOT dead from cocaine overdoses.



How would you like to see the local music scene change? Do we need to have better venues? Better ways of booking shows? Which way do you find best to get fans to come out to shows?

Greg: I would like to see the entire thing change. Actually, to be perfectly honest, if you want the whole scoop on how to book, promote, and set-up a concert right, see Granby North. And use word of mouth to promote shows. The internet is the devil.

Links to These FOOLS:

www.myspace.com/thetripps



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