Bethany Tomkins: Garage DeLuxe
Starting out with various beverages on the table, we asked what's new with Garage Deluxe. To give you a little background, they originated as a 6-piece jam band, of sorts, which pretty much promised them a big fanbase to start out with. John told us that after doing that for awhile, some of the band members realized they wanted to focus more on what each individual person had to contribute, musically. Paring down their headcount to four meant being able to do that, and with their current configuration, they've been working toward a more comfortable, intelligent sound. That's not to say that they're veering from their rock roots, no sirree. To talk to each of them, you can see the satisfaction they have from being the opener for last year's Sundown in the City that featured Little Feat. Discussing the event, Andrew said it was amazing to see Little Feat come off of their tourbus one minute, and the next have the band ask them to stick around after the show to "hang out and talk a little." Inspired by bands like Little Feat, as well as the Allman Brothers and Widespread Panic, it's easy to hear those influences when listening to Garage Deluxe's self-titled release.
Their debut CD, released in May 2006, was recorded on a tight schedule. Both Chad and Andrew had a lot to say on this, particularly the difficulties in having so little time to do it all the way the band knew they wanted. With obvious enthusiasm, Chad revealed that the bandmates get along with each other pretty easily "..most of the time," and even under duress of having to record all of the album material in a short amount of time, they stuck it out and remain friends. That cohesiveness, Chad said, is reflected even moreso in the new material the band has been working on. Andrew mentioned that the next album is due for recording in February, this time in a borrowed house where the band can be both comfortable and productive, and not rushed. After that, John added, they want to do as much touring as possible. Garage Deluxe played at the 2006 Bonnaroo festival in Manchester, Tennessee, and that proved to be another event that brought them closer together as a band. "We went on right after Radiohead," said Chad, "and when we got there, the field in front of the stage was just empty. We were thinking, 'Man, how is THIS gonna go?' Then while we were setting up, people started appearing." Added John, "By the time we started playing, our area was packed with people!"
When asked what's in store for the band, they each gave us input - they want to be "on the radar," touring, avoiding static as a band and continually moving forward, and they want to do their music full-time. With their emphasis on music and the art of making it, rather than on image, they can bet they'll stay on the radar in this town.
The next Garage Deluxe show is Friday, January 12 at Barley's Taproom & Pizzeria, in the Old City. Show starts at 9pm, and it's a double-set for the band as they welcome everyone to the show, and especially UT students back to Knoxville for the Spring 2007 semester.