I should have warned the workers at Mars Café that the show was going to be packed; but it was freezing out so I figured we’d be fine. Although when I showed up there was hardly room to move; it felt like most of the Drake neighborhood showed up to see a new Des Moines band, Dorothy Hecht and the Rubber Tramps.
The band is new, but the members have been playing around the area in various forms for awhile. The Tyler Thompson Band was a guest on my show last year and one of the first we recorded at Sonic Factory Studios, so when Wade asked if he could come back with Dorothy Hecht, I was ecstatic. Despite knowing nothing about the band, I knew that if Wade and Paul Thompson were involved then I would like it, as I love TTB.
After forgetting to bring records in on his first trip, Wade was not going to make the same mistake again. We had some great albums last night; here is some of what we played…
The Rolling Stones – Let It Bleed Andrew Bird – Armchair Apocrypha Bob Dylan – Highway 61 Revisited Envy Corps – 45” Led Zeppelin – House of the Holy Beach Boys – Party! Aretha Franklin – Lady Soul Janis Joplin – Greatest Hits Bruce Springsteen – Nebraska Bob Marley – Catch A Fire
One of the best parts about the show is getting to know new bands, and last night was a prime example. With no website or information on-line, it all had to come out during the interview. Usually it’s easy to put together some questions, but with nothing to go off of but a couple of names, I had to learn about the band with the audience as the show went on. I had a blast doing it too, Dorothy and I got to hang out and have a really nice conversation. She told me that she is working on putting together an album of children’s lullabies featuring all local musicians…what a great idea! We talk all about it and more during the interview.
Make sure you download (for free) the two songs we recorded at Sonic Factory, as they are the only two Rubber Tramps songs you can add to you iPod for now. Also, let’s get some pressure on them to get a website up and some shows on the calendar, after seeing them last night I believe everyone in the café was ready to see them again.
