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Friday, November 17, 2006
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PHOENIX NEW TIMES ARTICLE 11/16/06
Locals Only
A Few Random Drunks
Things go better with smoke
Nov 16, 2006
"All music shows are better with booze," according to Josh Preston, lead vocalist and
guitarist of local band A Few Random Drunks. True to its name, the group formed out of "four men who accidentally stumbled
into each other" over brewskis, and their shows are all about bonding over beer and acoustic ballads. Preston, along with
bassist Parker Hall-Ritchie, lead guitarist Cliff C. Hockersmith, and keyboardist/harp player Franko Ditty Danko, crafts cocky,
country-fried whiskey ditties with a touch of twang, or, as AFRD likes to say, "Humble drunken party rock." Signed to local
label Ether Bunny Records, the band hasn't released a full-length album yet, but has some demos up on its MySpace page. The
demos don't do the band justice, though — these types of tunes sound better in smoky bars than in recording studios. |
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Tuesday, October 31, 2006
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GET OUT MAGAZINE'S INTERVIEW & ARTICLE WITH JOSH PRESTON 10/26/06
Current
mood:  accomplished
Category: Music
A few random musicians unite as A Few Random Drunks !!!
By CHRIS
HANSEN ORF GET OUT MAGAZINE
After guitarist Josh Preston left his Valley
punk band, the hilariously monikered Los Banos, he wanted to start completely over, building a new band from the ground up.
What he didn't know
was that he'd be starting over with a cello player, Parker Hall-Ritchie, on bass, and Hall-Ritchie had never played bass before.
Parker Hall-Ritchie
and myself learned to play together for the most part from day one," says singer/songwriter Preston. "What I do now is much
different from playing rhythm guitar in a punk band. I had to start over again. Franko (Ditty Danko) and Cliff (C. Hockersmith)
— who are both extremely talented musicians and can both play in many different styles — stepped in when they
felt they finally had something to offer." While Preston has punk roots, he is also influenced by songwriters like Bob Dylan, Johnny Cash and
Tempe's own Brent Babb, whose work with legendary local outfit Dead Hot Workshop often blends rock and country, something
A Few Random Drunks display in their own tunes such as "Little D," "Love Pump Heartache" and "No Good," all of which are a
twangy update on the fabled "Tempe sound." I am damn proud to be from Tempe personally," says Preston. "So many great bands have come from here
— Meat Puppets, Gin Blossoms, Dead Hot Workshop — and the list goes on and on. I hope people think of us when
they think of Tempe's list of great bands, but it wouldn't really matter where we came from. I hope that we could fit in and people would enjoy us wherever
we go. I would like to think that our music appeals to anyone that has ever lived a life of taking chances and making mistakes."
Preston's tales of heartache and woe recall
the work of classic honky-tonkers such as Merle Haggard, Johnny Cash and George Jones, but thematically Preston's tunes
also fit the angst-ridden tone of punk rock, proving that the honky-tonkers of the past have more in common with true punk
than most punks, or former punks, would care to admit.
But not Preston, whose admiration of Cash and Dylan, along with his punk background, gives A Few Random Drunks its twang/rock
sound.
All of those artists have written damn
good lyrics and they all tell stories we can relate to," Preston says. "They all made beautiful music out of less-than-perfect
sounds. That is amazing in itself — it's all heart."
And Preston has found in his cohorts the right musicians to make A Few Random Drunks work.
We all wanted it to come together — it took us a while to make it good —
but now we have something solid and powerful," Preston says.
We are in our prime now and at our best yet."
A Few Random Drunks performs 9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27, at Chasers, 8005
E. Roosevelt St., Scottsdale. $5.
myspace.com/randomdrunks | |
S.L.A.M. MAGAZINE'S INTERVIEW & ARTICLE WITH JOSH PRESTON 01/15/06
Current
mood:  amused
Category: Music
A FEW RANDOM DRUNKS
by: Winnie Pechenko
Local favorites and soon-to-be hometown heroes, A Few Random Drunks, is
gaining recognition county-wide as an act worth seeing. The Drunks take the familiar Tempe sound and infuse it with a
variation of influences that each band member resonates.
Josh Preston (vocalist, songwriter and rhythm guitar player) is perpetually
slouching, oftentimes brooding, and peculiarly animated considering the ever-present heartbreak his songs tell tales of. In
fact, Josh willingly discloses that this one particular heartbreak is the source for most of his music and is also what
initially led him to the art. According to Josh, there are certain people, particularly musicians and other artists,
that are subject to a much larger range of emotions. For him, things register like earthquakes. Consequently, the
damage caused by this tragic love is only eased by the therapy Josh finds in song writing.
Considering his refreshing candor, I found it rather odd that he did not remove
his mirrored sunglasses while we ate lunch. That is, of course, until we made our way to a record store and he had to
remove them to persue the merchandise. His face, previously tucked behind the sunglasses and unshaven scruff, revealed
a seriously rough night that resulted in slowly scabbing wounds.
Earlier Josh explained that his group was not a bunch of sissies. He
clarified that heartache needs to be convey, to be released in some way. His way is through music. Josh is willing
to rehash the painful parts of his life for an audience. He is willing to cry, perhaps not in front of the audience. And,
he can do it all without sacrificing masculinity. He has no problem drinking anyone, himself included, under the table. Josh
will pour out his secrets on stage, get drunk, and maybe get into a fight, all in one night. The enemy, Josh described,
is the guy wrapped up in striped silk shirts and hair products who sing songs devoid of personal anguish and personifying
machismo. "They are fake people to me." says Preston
Ask Josh about his favorite bands and hell start rattling off a list inundated
with acts you can find in bars around the Valley. Jason Longo, Dead Hot Workshop, Robin Wilson, and many others are all
cited sources of inspiration. Live bands, particularly bar bands, hold a certain mystique an essence that is often missing
on an album. Josh prefers to hear bands that are raw and unpolished.
It is this same lackluster sound that is the foundation of A Few Random
Drunks. The Drunks are unpolished, literally, as raw as a kids face scrubbed red for Sunday school. However, it
is a careful creative process that crafts their sound.
The band members include a variety of musical backgrounds that culminate in
the Drunks. Josh, who lives for Tempe rock, got his musical education from sitting outside Long Wongs on Mill even before
he was old enough to enter. He also incorporates much of the music he discovered in high school such as Social Distortion
and Crumb. Josh surrounded himself with a band that he can learn from, not just lead.
Parker Hall-Ritchie, bassist, was the first musician to join Josh in his quest
for musical greatness. Parker, trained as a cellist, was actually the only person willing to play with Josh when he could
only play three chords.
Cliff Hockersmith, lead guitar, is an accomplished musician who can play absolutely
anything, according to Josh. In his other band, The Heroic Dose, Cliff plays an entirely different type of rock. In
the Drunks, Cliff emblazes with a Rock-a-Billy sound and infuses it with the Drunks diversity.
Franko Ditty Danko is the latest addition to the crew. Franko plays keyboards
and the harmonica for the group. Josh describes Franko as, the hippest man I have ever met in my entire life and a good
friend. Franko also heads Ether Bunny Records, a local label, and through his label has helped a number of musicians.
A Few Random Drunks are the everyman of local music. They are living up
to their motto: Providing the soundtrack for peoples lives countywide.
You can find out more information on A Few Random Drunks, including upcoming show
dates through their website at
https://afewrandomdrunks.tripod.com/
or you can contact Ether Bunny Records at:
www.etherbunnyrecords.hipplanet.com |
Tuesday, August 15, 2006
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S.L.A.M. MAGAZINE'S INTERVIEW & ARTICLE WITH CLIFF 08/15/06
Current mood:
 cheerful
Category: Music
Into The Champa Lounge.
( The Further intertransdimensional travels
and exclusive interview with resident Champa Lounger, Cliff (Cliffard C. Hockersmith.)
by Dinosaur Digby
So.there
I was. Somewhere, way out in the desert. For the moment I had difficulty in gathering my thoughts, as they were in reality
slippery, elusive little bastards. I was alive I knew that much, and I was headlong into lifebut, apparently, I was at the
beginning of this particular collection of moments.
I was a self-proclaimed enlightened traveler on the spiraling
road of experience waiting to take on the formless shape of my destiny. I was right then and there, man...Completely awake
and in the nowsurfing the cutting edge of creation. Seeing Zen as it happened. When suddenly it occurred to me that the very
realization I was having was now embedded for all eternity in the beautiful mosaic of momentary existence of which I happily
played my humble part of shiny broken tile.
It was a brand new day, and so I used my brand new eyes, and I saw it;
man I saw it all...The mushrooms we had eaten seemed to help a lot. Of that there was no denying. The picture we saw was sharpened,
and the quality of reality became a refined uncertainty made concrete by the flawed assumption that life is unchanging and
static, or some such shit. It made sense at the time.
So far as I could deductively reason I was some sort of preternatural,
carbon based life form. A massive intricacy of self sustaining systems and sub routines forming a super bio computer; an incredibly
sophisticated, highly sensitive conglomeration of free flowing mystic ebbs and flows of thoughts and perceptions...and among
these harbored the hazy day lite memories which I now sought...and with that realization..they began to creep back to me.
....I
had been to another Ether Bunny Records production of the Champa Lounge. The good mutants showed me another fabulous time;
so much so that much of my experience still remains clouded in a smoky haze...I remember enough to know I had a good time;
Flashes wrought with chaos and laughter, and fleeting glimpses of ecstatic revelations.
And after attending my second
champa lounge, I tagged along for a ride into the desert with cliff, one of ether bunny records notorious resident loungers
and an incredibly talented local artist. I mentioned cliff in my previous article about the champa lounge as being responsible
for writing some of the best lyrics I personally had ever heard. For this reason I chose him as the subject of this particular
piece. His credits include, former ensembles, Double Plus Good, and P nut butter and the Jams, And currently Cliff performs
as a solo acoustic artist in the champa lounge, Lead Vocals, and Guitar for the local three piece, Heroic Dose, and lead guitarist
for, A few random drunks, and currently hosts the Open Mic every Monday night @ chasers in scottsdale. Open Mic Hotline (480-225-5049).
Together, Cliff and I ate mushrooms on into the night and in the morning we witnessed a beautiful sunrise. And after a time,
our abilities of speech returned to us and cliff indulged me with the following interview.
DD: Where do you
find the inspiration for your music.
CLIFF: Everywhere. In the people I meet and the relationships that I experience.
I dunno man, Like I said its everything. The past. The Future. The Now. All of it refracted through the prism that is me.
DD:
Who are some of your favorite local bands or artists, the first ones that come to your mind.?
CLIFF: I like ditty Danko
a whole lot. Batter the Dragg is a really cool band. I like a lot of the catts that play the champa lounge. FERD is cool and
comes to mind.
DD: Where are your favorite venues to play?
Cliff: Shit man. With me, Its all about the
vibe. I like it dark where you can really make the windows sweat. I dig the Rogue. The Emerald Lounge is always cool. And
the Last Exit.
DD: How do you feel about the Arizona music scene ..& how would
u like to affect it?
Cliff: I feel very strongly about the scene here in Arizona. Theres a ton of kindling around just
begging for the spark. Id say dead wood, but its more like fuel for the fire. Its a good foundation, and I would just like
to see more people exposed to the local arts and music. Id like to see artists continue to show initiative and get more shit
happening through out the valley. Theres definitely more strength in numbers.
DD: why is music such an important
part of your life?
Cliff: Its like a language that I can communicate Ideas to others in a more complete way. By using
tones and feelings to convey something I must have found important and meaningful that would have taken to many words for
me to otherwise say. And it makes me happy.
DD: What are your thoughts on the Champa Lounge?
Cliff:
The champa lounge exemplifies everything Ive always tried to do with my own music. It is like being a part of a group that
is larger than the sum of its parts; But also a familyLike any of the great scenes that have ever been.
DD:
How would you describe your music to someone who has never heard it?
Cliff: My tunes are tapestries of melody and meaning
with no emphasis on clever stitch work.
DD: What would want readers to know about you?
Cliff: Im always
down to jam and to meet new people and livin the dream. I host the open Mic at chasers every Monday night, and if anyone ever
wants to come down and jam, Id be happy to see you. Also you can call to set up a jam with me or to get on a champa lounge
yourself by calling the Hot line. And I guess mostly that I really do care about music and the Arizona music scene. Take care. |
Thursday, June 15, 2006
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S.L.A.M. MAGAZINE'S INTERVIEW AND ARTICLE WITH FRANKO ON THE CHAMPA LOUNGE 06/15/05
Current mood:  happy
The following article was published in the June 2005 issue of S.L.A.M. Magazine.
The article highlights "The Champa Lounge" and it's many artists. (Including us) Plus an interview with Champa Lounge creator
and A FEW RANDOM DRUNK'S own Franko Ditty Danko!!!
Article by Dinosaur Digby.
It was your typical Thursday
night, so much like any other, or so I was lead to believe by my own false preconceived notions. I had wandered off the crossroads
into Chasers Night Club in Scottsdale seeking a metaphorical refuge from my mental storm in hopes of finding some form of
distraction or diversion to occupy my mind. I wasnt really expecting too much. A few cold beers to whet my whistle, spin some
tunes on the ole jukeboxOr if I was really in luck, and fate felt like showing me a good time, maybe I could catch a halfway
decent local band that didnt make my ears bleed.
And as fate would sometimes have it, she did indeed offer up a grin
for her loyal minion. As I stepped through the door way I was struck with the feeling that there was something decidedly different
about how chasers felt this particular night. There was this almost tangible vibration of some unknown, otherworldly configuration
that I could feel pulsing and humming on the edges of my perception. A kind of electric anticipation that made the hairs on
my neck stand on end. I felt the quiet excitement of a controlled frenzy, like the first rising tendrils of LSD.
It
seemed that on this particular Thursday, the madd, probability engineering, mutants of ether bunny records had transformed
the inner sanctum of Chasers into,The Champa lounge, and to my surprise, I found that I had inadvertently taken a head long
tumble down some twisted back room rabbit hole right along with them. The tables in the club were more drawn together than
usual and were adorned with a myriad of beautiful sconces each containing a candle that burned brightly in the dimness and
cast the room with shadows of whispered ambiance. The air hung thick about me gripping me in a warm embrace permeated with
a subtle scent of sage gently mingled with the lovely head shoppe scent of nag champa, which burned from incense holders atop
many of the tables around the room. I shuffled up to the bar, and helped myself to an ice-cold two-dollar red stripe, which
I learned is a staple drink special of the lounge, and nestled in on one of the couches that sat hither and thither about
the dance floor.
I watched the first set performed by SLOWMOBILE, an all-acoustic four-piece ensemble that later I
found to be the only resident band on ether bunny records Champa Lounge roster. Their set was one of acoustic indie rock built
on solid driving jams and beautifully harmonized vocals. Good tunes, and a cool set. Ive had the opportunity to see them before
as an electric desert metal band, which shall remain nameless, and was stoked to catch them at their acoustic shenanigans.
It was very cool, and was different from their usual amplified stage show.
By this time I was feeling a warm buzz,
and having a really good time hanging in the lounge with all my newfound friends. By the finish of slowmobiles set the crowd
had picked up considerably and it was beginning to look more like a Friday night than a Thursday. Everyone was sharing in
the prevailing good mood that radiated from the ether, and it seemed like those who attended had all sub-consciously agreed
to leave their attitudes at home for the evening.
After thoroughly enjoying the next act, an original acoustic set
performed by an innovative local poet and champa lounge creator, who goes by the name Reverend Brother Franko Ditty Danko,
I had an opportunity to speak with him and learn a little more about the Champa Lounge and its resident loungers. The Good
Reverend took me out back for some Q&A and got me stoned to the Bejesus on some killer bud, which through some form of
divine conception, hed apparently grown himself.
It was then I learned that Ditty Danko was indeed responsible for
the creation of the Champa Lounge, and was the driving force behind it. According to him, The Champa lounge is more of a concept
than an event; An Evolving modern sub-culture, which transcends the limitations of time and space. The Champa Lounge is anywhere
we make it. Tonight, Chasers front door just happens to be the gateway to the loungeWay Out Here in the desert where the layers
of spirit lay very close to the tangible. A direct quote taken from my conversation with ditty Danko gleaned in between rips
from the rather large joint being passed between us. Ditty Danko and his mutant cohorts have been hosting these Champa Lounge
events once a month for the past year and so far, they have all been held at Chasers. But the Champa lounge is steadily growing
in interest and is due to begin touring the many different venues of the valley in the very near future.
I personally
found the Champa lounge to be a very enjoyable experience. The artists were very laid back approachable catts unconcerned
in competing against each other and focused on making good music. It was a more intimate gathering than many of the local
shows Id been to in recent weeks. Being that the lounge is an all-acoustic showcase, it seemed to me that much more attention
was paid to song writing, structure and lyrical content. The vocals werent drowned out by overdriven guitars and the words
were actually intelligible. Not screeching and scathing there way forever into obscurity, as is often the case. One catt in
particular Id had a chance to really listen too, named Cliff performed some righteous tunes that in my opinion held some of
the best lyrics I have ever heard. And that really seemed to be a constant with all the performers. The lounge maintained
a very high level of musicianship over all and the artists involved where all very talented and unique unto themselves and
in their approach to their music. The lineup was comprised of a very eclectic assortment of players that represented many
different styles. From the mildly sardonic humor of FERDS unique brand of rockabilly punk, or the symphonic sorcery of, The
Treatch, to the humble drunken party rock of a few random drunks the lounge offers a very wide range of musical motif for
any lover of good music. The artists are bound by the fact that they are acoustic performers rather, than adhering to any
particular musical Genre, classification or label. A typical Lounge bill starts casually around 9pm and is usually made up
of 2 or 3 resident loungers from the roster, rotated from month to month, a featured guest artist, and a featured guest band,
unplugged. And in the coming months guest DJs from Liquid Media Music will also be featured on several upcoming dates as they
spin intelligent, booty shaking grooves late night and on into the morning. The Champa Lounge has been cultivated by the musicians
involved and from the love they all share for music, good friends, and great times. Very chill. Very, very Cool.... All candles
and couches with champa burning on all the tables. So if youre a fan of good music, spark up a stick of champa, and come out
for an evening of acoustic jamms live in the Champa lounge. For a complete list of resident loungers and show dates check
out there website @ www.champa.7h.com. And support your Local Music. |
Thursday, October 13, 2005
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Ether Bunny Record's A FEW RANDOM DRUNKS Profile.
by DINOSAUR DIGBY
Category: Life
Josh Preston and A few Random Drunks
Famous County-Wide
A
highly talented 3 to 5 piece shifting ensemble that remains constantly in motion and has currently embedded itself
in the fabric of the champa lounge. Easily the Most physically attractive group of musicians working in the biz
today...But dont let there good looks fool you...These fireballs are not to be trifled with. Lead by their dashing and
dapper frontman is the executive adminastrator of indie affairs for ether bunny records, the beautiful and deadly, Mr.
Josh Preston...friendly neighborhood vigilante poet. The drunks lend thier brand of cool, Humble
drunken party rock to the mix of mutants tied to vibe of the champa lounge. Emotioanlly stiring songs comprised
of subtle guitar stylings that lay the groungwork for Mr. Prestons unique lead vocals, stylish
writing, cool jamms and an all around solid stage show. And Laying down that groove is non other than the world
renouned, and possibly the prettiest of the drunks, Dr. Parker Hall Ritchie. Currently on lead guitar, all strings
and disarming smiles, the devestatingly hipp, Cliffard C. Hockersmith. And emerced withen the shadows of
the background accents, or wailing soulful riffs on the ole harp is non other than ditty danko himself. Bringing
to the stage a stagering amount of individual musical knowledge and experience this provocative gathering of mutant elememental
forces is indeed a great pleasure to behold. With their Humble, honest approach, the drunks have been winning over
crowds and indiviual heads by the droves with a seemingly endless display of being themselves in an uncomprimising attempt
to keep it all too real, and to keep it coming straight from the heart. |
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