THE DEEP POCKET THREE

By Melissa Burke

Denver rockers Deep Pocket Three are bringing old and new rock together in an infectious combination that is challenging to define.

In a recent interview with The Marquee, DP3 said that they are sometimes more immersed in the love of the process of creating music than the final result of their compositions.

Deep Pocket Three’s sound is catchy, with radio-ready tunes that exemplify musical hooks and all the makings of a potentially commercial success. DP3’s songs are comprehensive in a non-conforming pop way, although singing along to them is second nature. Flavored with reggae, ska, modern rock and pop, Deep Pocket Three makes high-energy musical gumbo.

The band’s lineup includes drummer Keith Richard, guitarist and vocalist Zach Lee and Double T on bass. Lee handles penning the songs while collaborating on musical arrangement with his bandmates.

And while Lee writes rock and roll, it sounds as if he’s writing folky songs when he describes the process. “To have my music mean something to other people — help them through certain things in their lives, in a positive way, is why I do it,” he said.

Bassist Double T claims a nonchalant and surprisingly successful approach to life and music. He did not choose the bass; the bass chose him, he said.

His older brother owed him money and gave him a bass as payment, and he has been playing it for ten years.

Richard attended Hollywood’s Musician’s Institute. He said that the time spent in the non-glamourous parts of Hollywood taught him two lessons that he has carried with him in his music. The first rule was to never give up. “The second is if you act like a professional, you will be treated like one,” he said.

The trio has played several Front Range gigs and has already built a small fan base. With the release of their debut CD, “Myself Outside,” the band is looking to expand their local fan base and branch out of the state for a tour later this year.

“Myself Outside” was produced by Lorne Bregtizer, who has worked with national acts such as Method Man, Blues Traveler, Red Man and Joe Satriani.

Deep Pocket Three will play the Toad Tavern in Littleton on March 6, The Paramount Café on March 14 and Cervante’s Masterpiece Ballroom on March 28 as part of the battle of the bands.

Spectate if you Gravitate:
• Sublime
• Foo Fighters
• 311
- Marquee Magazine

Joanna Larez
October 29, 2004

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The Deep Pocket Three is a modern rock band made up of three guys who will be returning to their Greeley roots for a concert at Bears Sports Grill tonight.

"Our first show was at Bears," said Zac Lee, 25, guitarist and lead singer. "Three years and three bass players later, we're back."

Keith Richard, 26, drummer, and Tristan Adams, 22, bass player and back-up singer, known as Double T, are the other two members of the band. Double T is the newest edition to the 3-year-old band. The current combination has been together for about a year.

"We just got together and started playing," said Lee. "We have similar goals to access music on many different levels."

The Deep Pocket Three plays self-composed music and modern covers with unique twists.

Lee uses his experience in hip hop and ska bands to combine those styles with some good old rock. Double T plays the bass in collaboration with the drums, instead of leaning toward the guitar.

"It adds a lot of togetherness, and really tightens things up," Double T said. "It adds a third dimension to the music with the bridge there."

Their music has a fingerprint style to it, because they change the way they play their music from concert to concert.

"We give a different show every time," Lee said. "We try to keep people on their toes."

Their new CD "Myself Outside," was released in January 2004, and all the songs were written by the band. They write about people they know and past experiences.

"We hope it personalizes it for listeners," Richard said.

Lee said their light-hearted personalities are a key to keeping their music fun. Audience interaction is one of their key sources of energy.

"When the audience starts reacting, an amazing show comes out of us," Lee said.

They expect extra energy at their Halloween concert at Bears, because they said there is something special about coming home. The familiarity of the city brings a special enjoyment, Richard said.

"We hope a lot of people come home for it," Lee said.

The band has been touring the state and hopes to spread their travels across the nation and world. They are currently planning a "Department of Defense Tour." The tour will be a chance for them to play for the troops around the world, although dates are not yet set.

"We want to give a little back," Lee said. "One thing we can do is bring a little America back to them."

TO GO

Deep Pocket Three plays from 9:30 p.m.-1 a.m. at Bears Sports Grill, 2519 8th Ave., Greeley. Cover charge to be determined. Ages 21 and older.

For more concert dates and band info, visit www.thedeeppocket three.com.

BIOS:

Double T

Bass player, back-up vocals. Engaged. He is part of the sixth generation of a Greeley-native family. He attended University High School and the University of Northern Colorado. His goal in life is to make enough money for a stable income by playing music with the band.

Keith Richard

Drummer. The only singe guy in the band. He was born and raised in Greeley, and attended Greeley West High School. After high school he attended The Musicians Institute in Hollywood. He hopes to spend his life playing music, enjoying art and simply having fun.

Zac Lee

Guitarist, lead singer. Married. He was born in Fort Dodge, Iowa, but he moved to Greeley when he was five. He attended University High School and he stayed in town to attend UNC. He was a member of the UNC Jazz Band. His goal in life is to live one day at a time and always have fun. - Greeley Tribune

Get out of Denver, baby, go!
By Dave Herrera

Published: Thursday, March 17, 2005

If I were still playing, I'd take a cue from the funkmojones in the Deep Pocket Three and head east instead. Far east. Zac Lee and his bandmates -- bassist Captain Payne and drummer Keith Richard (their real names, no shit) -- will cross the Pacific later this week and commence to rocking the troops. Japan. Guam. Singapore. Diego Garcia. Fourteen dates in three weeks, to be exact, and all on Uncle Sam's dime. Nice work if you can get it. So how did DP3 land the gig?

"We just applied," Lee says. "Actually, I applied in '97 with a different band and kind of went through the process, and they didn't pick us up. So I decided to apply again with Deep Pocket Three. I went through a review that took about a year of sending different press kits in and stuff. Finally they had a tour, and our band fit what they were looking for."

While DP3 won't make the type of connects that their Austin-bound counterparts will -- there's no denying that SXSW is a great place to network -- you can't hate on a free jaunt to the Orient. "You get to take this amazing trip to places you would never, or could ever, get to," Lee enthuses. "It's just something that I've heard of other bands doing, and they've come back with this amazing experience. I've always wanted to do it -- you know, get out and tour and not lose money."

Let's see if I've got this straight: Free airfare and hotel accommodations to play in front of packed houses filled with earnest people starved for entertainment of any kind, and a handsome paycheck to boot? God bless America, boys and girls. - Westword