The Shady Rest Band

The Shady Rest Band (www.reverbnation.com/theshadyrestband) has become one of the busiest bands in the Austin area by consistently putting on a great show. The band, formed by Ben Blair and Nate Guthrie in Mammoth, California before they moved to Austin, plays it's own blend of bluegrass and country. Blair and Guthrie met in California through a mutual ex-roommate, and decided to move to Austin to persue a career in music. While playing at Cheatham St Warehouse during their Friday Happy Hours, they met C.K. Dangerbird, who joined the band with his washboard and harmonicas, and while playing open mics around Austin, they met Jaz Lee Short, who took his stand-up bass and joined the band. Their gigs started to increase, and they can be found playing all over the Austin area, with steady gigs at Cheatham St Warehouse, Romeo's, The Tap Room and Sean Patrick's in San Marcos, and many other venues. This week they have released their first cd, "!Merica", which was recorded in Cheatham St's Woodshed Studios. I sat down with the band at Cheatham St over the last few weeks, and they answered 10 questions for me.





Who are your songwriting influences?



Nate: James Taylor and the Allman Brothers

CK: Neil Young

JLS: Hank III, Hayes Carll, Lightning Hopkins, Elvin Bishop, and Snoop Dogg

Ben: Townes Van Zandt, Gram Parsons, old traditional music, and outlaw country.



When and where was your first public performance?



Nate: When I was 24 years old, I played in Mammoth Lakes, California

CK: Cheatham Street Warehouse, at Kent Finlay's Songwriter Circle

JLS: When I was about 15, I played some Bush songs at a biker party that had a bunch of bands playing.

Ben: When I was in 7th grade I was in a punk rock band and we played a lot at local roller rinks.
What was the first record or cd you purchased with your own money?



Nate: Grateful Dead "Skeletons in the Closet"

CK: The Offspring "Americana", and my mom took it away from me.

JLS: The Doors "Greatest Hits"

Ben: Weezer "The Blue Album"
What was the first live concert you attended?



Nate: The Oak Ridge Boys at the Houston Rodeo

CK: My dad took me to see Bush when I was in 7th grade.

JLS: I saw Eric Burden at the Main St Festival in Fort Worth.

Ben:I went to see aerosmith on the "Get a Grip Tour"
Which venue would you most like to play that you haven't yet/ and which is your favorite venue to play?



Nate: Cheatham St Warehouse is my favorite, and I'd love to play High Sierra.

CK: Carnegie Hall was my favorite, I played there with the Midland High Honor Band. I would love to play the Kerrville Folk Festival.

JLS: I love to play on the street during SXSW, and I really want to play at the Grammy's.

Ben: I love to play anywhere that there are interested happy people. I'd love to play the Kennedy Center or the Galax Fiddler's Convention or Merlefest.





What is the best career advice you've been given, and by whom?



Nate: When I was working at a disc golf club, my boss told me "Doing what you want to do is what it's all about."

CK: My dad told me " If you love it, do it, or find something that you love to do."

JLS: an old blues player told me " It ain't how fast you do it, it's how deep you stick it in"

I also have some advice for others "Appropriateness is way overrated."

Ben: My 1st boss, when I started working construction jobs told me "Do what you love."






Who are you listening to now?




Nate: Tony Rice and Doc Watson

CK: A box set I got for Christmas called " The Birth of Soul" and george Harrison's "All Things Must Pass"

JLS: Justin Townes Earle

Ben: Neko Case, Dwight Yoakam, Jolie Holland, and the Clash.

What is your best story about life on the road?



Nate: When we were in Vegas on our last tour, my sister hooked us up with a three room suite at the Golden Nugget. It was like being on a big time rock tour.

CK: During our trip to Houston to play once, we rode shirtless, and decided then that "Shirts are bad luck", which became the title of our demo.

JLS: We were in Tahoe for the last night, and the Jager Bombs kept flowing. I yelled out to the crowd that I would staple my chest if I only had a staple gun. I had done it before, but who would have thought someone would have one in a bar. Some girl says, "I have a staple gun" and proceeds to pull it out. Well, I stapled myself a few times, and so did a lot of the people in the crowd. Crazy place.

Ben: I also loved the suite in Vegas, it was a taste of the big time.
What recordings are available to the public and where can they be purchased?



Well, we have some demos that were recorded in a home studio, but have put them away, as we have finally released our first cd "!Merica" It came out this week, and we will have it at our shows. It will be on Itunes and in local record stores soon.

When and where are you playing next?



Tonight, we're at the Back Room of the Tap Room in San Marcos. Tomorrow we play our usual Friday Happy Hour Show at Cheatham St Warehouse, and Saturday we'll be at Sean Patrick's. Feb. 10 we're having a cd release party, along with Chris Reeves, who is also releasing his cd, at Cheatham Street Warehouse. We also play shows regularly at Sean Patrick's, the Tap Room, and Romeo's. We're easy to see live, just check our website for dates: www.theshadyrestband.com . - Examiner.com

The Shady Rest Band, based in Austin, was the second band to take the stage. Nate Guthrie was on mandolin, Ben Blair on guitar, Jaz Lee Short on standup bass, and C.K. Dangerbird on harmonica and washboard. They ran through a smoking hour set of mostly original bluegrass music, including standout songs "I drink more tequila in Texas" and "Good hearted woman".They mover to Austin about two years ago, and have been playing steadily for the last 2 years. This is a band you need to go see live. They have produced a demo cd, and are working in the Cheatham St Woodshed Studios on a full length cd. They are playing at the Whip-In in Austin tonight, Whitewater Ampitheater tomorrow (warming up the people waiting on line to see Bob Dylan), and can be found every Friday night at Cheatham St Warehouse for Happy Hour. Go see them soon. - examiner.com