The American Wake Story – The Players
As we approach 30 years as a band it is important to remember and acknowledge all of the players who have made 30 years possible.
Mike Coulter, Drums – Maybe not so much. He only played the first gig, March 19th 1994, before we were called The Wake. Just kidding. We are grateful to Mike for the practices he attended, the stellar performance that night, getting us started and the fond memories of our beginning.
David Schumacher, guitar, vocals – Dave also only played the first gig but is partly responsible for putting the band together. Dave was a college teammate of Eric’s and then worked with Frank and brought the two of them together. We rehearsed for the first gig in Dave’s apartment.
Alex Wesner, bass – Alex played in bands with Frank before the Wake. We practiced at Alex’s apartment occasionally. And Alex stayed with us while we pursued better gigs. He was a creative force that made us think outside the Irish box. He had us doing REM songs and an Irish version of Dust In The Wind. We learned Andy Griffith Show songs with Alex. He held us together after the first gig and before we found a drummer. Yes, we gigged for a bit without drums.
Kevin Dixon (Young Kevin), guitar, vocals – Kevin was an original member of the band at that first gig and stuck with us when we decided to keep playing in spite of the great distance he had to travel, from the north end of the San Fernando Valley. Kevin was instrumental (pun intended) in getting us started as he knew many of the same songs Frank and Eric knew making it easy to get that first set list together. We cut him a break when we played in the Valley at Ireland’s 32. Those were some of the best times/memories. Oh the stories we could go on and on about.
Eric Ree, Vocals, guitar, tin whistle – Eric started with a St. Patrick’s Day house party in 1992 and again in 1993. For the 94’ party Eric’s roommates moved on so he sought to do something bigger. With the introduction to Frank who knew a drummer and a bass player, Eric added Young Kevin and Dave to the band and the 94’ party was on and the Wake was born. Eric has been willing to try any song, any style, any genre, not always with success but always in fun. Eric is one of the two current and original members.
Frank LaBlanc, mandolin, guitar, vocals – Frank played in punk rock bands and his wife was an Irish dance teacher. With knowledge of traditional Irish tunes, Frank switched from guitar to mandolin, was introduced to Eric with the idea of playing a St. Patrick’s Day party and boom!...Frank became an Irish music musician. Frank has been the driving force for all things American Wake, from the early days of his father-in-law making instruments, sound systems and our first logos to Frank getting us our biggest fair gigs, great pub gigs and writing and arranging songs. Also his wife’s dance school students and parents were our earliest and biggest fans, packing concert theaters and providing opening dances for gigs. Frank is one of the two current and original members.
Chad Patchen, Drums – Chad was a referral from The Young Dubliners then drummer, Jon Maddox. Chad was a perfect fit for The Wake with a quirky personality and great sense of humor. He takes his drumming seriously but understood that fun was our main objective. He played with us for two years and appears on our first self titled CD. Chad now plays with the band Echo Love Chamber at Wake familiar venues like Roscoe’s in Fullerton and Silky Sullivan’s in Fountain Valley.
Duncan Craycroft (McGrath), bass – Duncan came to us from a family of musicians, some of which called themselves The McGrath Brothers. We met him at the Harp where he would frequent and sit in with other bands. While we nearly ventured too far from traditional Irish music, Duncan pulled us back in keeping even non-Irish tunes on the folksy side. Duncan also played on our first self titled CD.
Damien Murray, drums – Like Chad, Damien was a great fit for the band with his hilarious sense of humor and craving of great craic (Irish fun). Damien also came to us from a family of musicians. He occasionally played with his father’s (Denis) band, The Mulligans. His brother Roy also played drums for The Mulligans and now plays with the U2 tribute band, Hollywood U2. Their younger brother Colin also plays drums, guitar and sings in his own band. Although Damien has been our only band member actually born in Ireland, he is the one that got our brand of Irish music revved up. His fast pace and experimental style brought an added excitement to our tunes. Damien played with us from the late 1990's through most of the early 2000’s.
Chris Hatt, bass – We also found Chris at The Harp sometimes filling in with bands and sometimes playing doorman. Also a great fit, Chris shares our corny, childish, filthy, sometimes inappropriate sense of humor. He loves to get us laughing by playing unexpected bass lines. Chris also changed our sound a bit with his brilliant ability to play Irish music with a funk twist. Chris can still be seen and heard with The American Wake when James is out.
Jason Toney (JT), drums – JT was referred to us from Chris when Damien needed some time off. In fact, Damien is in the photos on the Bootleg CD but it’s actually JT playing. He also played on Tell No Tales. Like all the rest, a great guy to hang out with, but JT had other things going and so relinquished the sticks back to Damien. You can still see JT on occasion with Tijuana Dogs, only now he’s up front lending backing vocals and complimentary instruments.
Robert Keysers (Bobby K), fiddle – Bobby K was a frequent patron of Eric’s coffee house in Long Beach. Eric’s wife and father-in-law urged Eric to get Bobby in The Wake. He played there on occasion with his band Silent Planet. In 2000, Bobby agreed to play with the Wake at Gallagher’s HB and the rest is history. He meshed with the band in every way, musically, his look, personality, sense of humor. He wasn’t long playing with us when Frank declared, “if Bobby ever quits… the band is done. I won’t play without him.” We all agree.
Tod Warren, drums – When you need a drummer and one of your fans is already in an Irish music band and has played in rockabilly bands, you just take him, no audition, no trial gigs. Tod was just IN from day one. The longest running drummer of the Wake has everything every member of the Wake has, humor, ideas, a passion for the music and the gigs, and most importantly, to bring fun to the band and the fans. Tod has been our artist since before he joined the band, creating our logos, banners, stickers and T-Shirts. Tod has also brought us great original song ideas that we’ve crafted into some our best gig tunes like This Pint’s For Mary and Blonde In A Black Skirt. And he sings a mean Whiskey’s Gone!
James Kee, bass – Again when you know a great bassist like James and Bobby says, “he’s a Wake fan”, he’s IN, also no audition or trial gig, just IN! James plays much like Chris with a wild, lead guitar-like skill, not quite Chris’s funk style but James uses every note on the fret board and always returns to the root note to keep us in check and drive the songs forward. His cap tossing, head banging, hair flinging bass leads “WOW” the crowds. James was a very young, innocent, teetotaler when he joined The Wake. Well, not any more!
Matt Maulding, accordion, whistles, vocals – Matt was with us for almost two years and produced, recorded and played on the Across The Water CD. He was a great addition with those unique sounds. He made an impact on that CD as well as on fans who remember the Orange Street Fair several years back when it poured rain. Matt led an accoustic music “conga line” through the crowd to keep the music going during the power outage. But much like Chad and JT, Matt had other things going on and had to move on.
Other musicians who have helped along the way:
Ken O’Malley – Ken has been a Southern California Irish music icon for as long as we’ve known SoCal Irish music and much longer. He taught Frank a few mandolin tunes. He is why a compilation of instrumentals on Drink and Bootleg is called O’Malley’s Set.
Sean Bryant - Sean was a regular at all the early Irish bars we played and he would bring his coat full of tin whistles, freeing up Eric to play guitar and sing.
Kyle Dennison, bass, vocals – Singer and bass player for The Nacker’s, Kyle subbed a few times with The Wake. There was that one time when Kyle… We’ll let Kyle fill you in on that if he wants to. Haha!!! Great times and still always great to see Kyle around.
Vanessa Williams, vocals – Vanessa was one of Eric's coffee house regulars, then an employee and one of Eric's prankster roommates. Vanessa sang some absolutely beautiful vocals on the Drink CD.
Jennifer Corday, cello – Jennifer was referred to us by our recording producer, Matt Walin. She added some fantastic sounds to songs on the Drink CD.
Roy Murray, drums – What’s the point of having a drummer (Damien) from a musical family if you can’t recruit some of that family? And who else would we ask to fill in but the drummer’s brother? Roy would also help out on vocals by singing a U2 song or two. Now he’s the drummer for Hollywood U2. We like to think we jump started that venture for him. But, probably not!
Glenn Quinn, drums – How do you get the drummer (Damien) to sing at the front of the stage? Get his cousin to come up and play drums (at Ireland’s 32). And it didn’t hurt that Glenn added to the crowd by bringing his cast mates from the studio after a week of completing an episode of Rosanne. Glenn and Damien developed the thickest Irish accents when they got the Guinness in them! They were hilarious!
Mary LaBlanc, drums – Speaking of family. It’s always a crowd pleaser when you get a band member’s daughter up to play with the band. When she blows the crowd away, even better. As a small child and new drummer Mary joined us on stage at the Orange Street Fair and killed it from the very first beat! We’ve had her up many times since and she has subbed gigs for us as well. Mary is now attending the most prestigious music school in the world, Julliard, and has just landed a gig with the White House band in DC.
Ella Ree, vocals – the first time Ella sang, she was little and it was cute as hell! The crowd went nuts! The second time, this past Orange Street Fair, it wasn’t so cute for Eric. He lost his voice and begged anyone to sing. Eddie Booze got up and sang Wagon Wheel, then Ella got up and sang Jolene. Then we took a break and got some whiskey and throat lozenges.
Eddie Booze – Eddie has gotten up to sing with us a few times. Greatly appreciated when Eric’s voice was hurting. A few of us were also in Eddie’s bluegrass band Pepperbox Lullaby for a short time and played the House of Blues.
Andy Mendoza, drums – former drummer of The Fenians, Andy subbed with us at the Rose of Tralee Dinner in Arcadia after the Irish Fair. He played his well rehearsed Fenians versions while we played our totally different, well rehearsed Wake versions. It was a disaster! HaHa!!! But, we appreciated him jumping in at the last minute.
Chris Hellings, mandolin – currently in the band Silk Button Butchers, Chris has joined us on occasion and Chris and Frank have played duo gigs together as Of Mead and Mandolins. Frank is currently sitting in with Silk Button Butchers while Chris is working in Antarctica.
Emily Kufner, accordion – Emily played with us a few times at Callahan’s. It was great to have the sound of the accordion in the mix again. The cool, easy going Emily got to know many of our friends pretty quickly.
Sean Oliu, bass, guitar, vocals – Sean saved us at Callahan’s one night when we didn’t realize James wouldn’t be there. He played bass and guitar and played an original tune of his and some Merle Haggard, Waylon Jennings etc. He still comes to see us and gets up for a song or two. Sean is on track to become a great country superstar. Until then, we enjoy having him around.
