Music Without Borders: Brief Q&A with Skerik

by Tucker Petertil

One of the great things about small town Olympia is it’s access to lots of bands traveling between Seattle and Portland. One of those Seattle bands coming to town is famed award winning saxophonist Skerik’s newest, Bandalabra.

The list of bands, past and present that Skerik has been a member of is amazing: Critters Buggin, Ponga, Tuatara, Garage A Trois, Crack Sabbath, The Dead Kenny G’s, McTuff, Maelstrom Trio, Skerik’s Syncopated Taint Septet, Les Claypool’s Fancy Band and Sadhappy. He has also played in: Pearl Jam, R.E.M., Ween and Roger Waters Band.

Besides Skerik on saxophone, Bandalabra features: Dvonne Lewis on drums, Evan Flory-Barnes on upright bass and Andy Coe on electric guitar.

In honor of Bandalabra’s upcoming show March 16, I asked Skerik some questions via e-mail. He wasn’t too impressed by this method but since the OP&L jet was in the shop with landing gear problems, it was the best option.

OP&L: How did the new band come into existence?

Skerik: I woke up one day and looked at my calendar and it said BANDALABRA, I don’t know how it got there, or who put it there, so I went to the club, those guys were there. No one knew why. Still don’t.
OP&L: Who was an early influence on your musical direction?
Skerik: Fiber and water, not getting killed, listening.
OP&L: What music are you listening to these days?
Skerik: All music, except smooth jazz.
OP&L: You’ve played here in the past in various configurations, do you have any memories of Olympia?
Skerik: I like the proximity to Evergreen College, it’s good when mycologists, and other freaks come to expand themselves with our sonic colonic.
OP&L: Are there any new records from your various projects?

Skerik: Bandalabra ‘Live at The Royal Room’ and Dead Kenny Gs ‘GORELICK’…
OP&L: What else is going on in your world?
Skerik: Interacting with humans directly, in person.

Witness the mad genius of saxophonist Skerik when Bandalabra plays the Olympia Ballroom on Friday, March 16.