The other night, OhioOnline music correspondent Peanuts sat down with Jesse Bryson at a coffee house on the Case Western Reserve University campus to find out about the rock & roll version of "Roots" from Lake County. |
In this case, the phrase "the apple doesn't fall far from the tree" isn't a cliche, but a truism.
Mentor guitarist Jesse Bryson leads the band Qwasi Qwa, following a career in music first started by his guitarist father, Wally Bryson, the latter best known for his influencial work with the Raspberries and Fotomaker. Though in his early 20's, Jesse Bryson and his band have already made a mark for themselves in northeast Ohio, thanks to the continued success of "Shaking Hands With The Governor," their first disc release.
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| OO: |
It's going to be a silly question, but I have to ask you about your musical influences? |
| JB: |
"My parents always had music playing in the house. Sometimes they couldn't get a baby sitter, so I'd be the only five year old watching my Dad play. They gave me a guitar when I was that age, but I could only strum it. When I was 11 or 12, I got into The Beatles' records. My Dad would write out the chords for me and I'd chill out in the bedroom learning chords. The core of what's now the band came together and we started playing in the garage." |
| OO: |
Was it under the name Qwasi Qwa? |
| JB: |
"After a break, we got back together when I was 16. Around 1995, we started Qwasi Qwa. We needed the name for our first gig and I found the two words in the dictionary on seperate pages. They are actually spelled with a 'u,' but we changed those to a 'w'. Some people hated it, some people loved it, but we kept it." |
| OO: |
Where was that gig at? |
| JB: |
"Our first couple gigs were at the old Regal Lanes on the Mentor/Painesville border, at the bar inside the bowling alley. We made up 3,000 flyers with the phrase on it 'everyone gets laid' and passed them out at high schools. We got about 300 kids to show up at the first gig, of which probably five ever came back to see us again." (laughs) |
| OO: |
So much for marketing. Besides your Dad, who has influenced the music? |
| JB: |
"After the Raspberries, I'd say The Beatles and all the British Invasion bands and Stevie Wonder. Also, our drummer is into Bob Marley." |
| OO: |
With that in mind, what is Qwasi Qwa's sound? |
| JB: |
"I like production. We shoot for an Eagles kind of feel. Good melodies and harmonies, but with soul." |
| OO: |
What national or regional bands would you match up with? |
| JB: |
"Bryan Adams, Travis or Radiohead on the national level. Around here, I'd say River Junction from Willoughby or, if they're still around, Rosavelt from west of Cleveland." |
| OO: |
Where was the disc recorded? |
| JB: |
"It was cut live at Wilbert's in downtown Cleveland, before they closed down. Then, we re-did some guitar parts and added strings to some songs at WRS Studios in Akron. It was mixed by former Twist-Offs' sound man, Mike Johnson." |
| OO: |
Favorite venue to play on Ohio? |
| JB: |
"For different reasons, make it four: the Odeon and the Beachland Ballroom in Cleveland, the Grog Shop in Cleveland Heights and the Phantasy Nite Club in Lakewood." |
| OO: |
What are the bands long term plans? |
| JB: |
"Right now, the band is at a lull, so I think my Dad and I are going into the studio, because I have all these songs I want to record and let him produce. We're looking at two studios, SUMA in Painesville and Metrosynch in downtown Cleveland." |
| OO: |
Final thoughts? |
| JB: |
"I just want to work on getting my songs out and pushing them. I've had a couple offers to be in other bands, but I've turned them down. I want to be loyal. This band is going to be around in some form or another." |
