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Music always has a bit of mystery to it, but the biggest riddle in Ohio forever has been: who is D. Verada? Well, after weeks and then months and then years of diligent detective work, OhioOnline music correspondent Peanuts finally hit pay dirt nosing around North Olmsted when D. Verada released "Cheese Sandwich," his 15 cut compact disc. Come with us now as Peanuts asks some grilling questions to the cornered subject. Hoo-hah! |
| OO: |
And will Mr. X now remove his mask and sign in, please |
| DV: |
"It's D. Verada, the alter ego of Bill Camarata, the former drummer in the band Squeaky Wheels. I still guest drum with them now and then, but mostly play live cover music with an acoustic band called Monkey Call. We play places like Creekside Tavern in Avon, but take the winter off. This is my first solo original project." |
| OO: |
What instruments did you play on the new disc? |
| DV: |
"Guitar, keyboard, bass, drums, percussion, tape recorders, programming and a lot of sound processing equipment intentionally used the wrong way, so as to create new sounds. Live I play drums and harmonica." |
| OO: |
Who led you down this sordid path? |
| DV: |
"I've been obsessed with music since I was 5. I think my Mom is mostly to blame for getting me one of those portable record players when I was little and my late brother Ed kept me on a strict diet of Janis Joplin, Jimi Hendrix and countless 1960's and 1970's bands. Then I started adventuring out and discovering anything I could listen to." |
| OO: |
Such as? |
| DV: |
"Frank Zappa, Jandek, Ben Folds, Ani Difranco, XTC, Aphex Twin, Elvis Costello, Foo Fighters and anything else that I listen to." |
| OO: |
Have you been in any famous Ohio bands before this? |
| DV: |
"Squeaky Wheels were the biggest band I was in, but I've had good fortune to produce discs for The Ghoul, Cleveland's favorite late night horror movie host, and Uncle Scratch's Gospel Revival. I'd like to do some of my song-type stuff with Uncle Scratch live on a double bill. Those guys are talented, wild and amazingly funny." |
| OO: |
Then what does "Cheese Sandwich" sound like? |
| DV: |
"The CD is all instrumental, a mix of rhythms, solos and sounds. It could be an ambient recording, but I wouldn't call all the music relaxing. Some of it is intentionally irritating. I promise the next disc will have real songs on it, more rock oriented." |
| OO: |
What national band would you match up with? |
| DV: |
"This type of music would be best in between acts at a techno concert. I could set up a bunch of effect boxes and a computer and create a background, while I play guitar and keyboard solos over them." |
| OO: |
And now the $64,000 question: where did the name D. Verada come from? |
| DV: |
"D. Verada was concocted by me after a television control room engineer I was working with combined my real name with his favorite nickname for a digital video effects unit. I can go into further details." |
| OO: |
I don't think our readers could handle it. Favorite Ohio venue? |
| DV: |
"I don't play out that often, but really enjoyed the old Peabody's Down Under location in the Flats in Cleveland." |
| OO: |
Final thoughts? |
| DV: |
"I'm going to continue to release music I like and find others that enjoy it, too. I plan to put free MP3 downloads on my site. Feel free to visit and listen." |
