Episode 1: In the Beginning

This is the first official trunk podcast and so I thought I would take a moment to talk about the members before getting down to it. So hear is the breakdown, in alphabetical order.

Scott Crabtree

e a.k.a Cootie,  And thatappeared on the local Indianapolis music scene back around the turn of the century. Its not clear his exact origins. Its been said his car broke down in Indiana on his way up to Maine from Montana and he’s just trying to earn enough cash to fix it. There is also talk of him laying cross ties on the Trans Canadian RailRoad before riding a train down to the States. Either way, where you been is good and gone, all you keep is the getting there.

Andrew Funke - (Bass/Vocals) Andrew has been playing bass for roughly 15 years, the past ten of them professionally. Whether working as an integral member of a band or as a backing/session musician, he’s played genres ranging from indie rock, to blues, to country, and just about all points inbetween. Andrew has worked extensively in the Indianapolis and Bloomington, Indiana, areas, but his work has also taken him to Chicago, Los Angeles, and Sweden.

Some of the artists he as worked with are: Tricycle Logic (Indie Rock)Paper Planes Crashing (Indie Rock)The Forecasters (Blues)The Ventilators (Blues/Roots Rock)Piney Woods (Blues/R&B)Will Scott (Blues/Roots Rock)Auvers Ghost (Indie Rock)Al Young & the New King Casuals (Blues/R&B)Gordon Bonham (Blues)Katie Trotta (Rock/Pop)Shaun Paul Gordon (Folk/Country/Rock)Dana Ayers (Contemporary Rock/Folk)Riely O’Connor (Folk/Country/Rock)And Many More!

Joseph Hodson - (Guitar/Vocals/Mandolin/Keys)
Biography:Joe has been playing the guitar for 16 years. While his early influences were rooted in the blues, he has since studied contemporary hard rock, jazz, classical, folk and country guitar while becoming proficient in all of these styles. He has also been in numerous bands playing a wide variety of music under a wide variety of circumstances, from acoustic coffee house shows to festivals in front of thousands of people. “I believe that a lead guitarist is not in a band just to play guitar solos, but to provide texture, dynamics, counter melodies, and richness to the song” - Joe Hodson
Some of the artists he as worked with are: The Nightshift Watchmen (Acoustic Rock)Auver’s Ghost (Indie Rock)Aruka (Jam Band)Five Apples (Progressive/Hard Rock)Voodoo Lounge (Rolling Stones Tribute Band)Rebecca Lynn (Contemporary Country)Riely O’Connor (Acoustic/Folk/Country/Rock)And Many More!

Scott Kern - (Guitar/Banjo/Vocals) It’s a fact that Scott was born in the early 1800’s. He was sent here to Earth to conquer it’s inhabitants and become supreme ruler. Failing to do that, he learned how to play guitar and chop wood, although he sometimes gets the two mixed up. It is also a fact that color photography wasn’t invented until well into the 20th century, so we are honored to have this very rare photograph of the guitar picker at work. Always the innovator, Scott has played in many bands around the Indianapolis area and is a Hoosier thru and thru. Scott performs on guitar, banjo, and vocals in the group and loves every minute. You can usually find Scott at any open stage or Bluegrass pickn’ circle. Just look for the guy with a guitar that looks like it’s been hit with an axe.

Tim Plunkett - Tim has been on the music scene for over a decade and a half. He has built a reputation as a great studio/live musician, as well as an Engineer and Producer. With his stylish musicianship and dynamic personality, he can capture the attention of any audience, on stage or in the studio, enchant them, and lift their spirits and consciousness at the same time. Though he is a multi-instrumentalist, he is most noted for his diverse and inspiring percussive and production abilities.

Some of the artists he as worked with are:
Katie Trotta (Acoustic/Rock/Pop)
Thrive (Progressive/Hard Rock)
Auvers Ghost (Indie Rock)
Shaun Paul Gordon (Folk Rock/Country/Acoustic)
Bob Schneider (Folk Rock/Acoustic)
The Fanatics (Acoustic/Rock)
Midnight Mojo (Contemporary Blues/Rock)
Brian Barrick (Singer/Songwriter)
Early Gray (Indie Rock)
Dana Ayers (Contemporary Rock/Folk)
Riely O’ Connor (Acoustic/Folk/Country/Rock)
Transmatic (Indie Rock)
Extra Blue Kind (Indie Rock)
And Many More!

A little info on the whole band: As an eclectic inspirational rockabilly vibe, it is hard to put Crabtree’s Trunk in any sort of category. Their sounds are vast and touch such inspirations as Johnny Cash, Blues Traveler, The Grateful Dead, and The Allman Brothers. All of the members of this band write the music, and write themselves in each and every song they perform.

Okay on to the show. This time it was Spencer’s Stadium Tavern located near Lucas Oil Stadium. I wonder where they got name? Spencer’s is a tight fit for a full band but the bar staff and the patrons are awesome and they really have a great atmosphere there. Cliff Snyder was the opener. Cliff is a singer/songwriter and also runs the Indianapolis Songwriters Café. Be sure to check out his website. If you look at the site you can tell Cliff has put a lot of work into it. And, if you dig a little deeper notice how much content he has added to it as well. I don’t know how he finds time to write his own songs or gig. Speaking of singer songwriters, we had several local artists show up and with that many pickers in the group we had to get a few of them up on stage to play. Some troubadours of note were Pete Justice and Johnny Ping. Both Pete and Johnny have been involved with the local music scene and both are prolific song writers.

Cliff was performing solo this night and he started it off with a great blues tune. Then we played. He works he’s butt off to promote local music in Indianapolis. He is also the person behind Indianapolis Songwriters Cafe. A great group of songwriters that get together and share songs and have a good ole time.

Johnny Ping got up and jumped in with us and so did Pete Justice.  All in all it was a good show and we got to meet some awesome artists.

Show Links

Jethro Easyfields
Johnny Ping
Cliff Snyder
Indianapolis Songwriters Cafe
Elephant Revival
Crabtree’s Trunk - Coots myspace
The Rhinestones
Scott Kern

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