Christmas Clapton, bass player from 'The Felice Brothers,' talks about the band, being a musician, and their new EP 'Celebration, Florida.'
'The Felice Brothers' will be performing at The Iron Horse Music Hall April 19 2012Christmas Clapton is the bass player of folk rock band 'The Felice Brothers.' Below he talks about touring with the band, what they are up to, and his favorite parts of being a musician.
How's is the tour going?
There is no real tour going on right now. We have been going out on the weekends. You know, Thursday thru Sunday. We are home right now. All of the upcoming shows are on the weekends here and there at places that aren't too far away. I guess you could call it a tour. It doesn't really seem like that.
What do you do during the week?
We are starting to write and practice new songs. We will start recording pretty soon.
What are some of your favorite places to go to on tour?
I like going down south. That is pretty fun. I like driving through parts of Texas.
What is your favorite venue in Mass?
I like that one club in Boston. I don't remember the name. I think it is Paradise or something like that.
How did you meet The Felice Brothers?
I was friends with James Felice, the accordion and piano player, first. We were buddies and then slowly I met the rest of his family, Ian Felice and Simon Felice. Then we all got together.
You used to live with them. How was living and working together with some of your best friends?
I lived with Ian Felice for a long time but, he just moved out a couple of months ago. We had various places where we lived. It was kind of crazy. We had a lot of couches. We had a lot of not ideal living situations but, we get along with each other pretty good for the amount of time we spend together.
The new album 'Celebration Florida' presents a different sound than the previous albums. This had something to do with your new equipment and impromptu “studio space.” Was it also a conscious decision among the members of the band to change it up?
We are looking for a change. We are into different stuff. We were in a different time and place. It was winter too. We've kind of recorded in the winter before it just makes things kind of crazy. It's so cold in the day.
The music you guys produce is a lot different from what is “popular” with the young people these days. How do you feel about that and what kind of people usually make up your audiences?
It's a weird audience. I know a lot of bands probably say this but, it kind of feels true that a lot of different folks come out. There are some older people but, there is a lot of young kids too. We just played Middleton, Vermont and it was just a bunch of college kids going crazy. I mean, they didn't know who we are but, they were psyched. I think we appeal to young kids for some reason. Probably because we are young too.
I keep reading about your past as a traveling dice player. Can you tell me more about that?
I don't know. I think it's a slander campaign against me, man. I wasn't a traveling dice player. I got straight A's in school.
How'd you learn to play your instruments?
I knew a couple of chords on the guitar when I was a teenager. I had never played bass before. When I started with the band they asked me to play bass and I sort of figured it out as I went. Now it has been a while so, I have more control.
Was anybody else in the band trained to play?
Noone was trained. The only person who had the most experience is James who played piano as a kid. He had played the guitar for a while too. Greg had never played the fiddle either.
I heard he picked up the fiddle for some girl, right?
Yep, I guess so. He likes the girls that one.
When it comes to songwriting what comes first: song lyrics or the instrumentals?
I think I kind of wait until I get a good melody and then the lyrics sort of fit into that. Then we build the song from there.
What is your favorite part of your life as a musician?
Sometimes, you know, if I am not feeling too jaded or anything it's when you play a show and you see that people are having a good time. It makes me happy when people enjoy themselves.
'The Felice Brothers' will be performing at The Iron Horse Music Hall April 19 at 8:30 PM. Check out there new EP 'Celebration, Florida' on sale now.