There are some who are born with an innate passion to create, a drive to share that passion with the world and the knowledge that it takes years of hard work and determination to make the dream a reality. The members of Scratchdog Stringband have set out to not only realize their own dreams, but to inspire others to chase their passions, too.
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“The members of Scratchdog Stringband have set out to not only realize their own dreams, but to inspire others to chase their passions, too.”
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On the surface, Scratchdog Stringband looks like your typical bluegrass jam group and many of their songs and live performances reflect the high energy, boot-stomping twang that the genre is best known for. The trio includes James Rossi on the fiddle, Andrew DeRossett on guitar and banjo, and Kimbo Kumada on bass with each member pitching in on vocals. However, the band member’s diverse backgrounds ranging from Derossett’s training on jazz guitar, Kumada’s classical music background and Rossi’s history playing with both Celtic and classic rock bands brings a completely new influence to the traditional string band sound.
“We’ll sometimes run into bluegrass jams and they’ll ask us if we know some of the classic bluegrass tunes and be surprised when we don’t. We’ll tell them to just play and we’ll keep up. We like to play every genre,” said Rossi.
He describes their newest music as contemplative compared to their live shows as they’re learning to create a unique and cohesive sound from their diverse backgrounds.
An East Coaster from the beginning, Rossi moved out west with one of his first bands in 2012 and settled in Arcata. Although the band eventually parted ways, Rossi continued to play on his own, often busking in popular locations around town. It was when he was performing at one of his favorite street locations that he met DeRossett.
“He had a banjo and I was kind of nervous he was about to take my spot but he was like ‘Nah man, let’s jam,’ It was an instant musical romance,” said Rossi.
The two reconnected after moving to Portland, Ore., to join a band with a mutual friend. That original five-piece group spent a year playing gigs around Portland but eventually two of the members went on to pursue other opportunities leaving the trio that became Scratchdog Stringband.
The band is coming up on its first anniversary. Rossi describes the past 12 months as a trial; one that none of the musicians took lightly. The members of Scratchdog Stringband are committed to making a living through their music, forgoing traditional jobs and learning the business skills needed to grow.
“We’re learning how to make it work. It’s been a slow process balancing the division of labor and realizing each others strengths and contributions,” said Rossi.
The band is self-sufficient with each member sharing duties from booking gigs, to marketing and public relations to handling sound tech. They share a home in Portland, which Rossi says strengthens their working relationship.
So far, their efforts have paid off. The band played 150 shows throughout the Pacific Northwest in their first year and sold more than 1,000 copies of their four-track EP. They’re planning to tour more of the Western United States this year and will release their first full-length album in February.
“We spend a lot of the first year busking to make ends meet, but now it’s not so hard,” said Rossi.
For a band that set everything else aside to make music, every victory counts and knowing that it is possible to chase the dream keeps the group going.
“I grew up in a small town and I see creative people who don’t feel like they can dedicate their lives to sharing that creativity. I want to show them that it is possible. Everyone wants meaning and purpose in life and if in some small way what I do encourages other people to think ‘Wow, I can do that, too,’ that’s all I need,” said Rossi.
Jan. 23 | 9:30 p.m.
Divided Sky | Meyers
$5
Jan. 24 | 2 p.m.
Homewood Mountain Resort | Homewood
Free
