The Local Artist Speaks: WESTER DAYWICK

Interview with Louis Panush, lead singer/guitarist


How long have you lived in the Portland area?
All three members moved from Washington (the state not the city) in the spring of 2006.

Give us a brief history of your band/project:
Trent and I have been playing music together for about ten years at this point. First in a band called The Conversation from 2000 to 2002. We then started Wester Daywick as a two piece in 2004. This was mainly due to us living in the same house and not having the energy to go beyond our driveway to find other musicians. Bobby D joined in 2005 on the condition that we were allowed to tell him what to play. He has since become musically self sufficient and is served well not to listen to us much of the time.

What’s the first song you ever learned to play?

Wester Daywick:  Trent, Louis + Bobby D

Honestly, the first song I ever learned how to play was one I wrote. Unsurprisingly then, Wester Daywick has never played a cover. Sometimes at rehearsal Trent likes to play the drum beat from "Poison" by Bell Biv Devoe, so here's hoping we work that in at some point.

What’s your favorite local venue to play? To see other bands?
Mississippi Studios is great for both playing and seeing. Recently we've enjoyed gigs at Backspace and the Ella St. Social Club. Really, if we are playing well, or I'm listening to a great band, any room with a loud PA will do.

Speaking of other bands, who do you like on the Portland music scene?
Rachel Taylor Brown, Tigress, Mark Twain Indians, Holy Tentacles, Holcombe Waller, AgesandAges, Silverhawk

Tell us about a recent “Only in Portland” moment you might have had.

• I had a thirty minute conversation with a friend regarding the importance of how jeans meet footwear.
• I engaged in an inappropriately heated discussion regarding the merits of "Portlandia."
• My head exploded when someone in their 20's told me they weren't very fond of beards, tight pants, or irony.

Finish this sentence: “I cannot live without_____”
Louis: red wine and pretension
Trent: kittens and a goatee
Bobby D: denim clothes and vinyl records

You place a framed photo of Tom Selleck surrounded by a tiki god and hula girl figurines on stage at all your shows. Why?

Here's hoping the tiki god doesn't get
angry for getting cropped out.

What do you mean, "why"? Doesn't every band do that?

• Instead of growing our own lackluster mustaches like so many other indie rockers these days, we would rather show our respect for the finest mustache to ever grace this mortal plain.
• We lost our picture of Burt Reynolds.
• We are pretty sure he is one of our dads.
• When our drummer is not indulging his mildly off putting obsession with under age cats, he is watching a Jessie Stone movie.

Connect with Wester Daywick:

• Download the album for free on BandCamp.
• Facebook
• Myspace
• Twitter
• Watch videos