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

The Local Artist Speaks: LITTLE SUE

Little Sue is a sassy singer/songwriter here in Portland that tells her stories with music. Her songs leave me with the impression that she really does mean business I would not want to piss her off and then you meet her. She is as sweet as can be and you hope she just might be open to being your new BFF.

I touched base with her through the internets and posed my questions. Meet Little Sue!

How long have you lived in the Portland area? I moved to Portland on August 30, 1992, at the young age of 21! I had been in a band in Michigan (The Crackpots) and we all moved out here to take part in the music scene.

Give us a brief history of your band/project: While still in the Crackpots, I started writing my own songs around 1996. Local label Cravedog produced my first 2 cds under the moniker "Little Sue" and I have put out 3 more on my own. I play solo these days, though I have had many wonderful bands backing me up through the years. I also play in a duo with Lynn Conover, in a swing country-jazz quartet called Trolley Jane, and I play bass in the glam-rock band From Words To Blows.

What’s the first song you ever learned to play? The first song I ever learned to play was If I Had A Hammer by Peter, Paul and Mary. I was obsessive as a budding guitar player and would play until my fingers were so red and swollen it was painful to even wash my hands.

What’s your favorite local venue to play? To see other bands? I've been enjoying The Bunk Bar very much, both to play and to listen (and to eat delicious sandwiches!). Doug Fir has been a favorite to play, but not always a favorite to go listen. The Laurelthirst always gets my vote.

Speaking of other bands, who do you like on the Portland music scene? I love Duover, Lewi Longmire, Fernando, Mike Coykendall, Michael Jodell, Ezra Holbrook, Kung Pao Chickens, A Simple Colony (a Lara Michell project, and anything else Lara does, too!), Jim Boyer, Michael Hurley, The Minus 5, Lynn Conover, Darrin Craig, James Low, Rachel Taylor Brown, Colleen Raney, The Don of Division Street, Casey Neill, Stolen Sweets, Midnight Serenaders, RedRay Frazier, Hanz Araki, Mike D, Chris Robley rocks whatever he's doing. I'm sure I'm forgetting somebody. Old Light is a new favorite.

Tell us about a recent “Only in Portland” moment you might have had. Since Portlandia came out I always feel like I'm in an episode. Though that feeling is wearing off. I can't think of one in particular, though they happen often, accompanied by an "I love Portland"sigh.

Finish this sentence: “I cannot live without love.”

Little Sue will be one of the featured musicians on the next Music on the Air, a video production produced by MetroEast Community Media.