Pawnshop Reunion

Myspace Layouts at Pimp-My-Profile.com / Squirell

PAWNSHOP REUNION is an ecelectic, progressive, and forcefully creative rock group that commits to entertain with every last lyric. The musicians that make up Pawnshop Reunion met at a local pub’s open mic night in 2005. Katie (Carrico) McAllister was working there for about a year before the band united, she served drinks and chit-chatted with the clientèle. Matt Wilken would come every week and play his songs, drink some beers and bullshit with friends. He had an idea for a project which entailed one gig at a festival called “Little Woodstock” with whom he already had a line up of musicians in mind. “Bongo” Jimmy Leyes would play drums and percussion, Mark Barkley would play guitar and sing, Katie would sing lead vocals and play rhythm guitar. Who would play bass? Well, there was a hot bass player, which also visited this open mic in spurts, named Vassar Davis. Katie and Vassar had, at times, been accused of “lyrically making out”, in reference to the fact that they would constantly be serenading each other in harmony. The suggestion was made. Vassar had a band already but it was worth the try. When they found out he was in, practice started. Two times a week the band practiced for the gig, which would be their only one. That was the plan, anyway. After the “Little Woodstock” gig, the remaining members were Katie, Matt and Vassar. Katie’s uncle, Tom Carrico, offered to play drums with them until a permanent drummer was found. A few weeks later, Matt caught wind of a fantastic drummer who was available. Scott E Bones was his name. He and Matt had been friends for a long while and Matt invited him to check out a show because they were looking for a permanent drummer. After viewing Pawnshop at a local bar gig in South Bend, Scott expressed interest in auditioning. The chemistry flew the night he auditioned. October 19, 2006, was the date that the band was finally complete. They have since went on to write numerous songs and perform music written by bands they all enjoy, but in a style all their own. The members of Pawnshop Reunion mesh so well together musically, but their style and preference in music varies in so many ways. Up next is a little info about the individuals of the band including where they got started, influences, and memorable experiences stories from shows they have played.KATIE McALLISTER: I have been singing since I can remember. When I was little I would sit at the dining room table with headphones on and rock to The Monkeys, The Beatles, Bon Jovi, and Tiffany. YES, Tiffany the one hit eighty’s wonder. I would sing so loudly that my parents would have to yell at me to quiet down. I was also in choir and told once that I could be heard over everyone else, I am still not quite sure if that was a complement, but I take it as one anyway. I started playing guitar about 7 years ago, influenced by my best friend Sarah. The first song I learned was “Blackbird” by The Beatles. I played that for a year, over and over again until it was CLOSE to perfect. Then I started writing my own stuff. When I play music, I put all of my energy into the lyrics and feel the way that the words move me. I have always related to the lyrical aspect of songs more so than the music itself. I find Bob Dylan very inspiring. He is a teacher. Like an author of a fairy tale, kinda, in the way that there is way more to the story than what is on the surface. Ani DiFranco is another incredible lyricist. She has so much to say and the fear to say it is not there, in the music, anyway. I absolutely love The Beatles, Janis Joplin, Fleetwood Mac and most all classic rock music. I grew up listening to it. I like a lot of other stuff too though. Rilo Kily, Rodrigo y Gabriela, Radiohead, PJ Harvey, John Butler Trio, stuff like that. I love being introduced to new music. Old music, too. I adore the guys I play with. They are my other relationship. We have been together for a year and a half now and we have never actually fought. When we first got together, I could feel it was right. The way we play together, are able to read each other, and respect each other is incredible. I think it is heard when we play. I love this band and don’t see myself ever being an adulteress. The most memorable thing that ever happened to me at a show was when we were asked to sign autographs by some kids who really liked our music. I was asked to sign 2 drumsticks, an arm and a chest. The guys were so jealous that I got a boob signing before they did. It was funny.MATT WILKEN: At 16, I had a guitar for about 5 years. I waited to start playing until I was old enough to drive to lessons. That lasted 6 months, than I started making my own music. The guy who gave me the lessons was the one who taught me the secret to being a rock star…put water in the Vodka bottle or ice tea in the Whiskey bottle so it looks like you’re partying it up. I declined to do so. If you’re gonna do it, ya gotta do it right. Any music I’ve ever heard is an influence on me. All the noises. I make up songs to the blinker light in the car. I tap it out and start blabbing. If I was gonna say people- Lou Reed, Tom Waits, obviously Bob Dylan. Every musician is influenced by Bob Dylan. It’s like asking if The Beatles were an influence. If they said no, they’d be lying. And Satan. Hi Dad! I think our band has a great chemistry. Four divergent personalities. When we get together- it just clicks for some reason. It’s kinda like when you put different chemicals together and you get a latex condom. And it works! Though I’ve never tried sheepskin. That’s kinda creepy. Most memorable things that have happened to me at shows…fights. I love playing to fights. As long as they don’t get to close to the equipment. Nothing beats playing to a bar room brawl. We were playing and all the sudden a fight broke out in the middle of the dance floor. Some guy sucker punched this other guy and they just started wailing on each other. If they’re putting out that kind of energy, it pushes you to play harder.VASSAR DAVIS: My first musical experiences all centered around church, if you can believe it. My father led a worship group and my entire family was involved; in fact all of us were musical in some fashioned. The first time I picked up a Bass was at the request of my Jazz Band instructor in High School. I was playing trumpet and he knew I had picked up a little guitar, and the previous Bass player wound up in Juvenile Hall before my senior year. 13 years later…here I am. If you haven’t guessed by my first name, my parents were heavy into Bluegrass. Since I was a wee lad in my momma’s papoosse going to festivals and being enveloped in flatpicking circles, my early years were surrounded by it. I have to say I take a little of everything in, particularly people and acts that harmonize well (I think Katie hit it on the head earlier…”Lyrically Making Out..”). I’m told I’m a completely different person on stage, and I’m inclined to believe it. I think performing is the only time I truly feel comfortable. My three bandmates…You have Scott, the solid foundation any groove can lean on for safe measure; Katielynn, who owns the stage with the bat of an eyelid; and Matt, the most non-threatening six-foot-five man I’ve ever met. Honestly? The thing I enjoy most about this band is that I get to be a dork amongst three of the most talented dorks I’ve ever met. That, and chemistry. We just get each other. This one night I remember playing a set on this rather large stage with a house-run sound system that was very, VERY heavy in the bottom end. So heavy, in fact, that I didn’t notice that halfway through the third song of the set my amp had managed to vibrate it’s way off the table I had set it on…straight into the back of my legs. I was so wrapped up in the song that even though I felt something hit my legs, I didn’t notice until there was no sound emitting from my instrument. I turned around, and THERE’S MY AMP!!! Right at my feet! I unplugged, set my bass on the ground, propped the amp back up, plugged in about 5 different things that had managed to unplug itself in the melee, plug back in, power on, and went right on. NASCAR pit crews would envy my speed. Plus, the bonus? The band kept playing. If you were sitting at the bar or standing in the back (or deaf in the lower register), you would have had NO idea anything went wrong.SCOTT E. BONES: I started musical life in school. Around 10 or 11 I started playing drums and percussion in concert band. Nice, organized classical type stuff, then, when I got home from school, I would bash out beats on my ’65 Slingerlands. Playing along with many of my early influences such as, but not limited to, AC/DC, Metallica, Def Leppard (the old two armed stuff) and so on. Around this time, I also started experimenting on guitar, but my primary focus was on the drums. Then comes high school. This had to be the most influential stages of my life. Now cue the psychedelics. Shortly after high school, I started jamming with some buddies from school. We formed a band, which formed a different band, which formed a different band. It was like some sick cloning machine fueled by LSD and stimulants. One of the most interesting things that I’ve experienced was the time when one of the aforementioned incarnations decided to try something. We all thought it would be a good idea to eat “treats” moments before show time, kind of a Butthole Surfers/Skinny Puppy concept. Son of a bitch, let me tell ya, 3:00 in the afternoon, 700 people in the audience, so flung out on acid that you drool on your snare drum throughout the 1 hour set. Ahh, good times! Moving on, right before I hooked up with Pawnshop, I had just ended a stint with a band, playing rhythm guitar. Pissed off and full of angst, I sought out an old friend, Matt Wilken. I proposed starting a band with him, but to my dismay, that had already been done. So, moments before I climbed a clock tower to “vent” my frustrations, Matt tells me that they are soon to be in the market for a drummer. Enter Scott E. Bones. It’s cool being with these guys, They are all very accomplished musicians, and they don’t lock the door and shut off the lights when I pull up. Man, I would if I were them! Be nice to animals, except the ones you’re supposed to eat.