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Live & Listen's 'Bands You Should Know': CBDB September 14, 2016 23:38

Live & Listen is pleased to continue a new weekly feature known as Bands You Should Know. This new concept will highlight a different band each Friday with an interview, general background information, current happenings, as well as videos and audio from each band.  After nearly two years of various interviews and artist spotlights, we feel that installing a consistent weekly feature is the best next step for Live & Listen.

For our ninth edition of Bands You Should Know, we sat down with Cy Simonton (guitar/vocals) of CBDB, one of the most promising bands Alabama has seen in years.  This band has been turning heads across the southeast for the past five years, and its momentum continues to build with each year.  Sometimes you get lucky and find that band who you just can't stop listening to, and that's been the story of 2016 with CBDB.  Ranging from high-energy, progressive rock to laid-back, jazzy "joyfunk", CBDB offers a one-of-a-kind sound that anyone and everyone can get down to.  We can't wait to watch the future unfold for these Tuscaloosa natives.

Interview by Jordan Kirkland: Live & Listen

Let's talk about the early days for you specifically.  When did you start playing the guitar?  Who were you earliest influences?  When did you realize this was something you wanted to pursue as a career?
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Cy:  Well, I played in a band in high school, but we didn't really play shows or anything.  It was more so just having fun jamming in my friend's basement. Back in those days, it was all bad heavy metal stuff.  At that point, I wasn't singing or anything.  Later on, we started getting into better music, I guess, and that's when I started singing.  Playing out in front of people really started in college.  Around 2006, I would play at The Red Shed in Tuscaloosa.  I was writing a good bit of music at the point as well.  One day, someone who was supposed to play cancelled.  We were already up there hanging out, so I grabbed my guitar and played a little bit.  I guess I got hooked from there. 
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So early on, it was more on the heavy metal side.  Who else do you look to as an influence on your style of play?  How do you feel that you've developed your own sound?
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Cy:  It's so all over the place.  I'm actually a pretty big hip-hop fan.  I don't know if that influences the guitar at all.  I definitely listen to a lot of it though.  Paul Simon is a big one that I tried to emulate a lot early on in my songwriting.  As far as the jam band scene, we're definitely big fans of Phish, Umphrey's, Widespread Panic, and all of the big dogs, amongst other stuff. 
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Photo by Jordan Kirkland: Live & Listen
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The band got started back in 2011 in Tuscaloosa.  I know you and Kris originally met at The Bear Trap, and things started rolling from there, right?
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Cy:  Yeah.  It started out with Kris playing this jazz-fusion thing up on the roof at The Bear Trap.  He was doing all the crazy sweeping stuff that he does.  I knew that I definitely wanted to talk to him.  I had recorded a solo album at that point, which I gave to him.  I asked him to check it out and told him that I'd love to start a band.  That was really the start of it.  
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I would imagine that you guys started stacking the calendar with gigs around Tuscaloosa.  There's obviously plenty of bars and a strong fraternity scene to support a young, up-and-coming band around there.  How did those early days take shape?
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Cy:  We usually did Thursday through Saturday, all in Tuscaloosa, for a long time.  The first time that I can remember seeing people actually sing along with us was at The Red Shed one time.  I think the song was "Caroline."  They were singing loud enough that we could drop it out and let the crowd sing.  We were like, "Holy shit!  I can't believe this."
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Watch CBDB perform "Somewhere to Fall" at FAME Studios here:
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The band went in a slightly different direction between Phone Keys Wallet and Joyfunk is Dead.  I know "joyfunk" was a term that has been used to describe the initial sound.  Can you elaborate on that at all?
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Cy:  The term "joyfunk" originally came from us.  People ask you what style of music you play.  You try to come up with something that sets you apart, without just saying "Oh, we sound like this band."  We just wanted to have a word that was ours.  I'm not even sure how much of a funk band we are.  We definitely love funk music, and we try to get funky, but it doesn't necessarily mean that we're a funk band.  I think the sound just comes from the five of us bringing our different influences, coming together, and all of us being really open to whatever happens.  I think all of us are very open, and we all agree that's where the magic kind of comes, when it's just like, "Oh man. I didn't see it going that way."  Just letting things mold like that.  
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You definitely have to let the sound develop naturally.  So, you guys also had the privilege of getting up to FAME Studios to record the most recent EP.  So much legendary music has been created in that room.  How did that all come together?  What was that experience like?
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Cy:  That came through some connections that David had with folks in Florence.  We were playing a show down there at On The Rocks one night, and John Gifford III (Sound Engineer) was talking to us about recording there.  We were skeptical that it was something we could do but after talking to him we were sold.  That's really how it happened.  FAME was incredible, man.  You definitely feel the vibes when you walk in there.  So much great music has been recorded there.  
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 Photo by Jordan Kirkland: Live & Listen-
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I had a chance to take the tour of the studio a few summers ago, and I'll never forget it.  You can definitely feel those vibes that you mentioned.  The history is all over the walls.  It made me even more proud to be from Alabama.  
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Cy:  It was a really cool experience.  We watched that documentary (Muscle Shoals) probably three or four times just getting hyped up about it.  It wasn't a nerve racking thing though.  They made it really chill and easy to work in there.  It was an awesome experience, for sure.  
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That will definitely go down as a major piece of history for the band.  And you never know, CBDB might be one of those bands that people talk about once recording there at some point.  Back in the early days...
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Cy:  Yeah man...I hope so.  We've been recording a couple of tracks at another cool spot in Nashville.  
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That was the next thing I wanted to talk about.  I knew that you guys had been back in the studio, and I was able to catch the debut of the new tune "She's Mobile" at The Werk Out last month.  I'm sure there are plenty of others in the works.  What exactly do you guys have planned for the next studio release?  
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Cy:  Well, I think that the plan for the next one is to get another batch of new music out quick.  We're planning on releasing these two new tunes as kind of a single.  We've been talking about a 45 on vinyl, or something like that, single style.  We want to get these two new songs out though, especially with Mike joining the band.  It's not necessarily a new sound, but it is to an extent with a new band member.  We want to get these out there and build a little momentum with some new music.  We've definitely been writing a lot though.  Mike and I were recently working on a new one.  I think we're going to call it "Patterns".  It's all sounding really good though.  We're excited about it. 
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Watch CBDB perform "A1A" at FAME Studios here:
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So the two new songs that you mentioned...that will be "She's Mobile" and what else?
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Cy:  It will be "She's Mobile" and "Old Dog".  "Old Dog" is an old tune for me.  It was actually on that solo album that I mentioned earlier.  We reworked it and decided to go ahead and put it out.
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Very cool.  Is that a song that you guys have been playing live over the years, or something that will be brand new?
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Cy:  Yeah, absolutely.  We've been playing it a little bit throughout the years, and a lot more here recently.  
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You mentioned the recent news for the band with David Ray stepping aside and Mike Sinopole stepping in.  I know there has been a lot of familiarity with Mike over the years. He played guitar with the long-time Birmingham band Festival Expressions for years.  Let's talk a little bit about how Mike came into this role, and how things have been going in this first month or so.
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Cy:  It first started when David let us know that he wanted to have a meeting.  I think all of us kind of knew what was up with that.  We all got together, and that split was 100% amicable.  We're all still really close friends, and he's an incredible bass player.  After that, we started thinking about new bass players, and we couldn't really think of an option that would be ready to be out on the road and ready for this crazy lifestyle that we live.  
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For me, I was racking my brain, and I couldn't come up with any great options.  We were in Philadelphia, up on the rooftop of our friend Charlie's place, and Paul brought up Mike's name.  I immediately thought, "Man...that sounds like it could work. He's definitely good enough that he could learn to play the damn bass."  So, we sent him a message and asked if he could play bass.  He messaged back and said that he could and wanted to know more.  We kind of filled him in on the situation from there.
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A few nights later, we were in New York at my friend Hoyt's place, sitting out on the New York-style escape porch.  Kris pulls up this message of Mike playing "Ground Score," and it sounded damn near perfect.  I think that I knew at that point.  It was kind of a feeling of relief.  The first time we got together and played, he really worked his ass off.  He knew most of the songs by the first time we played them at practice.  For him to have to learn all of that new music and be playing a new instrument, that is crazy.  He's done such an incredible job though.  We're all clicking really well right now.  I'm really excited about it.  
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It's pretty amazing to see.  Obviously you know this, but I was able to watch that first gig with Mike at The Werk Out, and it was amazing to watch.  The guy next to me keeps mentioning how sick the bass player is.  He was blown away when I mentioned that this was his first gig with the band.  He seems very comfortable and grounded already.
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Cy:  Yeah for sure.  It's definitely a different style than David.  David has been playing bass for years, and Mike is coming at it from a new perspective.  It's a little bit of a new sound, but we're digging it.  We really threw him to the wolves.  The first gig was at The Werk Out.  That was crazy.  A lot of people would have been pretty intimidated by that.  Then the next show after that was in Tuscaloosa.  That was a hometown show at Druid City with 500+ people in the crowd.  He did great for that one too.  We threw him to the wolves.
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I guess that allowed you guys to get a good indication of how well it's going to work right off of the bat.
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Cy:  Definitely.  We knew he was ready for it though, just by the way he would talk about it.  He had been sounding great during practice.  We knew there would be some mistakes, but the growing pains were going to happen regardless.  A lot of mistakes end up turning into new ideas, honestly.  It's like, "Oh man.  We usually do it like this, but that actually kind of works."  So a lot of the stuff has really molded.  We've added some new intros and different things like that just from happy accidents.  
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I guess that helps you keep things fresh.  So, you guys recently signed on with the Progressive Global Agency in Nashville.  How big of an impact has this made on the band and its ability to play new cities, reach new people, and most importantly focus on the music?
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Cy:  We signed on with PGA at the end of 2015, and our first official shows under PGA were early 2016.  Kris used to do the lion's share of the booking before that, and I know that was a big load on his shoulders, So for us to not have to worry as much about that...obviously we still think about it and throw our ideas in.  It's a lot easier now.  It has already opened some doors that wouldn't have opened before.  
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Watch CBDB perform "Ground Score" at FAME Studios here:
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I'm sure it's nice to be able to focus on the music, while having someone with legitimate experience that you can trust filling out the calendar for you.  That's critical.  A lot of people from the outside looking in don't realize how much of a business factor there is with any band.  You guys are making your money on the road.
 
Cy:  Definitely. It's ticket sales and t-shirts these days.  
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Before we wrap this up, what are your personal goals and aspirations for the band over the next year?  Any particular milestones that you have set on your radar?
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Cy:  Well, we're definitely excited about The Blueberry Jam down in Fairhope next month.  We also have a Halloween show coming up at The Pour House in Charleston with a band called The Congress.  We're excited about that one.  Other than that, I think it's really just about writing music.  It's definitely a new chapter now with Mike in the band.  We're calling it 5.0 (laughs).  We're just trying to write music at this point.  I think the goal is to come up with a selection of songs that we're really proud of.  I think we'll be ready for another full-length album shortly after we release the single.  I want to make sure we have enough tunes that are well thought out and well rehearsed.  
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I almost forgot to ask, but what's the hopeful time frame for the release on the single? 
 
Cy:  Definitely before the end of the year.  That's what we're hoping for.  I think November has been the loose goal at this point.  We're going back in on Sunday to do the final mixes.
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You can catch CBDB this Saturday night (9/17) at Bourbon Street Bar in Auburn, AL.  There will be a very limited amount of custom, screen printed posters (image below) for the show designed by Taylor Houston Morgan.  Don't miss your opportunity to pick up a piece of CBDB history at the show!
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Jammin' In The Ham with Kris Gottlieb of CBDB May 31, 2016 09:23

Photo by Patrick Hughes: Faces of Festivals 
Interview by Jordan Kirkland: Live & Listen
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As we prepare for the upcoming weekend at Jam In The Ham at Zydeco in Birmingham, we are sitting down with several of this year's performers to learn a little more about this year's lineup.  It only seems appropriate to kick things off with Kris Gottlieb of CBDB, one of the hottest young bands in Alabama.  CBDB is scheduled to perform on Saturday night at 12:30 AM.

CBDB is a progressive rock/jam band formed in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, whose stock is rising fast. Fresh off the release of their third album, entitled The FAME EP, they are seeing a pattern of snowballing momentum with large, energetic crowds hungry for their unique brand of progressive jam-rock, dubbed "Joyfunk". CBDB blends soulful vocals and virtuosic instrumentation with smart, tasteful songwriting resulting in a sound that can be enjoyed by the casual listener and audiophile alike. On stage, they parade tight, ambitious compositions that seamlessly gives way to loose, adventurous improvisation and have quickly become a must-see act.

Click Here: Purchase Tickets to Jam In The Ham

So CBDB got started about five years ago in Tuscaloosa.  Tell me a little bit about the bands early days, how you got started, and how the band has progressed to where it is today.

Kris: Well, Cy and I met in Tuscaloosa at a place called The Bear Trap and jammed a bit.  I was in a band with Glenn (Dillard) at the time, so he came in as well.  He was actually just playing sax at the time.  David (Ray) and Paul (Oliver) came around a little later, maybe early 2012 and late 2013.  That kind of finalized the lineup.

I’m guessing you guys were playing the bar scene and fraternity houses pretty heavily early on, and things started taking off from there?

Kris: Yeah, really just trying to stay busy playing, cutting our teeth, and honing the craft in much of 2011 and 2012, you know? And really, you never stop learning, so we are still doing that today.  In a place like Tuscaloosa, you can play 4 or 5 nights a week in different places.  You can do different things each time and really stay busy.  We ultimately got to a point that we realized that this was something we should really pursue, because it’s something unique that we truly enjoy.

People seem to be responding positively.  It seems like you guys have been everywhere lately, and your demand continues to increase.

Kris: Yeah man...we're just grateful that people are enjoying our music, and we are glad that we can play it on the road at so many great venues.

Watch CBDB's official video for "Ground Score" here:

On the topic of writing and recording music, you guys put out your first album Phone Keys Wallet in 2012, and followed up with a second album (Joyfunk is Dead) and The Fame EP in 2015.  Tell me a little bit about how those recording experience differed.

Kris:  I think we were learning at a more rudimentary level of playing with each other and writing when we did Phone Keys Wallet.  I don’t really go back and listen to too many of our recordings after I have heard them once.  It can be tough to listen to at points.  You cringe and ask yourself “Why did I do that?”  So I think with The Fame EP and Joyfunk is Dead, we used the things that we learned in recording Phone Keys Wallet.  We were such a fresh band when we did that album.  We went into the studio within a month of Paul (Oliver), our drummer, joining the band.  That record has a lighter feel, and it's maybe a little beachy in a way.  That might be something we need to play with again in the future. 

In terms of the experiences, I mean…walking into FAME was like walking into a church.  You feel like you're breathing wrong at first, then things eventually start to come together and happen.  That’s just an amazing place. It’s both humbling and empowering in the same way.  I don’t think there is a word that describes that feeling.  If there is, I don’t know it. 

Let’s talk a little bit about the 2016 touring schedule.  I’ve been particularly impressed watching how well your tours have been put together.  You guys recently signed on with the Progressive Global Agency in Nashville.  How has the schedule come together this year?

Kris:  Well, we first talked to Owen (Gray), our agent, in October of last year.  After talking a few times, we decided it would be a good fit.  We were obviously drawn to the fact that PGA is Widespread Panic’s agency.  We are all big fans of them.  Then there are also bands like The Werks and Zoogma, and Backup Planet had recently signed with Owen as well.  He’s really been looking out for both of us this year.  We’ve been on quite a few shows with those guys. 

We’re really excited about doing this Claypool Lennon Delirium Afterparty in New York. David is as big of Claypool fan as I know.  It’s kind of ironic, because a week before we landed that gig, I was talking with a friend of mine in Tuscaloosa about Sean Lennon.  We listened to a few of his albums and really appreciated how similar and different his sound is to his dad’s (John Lennon).  So it’s really kind of neat full circle thing. 

Tonight is another example.  It’s actually my 27th birthday today.  I was born in Atlanta, and we’re here in Atlanta playing Terminal West tonight.  Paul and I saw Rush in Atlanta last year on my birthday.  We’re actually going to cover the Rush song “Sprit of the Radio” tonight.  That's just another example of things coming full circle.  We’re really excited about it.  So, no birthday drinks tonight until I can successfully pull off Rush (laughs). 

Going a little further on the touring, you guys are on for several festivals this summer, including Jam In The Ham in Birmingham next weekend.  I know you guys are excited about that one. 

Kris: We’re really excited about Jam In The Ham.  That’s like a homecoming for us.  We’re really grateful to be a part of it for the second year in a row.  Zydeco is such a historic room.  Paul and Glenn saw Snarky Puppy at Zydeco a few years back, right before they blew up.  We actually saw those guys in Memphis last Wednesday.  That kind of puts things into perspective.   I’m really happy to be a part of a great thing there, with a lot of other great bands.  You’ve got Permagroove, Little Raine Band, Modern Measure…just so many bands.  Ryan Keef is gonna be doing some acoustic stuff that I’m really excited to hear.  That one is gonna be a lot of fun. 

It’s great to see so many great, young Alabama bands playing together.  There really seems to be a great thing going on within the Alabama music scene right now.  You’ve got to love events like this that showcase the collective group of bands.

Kris:  Yeah absolutely.  We’re just happy to be a part of it.  Zydeco is so much fun.  And you’re right… Just look at CukoRakko last weekend.  That was awesome.  McLovins, Permagroove, Funk You…there was so much great music.  The fact that a lot of it is coming out of Alabama is just incredible.  I can’t wait to see Little Raine Band again.  I haven’t seen those guys play in months.  We’re actually going to be in Macon, GA with them next week, and that’s going to be a lot of fun.  Anytime you get to hear Davis play…it’s a treat. He’s the man.

Watch CBDB's official video for "Somewhere to Fall" here:

Absolutely.  So before we wrap this up, are there any other big plans or major highlights that you guys are looking forward to in the second half of 2016?

Kris: Yeah…we actually just announced this morning that we’re going to be playing the official Umphrey’s McGee afterparty in Charlotte, NC later this summer.  We have some great friends out that way, and we are excited for that to be the next move for Charlotte.  That was a great feeling this morning.  I had an alarm set, as we were supposed to announce that show at 10:00 AM.  It was fun to announce the Umphrey’s afterparty on my birthday after a long night.  It’s a great move for us, and I’m really looking forward to it. 

The Werks are opening for Umphrey’s that night, so we’ll see who all makes it over to our show.  Hopefully a few of those guys will make it, and we’ll see if we could maybe get Joel (Cummins) to come play some keys with us.  Maybe I could get my face melted by Jake (Cinninger)…that would be humbling and awesome (laughs).

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