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The Road to CukoRakko: A Conversation with Chris Wilhelm of The Doctors and The Lawyers September 30, 2015 00:18

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Interview by Jordan Kirkland - Live & Listen
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Our latest segment, "The Road to CukoRakko," consists of a series of interviews leading up to the CukoRakko Music & Arts Festival, held this weekend at Horse Pens 40 in Steele, AL.  We recently caught up with Chris Wilhelm (guitar/vocals) of the The Doctors and The Lawyers, one of Tuscaloosa's most promising young bands.  
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Forged in the fires of Southern and Psychedelic Rock, The Doctors and The Lawyers take pride in live improvisation and the formation of a transcendental experience worth seeing over and over again. The group engages its audience by both recognizing and appreciating the diversity of musical preferences that can be present in large crowds. Though the band got its name because the members are currently studying to become doctors, lawyers, and the like, their true passion lies in the collaboration and creation of a truly unique music experience. Most recently, TDTL performed at the 2014 Wakarusa Music Festival in Ozark, Arkansas alongside acts such as The String Cheese Incident, The Flaming Lips, Moon Taxi, Papadosio, and many others.
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The Doctors and The Lawyer's came to life in Tuscaloosa, Alabama just four years ago.  Did you guys have much experience playing together prior to this band?  How did this thing get rolling?

Chris: We all met as a result of random circumstance and dorm room placement as freshmen at the University of Alabama. We had all played in bands prior to this one, but never together. Knowing that we wanted to bring something different to the Tuscaloosa music scene, Taylor (keyboard) and Chris (guitar) met up initially, and started to bring some people on board. Our first practice was actually scheduled for April 27th 2011, the day the tornado devastated Tuscaloosa. Due to that disaster, we had to postpone things until after the Summer. We recorded a demo, used it to get some small gigs around Tuscaloosa, and things grew from there. Throughout the years members in the band have shifted - people have come and gone - but the core of what we are about has always stayed the same. We strive to be at the forefront of the original live music scene through creativity, artistic expression, and musical collaboration. 
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There has been an abundance of great, original live music coming from the Tuscaloosa/Birmingham area in recent years.  CBDB, Little Raine Band, Mother Funk, Festival Expressions, and you guys, just to name a few.  How big of an impact has the culture in Tuscaloosa had on this band?
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ChrisThe culture of Tuscaloosa has had quite an impact on us and the way that we operate. Be it football weekends, summer break, or finals week, as a band in a college town sometimes you have to work your schedule around the ebb and flow of your surroundings. There are certainly many people who love live original music here, but there are others who just want to hear a DJ, or only cover songs all night. Trying to work a setlist around this crowd can be challenging, and that is something that we have become good at doing. Overall, we are so thankful for our supporters in Tuscaloosa, and grateful to be part of the music scene in such a vibrant place. 
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Earlier this year, the band released it's first full-length album, Hear It Again.  How was your approach with the album different than that of your previously recorded EP?  
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ChrisThis album was very special for us because we recorded, mixed, and mastered it in-house. We knew that we wanted this record to be different, and we wanted to be able to take our time with it without having to worry about astronomical studio fees. In addition, we feel that this album reflects our changing sound as a group. Musical tastes and styles are always fluctuating, and when you put four guys together you're sure to get some variation over the years. We feel like we are proud of the direction in which this band is heading, and can't wait to start working on our next project. 
Every band has their own unique way of putting together a setlist.  What does the process entail for you guys as you prepare for each show?
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ChrisA lot of different factors go into planning our setlists; time of day, crowd, length/number of sets, etc.  Generally, however, we mainly plan our sets based on energy flow.  We like to jam into and out of as many songs as we can, so our songs that have hard starts or stops are spaced out to allow for a more continuous set. Typically, we try to start high and end higher, with a few "breather" songs placed in there to complete the emotional rollercoaster.  Of course, our setlists have been known to change on the fly. If an impov jam leads us into an unplanned song, we will probably roll with it and have fun trying to get back where we started. 
 
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We're coming up on CukoRakko, one of Alabama's young, growing music festivals.  Horse Pens 40 is without a doubt one of the most amazing locations in the state.  What does it mean to you guys to be a part of such a special weekend?
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ChrisI don't think we could put into words how excited we are to be a part of this event. Music festivals offer such an amazing opportunity to share original music directly with those who want to hear it most. We have heard nothing but great things about CukoRakko and the atmosphere it provides for artists and listeners alike. Just to be able to be on the lineup for such a great event is an honor, and we will do our best to help be a part of what makes CukoRakko such a special experience.
 
CukoRakko will give you guys an opportunity to play in front of many fans who know your music forward and backward, as well as many who will be seeing you for the first time.  How would you best describe what the crowd can expect from The Doctors & The Lawyers?
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ChrisThe number one thing we try to provide our crowd with is a unique show, every show.  Much of our music is improvised on the spot, so there is no way to play the same show twice.  The songs will have the same structure, more or less, but the way we segue between parts is new and different every time.  We love having the freedom to do new things on stage, and our crowd enjoys watching the music unfold on the spot.  Our songs are ever-evolving, whether it's a brand new song or a song from our first EP, we're always finding new ways to keep our music fresh, for us and for our listeners. 
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The Doctors and The Lawyers:
Chris Wilhelm - Guitar, Vocals
Taylor Atkinson - Keyboards, Vocals
Ross Singer - Bass Guitar
Jordan Kumler - Percussion, Vocals
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