Just a note to anyone out there starting out in a new band … if you find yourself playing with a band like PEV alum The Clarks for your first show – you’re on the VERY right track. I’d venture further to say your band is probably pretty badass, but I don’t wanna get carried away (and if you’re not familiar with The Clarks – quickly jump to our archive and control+f those guys).

Since I have a first-rate knowledge of our latest feature – Memphis 59 – I can tell you with honesty… this band is badass. And Scott Kurt, Chris Zogby, Rich Lewis and Nate Taylor have a new record to prove it: “Ragged But Right”. We asked the DC-VA based band what it was like working with Grammy Winners John Jennings and Bob Dawson to pull together the project; “John Jennings, our producer came to our practice space in Arlington, VA and we hashed out what songs should make the record and what songs didn’t quite fit. Then we did basic tracking at Bias Studios with multiple Grammy winning engineer Bob Dawson. Then we finished up with final guitar and vocal tracks at John Jennings studio in Charlottesville, VA. The whole process took about 5 long months, but it was well worth it.” I’d say so – those guys are good!

“Ragged But Right” is like a rockin’ country album with pop sensations between the lines, “true to the band’s straight-ahead, guitar driven roots rock sound.” Pick up the record not just for the music but for reasons that’ll do your heart good (Memphis 59 donates a portion of the proceeds from every CD sold to the St Jude Children’s Research Hospital). Check their schedule as they work the road in support, and keep reading for all the answers to the XXQ’s.

XXQs: Memphis 59 - Scott Kurt

PensEyeView.com (PEV): What goes through your heads the minute you walk onto stage?

Scott Kurt (SK): I’m usually just hoping that my amp works and that my guitar is tuned up! 

PEV: Calling Arlington, Virginia home what is the music scene like in the Northern Virginia and DC like. How has the area reacted to Memphis 59?

SK: The music scene of the DC area is pretty much all over the map.  There are some good bands, bad bands, rock bands, metal bands, punk bands, cover bands… it’s pretty crazy.  So far the scene has been pretty good to Memphis 59.  We have a few venues that have really been great to us like Jammin Java in Vienna, VA.  That has allowed us to have a home base of sorts to try and cultivate a following. 

PEV: What kind of environment do you surround yourselves in as a band to create music?

SK: I usually bring in the skeleton of a song to the guys in the band.  Sometimes I have a vision of how I think the song should sound, sometimes I don’t.  As a band we try and put our stamp on it.  We are guilty of trying many arrangements of the same song over and over, until we find the one that we all agree on.  Trial and error I guess you call it!

PEV: What can fans expect from a live Memphis 59 show?

SK: Energy.  When the four of us are playing live, we pretty much always have fun.  Even if there are only 20 people at those 20 people deserve a good show and that’s what we shoot for every time.

PEV: Tell us about your first live performance together. How have you changed since that first show to where you are now?

SK: Our first show was with our friends from Pittsburgh called The Clarks.  They were signed to a major label and have a rabid fanbase.  So it was really trial by fire.  There were several hundred people there and luckily we pulled it off.  Their fans welcomed us with open arms and we sold a bunch of CD’s.

Since that show we’ve changed guitar players, worked with several Grammy winners on our new cd and have a focus and specific goals for Memphis 59.  After a certain amount of time you can pick up on certain groves and dynamic builds from the musicians in the band.  That is not something that you can fake and it just takes practice and time. 

PEV: Backing up a bit, what first made you each jump into the music business?

SK: All of us were driven from an early age to just play music.  Personally there was something inside of me that just wanted to write music and play it in a band setting.  I’ve been playing music and booking music since high school and just stuck with it.  The other guys have also always been in original bands, some with a pretty good amount of success but we all agree that Memphis 59 feels like the best fit for all of us. 

PEV: What can fans expect from your debut CD "Ragged But Right", which was produced and engineered by Grammy Winners John Jennings and Bob Dawson.

SK: Hopefully they can expect to hear 12 solid songs.  We don’t stray too far from the 2 guitars, bass and drums formula, but there is some Hammond organ and Wurlitzer on the record as well.  The one thing that most people have agreed on is that the guitar playing of Grammy winning producer John Jennings sounds amazing.  It was really a treat to watch him craft his guitar parts to fit our songs and have it actually work. 

PEV: Tell us about the creative time behind the making of the album? What was it like creating this?

SK: John Jennings, our producer came to our practice space in Arlington, VA and we hashed out what songs should make the record and what songs didn’t quite fit.  Then we did basic tracking at Bias Studios with multiple Grammy winning engineer Bob Dawson.  Then we finished up with final guitar and vocal tracks at John Jennings studio in Charlottesville, VA.  The whole process took about 5 long months, but it was well worth it.

PEV: What is the story behind the name Memphis 59 and why did you run with this?

SK: The name was just something we came up with.  The city of Memphis has great ties to rock and roll history and 1959 was a pretty amazing year in rock history as well.  The plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and The Big Bopper was tragic, but thankfully the music that they created lives on and has inspired so many rock and roll musicians and songwriters.  Plus it’s easy to spell and hard to mess up on a marquee!

PEV: What’s one thing we’d be surprised to hear about the members of Memphis 59?

SK: Well our drummer Chris Zogby was an all-American college wrestler, our bass player Rich Lewis was shuffled around as a kid and was raised in places like England, Africa, and Canada.  As far as me, well I once got into an argument with the singer Jewel.  She really is not as nice as she comes off. 

PEV: Was there a certain point in your lives when you knew that music was going to be a career for you and you were determined to make it happen?

SK: Yes. Everyday. 

PEV: What one word best describes Memphis 59?

SK: Sweaty.

PEV: Traveling is now a large part of your life as a musician. How is life on the road for you? Best and worst parts? Any fun stories?

SK: I enjoy the process.  Driving to a new place, meeting new people, playing new venues can be a blast.  Sometimes the drive can be long and getting back at 3am isn’t the fun part, but we always make the best of it.  24-hour diner food is a good friend.  Lots of stories, but let’s keep this clean! 

PEV: How have all your friends and family reacted to your musical careers? What’s it like when you get to play at your hometown?

SK: Nothing but support from our family members.  They follow us on Facebook, help us spread the Memphis 59 music around, wear our band T-shirts, etc.  Each time we have played in one of our hometowns, our family members always come out and bring everyone they know.  They really know how to gather the troops and it’s great to have a home cooked meal on the road. 

PEV: What can we find each of you doing in your spare time, aside from writing and performing?

SK: Right now we all still have our day jobs.  So we hide out in cubicles mon-fri and then play gigs, travel and practice on the weekends.  There is not much free time, but none of us are complaining. 

PEV:  Is there an up and coming band or artist you think we should all be looking out for now?

SK: We played a show with this kid named Shane Cooley last summer.  He is from Northern Neck, VA and writes amazing songs.  He’s only in his early 20’s and is super talented.  I see good things for him in the future. 

PEV: If playing/writing music was not your perfect career, what would each of you most likely be doing?

SK: I would be playing more golf.  Rich would join more dart leagues and Chris would probably join a wrestling club… wow after saying that I’m really glad that we are in a band.

PEV: If we were to walk into your practice studio/space right now, what would we find?

SK: Several guitars/amps, drum kit, and an assortment of beer and water bottles… oh and a Bob Dylan poster on the wall.

PEV: So, what is next for Memphis 59?

SK: More shows in 2010 and promotion of our record “Ragged But Right”.  So far the sales and reviews have all been positive and we wanna keep that momentum rolling.