Chris DeMay is known in the Milwaukee music scene as being the pointman in the stalwart alt.country band West of Rome, as well as for his work with Michelle Anthony.
Now, DeMay steps out on his own with a somewhat misleadingly-titled EP called “I Won’t Be Me,” on Madison's Slothtrop Records. The disc has six original tunes along with covers of Brian Wilson’s “Love and Mercy” and Warren Zevon’s "Gorilla, You’re a Desperado,” which should give you an idea of where DeMay is coming from.
As he gears up to launch the disc publicly with a release gig on Friday, April 27, we asked him about striking out on his own.
OMC: Can you tell me what led you to do the solo disc?
CD: Way back in '03 during the mixing of (West of Rome’s) "Drunk Tank Decoy," one night (producer) Jay (Bennett) and I were in his studio, and I recorded some new songs very quickly on acoustic guitar. Weeks later, Jay told me how much he liked the recordings and that I should think about making a "Nebraska"-type solo record. That was the seed, and perhaps the first time I ever considered doing something outside the band.
Over the next two years, I demo'd several more new songs at Scott and Michelle Anthony's home studio. And I went through a really productive time where I was writing a lot of new songs, and starting to write on the piano. So then it became a question of what to do with all this material. I decided I'd record two songs with Wendy Schneider at her studio, Coney Island, in Madison. Those first two songs, "Something Desperate" and "Bruno Kirby," turned out well and had a unique sound and feeling that I really wanted to pursue with some of the other new songs.
The bulk of the record was recorded with Wendy between September and December of last year.
OMC: Do you have plans to keep doing the solo recordings or was this more of a one-off kind of thing for now?
CD: I do plan to record more solo stuff, but I'd like to try a different approach next time. Whereas this EP was mostly me playing the instruments and layering some overdubs, the next one I'd like to record with a band and play mostly live with very few, if any, overdubs.
OMC: Tell us about some of the guests on the record. You've got a lot of familiar names alongside you.
CD: The biggest guest contribution to the record was made by Wendy. I really came to count on her advice and direction with regard to how each song should be treated. I cannot imagine this EP ever happening without her help.
The legendary Jack Rice (The Blow Pops, The Carolinas, The Lackloves) came and played bass on two songs and added vocals, too. His bandmates in The Pugilists, Don Moore and Nick Verban, along with Rice, were the backing band on "Kitchen Table Blues," which was recorded in late January at The Tannery. Also, playing horns on "WorkingClass Woman" is Dave Cusma, who plays in the local cabaret act Eat The Mystery.
And the EP was mastered by Trevor Sadler, who I've always wanted to work with.
OMC: Is West of Rome still writing, recording and performing?
CD: Yes, WOR is still performing. Last year was a tough one on a personal level for the band -- it seemed like all of us went through some kind of life-changing event or situation. So the timing seemed right for me to use the bulk of this year to put out my record and tour. However, we are playing a few shows this summer and I hope to record again with WOR late this year or early next.
OMC: Tell us a bit about the show at Deone's. Will you play solo or will you have guests?
CD: I wanted to do something different for my release show and when Deone Jahnke asked if I'd like have the show at her loft studio -- and knowing how great her loft shows are -- I jumped at the chance. So in addition to my set, Dan DuChaine from Rush-Mor Records and Tom Crawford from WMSE 91.7FM will spin records both before and after the live music, and performing an opening live set are my friends, Juniper Tar.
St. Louis artist Mark Dethrow will be showing his recent series of paintings depicting legendary blues and rock performers. Should be a hoot. I'll be performing that night with a full band backing me; Jack Rice, Don Moore and Jack Rodee from The Pugilists, with Kirk Farber (Spill) on drums and Anjl Rodee on vocals and accordion.
Born in Brooklyn, N.Y., where he lived until he was 17, Bobby received his BA-Mass Communications from UWM in 1989 and has lived in Walker's Point, Bay View, Enderis Park, South Milwaukee and on the East Side.
He has published three non-fiction books in Italy – including one about an event in Milwaukee history, which was published in the U.S. in autumn 2010. Four more books, all about Milwaukee, have been published by The History Press.
With his most recent band, The Yell Leaders, Bobby released four LPs and had a songs featured in episodes of TV's "Party of Five" and "Dawson's Creek," and films in Japan, South America and the U.S. The Yell Leaders were named the best unsigned band in their region by VH-1 as part of its Rock Across America 1998 Tour. Most recently, the band contributed tracks to a UK vinyl/CD tribute to the Redskins and collaborated on a track with Italian novelist Enrico Remmert.
He's produced three installments of the "OMCD" series of local music compilations for OnMilwaukee.com and in 2007 produced a CD of Italian music and poetry.
In 2005, he was awarded the City of Asti's (Italy) Journalism Prize for his work focusing on that area. He has also won awards from the Milwaukee Press Club.
He has be heard on 88Nine Radio Milwaukee talking about his "Urban Spelunking" series of stories, in that station's most popular podcast.
