Mister E rocks Jack's Club
BONNERS FERRY — On May 19, Jack’s Club was filled with the upbeat sound of the Mister E Band. They play a mixture of classic rock and original songs utilizing the talents of the band members. All of the band members contribute to the vocals, with Mike Meier on drums, Ian Gaddie on guitar, Dina Jane Gaddie on bass guitar, and Bill Kurtz on piano.
“I like all the different characteristics that everyone brings to the band and the sound that we bring,” said Ian Gaddie. “The music is like its own entity. Depending on the night, the tempo might be a little different, we may throw in some different things, and solos are more make them up as we go. Everyone is paying attention to things like when the song builds up or slows down. Just taking the skills that we all have and let everyone put their own spin on how they hear the song.”
Veteran drummer, Mike Meier, has been in the music industry on and off since 1965. He has played for a multitude of bands throughout the West Coast, participated in various album recordings, and met various famous artists. Meier and his wife, Helen Meier, moved from Washington state to Bonners Ferry about 10 years ago.
“I was immediately not going to play music again,” said Meier. “Then, we went and heard a gal sing at an open mic, so I turned around and asked her if she wanted any help. We have been playing together for about 10 years now.”
Mike Meier continues to travel and play with various bands and musicians, as well as the Mister E Band, which have been together about two years now.
“The first time me, Mike and Bill all got together, we never practiced the first time, we just exchanged the song sheets and played, and it just worked out,” said Ian Gaddie. “Bringing musicians together and seeing how everyone hears sounds differently, makes it neat when everyone comes together to see how they play.”
“The little things we do to help the other one, for example, when he is doing a solo, I move my cymbal around to make a different sound and it makes his solo stand out more,” said Mike Meier. “There are various ways that we compliment each other.”
“Communication is a big thing, we are always listening to each other, looking at each other, signaling, so it’s a really big team building thing,” said Ian Gaddie.
On Sunday, June 3, the band will be performing in Sandpoint at the 219, and again on June 15 at the Emerson-Garfield Farmers Market in Spokane, Wash. For more information, visit their Facebook page under mr.e.