Bahr, Clint; Keith Gurland and Steve Romano (TriPod) (May 2002)

Trisectioned Tripartite Triptych Known As Tripod

Recently I wondered if I was able to recall the existence of a past progressive outfit with neither guitars nor keyboard ... mmh, really hard to remember anyone, but in the present the answer is clearly affirmative, as New York based Tripod can easily attest. We were able to reach the entire band -- Clint Bahr, Keith Gurland and Steve Romano and ask about this distinctiveness, along with the next projects they have in mind following the release of their self-titled debut.

Igor Italiani: Hi Clint ... first of all, you've told me that Tripod has recently changed one of its members. Can you introduce the new guy sitting behind the drums to the audience?

Clint Bahr & Keith Gurland: Absolutely! Ladies and Gentlemen, here's our new percussionist, Steve Romano. Hooray for Steve!

SR: Hi! I'm Steve Romano, a native of Brooklyn N.Y. I play drums, percussion and electronic drums. Is it enough for you? :-)

II: Your band hails from New York. Can you tell me the pros and cons of living and playing in a big city like this one?

CB: Obviously, these days there are many cons to living in New York City, but I can't think of one at the moment! You know ... I just love this town.

KG: The pros are evident in that we three all found one another here. The cons are many, foremost among them being expensiveness!

SR: I guess it is easier to find musicians to jam with, but it's still hard to find the right project. I don't think I would have found this band living in Kansas (hey, no offense Kansas). Talking about the cons ... I personally feel there is not a good music scene in N.Y. There are no clubs or radio stations willing to put forth the effort to support underground, experimental or progressive music genres.

II: Can you recount to the web surfers how Tripod started?

KG: The seeds were sown on a grassy knoll in Manhattan's Riverside Park, where Clint invaded my 'al fresco' practice space. And we two began a collaboration that quickly took the form of Tripod.

CB: And Steve came to us via a posted advertisement. Of over 50 candidates, he was the one.

II: I think that your combination of instruments is unique ... do you believe this is really an advantage in a society that looks way too conventional in my opinion?

CB: Yes, absolutely.

KG: You know, we are so unique that people who hear us live in concert and on CD surely remember the band.

SR: When I first heard Tripod on their website I was blown away by their sound, musicianship and uniqueness. I think it's all about originality, the ability to create (as a team) your own type of music. Example: ELP, Rush, Yes, Tripod...

II: The only band I can refer to you is Primus, and even this is a farfetched comparison. Is there a band you would like yourself to be linked to? What are your influences?

CB: My influences are too numerous to mention and very varied. I'd like to think Tripod is the musical missing link between them.

KG: I think that you can see our image in Yes, King Crimson, ELP, Frank Zappa.

SR: Pretty much everything I hear musically influences me ... sometimes good, sometimes bad, sometimes really bad. I wouldn't like to be linked to any other band ... We are our own entity, so to speak...

II: Now a more technical question, Clint. You use a 12-string bass ... why do you prefer it?

CB: I've always played chordally on the bass and used multi-string basses and the Chapman Stick, etc... It's just my nature and it works beautifully with Tripod. But if someone wants more info on this unique instrument see www.12stringbass.com [now 12stringbass.net -ed. 2011].

II: Do you think that the web is the future for music or not?

KG: Well, most of all the web can introduce a band to an audience it would otherwise be unable to access. Here we are using it.

SR: Maybe it won't be the whole future of music, but it will certainly be a big part of it, and I embrace the change.

II: You proudly state that Tripod doesn't include guitars or keyboards. But if you could choose a musician to fill these spots in an hypothetical expanded Tripod formation, who would you choose and why?

CB: Nobody! Ha-ha-ha...

KG: John McLaughlin is certainly welcome to sit in. He's succeeded in so many formats, and obviously he is a great musician.

SR: There are a number of unknown musicians that I personally know that would work well. But as for persons the public knows, it would be cats from the 70's like Steve Howe, Eddie Jobson ... you know, the monster players I grew up with.

II: Are you already working on the follow-up to your self-titled debut or not?

CB: Yes, of course. We have enough material for 3 more CDs.

KG: You know ... we could record it tomorrow.

SR: Since I've filled the drum seat we've been working on all new material.

II: Are you searching for a capable label to support you or you think you'll continue as an independent outlet?

CB: We will always be "independent." If we remain this way we will surely find the correct label that fits our music.

II: Time's up, Clint. There is something else you would like to say to the audience?

CB: Ciao to all of you.

SR: Look for us! Check our website (www.Tripod-theband.com) for updates! We will be in your "hood" (remember that I am from Brooklyn) soon enough, and it's gonna be amazing!

II: So thank you for the sweet talk. Bye and good luck for the future!

CB, KG & SR: Thank you, Igor. Cheers from New York City!

Discography:
TriPod (2000, promo)
TriPod (2003)