Band questions answered by Grace Stumberg
List your band members and the instruments that they play.
Grace Lougen- lead guitar
Grace Stumberg – vocals & rhythm guitar
Michael Petrino – bass
Josh English – drums
What is the name of your group?
The Grace Stumberg Band
How did the name of the band come about? When did it form?
It formed about 2 years ago after I decided to recruit a band instead of playing solo. I was looking to make a musical family that shared the same dream
What’s it like to perform in front of a crowd? Give me three words.
Energizing, ungodly, fun
When and why did you start playing?
I listened to music very often and just loved the sounds, the melodies, I loved way it made me feel so I wanted to learn how to make those sounds!
What was the first tune that you remember “really” playing well, when you knew that you would be a musician?
4 non blondes -“what’s up” it’s the first song I ever played and sang together. It was the spark!
Describe your voice/instrument. If you were to name your instrument (maybe you have) what would its name be?
My voice is something that feels separate from my entire body. I open it up and stuff comes out from a place unknown. Surrounds me and makes me feel alive. I love tapping into that higher place . It’s soulful.
Did music come naturally to you? Or were you driven to learn and play/sing? What sparked the passion? Do you come from a musical family?
My family always listened to music. My parents were big into blues and classical rock while I got a taste of newer “grunge” and pop music from my older sisters. I loved all of it and I wanted to take part in making some of my own and learning all I could.
Are you schooled in music? From where?
I took voice lessons at the community school of music down on Elmwood. My grandmother Helen Stumberg would drive me there every week and she supported me wanting to further my vocal technique.
Which famous musician(s) do you admire?
Heart, Sheryl Crow, Joan Baez because they’re all women that maintained a professional image and used their music for more than music!
Where is your favorite place to play/sing in Buffalo?
I love singing in all the festivals like music is art and Elmwood arts festivals. So much great art, music, people and talent.
Where would you most like to play/sing in Buffalo?
We would love to rock it out down at the harbor one of these days!
What’s your day job?
Haha I work in a warehouse where I drive a forklift and put boxes in shelves all day! At Gordon Companies Inc.
How would you describe your music style? Influences?
There’s a lot of soul in it. It’s funky and sometimes rocks out and gets people dancing which I love to see. We can really play hard and we can also pull it back and tap into a softer side. I have so many different musical influences and I think that shows through in the music.
What was the last live music performance that you caught?What was the best show you ever caught? What was the show that got away – the one that you never got to see?
I saw Matt Nathanson live. The best show I ever caught was seeing Heart with my 2 sisters and mother down at Artpark. We sang and danced our hearts out!
Do you play/sing covers or all originals? Ar a combination of both?
We do a combination of covers and originals. People like songs they can sing along to so we mix it up a bit. We always make a “cover” sound our own. We like to change it up and have some fun with a new twist on a song.
If you could play/sing for one famous person (alive or dead), who would that be?
I would have to say Grace Potter, to apologize for a song I had written and recorded after reading an article that turned out to be untrue!
If you could play/sing with one famous band (any time in history), what would that band be?
Heart, those girls have been through so much and really paved the way for females in rock and roll. Ann and Nancy are so talented and so strong and I admire them with everything I’ve got. Everyone should read their book “kicking and dreaming” to get a taste for what this industry is like.
What are your strengths?
When it comes to strengths there is only one. I have an undying love for making music. There are so many times where we feel were just spinning our wheels but it’s the love for creating music that keeps it all together. It’s sometimes like and abusive relationship hahah but the love for making it is strong!
What are your weaknesses?
I am 4′ 11″ so I have to wear heels and lower my mic stand to get my voice heard! Haha kidding 🙂
Do you have a label? A recording studio? Have you recorded a CD?
I have recorded 3 albums . “To whom it may concern”, “Affect” and a “Live Grace Stumberg Band album”. A 4th one is in the making down in – muscle shoals Alabama !
Where and when is your next gig(s) in the city?
We play Buffalo Iron Works on November 9th (tonight!) at 6 pm. Honoring our veterans and working with “The Good Neighborhood” and our friend Seamus Gallivan to have a great show!
Buffalo Iron Works | Saturday November 9, 2013 | 6pm
Iron Works 49 Illinois Street (Cobblestone District) Buffalo, New York 14203
Our Website: www.gracestumberg.com
Our YouTube www.youtube.com/thegracestumberg
Reverbnation page www.reverbnation.com/gracestumberg
See more Sounds of Buffalo:
If you play in a group/band (or solo) here in Buffalo, and have an upcoming gig at a venue(s) in the city, consider sending buffalo rising an email requesting to be emailed a Q&A interview that we can then post, along with concert dates. It’s a fun and easy way to get your name in front of another audience that is interested in learning about the local music scene. The requirements are: