Welcome to the first installment of Spotlight!
...the opportunity for local musicians to be placed front and center. Enjoy the show!
The musician chosen for this inaugural interview is Mike Starcher. Mike is a phenomenal drummer and
one of the most professional musicians in this biz. After discovering After the Gig, Mike invited me
to see Shady Drive. I have been a huge fan ever since. Mike has provided invaluable assistance with
the website, and enjoys being a loyal supporter of the local music scene. Working with him has been a
real pleasure. Thanks, Mike, for being such a willing victim!
Name? Mike Starcher
Birthday? July 5th
How did you end up in your current band? I was playing in Tore Down House and since we weren’t
very busy, I began doing fill-in gigs with Shady Drive. When Tore Down House disbanded, Rob Hayes
asked me to play with Shady Drive on a permanent basis. I accepted immediately. Bob is a very
accomplished keyboardist and we both love Billy Joel. Rob and Billy are so energetic and enthusiastic
about playing, it’s impossible NOT to have fun onstage with them.
What other bands have you been in? I’ve played with Past Due, Threshold, The Remainders, The
Swingtown Rebels and Tore Down House. There’re more, but I don’t want to go back any further than
ten years and give away my age. ;c)
Talk about your gear, favorite instruments, why you like or use certain things. I bought a Sonor
snare drum in 1996 and I was hooked. The tone and projection is just amazing and they tune up great
for any style of music. I own four Sonor kits now: 1974 Sonor Champion, 1994 Sonor Hilite, 2001 Sonor
Delite and 2003 Sonor S-Class Pro. I was fortunate enough to sign an endorsement deal with Sonor in
2000. My cymbals are Zildjian (A Custom); kick and hi-hat pedals are Tama (Iron Cobra). All other
hardware is Sonor. Photos and specs of my gear are at: http://www.sonormuseum.
com/geeks/starcher/starcher.html
At what age did you start playing? I began studying drums at the ripe old age of nine. :c)
Who are some of your influences? Early on, Don Brewer of Grand Funk was a huge influence. I’d
never heard anyone play like that. In later years, I became a big fan of Steve Gadd, Steve Smith and
Jeff Porcaro. Dr. Gadd’s creativity just blows me away. Steve Smith’s sticking and articulation is
second to none. Jeff Porcaro was the master of feel and groove. The music world suffered an enormous
loss when he died.
Who is your favorite local artist? There is so much talent in this town, it’s hard to pick just one.
Colin Dussault and The Tony Koussa Jr. Band come to mind. I’ve been lucky enough to play with another
of my favorite bands…My Three Sons.
What is your least favorite venue to play? Iggy’s in Lakewood was my least favorite venue. They no
longer have bands, and that’s a good thing. The band had to set up between the rest rooms and the room
was long and narrow. Fat Fish Blue would have to rank second. The acoustics there are horrible. It’s
like playing underwater.
What music or artist do you really like to listen to? The list is huge. Sheryl Crow, Billy Joel,
Natalie Merchant, Toto, James Taylor, Paul Simon, Linda Ronstadt, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Allman
Brothers, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Buddy Holly, The Eagles, The Beatles, Matchbox 20…you get the idea.
If it isn’t rap or metal, I’ll probably like it.
What new music or artist do you like? John Mayer is a favorite, as are Maroon 5, Jet and
Nickelback.
What are some of your favorite movies? The Godfather, Caddyshack, Airplane, The Jerk, Blazing
Saddles and Young Frankenstein.
What are your favorite television shows? Rescue Me, Grey’s Anatomy, House and CSI.
What is your favorite food? It's tough to pick just one, but I'd have to say filet mignon and lobster
tail is my ultimate favorite.
Who are your favorite authors? Dean Koontz and Stephen King.
Who is your hero? My dad.
What do you do in your day job? I’m a millwright. Before you ask: http://en.wikipedia.
org/wiki/Millwright
Relate a funny or outrageous story from a gig. I was playing with Threshold at the old Dugan’s Pub.
I think we were halfway through the second set. A guy was dancing up front and had obviously had way
too much to drink. In the middle of a song, he tripped over Dave Tupa’s (our bass player) vocal monitor.
Dave sidestepped the guy as he literally flew past him and directly into the bass amp stack. Both the
guy and the amps tumbled over onto the stage. Someone had to help the guy up and off the stage.
Through all that, Dave never missed a note.
What’s the most unusual request you have had while playing out? At Shady Drive’s first
Backdraught gig, we were in the middle of a blues set and some guy started yelling for Sinatra. Go
figure.
What’s the most tiresome request you have had while playing out? Someone yells out “Freebird!!!”
at almost every gig with every band.
People who don’t know me wouldn’t know that I……? …am left-handed.
Email address: mike@remainders.net
...the opportunity for local musicians to be placed front and center. Enjoy the show!
The musician chosen for this inaugural interview is Mike Starcher. Mike is a phenomenal drummer and
one of the most professional musicians in this biz. After discovering After the Gig, Mike invited me
to see Shady Drive. I have been a huge fan ever since. Mike has provided invaluable assistance with
the website, and enjoys being a loyal supporter of the local music scene. Working with him has been a
real pleasure. Thanks, Mike, for being such a willing victim!
Name? Mike Starcher
Birthday? July 5th
How did you end up in your current band? I was playing in Tore Down House and since we weren’t
very busy, I began doing fill-in gigs with Shady Drive. When Tore Down House disbanded, Rob Hayes
asked me to play with Shady Drive on a permanent basis. I accepted immediately. Bob is a very
accomplished keyboardist and we both love Billy Joel. Rob and Billy are so energetic and enthusiastic
about playing, it’s impossible NOT to have fun onstage with them.
What other bands have you been in? I’ve played with Past Due, Threshold, The Remainders, The
Swingtown Rebels and Tore Down House. There’re more, but I don’t want to go back any further than
ten years and give away my age. ;c)
Talk about your gear, favorite instruments, why you like or use certain things. I bought a Sonor
snare drum in 1996 and I was hooked. The tone and projection is just amazing and they tune up great
for any style of music. I own four Sonor kits now: 1974 Sonor Champion, 1994 Sonor Hilite, 2001 Sonor
Delite and 2003 Sonor S-Class Pro. I was fortunate enough to sign an endorsement deal with Sonor in
2000. My cymbals are Zildjian (A Custom); kick and hi-hat pedals are Tama (Iron Cobra). All other
hardware is Sonor. Photos and specs of my gear are at: http://www.sonormuseum.
com/geeks/starcher/starcher.html
At what age did you start playing? I began studying drums at the ripe old age of nine. :c)
Who are some of your influences? Early on, Don Brewer of Grand Funk was a huge influence. I’d
never heard anyone play like that. In later years, I became a big fan of Steve Gadd, Steve Smith and
Jeff Porcaro. Dr. Gadd’s creativity just blows me away. Steve Smith’s sticking and articulation is
second to none. Jeff Porcaro was the master of feel and groove. The music world suffered an enormous
loss when he died.
Who is your favorite local artist? There is so much talent in this town, it’s hard to pick just one.
Colin Dussault and The Tony Koussa Jr. Band come to mind. I’ve been lucky enough to play with another
of my favorite bands…My Three Sons.
What is your least favorite venue to play? Iggy’s in Lakewood was my least favorite venue. They no
longer have bands, and that’s a good thing. The band had to set up between the rest rooms and the room
was long and narrow. Fat Fish Blue would have to rank second. The acoustics there are horrible. It’s
like playing underwater.
What music or artist do you really like to listen to? The list is huge. Sheryl Crow, Billy Joel,
Natalie Merchant, Toto, James Taylor, Paul Simon, Linda Ronstadt, Lynyrd Skynyrd, The Allman
Brothers, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Buddy Holly, The Eagles, The Beatles, Matchbox 20…you get the idea.
If it isn’t rap or metal, I’ll probably like it.
What new music or artist do you like? John Mayer is a favorite, as are Maroon 5, Jet and
Nickelback.
What are some of your favorite movies? The Godfather, Caddyshack, Airplane, The Jerk, Blazing
Saddles and Young Frankenstein.
What are your favorite television shows? Rescue Me, Grey’s Anatomy, House and CSI.
What is your favorite food? It's tough to pick just one, but I'd have to say filet mignon and lobster
tail is my ultimate favorite.
Who are your favorite authors? Dean Koontz and Stephen King.
Who is your hero? My dad.
What do you do in your day job? I’m a millwright. Before you ask: http://en.wikipedia.
org/wiki/Millwright
Relate a funny or outrageous story from a gig. I was playing with Threshold at the old Dugan’s Pub.
I think we were halfway through the second set. A guy was dancing up front and had obviously had way
too much to drink. In the middle of a song, he tripped over Dave Tupa’s (our bass player) vocal monitor.
Dave sidestepped the guy as he literally flew past him and directly into the bass amp stack. Both the
guy and the amps tumbled over onto the stage. Someone had to help the guy up and off the stage.
Through all that, Dave never missed a note.
What’s the most unusual request you have had while playing out? At Shady Drive’s first
Backdraught gig, we were in the middle of a blues set and some guy started yelling for Sinatra. Go
figure.
What’s the most tiresome request you have had while playing out? Someone yells out “Freebird!!!”
at almost every gig with every band.
People who don’t know me wouldn’t know that I……? …am left-handed.
Email address: mike@remainders.net
What band are you currently in? I’m
playing in Shady Drive, and doing
occasional fill-in work with My Three
Sons and The Grand Slam Jam Band.
playing in Shady Drive, and doing
occasional fill-in work with My Three
Sons and The Grand Slam Jam Band.
What instruments do you play? Drums,
primarily. I also play guitar, bass and alto sax,
though I’m extremely rusty on those.
primarily. I also play guitar, bass and alto sax,
though I’m extremely rusty on those.
What is your favorite
venue to play? Bullfrog’s
Sports Cafe, without
question. It’s a big room
with nice acoustics, great
crowd, awesome staff,
good food, and we can load
in directly onto the stage.
venue to play? Bullfrog’s
Sports Cafe, without
question. It’s a big room
with nice acoustics, great
crowd, awesome staff,
good food, and we can load
in directly onto the stage.
What’s in your CD player
right now? A CD. ;c)
Seriously, I’ve been listening
to Les Paul and Friends –
American Made, World Played.
right now? A CD. ;c)
Seriously, I’ve been listening
to Les Paul and Friends –
American Made, World Played.