Dave Schools, the bassist for Widespread Panic, says he likes the confinement of his side-band Stockholm Syndrome.
"I'm playing a four-string bass," said Schools, who is known for his six-string and five-string work with Widespread Panic. "And it's nice getting back to the basics. I'm just a low-end musician and loving it."
Stockholm Syndrome was conceived when Schools and his longtime friend, guitarist Jerry Joseph (of Jerry Joseph and the Jackmormons), started writing songs together last year. "Actually Jerry and Widespread Panic have known each other for some 15 years," Schools said by phone from Missoula, Mont. "His other band, Little Women, asked us to open for him, and he was the first headliner to take us west of the Mississippi.
"Anyway, Jerry and I got to writing some songs last November, and we liked the energy and what we were coming up with. In fact we had written most of the songs that appear on the (Stockholm Syndrome ) album, 'Holy Happy Hour.' We had ideas of who we wanted to be in the band and we contacted them."
The other musicians in Stockholm Syndrome are keyboardist Danny Dzuik, guitarist Eric McFadden (of George Clinton's P-Funk All Stars) and drummer Wally Ingram (who has worked with Sheryl Crow, Tracy Chapman and Jackson Browne).
"All of us have a connection one way or another," said Schools. "Jerry and I didn't think it would be hard for us to convince these guys to come rehearse for two days and then fly to the Bahamas last winter to record the album where Bob Marley recorded some of his albums."
What Schools and Joseph wanted to do was to be in a band that didn't sound like their other bands. "We have day-job bands," said Schools with a laugh. "We wanted to think outside the box. We also wanted to showcase the other musicians and show off their different styles.
"But Stockholm doesn't sound like Widespread Panic, the Jackmormons, P-Funk or Jackson Browne. And Danny is an amazing musician from Berlin, who knows music theory and makes amazing arrangements."
Stockholm Syndrome first toured Europe earlier this year, before bringing its rock-band sound to the United States. "I've been involved in improvisational bands all my life," Schools said. "So it is nice to be in this band, which is more song-oriented.
"Our first concert together was in Berlin. And Danny was very nervous because he is well-known in that city. So is Jerry. And to tell you the truth, the first show was nerve-wracking. We were playing in the club that was more geared to jazz music than loud hard rock. But the audience was more respectful. They knew Jerry's work and they knew Danny's work, so they gave us a chance.
"It was like that throughout Europe. We were actually received very well. So we decided to bring it back to the states."
While Schools emphasized that this band is a side project to its members' other bands, he said he is looking forward to making another Stockholm Syndrome album. "We've already got some songs written. And we have been working up different ideas. It's amazing working with great musicians who are open to ideas and know music. I'm hoping we can get together and do another album in the near future."
If you go. . .
What: Stockholm Syndrome, Karl Denson's Tiny Universe
Where: Club Suede, Park City
When: Wednesday, 7 p.m.
How much: $17
Phone: 467-8499 or 1-800-888-8499
Web: www.smithstix.com
E-mail: scott@desnews.com