ZapTown

With a name like The Quick & Easy Boys, believe me, it’s not what you think. Suggestive name aside, there is nothing suggestive about this trio’s ability to get the dance floor packed and moving with their brand of funky hillbilly-rock fusion. What at first was a concoction in Oregon of some bored college kids jamming in 2005, has now become a unit supporting their freshly released second full length album Red Light Rabbit and on the road for a headlining U.S. Tour.

Not merely an opening act any longer, these boys’ amplifying success was far from quick and easy. In the midst of a whirlwind tour schedule, with one of those stops in Indianapolis at the infamous Melody Inn; I was able to speak with Jimmy Russell (Guitars/Vocals) about the band’s roots, the new album, and wrestling cougars.

Link: http://thequickandeasyboys.com/

How did the The Quick & Easy Boys get together?

The Quick & Easy Boys started in Eugene where we all attended the
University of Oregon. We started as a four piece with one other guitar 
player Ben Morse. We built up quite a bit of original material. As well
 as covers; including mostly Rock, Blues, Funk and Honky Tonk while 
playing all of the local venues. We did that for a few years until
school ended and then we moved to Portland. Around that time Morse
quit. Once we became a three piece, we developed into the more
 cohesive and unique group that we are today.

Are you concerned about people Googling your name and getting the wrong idea/website?

Yes, at times. We are careful not to dress like the Village People in 
public to not give the wrong message with a name like The Quick & Easy
Boys.  Yet we figured if music didn’t work out we could parlay our
 name and image into a male escort service; advertising on the back pages 
of weekly’s across the country. This reminds me, we are offering mustache rides after the show for any lucky lady that has $75 or $110 for a FBSM (Full Body Sensual Message). Of course we have a sliding scale. The hotter you are the
 less you pay. And by us, I mean Sean the bass player.

With such a contrast of styles in your music, is there any style(s) influenced by an individual member(s)?

All of us have a wide diversity of influences that shape our
 musical landscape. We were influenced quite heavily in the beginning by 
the Parliament-Funkadelic 1977 Houston performance. As well as all
types of Rock, Pop, Jazz, Soul, and Honky Tonk from the past and
present. Groups whom we may feel akin to are The Band of Gypsies, The 
Minute Men, The James Gang, Sublime, Waylon & Willie and Funkadelic.

How would you describe the Portland, OR area music scene?

Portland is an exciting place to play for us! We have built up a
great draw of fun fans including the young, the old, rockers, hippies,
 hipsters, and hicks. Including anybody who likes to dance and see an
exciting rock show where you never know what is going to happen. There 
are a lot of great bands in the vibrant Portland scene!

What has been your favorite city/memory on this tour thus far?

Every city and night on this tour thus far has been a blast!
 Believe it or not, Lander, Wyoming was the most fun for me! We 
played outside in the sun from 6:30 till midnight. It was a great show 
where we got to stretch out and play anything and everything. We also
 have the artists Vorcan traveling with us, painting all of our shows.
 They sold 10 paintings at that show!

Was there a different approach you were hoping to accomplish when you went into the studio for the new record “Red Light Rabbit” from your first album “Bad Decisions with Good People?”

On the first album “Bad Decisions with Good People” we had a lot of
 guest musician’s playing auxiliary parts in order to create a diverse,
 sonically thick, sounding CD. We kept hearing that people liked the CD very
 much but it was different than what we do live. Having built a
reputation for high energy live shows we wanted to capture that energy
and subsequent performance on our newest release “Red Light Rabbit.”
Although there are few overdubs on “Red Light Rabbit” we kept them to a
minimum and guitars only. There where a lot of keyboards on “Bad
 Decisions.” On this new release, we wanted to make a high energy rock n
roll album! We have plenty of both CD’s for sale at our upcoming shows!

Every catch phrase has a story. Please describe the origin of “Yeah Bud!” being used during live shows.

“Yeah, Bud!” is a chant in the Dionysian tradition that came from the
 Pleiades. It started 11 years ago. My friend Mike Macias
was drunk and wrestling a tire in a ditch screaming “Subaru” at the
 top of his lungs. Subaru is Japanese for the
 Pleiades. Over the course of many years “Subaroooooo” turned 
into “Not Yoooooou” into “Not Yooooouuu Bud” into ” See Ya Bud” and
 finally into “Yeah Bud” which seemed to stick. At shows people yell it 
in an expression of belligerent unity.

Your music can cater to a lot of personalities. In your own words, what is your idea of the ideal Quick & Easy Boys fan?

Our fans base has truly extended to include as many different types
and musical cultures as you could shake a stick at in all parts of 
the country. Anybody who likes to dance or likes fat bass lines,
dirty drum beats, blistering guitar licks, and catchy vocal 
harmonies ranging from The Band, Sam and Dave and the Bee Gees; will 
like us! Even people who normally wouldn’t like our type of music have
 expressed enjoying our shows because of the high energy and antics.

What would you say to those who call your live shows simply ‘drinking music’? Is that you intention?

I can understand how some people may label us drinking music. We
started in bars and have many friends and fans whom like to drink,
 including ourselves on occasion. Yet we don’t want to be considered a
‘drinking music’ band, in that we take our musicianship seriously and
know that most of our fans come for the music. Of course, they will be
 drinking at the show while listening; but away from our shows we would
 like to assume our fans are mountain climbing, skydiving or
 wrestling cougars while listening to our CD’s.

Have you ever been to Indianapolis? What do you expect when it pertains to Indianapolis?

We have never been to Indianapolis. We don’t know what to expect!
 We are very excited to be afforded the opportunity to play some of
 these uncharted territories in the east.

How do you envision the future of The Quick & Easy Boys in the coming years?

We are dedicated to playing together. Hopefully in the future,
we can build a  large enough fan base across the country to afford us 
the opportunity to quit our days jobs and travel around playing
music permanently. Every musician’s dream! Indianapolis here we come!
 Yeah bud!!!