Name - Norman McBride
Nick Name (why)? - Lefty
Back in 1999, I was setting up for a gig about 5 hours before show time, when Drummer Dave "accidentally" severed the tip of my right middle finger off my hand while closing a moveable wall. I was lucky enough to get the best Orthopedic Surgeon in town to reattach my finger. The good doctor who is also a player was nice enough to juice me up so that I could play the gig. From that day forward I have been known as Lefty.
What town do you live in?
Chelmsford
Instruments you play (with the band and not)?
Guitar, Harmonica and (5 string Banjo but not well)
How many years have you been playing your main instrument?
I have been playing the guitar since the 7th grade. You'd think I'd be a better player. There is a difference between talent and persistence.
Gear?
On stage: Fender Nashville Deluxe Power telecaster. (this is my main rhythm stick), Epiphone ES335 fully rebuilt with a Fishman Power bridge to Gibson’s standard by the late great Bob Winters., Gibson 1978 limited edition The Paul, MusicVox Space Ranger (this guitar S/N 020002 was played in the Austin Powers movie Gold Member. If you check out the movie, the girl on Mike Myers stage left is playing it. See it on the web site under pix/the guitar with a story.) I also own : Gibson XXXX Song Writer Acoustic, Martin XXXXXX Acoustic, Dean 6 string Banjo and a Jiad 223 5 string Banjo.
Amps: Peavey 30W Classic. Fender Reverb 100W Amp.
On the floor: Morley Volume/Wah, Aphex Acoustic Xciter, Marshall Blues Man Distortion, L.R. Baggs Para Acoustic Active DI Box, Boss TU-2 Chromatic Tuner, Nady wireless guitar unit. (The band tuner is a Krog DTR-200 Digital Rack mount Tuner.)
Do you sing?
My voice is second tenor. The folks in the band insist I am a first tenor and I am forced to sing every song with a high B in it. Yes that's 7th fret first string. You try it! Now hold it... Hurts don't it?
How long have you been with the band?
I’m one of the three original members. The band started in 1995. You do the math… it hurts my head!
How did you join the band?
Dave the drummer met my wife Deborah at some function. While he was hitting on her he mentioned that he was in a band. (Dave is very smooth like that.) Deb mentioned "for like the third time" that she was married and that I played guitar in bands for years. Dave then introduced himself to me and told me he was looking for a good rhythm guitar player for his band. I told him I didn't know any but I had a 1000Watt PA system so I got invited to rehearsal anyway. (If you are ever looking to get into a good band, first purchase a kick ass PA System. Works every time.)
Name your 3 favorite bands?
My favorite group is Aztec Two Step. Aztec Who Step you ask? This duo has been around forever. When I was 15 I would sneak into a club named Salt in Newport Rhode Island. I knew a kid that washed dishes there and he would get me in. I would sit in the back and watch Neil and Rex work the room. Two guys playing acoustic guitars and singing beautiful harmonies. At that time I could do either one of those two things, but not both at the same time. So 27 years and 18 A.T.S. albums later I have tickets to see an Aztec Two Step show for the ~100th time this March. There is a difference between talent and persistence.
My second favorite band is the Doobie Brothers. I saw them 4 time one night in the 70's.
In third it's a tie between James Taylor and Jimmy Buffett.
Name your 3 favorite songs?
Three songs you have never heard: Bakin', Walking on Air, Faster Gun. (all by Aztec Two Step). Three songs you know: China Grove by the Doobie's, Blossom by James Taylor, Everybody's Got a Cousin in Miami by Jimmy Buffett. (If you don't know this song you are not a Buffett fan and do not own the Fruitcakes CD)
Name your 3 favorite singers?
James Taylor, Dolly Parton, Dave Penn
What is your favorite food?
Bar-B-Q: ribs, corn bread, slaw, hush puppies, pulled pork, BBQ baked beans, cold beer. Damn you and damn this question! I am now drowning in my own saliva!
What is your favorite restaurant?
Bozo's Bar-B-Q in Covington Tennessee. Red Bones in Davis Squire is as close as it gets.
What non-musical hobbies do you have?
I have been studying Martial Arts for 30 years. I have a black belts in Nick Cerio’s Kenpo, Gasan Ryu Kenpo and Karazenpo Goshinjitsu and have studied Ti Kwan Do and Aikido. I also fix other people’s broken electronics. Amps, TV's, Radios.
What do you do for a day job?
I have worked in Microwave Electronics for 30 years. It's a day job.
Nick Name (why)? - Lefty
Back in 1999, I was setting up for a gig about 5 hours before show time, when Drummer Dave "accidentally" severed the tip of my right middle finger off my hand while closing a moveable wall. I was lucky enough to get the best Orthopedic Surgeon in town to reattach my finger. The good doctor who is also a player was nice enough to juice me up so that I could play the gig. From that day forward I have been known as Lefty.
What town do you live in?
Chelmsford
Instruments you play (with the band and not)?
Guitar, Harmonica and (5 string Banjo but not well)
How many years have you been playing your main instrument?
I have been playing the guitar since the 7th grade. You'd think I'd be a better player. There is a difference between talent and persistence.
Gear?
On stage: Fender Nashville Deluxe Power telecaster. (this is my main rhythm stick), Epiphone ES335 fully rebuilt with a Fishman Power bridge to Gibson’s standard by the late great Bob Winters., Gibson 1978 limited edition The Paul, MusicVox Space Ranger (this guitar S/N 020002 was played in the Austin Powers movie Gold Member. If you check out the movie, the girl on Mike Myers stage left is playing it. See it on the web site under pix/the guitar with a story.) I also own : Gibson XXXX Song Writer Acoustic, Martin XXXXXX Acoustic, Dean 6 string Banjo and a Jiad 223 5 string Banjo.
Amps: Peavey 30W Classic. Fender Reverb 100W Amp.
On the floor: Morley Volume/Wah, Aphex Acoustic Xciter, Marshall Blues Man Distortion, L.R. Baggs Para Acoustic Active DI Box, Boss TU-2 Chromatic Tuner, Nady wireless guitar unit. (The band tuner is a Krog DTR-200 Digital Rack mount Tuner.)
Do you sing?
My voice is second tenor. The folks in the band insist I am a first tenor and I am forced to sing every song with a high B in it. Yes that's 7th fret first string. You try it! Now hold it... Hurts don't it?
How long have you been with the band?
I’m one of the three original members. The band started in 1995. You do the math… it hurts my head!
How did you join the band?
Dave the drummer met my wife Deborah at some function. While he was hitting on her he mentioned that he was in a band. (Dave is very smooth like that.) Deb mentioned "for like the third time" that she was married and that I played guitar in bands for years. Dave then introduced himself to me and told me he was looking for a good rhythm guitar player for his band. I told him I didn't know any but I had a 1000Watt PA system so I got invited to rehearsal anyway. (If you are ever looking to get into a good band, first purchase a kick ass PA System. Works every time.)
Name your 3 favorite bands?
My favorite group is Aztec Two Step. Aztec Who Step you ask? This duo has been around forever. When I was 15 I would sneak into a club named Salt in Newport Rhode Island. I knew a kid that washed dishes there and he would get me in. I would sit in the back and watch Neil and Rex work the room. Two guys playing acoustic guitars and singing beautiful harmonies. At that time I could do either one of those two things, but not both at the same time. So 27 years and 18 A.T.S. albums later I have tickets to see an Aztec Two Step show for the ~100th time this March. There is a difference between talent and persistence.
My second favorite band is the Doobie Brothers. I saw them 4 time one night in the 70's.
In third it's a tie between James Taylor and Jimmy Buffett.
Name your 3 favorite songs?
Three songs you have never heard: Bakin', Walking on Air, Faster Gun. (all by Aztec Two Step). Three songs you know: China Grove by the Doobie's, Blossom by James Taylor, Everybody's Got a Cousin in Miami by Jimmy Buffett. (If you don't know this song you are not a Buffett fan and do not own the Fruitcakes CD)
Name your 3 favorite singers?
James Taylor, Dolly Parton, Dave Penn
What is your favorite food?
Bar-B-Q: ribs, corn bread, slaw, hush puppies, pulled pork, BBQ baked beans, cold beer. Damn you and damn this question! I am now drowning in my own saliva!
What is your favorite restaurant?
Bozo's Bar-B-Q in Covington Tennessee. Red Bones in Davis Squire is as close as it gets.
What non-musical hobbies do you have?
I have been studying Martial Arts for 30 years. I have a black belts in Nick Cerio’s Kenpo, Gasan Ryu Kenpo and Karazenpo Goshinjitsu and have studied Ti Kwan Do and Aikido. I also fix other people’s broken electronics. Amps, TV's, Radios.
What do you do for a day job?
I have worked in Microwave Electronics for 30 years. It's a day job.