THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Monday, August 5, 1996 TAG: 9608030059
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY ERIC FEBER, STAFF WRITER
LENGTH: 71 lines
KNOW WHICH performer will spend the longest time on the Virginia Beach Amphitheater stage during Hootie and the Blowfish's Tuesday concert?
It won't be any member of the South Carolina based quartet, that's for sure.
It will be Peter Holsapple.
Peter who?
Holsapple will be the back-up keyboardist for Hootie and company. But before he hits the stage with the headliners, Holsapple will join the evening's opening act, the New Orleans-based Continental Drifters.
``I'll be up there even longer than the guys who set up the stage,'' Holsapple said in a phone interview from New York. ``But I like it. Being a professional musician and playing with the guys in Hootie is a treat, and then I get to play with my band, too.''
He's not just a keyboard player for Hootie.
``I play everything else the four other guys don't,'' Holsapple said. ``Whatever is needed - Hammond organ, piano, mandolin, another guitar - I add. It's the same instrumentation I played on the `Fairweather Johnson' album.''
Although Holsapple is not a household name, he was an integral part of the cult band The dB's. He's also been the back-up keyboard player for R.E.M. during its sold-out tours.
Hootie duties and other session work aside, Holsapple said the critically acclaimed Drifters are his life, his pride and joy.
``We're a band with five great songwriters and four great vocalists,'' he said.
The Continental Drifters have been together for about five years and have one self-titled 1994 album out on the Monkey Hill/Ichiban label. Currently, the group is shopping around for another label.
The group includes Holsapples' wife - singer/guitarist Susan Cowsill from The Cowsills, a family pop group that scored chart hits in the late 60s with such songs as ``Hair,'' ``The Rain, The Park and Other Things'' and ``Indian Lake'' - and guitarist/singer Vickie Peterson, who was a founding member of The Bangles.
The band is rounded out with guitarist Robert Mache', drummer Rob Ladd and bassist Mark Walton, who between them have spent time with The Dream Syndicate, Giant Sand, Sparks, Steve Wynn and others.
``We enjoy learning from each other and playing each other's songs,'' he said. ``We're very satisfied with our station in life. The band is a great group of people. They are my family, they are my friends. Everybody should have such a working situation. Now, don't get me wrong, we'd love to make a real record for a real record company. But we're satisfied with the one we put out.''
And so were the critics, who have praised the album for its quirky cover tunes and satisfying originals. Record reviewers have taken to the group's organic, harmony laden pop-rock.
Rolling Stone called the band ``a fathomless pool of writing talent. . . their sound is graceful and unaffectedly lush.'' And Billboard magazine said the disc was ``long-anticipated and longer on promise, delivers and then some.''
``The spirit is there in this band and they excite me to no end,'' Holsapple said. ``I mean, look at us, we get to do shows with Hootie and Blowfish and we have no record contract. Go figure.''
Holsapple thinks the Drifters' vocal and instrumental acumen, along with its eclectic choice of material, will make an impression on the Amphitheater audience.
``I think the Hootie audience will enjoy our work,'' he said. ``I've noticed that their audiences are open to anything and they can be proud of their musical open-mindedness.'' ILLUSTRATION: ARTS INTERNATIONAL GROUP
Continental Drifters, from left, Vicki Peterson, Peter Holsapple,
Carlo Nuccisio, Robert Mache, Susan Cowsill and Mark Walton are
known for a unique, harmony-laden blend of pop and rock. by CNB