Randy
at Lee's Liquor Lounge
Guitarist, Vocalist, Occasional Mando Man Wanna Be, Song Writer
Some personal info:
1. What is your name? Randy Erickson
2. Have you ever done hard time on a chain gang? Not yet. For some strange
reason I've never been caught doing chain-gangable offenses. Just lucky, I
guess.
3. Who are your major musical influences? Beatles, Replacements,
Springsteen, .
4. Do you like gladiator movies? As long as there's popcorn, I like most
movies.
5. What do you do for a living? Reporter for a daily newspaper.
6. What other interesting jobs have you had? Law firm messenger, shipping
and receiving at medical supply warehouse, gas pump jockey, apple cider
pressman (for one day).
7. How old are you? 42
8. What's your hometown? Rochester, Minn.
9. Favorite movie? The Big Lebowski and most other movies by the Coen
Bros.
10. If you were on death row, what would you order for your last meal? Big
cheeseburger with fried onions, pizza (sausage, mushrooms, onions and olives),
buttered popcorn, butter brickle ice cream, pale ale. I would eat all this in
massive quantities in hopes that I could eat myself to death rather than give
them the satisfaction of killing me. Maybe I better add bacon-and-cheese
wrapped jumbo shrimp. And coconut shrimp. And fried shrimp, boiled shrimp,
Cajun shrimp ...
11. What do you get out of playing music? It's really fun when everything
is clicking and people are dancing and singing along. It really gives me a
sense of community, of belonging and acceptance.
12. What's so great about the Troubadogs? We have better vocal harmonies
than any band I've ever been in. If we weren't all so damn old, we could
probably be a boy band. I also think we have an adventurous streak that means
we can go from playing bluegrass to funk to rock 'n' roll in one set.
13. Any other thoughts? I think it's funny how Chris misread my Turbodog
beer sticker on my guitar case one day after jamming and inadvertently named
the band. We had gone through a lot of other suggestions - Special Ed and the
Ritalin Rangers, Hillbilly Winos, for example - but none had stuck before
then. It's just a good thing he didn't read it as Turbogods ... oh ... wait a
minute, guys, I got a new band name idea.
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Dick at Lee's Liquor Lounge
Guitarist, Main "Mando Man", Vocalist, Song Writer
Some Personal Info:
1. What is your name? Dick Mial
2. Have you ever done hard time on a chain gang? I used to be in the
Kiwanis Club. Ate a lot of chicken and learned some Kiwanis field
hollers.
3. Who are your major musical influences? Early Elvis. Blues.
Bluegrass.
4. Do you like gladiator movies? Nope.
5. What do you do for a living? Editorial writer for newspaper.
6. What other interesting jobs have you had? Selling Christmas wreaths door
to door?
7. How old are you? 53
8. What's your hometown? Milwaukee.
9. Favorite movie? Tender Mercies. Round Midnight.
10. If you were on death row, what would you order for your last meal?
Cheeseburger, fries and a diet Coke (got to watch my weight).
11. What do you get out of playing music? Lots of satisfaction.
12. What's so great about the Troubadogs? Our motto: Arf for arf's
sake.
13. Any other thoughts? Nope.
Tom
at Lee's Liquor Lounge
Guitarist, and Vocal Gymnast
Some Personal Info:
1. What is your name? Tom Streicher
2. Have you ever done hard time on a chain gang? Yes, but only after
discovering I was the missing link.
3. Who are your major musical influences? Mason Proffit, Ernie Sheldon and
my Uncle Boogie.
4. Do you like gladiator movies? Only "Spartacus". Jean Simmons
was my first crush.
5. What do you do for a living? I am a deadline animal at a
newspaper.
6. What other interesting jobs have you had? Loading skeet at a trap club
(What I was doing when I heard Elvis died).
7. How old are you? 42
8. What's your hometown? Rhinelander, Wisconsin
9. Favorite movie? The War Wagon
10. If you were on death row, what would you order for your last meal? A
bottle of Chivas. And buffalo wings. In that order.
11. What do you get out of playing music? Validation that my youth really
wasn't wasted.
12. What's so great about the Troubadogs? Harmony. And I don't mean
"inner". Well, that, too.
13. Any other thoughts? You won't find a bunch of guys anywhere so
committed to not being committed. And I mean that in a good way.
Dan
at Roger's Muni.
Bassist, Vocalist
Some Personal Info:
1. What is your name? Dan Backhaus
2. Have you ever done hard time on a chain gang? Never done time on a
chain gang
3. Who are your major musical influences? Stanley Clark, Chuck
Mangione, Maynard Ferguson, Lynyrd Skynyrd
4. Do you like gladiator movies? Nope.
5. What do you do for a living? Service repair on print shop
equipment
6. What other interesting jobs have you had? Heating and air
conditioning repair, welding.
7. How old are you? 41 (but I act like I am 20)
8. What's your hometown? Guttenberg IA. Yes I said Iowa. But I left there
when I was 5 Thank God!!!!!!
9. Favorite movie? Always
10. If you were on death row, what would you order for your last meal?
Prime-Rib (Rare), Bay Scallops, fresh green beans, buttered egg noodles
11. What do you get out of playing music? I forget all about work and
the problems of every day hustle and bustle.
12. What's so great about the Troubadogs? The Troubadogs are by far
the MOST talented group of musicians I have ever played with. Vocal ability
and musical ability are second to none.
13. Any other thoughts? I think it is kind of funny how we got started
playing out. We were just playing in Tom's basement once and a while, and we
finally realized that hey, this sounds pretty good!!!! I am glad and proud to
be a part of this group.
Kenny Isler - "Ken Dog"
Kenny
at Roger's Muni
Drummer
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Some Personal Info:
1. What is your name? Kenny P. Isler
2. Have you ever done hard time on a chain gang? Are you kidding?
3. Who are your major musical influences? Beatles, Eric Clapton, Chicago,
to name a few.
4. Do you like gladiator movies? I prefer Alfred Hitchcock, but gladiator
movies are always fun!
5. What do you do for a living? Video Productions
6. What other interesting jobs have you had? Refinishing Old Player Pianos,
and taking children's school pictures.
7. How old are you? 48, who wants to know?
8. What's your hometown? La Crosse, WI
9. Favorite movie? Are you kidding? The movies I could see over and over?
"North by Northwest", Wizard of Oz", Most James Bond Movies and
"Gone With the Wind" for good measure.
10. If you were on death row, what would you order for your last meal?
Roast Beef Dinner with corn on the cob.
11. What do you get out of playing music? Being a drummer it is fun to lay
some beats down and let everyone jump in and take the music to another level.
Cosmic, Huh?
12. What's so great about the Troubadogs? I know the quality of musicians
in the band, so what's not to like?
13. Any other thoughts? Having fun with music is what makes me feel GREAT!
Chris Van Alstine - "East-er Dog"
Chris
at Lee's Liquor Lounge
Keyboardist, Harmonica Player, Percussionist, Vocal Gymnast and Song Writer
Some Personal Info:
1. What is your name? Christopher Charles Van Alstine
2. Have you ever done hard time on a chain gang? Do you mean other bands? Or
jail time? Yes to both....unfortunately... but am grateful for the
experience.
3. Who are your major musical influences? Beatles, Billy Joel, Clint Black,
Bruce Hornsby, John Williams, Gwydion Pendragon
4. Do you like gladiator movies? BraveHeart, Rob Roy, Princess Bride, 13th
Warrior, and yes, I LOVE Sparticus.
5. What do you do for a living? Journeyman Electrician, Local 14
6. What other interesting jobs have you had? Restaraunt Manager, Bus boy,
Dishwasher, Waiter, Host, Bouncer, Warehouse worker, Automotive Specialist
(electrical systems), Paper boy, Garbage Man, Janitor, Concrete Truck Driver,
Concrete Laborer & Finisher.
7. How old are you? 36
8. What's your hometown? La Crosse, always La Crosse, but have only lived
here for 22 years.
9. Favorite movie? Princess Bride, Savannah Smiles
10. If you were on death row, what would you order for your last meal? I
would fast or starve to death to make a point.
11. What do you get out of playing music? Self enjoyment, chance to learn new
styles and instruments from others, therapy.
12. What's so great about the Troubadogs? It ain't for the money. It's for
the fun and enjoyment we share.
13. Any other thoughts? uhhhhh..........
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photo's and original writings are the sole property of the Troubadogs.
For problems or questions regarding this web contact everthorn@hotmail.com
Last updated: May 13, 2002.
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