Old No. 5’s Band
- 2015 Bands
- Tuesday, 28 October 2014 20:30
- 1453
On Stage: Friday 3:00pm
The Old No 5s are marching along the familiar forefront of the American Folk music tradition. These newcomers from Kansas City fuse influences as far ranging as Blues, Reggae, Roots Rock, Country, Folk and Funk; beating into existence their own chapter of musical tradition which spans as long as the country is old.
The iceberg story of The Old No 5s seems to have began in late 2011, when guitarist/vocalist Brock Alexander and percussionist Aaron Thomas coined the band and established themselves playing across the Kansas City Metro area on average of 5 nights a week. However, the journey of The Old No 5s actually began in 2005 in Lawrence, Kansas. “We met at a barn party out by Clinton Lake,” says Alexander of the happenstance encounter. "Some mutual friends of friends were having a party that wanted a live band, and a makeshift band was thrown together last minute. I wound up stealing Aaron and bass player Dave Kaleba from that party and forming the group Cold Shot."
Alexander, a native of Wichita, Kansas began playing guitar at age 13, but his musical sensibilities and influences run far deeper. “My mother was an elementary music teacher, so I sang in a select, ultra-formal choir in grade school, played drums in the school band and percussion in an orchestra during middle school, but it wasn’t ’til eight grade that I picked up an acoustic guitar.” Alexander spent hours listening and mimicking the licks of guitar greats Stevie Ray Vaughan, Eric Clapton, and Jimi Hendrix. "When I was really young I thought I wanted to be Ringo Starr, but when I heard Stevie Ray Vaughan, and then via Stevie people like Albert King, Freddie King, Elmore James, Buddy Guy, I knew I wanted to be a guitar player."
Thomas, who hails from Emporia, Kansas, was also steeped in formal music education. “I’ve been a percussionist since 4th grade. Period. Music has always been the main focus of my life, the one thing that provides direction and fulfills my purpose.” Thomas’ musical affinities align themselves towards grooves, funk and jazz, and admittedly very little Blues. “When I met Brock and we began playing regularly I had never heard of any of the blues tunes he wanted to perform! But I think our mutual acknowledgement of each others’ abilities and musicianship made that seem irrelevant.”
Alexander and Thomas, performed under the moniker Cold Shot through 2008. “The world turned, and I suppose I was in a Neil Young phase, I woke up one morning and decided I wanted to explore some other things,” says Alexander. “I relocated to Phoenix, and then to Los Angeles to work at a recording studio. I got to be a fly on the wall for some amazing experiences.” Alexander and Thomas maintained contact and both acknowledge that they felt their time playing together was simply on hold. “Brock and I spoke about a band as if we were in a band several times over several years it seems like,” says Thomas. "We always kind of hinted, or even silently understood if Brock ever moved back to Kansas we would resume playing."
That understanding took root again in November of 2011. Alexander states, “I guess the world turned a whole circle and I ultimately wanted to be back where I began, playing guitar and leading a band.” Alexander immediately reconnected with Thomas and they two began hitting the overwhelming number of open jams in the Kansas City area. The Old No 5s were coined over glasses of whisky and cigar smoke, with the initial bass duties were under the care of Pat Adams. In May of 2012 the low end was replaced by Patricio Lazen. However the band’s line up wouldn’t solidify until late 2012 when Derek Tucker took over on bass guitar.
Alexander jokes, “Derek was an easy transition for us. Especially, when I found out he went to high school down the road from me.” Tucker, also originally from Wichita, Kansas displays proficiency in countless styles, which was gained through years of playing in numerous bands ranging in genre from country and hip hop to jazz. “I was never the guy that really practiced at home,” says Tucker. “I was the guy that just played every gig I could, was in 4 bands at one time, and did nothing else but put myself in situations where I played bass, regardless of genre or style. But I was always looking for the situation that felt like home. Within minutes of talking and jamming with Aaron and Brock I knew I had found it.” Tucker quickly stepped into the role of permanent member not only with his unique bass presence, but also creatively; even penning one of the last tracks to make the cut for the record.