Interview: Pat Zelenka Project
Hi dear Pat,
it`s nice talking to you and I´m very glad that we are doing an interview. So let us start with some questions which I have for you.
1. Please introduce your band to us first.
Pat: We are The Pat Zelenka project, an ethereal rock/blues hybrid, hailing from Lansing Michigan, in the northeastern USA.
We are:
Pat Zelenka: Guitar and Lead Vocals
Steve Chapko: Drums and Vocals
Rich Bates: Bass and Vocals
Scott Reed: Keyboards and Vocals
2. Describe your musical influences please.
Pat: Everything from Elvis to The Beatles to Van Halen to Led Zeppelin to Bach to Black Sabbath to Hank Williams. Everything. Anything with soul.
3. From what I know you made new band pictures lately. Where did you take them and who was the photographer?
Pat: New band pics were taken by my beautiful wife Barb. They were taken in the backyard of drummer Steve Chapko's house on June 16th.
4. Whats the Pat Zelenka Project doing at the moment?
Pat: At the moment, we are working in our new member Scott Reed on Keyboards and Vocals. You can hear Scott's solo CD Rhymes With Orange here: http://www.myspace.com/scottjreed
We are also getting ready to play 2 festivals, one in July, another in August, and currently have gigs booked into 2010. Always looking for more chances to play. We like to be a working band.
5. I see you got several upcoming gigs. Please tell me is it easy or hard to get gigs in your hometown and surrouding?
Pat: Depends. Mostly hard. A lot of it is knowing the right people, which isn't always easy. We are currently looking for a full time booking agent to handle future gigs for us. Anyone how is interested, please give me a yell via our My Space page: www.myspace.com/pzproject
6. Would you like to tell me something about your second album please.
Pat: Our new CD "Better Days" was released in late 2008. We recorded that CD from January to June 2008 at Elm Street Recording here in Lansing Michigan. Ryan Wert is the engineer/owner there, and he got us a great sound. I feel like, this time out, we achieved a better all around sound and mix, and I am very proud of the vocal sounds on the CD, Steve Chapko and his daughter Morgan should be greatly thanked for that, as well as my daughter Chelsea who sings backup on "Got To Be Leavin' ". Much better response to this CD, and sales have been steady. It sells well on CD Baby too. Check it out here: http://cdbaby.com/cd/zelenkaproject
7. Please tell us something about the last gigs you had with your bands. How many people came to see you and how was the audience?
Pat: Last few gigs were very well attended, and we headlined at all of them. Average attendance, which I think is good for a Michigan band with the economy right now, was 250. Mainly bars/clubs, and couple of outdoor venues. Last gig was a biker fest in Frankenmuth Michigan at the end of May. Great time.
8. Have you got many merchandise of your band or is new stuff planned?
Pat: We are currently selling the Better Days CD and T-Shirts. We also plan to remix and remaster the "Radiosoul" CD that Steve and I released in 2005, and to repackage it as the first proper Pat Zelenka Project CD, which in fact it was. Look for the re-release later this year. I also have a couple of solo project coming out. See our My Space profile for further details. You can also hear and buy a little known side project I did in 2008 with PZP bassist Rich Bates here: http://www.myspace.com/bzrpm2008
Always recording and playing you know, lol.
9. Which music are you listening to in your free time? Rock or other kinda music?
Pat: Music in my player now runs the gamut from old Rainbow and Sabbath to Harry Nillson to Lenny Kravitz to Cole Porter to Bach to Roy Buchanan to John Renbourn to Booker T and the MG's.........and that's just the stack of CD's in front of me as I type this, lol.
10. Leave a message for all your fans now.
Pat: Just to let everyone know, we plan on returning to playing out of state shows as soon as our newest member is fully integrated. We really miss playing Cleveland for instance. If you haven't caught our show in awhile, let me just say that the band sounds better than it ever has, and the musicianship in the band is at it's highest level right now. Lots of new material being added, and we plan on having a new Pat Zelenka Project studio CD in 2010. Hit us up at My Space, Facebook, or Reverb Nation for gig and release updates, and lots of new pics.
Thanks so much Pat and band. You guys rock. I wish you a good day and keep in touch.
Yours Susi
© 6 / 2009 by Rocket Queen *Promotion*