by Erin McIntosh

I sat down to interview three-fifths of The Slackwater News, a band of boys based out of Lancaster, PA, on an unseasonably warm, fall evening. And a great band of boys they are (being a girl, I feel I’m in the best position to make such a statement). Dan Zdilla (electric guitar and vocals), Matt Blank (drums) and Matt Johnson (electric guitar) met with me on an undisclosed street in downtown Lancaster. Hans Wheelersburg (bass and vocals) and Dan Ramirez (keyboards and vocals) were unable to join us for the evening—that’s right, there are two Dan’s and two Matt’s. It’s a good thing they don’t have a Hans squared, otherwise things could really be confusing.

The three band members led me to their secret clubhouse on the said, undisclosed street. I felt honored to be given access to the hideout of their routine band practices and, as it turned out, somewhat of an art exhibit/studio (I’ll leave it to you to discover which band member is the artist). I use the words, “undisclosed, secret, hideout” because they swore me to secrecy of its location. I apologize to any of you potential groupie-stalkers out there. You’ll just have to stake out one of their shows to get your fix. And why would you be so interested in doing this anyway? Just who is The Slackwater News?

EM: So, how did you guys become The Slackwater News?
DZ: Well I was playing in another band, including Hans (Wheelersburg)…
EM: …a band called?
DZ: Well it was just a couple of people who got together and started playing, but it never really became a band. The other guys left, but Hans and I stayed together and found (Matt) Blank and (Dan) Ramirez…
EM: …in a Craigslist ad, no doubt…
DZ: Yeah, Craigslist for a couple of us…
EM: Oh really? I was actually just kind of joking about that—that’s hilarious.
DZ: Yeah, it can be a dodgy thing, but some of us were old friends with each other and we’re actually all really compatible. It’s kind of weird how it worked out.
EM: Agreed. I found one of my roommates on Craigslist, and it actually worked out so well. You just never know, though, with Craigslist.
DZ: Yeah, it’s true. But Matt (Blank) and I used to play together in a band called Uncle Skip too…
EM: Did anyone actually have an Uncle Skip? (the group sits thoughtfully silent, and almost as if it was practiced, the three say, “no.” They all laugh together as they admit they have no idea of the name’s origin)
EM: So, speaking of names, how did you guys come up with the name, The Slackwater News?
MB: Well, Johnson wasn’t with us then, so he can’t really say.
MJ: Yeah, I wasn’t there yet.
MB: But you probably remember more about how things started than we do.
MJ: Yeah, maybe (he laughs)
MB: Well we had a long list…we were Face Hump for a bit
EM: Face Hump?
MB: Yeah (the guys laugh), for one afternoon…for our first gig. But for our next gig, at the Chameleon Club, we really needed to have a real name for the band and we had a long list but we picked this one.
EM: So what does it actually mean….what is The Slackwater News?
DZ: Well Slackwater is an area close to Millersville, and then there was actually a newspaper at the turn of the century called the Hobo News, which was published by and for hobos which I thought was pretty neat.
EM: Yeah, that is actually kind of cool. The name is very unique, as is your last album. I listened to your 2009 EP, All You Creatures, and I have to say that it has a really interesting sound. Each song is really distinctive, yet there is a sound quality to the album that is exclusively, The Slackwater News…much like the way I hear a U2 or David Bowie or Billy Joel song come on the radio and know who the artist or band is, even if I’m not familiar with the song. And don’t take that David Bowie comment in a bad way—he’s one of my favorite artists.
DZ: No, not at all, that’s a compliment.
MJ: Yeah, we actually didn’t pick the songs for that album because of the songs’ different styles from each other or because of its overall different sound as a whole album. Those were just the songs that were ready to be recorded, but I agree, they are definitely atypical. Even from what you might hear at one of our live shows.
DZ: I think the album is definitely psychedelic but in a good way. I think this next album will definitely still have that going but we’re hoping that there will be a little bit more of “us” in that album. I think the next album will reflect what you might hear at one of our live shows a bit more.
EM: I loved the song Taxidermy from that album.
TSN (in near-perfect unison): Yeah, that’s probably our favorite recording on that album.
EM: So you have a couple of videos out on the web right now, done by Folketowne.com. I think one is called, “I’ll See You There.” I really liked that one.
MJ: Yeah, we did a couple recordings with Folktowne…and now you’re doing this interview for them as well.
EM: Indeed. And one of the reasons is because you’re a relatively new band getting ready to put out a new album. How has it been, performing together while you have “day” jobs? Has the reception been good? Do you feel like it has been working for you guys to juggle the two worlds?
MJ: Yeah, things have been great. We’ve had great opportunities to play in some cool places like the Chameleon Club in Lancaster. We just got back from a tour, and that was a lot of fun. (the guys start to laugh at the mention of the tour.)
EM: Oh yeah, any stories? (they laugh again, but say nothing)
EM: So, I guess there are some stories? I love to ask artists if they have any good, psycho-stalker stories. Do you?
MB: On or off the record? (the laughter and silence are now speaking volumes)
EM: Okay, I guess that’s going to be off the record.
MJ: Yeah, yeah, it’s cool but maybe that will have to be a story for when the camera goes off. We don’t want to make any enemies…we’re trying to keep our fan base, not lose them.
EM: Enough said

And that’s exactly when enough was said—on camera, that is. I wish I could tell you their fun stories from on the road, but I’m pretty sure I’d lose my free pass to the no-girls-allowed clubhouse, so it’s going to have to stay between me and The Slackwater News. However, if you want to hear some of your own stories—or if you’re interested in becoming one of theirs—get out to one of their shows. Also, check out their Folktowne video of “I’ll See You There,” by going to www.youtube.com/watch?v=eNzi0pmZbbo, or see their Folktowne video of “Ghosts,” at www.youtube.com/watch?v=4Vhbm4rJidA&feature=related. And, of course, to learn more about the guys and to hear their truly unique style of electric music at its best go to their website, www.slackwaternews.com.

The Slackwater News is:
Dan Zdilla, electric guitar and vocals
Hans Wheelersburg, electric bass guitar and vocals
Daniel Ramirez, keyboards and vocals
Matt Blank, drums
Matt Johnson, electric guitar

Photo credit: The Slackwater News live at The World Cafe by George Weiss III