July 6, 2005
Harmonious experience
Down the Line, featuring CHS graduate, opens tonight for Beatles tribute band at National Cherry Festival
By Carol South
Herald contributing writer
Down the Line fuses distinctive instruments, fervent musicianship, thoughtful lyrics and soaring, tight harmonies into a vibe that pleases band members and audiences alike.
Playing their trademark acoustic pop, the four-member band will open for 1964, the Beatles tribute band, Wednesday evening during the National Cherry Festival. The band previously appeared twice in Traverse City, playing last year during the National Cherry Festival's teen night and in 2002 at Central High School.
The band has a local connection thanks to vocalist and guitar player Levi Britton, a 1998 graduate of Traverse City Central High School. Britton moved to Chicago after high school and carved out a musical niche for himself that included singing in subways for tips. This surprisingly lucrative gig helped round out the vocal training that he received in the choral programs at East Junior High and Central High School.
"I've grown so much since I moved out here," said Britton, whose day job now is playing and singing in a sub shop. "I had to project to fill the cavern [in the subways]. I think I truly found my voice just as the band was getting together."
Reflecting on the contributions of choral teachers Wendee Wolff-Schlarf, Russ Larimer and Jeff Cobb Britton noted:
"They taught me how to sing and to listen. When you're making music with other people, you've got to have big ears or else you're going to stick out."
The band formed four years ago, connected by Britton and a fellow Golden Garter Revue alumni, Dan Myers. Myers attended Western Michigan University with Justin Avery, whose father Larry owned Dill's and staged the revue. Avery brought Myers to Traverse City for a number of summers, where he met Britton.
Other band members include Derek Fawcett, who plays djembe drum, and Dave Rothkopf, who switches between bass and acoustic guitar. The unusual choice of using a djembe for percussion provides the backbone of Down the Line's distinctive sound.
"It brings the sound down to a level where you can actually hear the vocals and the acoustic instruments," said Myers, a classically trained violinist who plays fiddle, mandolin and harmonica in the band.
The band's new album, 'Please Remember My Name,' is scheduled for release on August 19. After a release party in Chicago for the band's hometown fans, they plan to tour nationwide with a series of release parties to promote it.
While all band members have day jobs - writing advertising, giving voice lessons and playing in a piano bar - their primary focus is on Down the Line. They all have flexible schedules to allow them to write songs, rehearse with the band and perform both in Chicago and on tour.
The band's success in selling a 2002 disc, entitled 'Welcome to Flavortown' plus an extended play release, also provides a financial cushion. Their outside income plus robust disc sales - both online and at concerts - mean they can choose gigs and do not have to rush a release just to make a buck.
"We play only at the clubs that would best serve our careers," said Rothkopf, noting one favorite venue besides Chicago is Nashville.
The band self-publishes their albums and for 'Please Remember My Name,' they transformed Rothkopf's home into a professional recording studio. They bought, begged and borrowed the caliber of equipment needed. During the months-long process, they laid down three versions of each song before selecting the one they wanted for both the disc and later performances onstage.
"We'd have everyone sing it and see what works best," Rothkopf said. "We treated the process very seriously and when we were done with that process we turned it over to a really professional mixer, who fortunately was already interested in us."
The 14 original songs on the disc represent years of creative collaboration, as members honed and perfected songs. Trusting each other's creative input implicitly, Down the Line members all bring lyrics and music to the group and work together as a team.
"The basic ideas for songs will come out in a moment of inspiration," Myers said. "But the subsequent questing and crafting come over weeks, months and years."
Down the Line will play at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, July 6, at the Bay Side Entertainment Stage on the Open Space. The band will open for the night's featured performer, 1964, a Beatles tribute band that will play at 9 p.m. Admission is a $3 commemorative pin.